Botvinnik-Capablanca: AJ comments, by James O'Fee

Last Tuesday I discussed the classic game Mikhail Botvinnik v José Raúl Capablanca, played in the Netherlands in 1938, as featured in the Impala DVD package, Duels of the Minds. A.J. Goldsby is the creator of an award-winning chess website and sends these comments -

I read - with quite some interest - your {blog} article on the the famous Botvinnik - Capablanca game. The background material was very interesting, you are going to convince me to order this set of DVD's very soon, if ... for no other reason ... to satisfy my own curiosity. [You certainly should, AJ -Ed]

I liked the quote, "Botvinnik's play was characterised by profound strategy and deep opening preparation." Too true! If you have ever read some of his own notes to his own games, you know that Botvinnik could plan rings around other players. He often had many short-term plans, a long-term plan - and often - an effective plan just to improve the lot of a poorly situated piece. I often tell my students that Botvinnik was the greatest strategic player of all time, and that he often had ... "a plan within a plan." (within a plan)

Perhaps your readers would enjoy visiting my "Best All-Time Games" page.
[http://www.geocities.com/lifemasteraj/best_games.html]

I present the reader with several lists of the best games of all time ... by many different authors. Then I present the readers with my own list. This page is literally the work of close to ten years of consistent effort and hard work. I have also annotated the Botvinnik-Capablanca game here.
http://www.geocities.com/lifemasteraj/botv-capa1.html

Thanks, AJ. Keene's television programmes were aimed at a general audience, and so you annotate the game in greater depth. Horses for courses. There is interesting interaction between Keene, the Grandmaster, and Donald Woods (the former South African newspaper editor) who represents the average player.

AJ headlines his discussion of the Botvinnik-Capablanca game with -

The 2nd Greatest Chess Game Ever?

and continues -

Simply one of the most brilliant games of chess ever played.

(Played between two players who may BOTH belong in the "Top Ten List" of the greatest chess players who ever lived. In, historically, one of the more important - and strongest - chess tournaments ever played!)

Many GM's (and other chess Masters) have personally told me this game was their favorite and (perhaps), "The Greatest Game Of Chess Ever Played."

Botvinnik called this game, "THE Game of my life!!"

When I was in New York in the late 60's, I was at the Manhattan Chess Club. A U.S. Championship had just concluded, so nearly all the top U.S. Masters were there, maybe with the exception of Bobby Fischer. (Who was always something of a recluse.) When I [repeatedly] asked the question, "What was the greatest game of chess ever played?" ... this game was mentioned by the Masters more than any other game.

There is a question concerning Botvinnik's brilliant final sacrificial combination, which begins with Botvinnik's 30th move,30. Ba3! (or perhaps !!), and ends with Capablanca resigning on his 41st move. A commentator has said that Botvinnik would not have sacificed his bishop on move 30 unless he could have seen that Capa's spoiling checks would finally run out to give White a forced mate. 'Grandmasters can forsee a dozen moves in advance', was the conclusion.

Yet Botvinnik, somewhere, revealed that this was not the case. The Russian could see the draw as a minumum, but he hoped that it would lead to the win. AJ justly comments -

The fact that Botvinnik may not have been able to fully calculate this line from beginning to end, does not detract from this game at all. To me it actually adds luster to the game. Botvinnik had to rely on his great genius and instincts, and have faith in his abilities to play this great and wonderful game of chess.

But where did Botvinnik make the admission? AJ quotes -

"One-Hundred Selected Games," by GM M. Botvinnik, (& others). © 1951, © 1960; Dover books.

a book which I have myself, and I can't find the admission there. There are, however, several other collections of Botvinnik games. How many moves ahead can a Grandmaster calculate? Well clearly I can't help there. Ray?

Ray Keene comments -

IT DEPENDS-SOMETIMES 20 MOVES SOMETIMES YOU OVERLOOK A PIECE

AJ emails the comment -

'As for the "100 Best Games" ... (by Botvinnik)

There is more than one version out there.

I have a hardback copy that I purchased about 30 years ago, it differs substantially from my Dover edition. I asked one fairly well-known book-seller how many versions were out there ... and he did not know. It would be interesting if someone could come up with a definitive answer ... and perhaps an expanded edition of that book!'

A great game! Next week I shall turn to another classic chess game taken from the Duels of the Mind collection.

Duels of the Mind:The Twelve Best Games of Chess. The 4 DVDs are available as a package from

The London Chess Centre £24.95
and
The British Chess Magazine Shop £24.99 plus postage £1.50 UK, £3.00 overseas


-To see the full list of Impala Publications available go to http://stores.ebay.co.uk/IMPALA-PRESS