Botvinnik Semi-Slav, The (Pedersen)

2 The Main Line: 17 a3
We shall dive straight in to the complexities
of the main line of the Botvinnik
System. Later chapters shall discuss
earlier deviations for both sides.
1 d4 d5 2 c4 c6 3 tLlf3 tLlf6 4 tLlc3
e6 5 j.g5 dxc4 6 e4 b5 7 e5 h6 8 j.h4
g5 9 ttJxg5 hxg5 10 j.xg5 tLlbd7 11
exf6 j.b712 g3 'ii'b613 i-g2 c514 d5
0-0-0150-0 b416 tLla4 'ifb517 a3(D)
B
B
I believe this may still be considered
the main line, although both
sides, Black in particular, have investigated
earlier deviations. In fact, at the
time of writing, the whole line is more
alive than ever. How the main line
arises has briefly been discussed in the
previous chapter, so I will not repeat
myself, but move on to showing what I
consider one of the most amazing
opening ideas in many years ...
Aseev - Se.lvanov
St Petersburg 1997
White has just played 22 j.g5-f4!?,
intending 23 l:.a5 'ifxb4 24 j.c7+!,
winning. I had analysed this position a
few years prior to this game, and was
convinced that White was more or less
winning after 22 j.f4!? However, GM
Sergei Ivanov, undoubtedly with a
great desire for making this line work,
had prepared the truly astonishing
22 ... l:.h5!!' The idea is that after 23
'ifxh5 cxb2 24l:.adl cxb4! 25 j.c7+
cJi>c6 26 'ii'xb5+ cJi>xb5 27 j.xd8 c3 28
l:.xd7 (D), although White is overwhelmingly
ahead in material, Black's
queens ide pawns constitute a lot of
counterplay, and so far this position is
considered fine for Black.