Botvinnik Semi-Slav, The (Pedersen)

132 THE BOTVINNIK SEMI-SLAV
(the simple 21 'it'xh4+!? is also worth
considering) 2l...ttJc5 22 'it'xh4+ f6 23
~h3 ± Peek-Savchenko, Groningen
open 1993.
b) 14 ... l:.b7! 15 d5 (Piket suggests
15 0-0-0 b4 16 lbd5 'it'g6 17 'it'xg6
fxg6 18 ~h3! with an initiative for
White) 15 ... ~g7! (15... b4 16 dxe6
'it'xe6 17 ~xc4 'it'xe4+ 18 lbxe4 l:.c7
19 lbaS, followed by 0-0-0, gives
White compensation) 16 l:.dl (16 dxe6
'it'xe6 17 'it'xe6+ fxe6 18 0-0-0 is
better, after which White can claim
some sort of compensation in view of a
number of weak black pawns) 16 ... 0-0
17 d6!? l:.b6 18 lbe7+ 'it'h8 and
White's attack is lost in the sands.
13 dxe5 "ilie7 14 i.g2
14lbe4? can be met by 14 ...'it'b4+.
14 ... ~b7 150-0-0 i.g7 (D)
16l:.d6!
A major improvement on the previously
played 16 f4. White sacrifices a
second pawn in return for a rapid mobilization
of all his forces. Black will
have to accept the pawn offer to punish
White for omitting f4, but the result is
a difficult defence.
After 16 f4 0-0 17 l:.d6 :ad8 18
l:.hd 1 l:.xd6 19 exd6 'it'd8 20 lbe4 'it'aS
21 'it'bl, Bronstein-Botvinnik, USSR
Ch (Moscow) 1951, Black should play
21...h3! 22 ~xh3 c5 23 lbxc5 ~d5
with excellent play for Black in view
of his two very powerful bishops -
Botvinnik.
16 ... hxg3
16 ... 0-0 17 l:.hdl :ad8 18 'it'd2
l:.xd6 19 exd6 'it'f6? (19 ... 'it'd8 is more
profound, but the advantage of White's
move-order is shown after 20 d7!,
when the strong passed pawn holds up
the majority of Black's forces) 20 lbe4
'it'g6 21 d7 l:.d8 22 'it'f4 ± Peek-Van
Linde, Groningen open 1997.
17 hxg3 "ilig5+ 18 f4 "ilixg3 19 "ilid2
b4 20 lbe4 c3!?
20 ... 'it'g6 21lbc5 c3 22 bxc3 bxc3
23 'it'f2 gives White the advantage.
21 bxc3 bxc3 22lbxc3 :b8
22 ... ~f8 23 :d3 ~a3+ 24 ~dl
'it'g6 25 l:.d7 ±.
23 l:.d3 'it' g6 24 lbe4
White has a terrific attack. While
White is simply invading the d-file,
Black's queen is merely a spectator
from the kingside and can even be
subjected to an attack after :g3.
B)
11 ~e2lbd7!
There is no need to delve into the
alternatives for too long. The textmove
has an obvious indication of being
the best move in the position: