Botvinnik Semi-Slav, The (Pedersen)

1 Introduction to the Botvinnik
System
The Botvinnik System arises after the
moves 1 d4 dS 2 c4 c6 3 liJf3 liJf6 4
liJc3 e6 S j,gS dxc4 (D) and is in my
opinion one of the most complex of all
opening variations.
w
short tour and hence far from complete,
but should give a small picture
of what this is all about. I have also
chosen to examine more concrete
themes in the introductions to some of
the chapters.
Endings
The Botvinnik System tends to lead to
highly unbalanced endings, which are
either clearly in favour of one side or
the other, or else are almost impossible
to assess. A quick glance at the
most common pawn-structure should
suggest why:
White's pawn sacrifice is only temporary
since after 6 e4 he threatens not
only to regain his pawn but also to play
7 e5. Hence in the main line, 6 ... bS 7
eS h6 8 j,h4 gS 9 liJxgS hxgS 10
j,xgSliJbd7 11 exf6 or 11 g3 and later
exf6, it is in fact Black who is the
gambiteer.
In this chapter, I shall deal briefly
with the various themes occurring
most frequently throughout the first
part of this book. This will only be a
As both sides have a large majority
on one wing, it is only natural that
endings often turn into pawn races.