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The Botvinnik System Part 1 by GM Magesh and GM Arun

Submitted by GM arunabi on Thu, 10/22/2009 at 7:24am.

This week in our article we shall see The Botvinnik System. We wanted the readers to understand the opening clearly. So to begin with we decided to check the side lines that are played by white against this system. In this system White is considered to be doing well in the main lines but this is chess and there is always room for improvement. But one has to know what is going on in the side variations to employ this system confidently.

 

The final position is going to be the starting position for our next week's article. But for this week we shall see the possible complications in the early stage of this system.
Even though 7.a4 is dubious and completely out of fashion, it is always good to know the ideas of this move. It is important for Black to maintain the pressure on white once he gets the initiative in these types of openings because a single mistake would yield the initiative to the opposite side.
Even though Shirov misplayed and lost the game later, Black players managed to find the exact way to defend the position for a draw against the 9.ef6 idea. Check the analysis of move 16. There were other ideas also for a draw that were analysed on moves 18 and 22. Our final game is between Rychagov and Grischuk. A wild game that needs to be thoroughly checked before playing in this way.
The Rook and Bishop is better against the Rook and Knight. That was a fine endgame show by Grischuk. This week we have seen the side lines of the Botvinnik system and next week we shall see the main lines which are more complex but still very interesting. For this system especially, we would suggest that you play more practice games before you employ it in a serious game.

» posted in Opening Theory
 

Comments:

by abcdefgrrr - 2 months ago
India
Member Since: Nov 2011
Member Points: 1

not for the faint hearted

by HariBaskar - 2 years ago
India
Member Since: Oct 2009
Member Points: 8

           Dear G.M, really its a wonderful article, very useful for both side,

           especially in blackside,its quite interesting, we are eagerly waiting for your next week article.heartfelt thanks for ur Help.


by 1wa - 2 years ago
Inglewood, CA United States
Member Since: Oct 2008
Member Points: 165

Very enjoyable games. I am looking forward to next week for the finish on the Botvinnik system.

by hamedvaniadoost - 2 years ago
shahrood Iran
Member Since: Oct 2009
Member Points: 12

i prefer to play botvinik system as black , instead of 5.e3

by dpenaranda - 2 years ago
Costa Rica
Member Since: Feb 2009
Member Points: 135

Definately this is not for begginers, neither intermediate!

by nevin - 2 years ago
Tucson, Arizona United States
Member Since: Apr 2008
Member Points: 73

what a strange opening.

by kingsquared - 2 years ago
az United States
Member Since: Feb 2009
Member Points: 62

bazzerpool:  the instruction is the move list side lines that they present.  It is not a verbal instruction explaining each move, but it shows the ideas of what they are presenting.  It seems this opening is a little complicated, so I think it is intended for more advanced players.  This is a good way to see a few lines from a specific opening and then you can use a computer to branch off as he suggests "A wild game that needs to be thoroughly checked before playing in this way."  They also say that next week is when they will talk about the main line directly.

Thanks for the articles...  they are always helpful.

by bazzerpool - 2 years ago
dublin Ireland
Member Since: Jul 2009
Member Points: 13

? bit more clear instruction please

by king_43 - 2 years ago
Nicosia Cyprus
Member Since: Feb 2009
Member Points: 105

Very interestic opening!

by ruby7 - 2 years ago
Vancouver Canada
Member Since: May 2009
Member Points: 263

Always enjoy you two's articles. Thanks again :)

 

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