In his book Mikhail Botvinnik's 100 Selected Games, the Soviet World Champion annotates a particular variation as follows: 1. Nf3 d5 2. b3 c5 3. Bb2?!

Do you think this is an inaccuracy/ error? And what are your thoughts regarding 3. ..f6 ?

Well, I don't think White's play offers any serious chance of opening advantage.  Its value is as a surprise weapon to be sprung occasionally on the unsuspecting (probably most useful against diehard Slav or King's Indian players), not so much against one of the top two players in the world at the time.

Is 3 Bb2 a dubious move?  I don't see how; White is clearly going to put the Bishop there anyway and has no way to prevent ...f6 (even if it was desirable to do so).  And what precisely would be the better move to suggest?  e3?  c4?  Ba3?  Sorry, I don't see it.

...f6 is playable, but no gamebreaker.  It is typical of the challenging attitude a player might have against a much weaker opponent.  Personally, I would much prefer simple development with ...Nf6, or even ...Nc6 instead of the riskier ...f6.

I see 3. d4 as being acceptable. 

Sure, it's playable, too, is it any stronger than 3 Bb2 is?  Nothing Black can do will prevent White from playing 4 d4 if it's a good move then.

In the actual game, Lisitin played an early Bf1-b5 and then, unprovoked and unthreatened, retreated Bb5-e2, losing a tempo for nothing and putting the Bishop on a less effective square.  From that point on, Black was clearly better - but it had nothing to do with 3 Bb2.

According to opening theory, 3.Bb2 is inaccurate as Black can now shut down the long diagonal with 3...f6. Because of this, 3.e3 is to be preferred, rendering 3...f6 less effective after 4.d4! (from Jacobs and Tait, Nimzo-Larsen attack).

Thanks Linkspringer!

Linkspringer,

You have the Nimzo-Larsen book, but I did not know you played this opening.

I often play the Sokolsky or Polish Opening with White.  Basically playing 1.b4 and 2.Bb2  The move f6 is much more common against the Sokolsky and the only difference is where White has placed the b pawn.

So, I would have to say that f6 is not an error or a weak move.  I once owned Botvinnik's 100 Selected Games, but don't remember this game at all.