Review: Botvinnik's Best Games 1947-1970

Issued by Batsford (London, UK) at early 70s, written by description notation, this book contains more than 100 annotated games. Today still available at some markets, is assumed one of best written chess books which is logical because most of all comments have been written by M. Botvinnik himself.

Botvinnik's approaches to certain positions are of oustanding value and presents the highest level of positional approach to the chess game, but with constant readiness for tactical realisation of hidden combination. In positions with a great advantages on Botvnnik's side, we may notice heavy influence of his predecessor, J.R. Capablanca; in absence of usefull moves from opponent's side, he did not force events, but maintained patience constantly rearanging his own pieces until the final strike. His comments were basic and clear, but gave clear view in a long term plan with no need for long lines of variations.

The most fascinating thing from this book, from my side, was the fact that (opposite to today's main stream approach), even he worked in such direction, he did not use to open his games completely correctly, and in many games, in a stages between opening and middlegame, he used to drop some advantages or at many games he also had worse positions than his opponents. But even in a such positions, he managed to remain calm and focused, and on very instructive way by defending such positions not getting even more worse, he remained patient by waiting his chance or small mistake from his opponent and to managed to use the oportunity to direct position and games in his favour.

Good examples, among the others are games; Botvinnik - Reshevsky 1948., Antoshin - Botvinnik 1955., Sliwa - Botvinnik 1956.