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Positional problem for Botvinnik

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NazarNazarchuk1

Hey everyone , I ve been recently into some old classical games in carlsbad systems , which can also occurr from queen's gambit exchange. One of these typical positions showed up in a game between Botvinnik and Geller in 1955.

 

I would be very grateful to you if you could explain why black has moved here c5 . Also I didn't quite understand why Botvinnik played dxc5 on the next move , why just not Rac1 for example ? Computer gives an edge to black here 

NazarNazarchuk1
Antigua08 wrote:

Well first, dxc5 was not the greatest move. He may have not wanted to run into any trouble with qb6 and more adding more pressure to the d pawn.

Great point , I also thought that maybe he wanted to isolate d5 pawn and then just double with queen and rook on e file which will eventually lead to winning that pawn

Shakaali

c5 is quite typical idea in this pawn structure since the possible isolated d-pawn position should be quite good version for black because of the weak e3-pawn and other things. Often black would like to play it before white can play e4. It looks like here white may not be ready to play e4 in the next move anyway but maybe Geller did not see any particular benefit for further preparing c5.

Optimissed

You haven't told us where the pawn was before it moved to c5. However it seems an ok move for black which forces white to make a decision. Black is trying to take space. Possible alternative moves for white are Rad1 (I think I would want my rooks on the d and e files) or b3. As white, I do not think I would want to play either dc or e4 before centralising rooks. On reflection, maybe I would prefer to play Rfe1 first of all, to see what black intends.

Optimissed

Hmm, b3 is too weakening for white. Black has a tactical edge in this position and is not threatening an immediate c5-c4. Takes on d4 is better for black in most variations and white's position isn't great. I think if you can't play b3 in a position like this, then you've already misplayed, so I would guess that maybe black was the stronger player here. I would like to think I would not make such a mess, as white, of the QGD as white seems to have made here.

Botwinnick was white? Wonder what the result was. White should not win from here.

ChessEnthusiast48
I think the reason Black played c5 here is that he wants to develop his queenside quickly with c5-c4, a6, and b5 and play on the queenside. That’s probably also the reason why White (Botvinnik) chose to play dxc5 to prevent this plan and he wants to play against the isolated pawn on d5, which became weak and could not be protected by a pawn. dxc5 also gives the d4 square for his knight where it will be more active.
mau3120
Tough
Lyudmil_Tsvetkov

The white f3 and e3 pawns are not placed well.

The e8 black rook is also gotten to the center, attacking e3.

So black has some edge.

One black threat would be to push ...c4, with cramped position for white.

Lyudmil_Tsvetkov

...c5 push is good, active, if white takes at c5, ....Nxc5 recapture attacks the queen.

Shakaali

For reference, here is the whole game.