Raging Knight Starts a Counter Attack Alone. Bronstein vs Botvinnik 1951. Game 14

In game 14 of 1951 World Chess Championship Match, Bronstein got a better position after the opening, as he had space advantage and prospects of attack on kingside. However, after his inaccuracies, Botvinnik seized the initiative and started a counterattack, as his knight made a phenomenal raid into enemy territory and demolished the kingside, after which Bronstein's position became critical.
1. Nf3 e6 2. g3 d5 3. Bg2 c5 4. O-O Nc6 5. d3 g6 6. e4 Bg7 7. Qe2 Nge7 8. e5 Qc7 9. Re1 a6 10. c3 Bd7 11. Na3 h6 12. Rb1 Nf5 13. Nc2 Rc8 14. h4 Qa5 15. a3 Qd8 16. Bf4 O-O 17. Ne3 Nxe3 18. Qxe3 Kh7 19. Nh2 Ne7 20. Ng4 Ng8 21. Qd2 Bc6 22. d4 cxd4 23. Qxd4 Bb5 24. b3 a5 25. a4 Ba6 26. Qd2 Qe7 27. b4 Bc4 28. bxa5 Ba6 29. Bf1 Qc5 30. Bb5 Qxc3 31. Qxc3 Rxc3 32. Bxa6 bxa6 33. Rb6 Rc4 34. Nh2 Ne7 35. Rxa6 Nc6 36. Nf3 Nb4 37. Rb6 Nd3 38. Ra1 Nxf4 39. gxf4 Rxf4 40. Kg2 g5 41. hxg5 hxg5 42. Nxg5+ Kg6 43. Nf3 Rg8 44. Ra3 Bf8 45. Rd3 Rxa4 46. Kf1 Ra1+ 47. Ke2 Ra2+ 48. Rd2 Rxa5 49. Rb8 Rh8 50. Nd4 Bg7 51. Rxh8 Bxh8 52. f4 Ra3 53. Rd1 Ra2+ 54. Kf3 Ra3+ 55. Kg4 Bg7 56. Kh4 Bf8 57. f5+ exf5 58. Rg1+ Kh7 59. Nxf5 Ra6 60. Rg5 Bh6 61. Rg3 Re6 62. Rf3 Rxe5 63. Nxh6 Kxh6 64. Rxf7 Kg6 65. Rf4 Rf5 66. Kg4 1/2-1/2

[@mariusgrobler]

Sir,
My Elo rating is up by 100 points since I started watching your videos. Thank you for your instruction.

[@chesswisdom]

Congratulations, sir. Thanks for watching.

[@amosdraak3536]

Interesting game. A lot of nice ideas, and a great knight maneuver by Botvinnik. I think of Chukaev-Tal (1956) where Tal made 7 consecutive knight moves before trading off his knight as a result.
Score thus far-
Games 1-4: Drawn
Game 5: Win for Bronstein
Games 6-7: Wins for Botvinnik
Games 8-9: Drawn
Game 10: Drawn
Game 11: Win for Bronstein
Game 12: Win for Botvinnik
Games 13-14: Drawn
Interesting to note that so far only game 7 was won with White. All the rest of the decisive games were Black wins.
Thanks

[@chesswisdom]

Thanks a lot for the summary and for mentioning Tal's game. I hadn't seen it before, just looked at it, indeed, impressive 7 knight moves followed by a queen sacrifice. Will definitely make a video on this game soon.

[@amosdraak3536]

@@chesswisdom
Of course. Games where numerous moves are made with a single piece consecutively are quite interesting. A plan is made and it is acknowledged that every other piece and pawn can remain untouched, and that’s fascinating to me.
Good luck with that video, and keep it up

[@dejanblagojevic1655]

Excellent strategy game, with very good analysis!

[@chesswisdom]

Thank you!

[@reem_ice]

6:15, g4, kicking the knight back, is that a bad move?

[@chesswisdom]

Unfortunately it doesn't work, as the black knight captures the h4 pawn.

[@reem_ice]

18:41; Rook b8 first, if taken take back w pawn and promote, if not taken, then promote.

[@chesswisdom]

After Rb8 the black bishop captures the a7 pawn.