Lesson 6: Blockade by the knight

The knight can be far stronger than other pieces as a blockader, because his influence is not affected in closed positions. The knight always restricts the opponent. An example gives clarification. Botvinnik thought that he had a favourable adjourned position due to the occupation of the centre. A second with a different opinion was sent away. However, Euwe already mentioned the vulnerability of the isolated pawn centre in the 1920's.

[ 45. Nc4 ! responds to the blockade with the same idea. Nxc4 46. bxc4 Nc8

[ Bg6 47. Ne3 Nc8 48. Nf5+ !(Kan ) Bxf5 49. exf5 Rde7 "The position is hopeless" Timman evaluates. 50. Bd3 Re3 51. Re2 ! Rxe2+ 52. Bxe2 Re4 53. Rb1 White has a fortress. ]

47. Ne3 !

[ The analysts continue with 47. e5 ?! ]

Nd6 48. Nf5+ Nxf5 49. exf5 White has a fortress again. Rde7 50. Rb1 Re3 51. Rb3 White answers to the invasion. Probably Petrosian had found this variation. Boleslavsky convinced him to exhaust the old champ. ]

Bg6 46. Ke1 Nc8 47. Rdf2 Rf7 48. Kd2 Nd6 The black knights blockade the centre. They restrict the white pieces and support an attack on the queenside. 49. Nf5+ Bxf5 50. exf5 c4 ! 51. Rb1 b5 52. b4 c3+ !A beautiful decision. 53. Kxc3 Rc7+ 54. Kd2 Nec4+ 55. Kd1 Na3 56. Rb2 Ndc4 57. Ra2 axb4 58. axb5 Nxb5 59. Ra6 Nc3+ 60. Kc1 Nxd5 61. Ba4 Rec8 62. Ne1 Nf4 Botvinnik got a lesson in strategy. 0-1