Vasily Smyslov vs Mikhail Botvinnik

World Championship 21th · 1957 · Modern Defense · 1-0 in 43 moves

The Game

White Vasily Smyslov
Black Mikhail Botvinnik
Result 1-0
Event World Championship 21th
Site Moscow
Round 12
Date 1957.00.00
Opening Modern Defense (A42)
Moves 43
Replay this game move by move →

Final Position

The position after the last move · 1-0

8/4p2p/1Pp1k3/r1P1p1p1/6P1/1K1R1P1P/8/8 w - - 21 44

All The Moves

  1. 1.e4 c5
  2. 2.Nf3 g6
  3. 3.c4 Bg7
  4. 4.d4 d6
  5. 5.Nc3 Nc6
  6. 6.Be3 Bg4
  7. 7.dxc5 dxc5
  8. 8.Qxd8+ Rxd8
  9. 9.Bxc5 Bxc3+
  10. 10.bxc3 Nf6
  11. 11.Nd4 Nxe4
  12. 12.Nxc6 bxc6
  13. 13.Bxa7 Bf5
  14. 14.f3 Nd6
  15. 15.a4 Ra8
  16. 16.Bb6 O-O
  17. 17.c5 Nc8
  18. 18.g4 Be6
  19. 19.a5 Nxb6
  20. 20.cxb6 Rfb8
  21. 21.Bd3 Rxb6
  22. 22.axb6 Rxa1+
  23. 23.Kd2 Ra2+
  24. 24.Ke3 Bc8
  25. 25.Rd1 Rb2
  26. 26.Bc4 Kg7
  27. 27.Rd8 Be6
  28. 28.Bxe6 fxe6
  29. 29.Rb8 e5
  30. 30.c4 Kf7
  31. 31.c5 Ke6
  32. 32.Rd8 g5
  33. 33.h3 Rb1
  34. 34.Kd2 Rb5
  35. 35.Kd3 Rb1
  36. 36.Kc4 Rc1+
  37. 37.Kb4 Rb1+
  38. 38.Ka4 Ra1+
  39. 39.Kb4 Rb1+
  40. 40.Ka3 Ra1+
  41. 41.Kb2 Ra5
  42. 42.Rd3 Ra8
  43. 43.Kb3 Ra5

More Vasily Smyslov Games

Go Deeper

Step through this game on the interactive board, where you can also branch off and play your own ideas from any position. See every game between Vasily Smyslov and Mikhail Botvinnik, or browse all Vasily Smyslov games in the collection. To find out what the engine thinks of it, paste the moves into Analyze Game and Stockfish will mark every turning point.