The Only Game They EVER Played || Mikhail Botvinnik vs Bobby Fischer 

"Botvinnik had to start playing chess" So much said in just one sentence

Actually Effim Geller was the genius behind the endgame Botvinnik played for a very simple reason that Botvinnik is notoriously known for his strict health system and he refused to spend the hours he should be sleeping in on analyzing games so he gave it to Geller who came the next morning with the drawing line. Many years later Botvinnik said that he gave this position to 13 year-old Garry Kasparov to analyze and he found another drawing line other than the one that was played. So many great stories about that game that even a 20-minute video wasn't enough to cover them all.. But great work nonetheless Antonio.. as usual

"I do not have access to this information" what a nice phrase to hear in this day and age

''Fisher very unsatisfied getting up from the table and you can see botvinik with a smile he was able to draw a game against bobby fisher with the white pieces''. 😂 lol

People in the photo, from left to right: Man-with-the-mustache-1 Man-with-the-mustache-2 Man-with-the-mustache-3..

I think Fischer played an outstanding game considering that he was not facing Botvinnik alone, he was facing all the strongest soviet grandmasters minds behind Botvirnnik's hands

that is the most epic photo I've seen in my life

Botvinnik was not to be underestimated. He was "old school" trained by Russians who taught him absolute concentration under all adverse circumstances and would role play to teach him descipline and stamina. Fisher was young though talented but would underestimate his adversaries. This was a life learning experience for the young Fischer. I enjoyed the replay.

Stockfish 11 disagrees with Botvinnik's blind assessment at the adjournment, when he said the game would be "a draw" no matter what Fischer sealed. After 22 hours, and 139 Billion Nodes, in depth 77, Stockfish evaluates Fischer's position at +1.44 if he seals the best move, which is h7-h5. Unfortunately, Fischer sealed an inferior move, because after Rook to c5, Stockfish evaluates the game as drawn by depth 59. After 9 hours, and 62 Billion Nodes, at depth 73, it is still dead drawn. .. I have evaluated various positions further down the line from h7-h5, and black continues to maintain an advantage of about +1.30 to +1.50 with best play from both sides. .. After h7-h5, the best line appears to be something like this: (45. a2-a4, h7-h5.) 46. h3-h4+, Kg5-h6. -- (Botvinnik would start here after the adjournment.) 47. Rf3-f4, Rc7-c5. 48. f2-f3, Kh6-g7. 49. Kg3-g2, a7-a6. -- (By depth 56, black's a7-a6 is valued around +1.40 to +1.70.) 50. Rf4-d4, Rc5-c6. 51. Rd4-d5, Kg7-f6. -- (By depth 60, various sessions are converging on a valuation around +2.50.) .. Two sessions have diverged at move 52, but by move 54, both are peaking around +3.00 for black. I will report on these lines later. It would seem that slowly, but surely, black may have a winning line somewhere. .. UPDATE -- .. I've been running sessions on and off for the past couple of weeks to come up with a strong line for both sides. Continuing off the line above, after 51. Rd4-d5, Kg7-f6, the line continues to improve for black. By move 57, the engines finally sense that a mating sequence is on the horizon, with evaluations jumping up above +45 after hours of analysis. And by move 62, black begins forcing the trades, and pushing the pawn to victory. When the Queen is finally promoted around move 70 or 71, it's a Rook vs. Queen endgame, and the engines are able to reduce the line to about Mate in 30 from that point. After 25 or so moves of maneuvering, the Queen eventually forces the fork, and then checkmates the Black King shortly thereafter. What follows is a solid line for Black to earn the Queen, with some of the evaluation notes. .. 52. Kg2-f2, Kf6-e7. -- (-2.70 white, depth 59/95-, 1:34:48, 9.643-Bn) (+2.81 black, depth 56/85, 22:33, 2.33-Bn) 53. Rd5-d4, b6-b5. -- (+5.32 black, depth 66/108, 19:02:01, 117.199-Bn) 54. a4xb5, a6xb5. 55. Rd4-b4, Rc6-b6. 56. Kf2-e3, Ke7-d6. 57. Rb4-f4, b5-b4. -- (+17 by depth 31, new line coming) (+48.06 by depth 36 thru 46) (+47.92 by depth 51) 58. Ke3-d2, b4-b3. -- (+48.41) 59. Kd2-c3, Kd6-e5. -- (+48.06 ) 60. Rf4-e4+, Ke5-f5. -- (+48.06/47.77 ) 61. Kc3-b2, Rb6-b5. -- (+47.49) (switched to new line, eval down to +39) (new line back up to +47.77) 62. Re4-c4, g6-g5.. -- (+47.77) .. Now that black has finally pushed the g-pawn, the white engines sweat out many alternate lines, but all lines end with the same result: black will get that Queen very soon. .. 63. Kb2-c1, b3-b2+. (+M41) 64. Kc1-b1, g5xh4. 65. Rc4xh4, Kf5-g5. 66. Rh4-c4, Rb5-f5. 67. Kb1xb2, Rf5xf3. (+M34) 68. Kb2-c2, h5-h4. (+M33) 69. Kc2-d1, h4-h3. 70. Kd1-e2, h3-h2. 71. Ke2xf3, h2-h1Q+. (+M30) .. Once the Queen is on the board, all of the engines agree over various lines that black sits around +M30 to +M33. There are several ways to do it, and some of the lines are very instructive. Anyone with a strong engine can add this line to the PGN, and see if you can win from there! .. For your convenience, here is an alternate PGN containing all of the moves I listed: .. 1. c4 g6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. Qb3 dc4 6. Qc4 O-O 7. e4 Bg4 8. Be3 Nfd7 9. Be2 Nc6 10. Rd1 Nb6 11. Qc5 Qd6 12. h3 Bf3 13. gf3 Rfd8 14. d5 Ne5 15. Nb5 Qf6 16. f4 Ned7 17. e5 Qf4 18. Bf4 Nc5 19. Nc7 Rac8 20. d6 ed6 21. ed6 Bb2 22. O-O Nbd7 23. Rd5 b6 24. Bf3 Ne6 25. Ne6 fe6 26. Rd3 Nc5 27. Re3 e5 28. Be5 Be5 29. Re5 Rd6 30. Re7 Rd7 31. Rd7 Nd7 32. Bg4 Rc7 33. Re1 Kf7 34. Kg2 Nc5 35. Re3 Re7 36. Rf3 Kg7 37. Rc3 Re4 38. Bd1 Rd4 39. Bc2 Kf6 40. Kf3 Kg5 41. Kg3 Ne4 42. Be4 Re4 43. Ra3 Re7 44. Rf3 Rc7 45. a4 h5 46. h4+ Kh6 47. Rf4 Rc5 48. f3 Kg7 49. Kg2 a6 50. Rd4 Rc6 51. Rd5 Kf6 52. Kf2 Ke7 53. Rd4 b5 54. axb5 axb5 55. Rb4 Rb6 56. Ke3 Kd6 57. Rf4 b4 58. Kd2 b3 59. Kc3 Ke5 60. Re4+ Kf5 61. Kb2 Rb5 62. Rc4 g5 63. Kc1 b2+ 64. Kb1 gxh4 65. Rxh4 Kg5 66. Rc4 Rf5 67. Kxb2 Rxf3 68. Kc2 h4 69. Kd1 h3 70. Ke2 h2 71. Kxf3 h1Q+ .. Edit: I went back and ran a new session for White's response, after Black promotes the Queen. By the time it reaches depth 60, after over 4.7 hours, it says White's best move will be valued at -M29, which is in agreement with the Queen promotion being evaluated at +M30. However, once this session reached depth 61, and continuing to depth 96 after almost 8 hours, the eval has improved to -M28. By depth 110, after 20+ hours, it's just repeating the same line over and over again, clearly confirming that the limit here is -M28. So we can say retroactively that from the given position, black's Queen promotion was to be valued at +M29.

I recognized everyone in the picture they are all Chess Players

I recognized none, for the record ;-)

tal adjourned his own game at the same time as this one, but he spent all night analyzing Botvinnik's game instead of his own, along with the rest of the whole country.

I like how he says "agadmator's dog" and doesn't even flinch.

I like how he thanked 'Agadmator's Dog' for the donation and didn't even flinch. I wouldn't started laughing or at least cracked a smile.

two uploads from agadmator makes my day twice as good :)

Nimzowitsch standing, last on the left behind Akiva Rubinstein. Marshall sitting, last on the right- across from David Janowsky

Holy shit that hello everyone nearly scared me out of my chair. Thats some passionate greeting you give

I love how you nonchalantly delivered the news of your dog making a donation to the channel!

That photo is the things dreams are made of. Different era. They dont make men or women like that anymore. What's with all the botvinnik hate, though? Hate him or love him, he's the patriarch of soviet chess. And without soviet chess, fischer has no great rival, and kasparov has no teacher, and then carlsen has no teacher. Is he the strongest grandmaster of all time? Not even close. But give the man his props for what he did for the game during such an insane time during world history.

"agadmator's dog"

The summary of this game is both players did not agreed to each others move.. Lol

If I were him, after drawing my first game against thee, Bobby Fischer....I wouldn't want to play him ever again either lol...just boost about it forever. Just tells you how good Fischer really was, even at 19.

Been awhile since a Fischer game was posted. Good stuff, Antonio.

Really man, your"Hello everyone" almost blew my speakers out. 😂 Really love your content keep it up.

Karlsbad 1907: Nimzowitsch is one standing at the left and Marshall is the one sitting at the right. I found the pic with everyone on it but not gonna ruin the fun :P

Bobby Fisher is in our hearts

According to Wikipedia, Fischer came up with queen captures pawn over the board, forcing Botvinnik away from his preparation. It sucks that he didn't win though.

Been watching your videos for months on my TV in bed every morning with coffee and every day after work. I am now addicted to your channel. I stay up late and fall asleep while your videos are still playing. I now rely on hearing your voice for commentaries to help me fall asleep. Don't know if its therapy or a sickness. SUBSCRIBED

Geller gives an excellent annotation of his game against Panno and the triple Argentinian Tragedy in general in his book "Application of Chess Theory".

"I could give him odds and still beat him." --Bobby Fischer "Wow! I'm as good as Botvinnik!" --Me

"Too many mistakes" is a very accurate summary of this game by Botvinnik.

I love your "Zugzwang", it sounds legendary :D ps: nice commentarys and thanks for your effort!

Your explanation and studying the possibilities for different scenarios and quotations from players Are unique

I love history, this game and the story behind it is a gem

Thanks for using photo I shared for photo challenge :-) Hope you use all of them in upcoming videos.

Fischer proved without a doubt, he was the best during his prime years as a chess player. Would Botvinnik have been sent to the gulag if he would've lost?

Wow so this was played in my country :) now I have something to brag about to my friends :)

Seems Old Games are beautiful😍

Fichser the God of chess!!

I'm enjoying your channel. My interest in chess is being rekindled after decades away.

Bobby Fischer is not world-class ... he is a class of his own! Rest in peace, Robert J. Fischer.

It was Geller who found the trap that can draw Fischer into a draw. Years later Fischer published an analysis of this endgame and claimed he missed a win. And years after Fischer's analysis Botwinnik's 13 years old student Garry Kasparov publushed a rebuttal to Fischer's analysis

Capablanca was very clear about Botvinnik. future Champion.

I always enjoyed playing against Bobby Fischer. We had some good games.

It felt to me that there were multiple points were it was Fisher's game to win and he made blew it. It never felt like he was in serious jeopardy but he kept seizing defeat from the jaws of victory.

Been waiting for this specific game for ever

This guys brain works like a computer. Very knowledgeable. He always gives a great analysis.

Really good analysis, I have to rewind the positions several times to catch up with your speed of thought (albeit very well prepared and rehearsed beforehand).

Imagine what would happen to the time line if Fischer won this game

These are two very special grandmasters, Botvinnik was very underrated due to circumstances beyond his control.

I wonder how would Carlsen play this endgame ...

Thank you. I really enjoyed this game.

books of Dimitrije Bjelica describes Bobby in his simplicity of a genius... they're so close and personal... blitz (best ever) tourney in Herzeg Novi and USSR vs Rest of the World match... also there was one woman in Zagreb that mesmerized Fischer and his chess ... he had strong & strange bond for Balkans...

Its is amazing to me that 17 moves into this game Botvirnnik is still in his preparation. How many moves did he consider with that preparation???

Thank you for another opportunity to watch a nice game! Good analysis! Despite all the blah, blah below, two of the greatest Chess Players that ever lived!

This picture includes definitely : Maroczy, Rubinstein, Marshall, Duras, Chigorin, Janoswksi, Cohn, Berger, Tchitmersky, Schlechter, Teichmann, Tartakower, and probably Lasker, and Tarrasch (although the Lasker is not Emmanuel but his twin brother). Not all these players contested the tournament that year, and the world champion Lasker was busy writing a book on how Germany would eventually win the next world war, sunk all his money in war bonds and eventually died a pauper. ps: My favourite player will always be Adolf Anderssen.

Considering the tension between Fischer and the Russians I think the Fischer Interzonals will be a great series to cover. Of course, we don't need the Spassky match as those games have been highly analyzed in your channel and others.

"HELLO EVERYONE"....so lovely.💕

Fischer's style was more attacking, like Tal, and this is why Bobby Fischer respected Tal's play more than Botvinnik. The fact is that that Botvinnik was World Champion 3 times, for a total of 13 years, and Fischer, and Tal together held the World Champion title for only 4 years total.

We all came here to enjoy agadmator's vast knowledge. Didn't we?

Fischer with his elegant suit.

I love the Russian/Soviet grand masters but it was interesting to see the increased concentration level when Fischer started playing them.

“So we can all marvel at your vast knowledge “ 😂😂 I like how u were Being genuine but still funny

Bobby Fischer is the greatest player of them all. Love you Bobby!

You do such a great job brother ! TY,,, 😁🖒♔♕♖♗♘♙

Appreciate the fact that you covered up the couch

That was a really exciting game.

The photo question is easy!!! He's the guy with the awesome mustache!!! LOL

I wonder how many times Fischer played the evans gambit 🙂

I'm sorry to do this, but both grand masters are wrong. It is not a draw. I spent a few hours looking at this. The trick is to trap white into a zugswang. And it's simple. Kf7 to g6 forcing whites move on either a6to capture on a pa3 which is an immediate loss for white as he sacrifices his only rook (followed by rd3 to capture black ra3) then kg6 captures pf6 trapping white in a zugswang. Or, if white moves pf6 to f7 checking blacks king, kg6 to f7 capturing whites pawn, either way, whites rook cannot pin blacks king and only can keep checking him until blacks king transverses the board crossing behind cover of his rook. The route the king takes is of no consequence, he will either travel backwards then forwards or forwards. Whites rook cannot keep him pinned behind the 6th row indefinitely because once the rook moves black will advance either pawn to queen and be unstoppable. If white refuses to move his rook, the black king will simply proceed from f to b file and capture. Again, white will be captured or will move his rook. Either way is winning for black. Play it out yourself. Tell me if I missed something.

Nice war between the 2 great generals :)

Great game. Both played very well, that those players look very different from other pictures.

Fischer is love

Thanks for the amazing content!

Fischer should not have been ashamed he did get all the initiative in a variation that Botvinnik had thoroughly analysed. BTW even if it requires a genius mind like Botvinnik's to memorise all of those variations it is kinda disappointing that there is so much of the opening+middle game that is already played before the match. It is much more impressive to think that they were found over the board.

I've found a really interesting variation from the end that lets black exchange pawns with white while still guarding the last black pawn with Rook on h6.

hey agad! have you considered publishing a book covering a collection of great games of your choice? might be a cool idea.

Marshall: furthest to the right. Nimzovich: middle table, third guy from the left.

I was waiting for that one :)

A fantastic game, unfortunately Fischer missed the win... I very much also enjoyed the fact that today we could see 2 games on RU-vid's best chess channel!

From that position it's a dead draw. Komodo 12.1.1 says black is better by 5 centipawns at depth 39. Stockfish 9 Gives black -0.28 at depth 43. Completely drawn.

what a happy bush in those days :) Wish i could be part of them

Feeding the RU-vid algorithm. Nice game. thanks.

I love how the hello everyone has changed through the years!

The random moment when I hear the name of a town in my country in your video

Aron Nimzowitsch and Frank Marshall are playing on the last chess board from the left, Nizowitsch on the left and Marshall on the right.

Hey agadmator, I love your chess channel and you made me love chess again. I have a feedback: I feel like you should show the photo challenges at the end of the video because not everyone is interested in them and I need to skip everytime and for the people who solve it can focus on it after seeing the video. Obviously if you are just showing the photos of a match and not a photo challenge just show them in the beginning, I like them.

@agadmator's Chess Channel After move 55 Rook captures pawn, it's a Lomonsov table base position and it's a DRAW.

i have aquariam and if you input the moves you can have the engine suggest hints and even set how many moves deep you want it to think, it also provides analysis as it does so

I wish I could give this 2 thumbs up!

To me, adjourned games are not real games. It's like having someone behind you whispering moves to you.

Zugzwang! I haven't heard that term since I played school level chess and studied endgame tactics back in primary school. Thanks for the pleasant flashback!

It's really a pity that this is the only Botvinnik vs Fischer game! I think that older Fischer could beat Botvinnik but we will never know...

1k away to 200k... Congratz!!!

#suggestion Keres v Najdorf, Geller v Panno and Spassky v Pilnik all played at the 1955 Göteborg Interzonal. THis became known as the triple Argentinian Tragedy where all three black players prepared the same variation against the three Soviet grandmasters. Needless to say, their prepared variation was crushed on all three counts. However, this sub-variation of the Najdorf, which became known as the Göteborg variation, was later that decade played by Fischer against Gligoric at the 1958 Portoroz Interzonal for a draw, as Fischer used an improvement suggested by Keres. Fischer it is thought, really should have even won that game. In any event, after the draw in this game, Fischer became the youngest ever grandmaster. (David N.L Levy -- How Fischer plays chess published by Fontana/Collins 1975)

That would have been an amazing match between them.

Problem with Fischer as he was a loudmouth. He boasted too much. He was very talented but he was always complaining about others. People who are thinking that Botvinnik was a weak player, they should understand that Botvinnik was towards his end of chess career and Fischer was beginning his career. Tal himself considered Botvinnik as a very strong player.

We need to bring back the phrase "vast knowledge"

I found them, they are both in the picture :)