Botvinnik's Iconic Positional Exchange Sacrifice - Best Of The 40s - Liublinsky vs. Botvinnik
Mikhail Botvinnik is one of the greatest explainers in chess history. His ability to think originally about strategic precepts and clearly explain his thoughts to players of all levels is possibly unmatched in chess history.
Tigran Petrosian is renowned for his exchange sacrifices, but Botvinnik broke ground with many typical exchange sacrifices while Petrosian was still far removed from elite chess.
In reviewing this game, I could not think of an earlier example of this exchange sacrifice, despite how iconic it is now considered to be, BUT commenters on YouTube pointed out that Howard Staunton had shown this idea one hundred years previously in a beautiful win over Saint Amant! Additionally, I later found a good example from the 1892 Steinitz vs. Chigorin match though it was a bit simpler as White attained a powerful passed pawn on the 6th rank.
Top 10 Games of the 1940s
- #1: ????
- #2: ????
- #3: ????
- #4: ????
- #5: ????
- #6: ????
- #7: ????
- #8: Liublinsky vs. Botvinnik, 1943
- #9: Zita vs. Bronstein, 1946
- #10: Siff vs. Kashdan, 1948
- See also: Top 10 of the 1950s, Top 10 of the 1960s, Top 10 of the 1970s, Top 10 of the 1980s, Top 10 of the 1990s, Top 10 of the 2000s, and Top 10 of the 2010s
The game opens with a delayed Exchange Variation in the Ruy Lopez, and as a result, Botvinnik recaptures with ...bxc6, electing ultimately to accept a TERRIBLE pawn structure in return for open lines and the bishop pair.
In fact, White gains the advantage and is close to securing a won game by picking off the weak pawn on c5. That is when Botvinnik comes up with an incredible exchange sacrifice with ...Rd4!! White should probably not lose, but faced with a radical transformation and mounting pressure, Liublinsky compromises his kingside and quickly succumbs.
Annotations, including Botvinnik's incredible comments from "One Hundred Selected Games," [affiliate link supports the content] are available below.
If you like the content and want to support it, subscribe and follow on YouTube and Twitch!
I'm the Head of Community for Chess.com. I earned the National Master title in 2012, and in 2014, I returned to my home state of South Carolina to start Strategery: Chess and Games. In late 2015, I began working for Chess.com and haven't looked back since.
You can find my personal content on Twitch , Twitter , and YouTube where I further indulge my love of chess.
