Came across this game from the 1950 Candidates playoff for the right
to face Botvinnik and just thought I would share it.

Bronstein went on to win the playoff +3 -2 =9.

[Event "Cm ( f )"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1950.??.??"]
[EventDate "?"]
[Round "8"]
[Result "1-0"]
[White "Isaac Boleslavsky"]
[Black "David Bronstein"]
[ECO "C66"]
[WhiteElo "?"]
[BlackElo "?"]
[PlyCount "109"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O d6 5. d4 Bd7 6. Nc3 Be7
7. Bxc6 Bxc6 8. Qd3 exd4 9. Nxd4 O-O 10. Bf4 Nd7 11. Rad1 Bf6
12. b4 Re8 13. Rfe1 Bxd4 14. Qxd4 b5 15. Rd3 Qf6 16. Qxf6 Nxf6
17. f3 a5 18. a3 axb4 19. axb4 Nd7 20. Nd5 Ra7 21. Red1 Ne5
22. Bxe5 Rxe5 23. Ne3 Bd7 24. Rc3 Be6 25. Rd4 g5 26. g3 Kf8
27. Kf2 f6 28. Rdd3 g4 29. Ra3 Rxa3 30. Rxa3 Rh5 31. fxg4
Rxh2+ 32. Kf3 Ke7 33. Ra8 Bc4 34. Nf5+ Kd7 35. Rh8 Rxc2
36. Rxh7+ Kc8 37. Rh6 Rb2 38. Rxf6 Rxb4 39. g5 Bd3 40. Re6 d5
41. Ne7+ Kd7 42. exd5 Rb3 43. Kf4 Rb4+ 44. Kf3 Rb3 45. Kg4
Rb4+ 46. Kh5 Re4 47. Ng6 b4 48. Nf8+ Kd8 49. g6 Rxe6 50. g7
Be2+ 51. Kg5 Re4 52. Kf6 Rg4 53. Ng6 Rxg6+ 54. Kxg6 Bd3+
55. Kh6 1-0


Enjoy!!
Morphy
http://www.rookhouse.com/blog/

On Feb 14, 1:38 pm, RookHouse wrote:
Came across this game from the 1950 Candidates playoff for the right
to face Botvinnik and just thought I would share it.

Bronstein went on to win the playoff +3 -2 =9.

[Event "Cm ( f )"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1950.??.??"]
[EventDate "?"]
[Round "8"]
[Result "1-0"]
[White "Isaac Boleslavsky"]
[Black "David Bronstein"]
[ECO "C66"]
[WhiteElo "?"]
[BlackElo "?"]
[PlyCount "109"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O d6 5. d4 Bd7 6. Nc3 Be7
7. Bxc6 Bxc6 8. Qd3 exd4 9. Nxd4 O-O 10. Bf4 Nd7 11. Rad1 Bf6
12. b4 Re8 13. Rfe1 Bxd4 14. Qxd4 b5 15. Rd3 Qf6 16. Qxf6 Nxf6
17. f3 a5 18. a3 axb4 19. axb4 Nd7 20. Nd5 Ra7 21. Red1 Ne5
22. Bxe5 Rxe5 23. Ne3 Bd7 24. Rc3 Be6 25. Rd4 g5 26. g3 Kf8
27. Kf2 f6 28. Rdd3 g4 29. Ra3 Rxa3 30. Rxa3 Rh5 31. fxg4
Rxh2+ 32. Kf3 Ke7 33. Ra8 Bc4 34. Nf5+ Kd7 35. Rh8 Rxc2
36. Rxh7+ Kc8 37. Rh6 Rb2 38. Rxf6 Rxb4 39. g5 Bd3 40. Re6 d5
41. Ne7+ Kd7 42. exd5 Rb3 43. Kf4 Rb4+ 44. Kf3 Rb3 45. Kg4
Rb4+ 46. Kh5 Re4 47. Ng6 b4 48. Nf8+ Kd8 49. g6 Rxe6 50. g7
Be2+ 51. Kg5 Re4 52. Kf6 Rg4 53. Ng6 Rxg6+ 54. Kxg6 Bd3+
55. Kh6 1-0

Enjoy!!
Morphyhttp://www.rookhouse.com/blog/

Boleslavsky and Bronstein finished equal first with 12 points each at
the 1950 Budapest Candidates Tournament. These two played a play-off
match which was also drawn: 2-2 with 8 draws. So they had a play-off
play-off, the first game of which was drawn, then Bronstein managed to
win. The subsequent match v Botvinnik was also drawn!
Bronstein wrote that Boleslavsky REALLY didn't want to play Botvinnik,
whereas Bronstein fancied his own chances. Boleslavsky therefore
allowed Bronstein to catch up during the Candidates tournament.

On Feb 15, 4:16*am, Offramp wrote:

Bronstein wrote that Boleslavsky REALLY didn't want to play Botvinnik,
whereas Bronstein fancied his own chances. Boleslavsky therefore
allowed Bronstein to catch up during the Candidates tournament.

I have a difficult time believing that someone as talented and
dedicated as Boleslavsky would fight to get all the way to this point
and then suddenly become "afraid" and "tank" his chances at the crown.

Nobody will ever convince me of those supposed "facts".

On Feb 15, 10:50*am, RookHouse wrote:
On Feb 15, 4:16*am, Offramp wrote:

Bronstein wrote that Boleslavsky REALLY didn't want to play Botvinnik,
whereas Bronstein fancied his own chances. Boleslavsky therefore
allowed Bronstein to catch up during the Candidates tournament.

I have a difficult time believing that someone as talented and
dedicated as Boleslavsky would fight to get all the way to this point
and then suddenly become "afraid" and "tank" his chances at the crown.

Nobody will ever convince me of those supposed "facts".

You should read Bronstein's "The Sorcerer's Apprentice." What
Offramp refers to is discussed on page 107: "Boleslavsky was leading
in the Candidates Tournament, but after a talk with Boris Vainstein he
decided to slow down to allow me to tie for first place with him."
The idea of Vainstein, then head of the Soviet chess federation, was
to propose a three-way match-tournament between Botvinnik,
Boleslavsky, and Bronstein, to decide the title. That is why
Boleslavsky slowed down. He had a dreadful record against Botvinnik,
+0 -7 =4 at the time, and knew he stood little chance in a one-on-one
match. When Botvinnik would have none of the 3-way idea, the playoff
match was arranged.

On Feb 15, 11:51*am, wrote:

* You should read Bronstein's "The Sorcerer's Apprentice." What
Offramp refers to is discussed on page 107: "Boleslavsky was leading
in the Candidates Tournament, but after a talk with Boris Vainstein he
decided to slow down to allow me to tie for first place with him."
* The idea of Vainstein, then head of the Soviet chess federation, was
to propose a three-way match-tournament between Botvinnik,
Boleslavsky, and Bronstein, to decide the title. That is why
Boleslavsky slowed down. He had a dreadful record against Botvinnik,
+0 -7 =4 at the time, and knew he stood little chance in a one-on-one
match. When Botvinnik would have none of the 3-way idea, the playoff
match was arranged.

Amazing. Seems the Russians were constantly toying with the system
back in the 50's, 60's, and 70's. Fischer was so right about the
corruption in the Soviet chess machine.

On Feb 15, 10:46 am, RookHouse wrote:
On Feb 15, 11:51 am, wrote:

You should read Bronstein's "The Sorcerer's Apprentice." What
Offramp refers to is discussed on page 107: "Boleslavsky was leading
in the Candidates Tournament, but after a talk with Boris Vainstein he
decided to slow down to allow me to tie for first place with him."
The idea of Vainstein, then head of the Soviet chess federation, was
to propose a three-way match-tournament between Botvinnik,
Boleslavsky, and Bronstein, to decide the title. That is why
Boleslavsky slowed down. He had a dreadful record against Botvinnik,
+0 -7 =4 at the time, and knew he stood little chance in a one-on-one
match. When Botvinnik would have none of the 3-way idea, the playoff
match was arranged.

Amazing. Seems the Russians were constantly toying with the system
back in the 50's, 60's, and 70's. Fischer was so right about the
corruption in the Soviet chess machine.

I don't think that this is an example of "corruption".
And I don't think that the stated reasons were it.
Boleslavsky was just an unusually nice guy,
very mild. If you told him "Slow down, because
of the phase of the moon.", he would probably
respond "Oh? Ok.".

He knew that Alechine never won against
Capa until when it counted.

Best regards,

Wlod

On Feb 16, 4:12 am, "Wlodzimierz Holsztynski (Wlod)"
wrote:
On Feb 15, 10:46 am, RookHouse wrote:



On Feb 15, 11:51 am, wrote:

You should read Bronstein's "The Sorcerer's Apprentice." What
Offramp refers to is discussed on page 107: "Boleslavsky was leading
in the Candidates Tournament, but after a talk with Boris Vainstein he
decided to slow down to allow me to tie for first place with him."
The idea of Vainstein, then head of the Soviet chess federation, was
to propose a three-way match-tournament between Botvinnik,
Boleslavsky, and Bronstein, to decide the title. That is why
Boleslavsky slowed down. He had a dreadful record against Botvinnik,
+0 -7 =4 at the time, and knew he stood little chance in a one-on-one
match. When Botvinnik would have none of the 3-way idea, the playoff
match was arranged.

Amazing. Seems the Russians were constantly toying with the system
back in the 50's, 60's, and 70's. Fischer was so right about the
corruption in the Soviet chess machine.

I don't think that this is an example of "corruption".
And I don't think that the stated reasons were it.
Boleslavsky was just an unusually nice guy,
very mild. If you told him "Slow down, because
of the phase of the moon.", he would probably
respond "Oh? Ok.".

He knew that Alechine never won against
Capa until when it counted.

Best regards,

Wlod

Also, Bronstein married Boleslavky's daughter Tatiana.

On Feb 15, 4:51 pm, wrote:
On Feb 15, 10:50 am, RookHouse wrote:

On Feb 15, 4:16 am, Offramp wrote:

Bronstein wrote that Boleslavsky REALLY didn't want to play Botvinnik,
whereas Bronstein fancied his own chances. Boleslavsky therefore
allowed Bronstein to catch up during the Candidates tournament.

I have a difficult time believing that someone as talented and
dedicated as Boleslavsky would fight to get all the way to this point
and then suddenly become "afraid" and "tank" his chances at the crown.

Nobody will ever convince me of those supposed "facts".

You should read Bronstein's "The Sorcerer's Apprentice." What
Offramp refers to is discussed on page 107: "Boleslavsky was leading
in the Candidates Tournament, but after a talk with Boris Vainstein he
decided to slow down to allow me to tie for first place with him."
The idea of Vainstein, then head of the Soviet chess federation, was
to propose a three-way match-tournament between Botvinnik,
Boleslavsky, and Bronstein, to decide the title. That is why
Boleslavsky slowed down. He had a dreadful record against Botvinnik,
+0 -7 =4 at the time, and knew he stood little chance in a one-on-one
match. When Botvinnik would have none of the 3-way idea, the playoff
match was arranged.

I suppose the motivation for Boleslavsky (I nearly wrote Stanislavsky)
in the play-off was to show at least that he could beat Bronstein, and
then hope for the best in the WC match v Botvinnik.
In any case what I was trying to show is how Bronstein fared in that
WC cycle - he tied, drew and drew in the events.

On Feb 15, 11:18 pm, Offramp wrote:


Also, Bronstein married Boleslavky's daughter Tatiana.

So what? It was a two-way street. Another man would
tell Bronstein:

well, my son, let me play Botvinnik. You're young,
you'll have your chance many times in the years
to come.

Instead, etc.

W³od

On Feb 15, 11:12*pm, "Wlodzimierz Holsztynski (Wlod)"
wrote:

I don't think that this is an example of "corruption".

Maybe "corrpution" is the wrong word, but the Russians always seemed
to have hidden agendas and prepared games.

Very rare that they just "played chess". They continually had to
ensure that their guys won, or even that their favorites won over
other Russians (i.e. Karpov-Korchnoi, Karpov-Kasparov, etc.).