1.c4
e6
2.Nf3
Nf6
3.Nc3
d5
4.d4
Nbd7
5.e3
a6
6.c5
c6
7.Na4
Ne4
8.Bd3
e5
9.Nd2
Nxd2
10.Bxd2
e4
11.Be2
Be7
12.0-0
0-0
13.f3
f5
14.fxe4
fxe4
15.Rxf8+
Qxf8
16.Ba5
Nf6
17.Bc7
Be6
18.Qb3
Bg4
19.Bxg4
Nxg4
20.Bf4
Qf7
21.h3
Bh4
22.hxg4
g5
23.g3
gxf4
24.gxh4
Qe6
25.Kh2
Rf8
26.Rf1
f3
27.Qc2
Kh8
28.Qf2
Qxg4
29.Rg1
Qd7
30.Nc3
Rf6
31.Nd1
Qe7
32.Qg3
Rg6
33.Qb8+
Kg7
34.Rxg6+
Kxg6
35.Kg3
Qg7
36.Kh2
Kh5
37.Qg3
Qg4
38.Qxg4+
Kxg4
39.Nf2+
Kxh4
Diagram
40.b4
It's easy to conclude that white in winning. But what's the best plan?
40...Kg5
41.Kg3
Capturing space, but the real idea is to drive the black queen to the queenside in order to capture the h-pawn first and even the f-pawn!
41...Kf5
42.Nh3
Kf6
43.a4
With the idea of b5 once the knight reaches f4 (to place pressure upon the d5-pawn)
43...Kf5
44.Nf4
Kf6
45.b5
axb5
46.axb5
Here's the first point: cxb5? meets Nxd5
46...Ke7
47.b6
A wonderful conception that Botvinnik conceived on move 40. Here. the end of phase one... fixing the b7-weakness.
47...Kd7
The king wiull now have to defend the black b-pawn against the coming threat of Nd6
48.Nh5
but first, the h-pawn must go
48...Kd8
[48...Ke7
49.Ng7
Kd7
50.Nf5
Kc8
51.Nd6+
Kb8
52.Ne8
Kc8
53.Nf6
as in the game]
49.Nf6
h6
50.Ng4
h5
51.Nf2
Step two has been completed... white willl now win the h-pawn.
51...Kd7
52.Kh4
Kd8
53.Kxh5
Ke7
54.Kg4
Ke6
55.Kg3
Step three complete. Holding the f-pawn with the king to activate the knight.
55...Kd7
56.Nh3
Kd8
57.Nf4
Diagram [Fine gives 57.Ng5
Ke7
58.Nxf3
exf3
59.Kxf3
as also winnning.]
57...Kd7
58.Nh5
Ke6
59.Ng7+
Kd7
60.Nf5
Kc8
61.Nd6+
Kb8
Step 4 complete. Driving the king back to the queenside to defend the b-pawn.
62.Nf5
Permitting the rapid advance of the king.
62...Kc8
63.Kf4
f3-f2 meets Ng3-f1 and the f-pawn will fall.
63...Kb8
64.Ke5
Kc8
65.Ke6
Kb8
66.Kd7
Ka8
67.Ng3
Kb8
68.Nf1
Ka8
69.Kc8
zugswang. The f-pawn must now move, and the white king can return to grab it. [69.Kc8
f2
70.Kd7
Kb8
71.Ke6
] 1-0