Learn from the best! The Cambridge-Springs in the QGD by Mikhail Botvinik

As a teenager Mikhail Botvinik loved to play the Cambridge-Springs and his results were n't bad at all.

Here is a fine strategic game by him where masterfully exploited White's inaccuracies.

Zaslavsky, A. - Botvinnik, Mikhail
 Leningrad-5ch sf
Leningrad, 1926
Queen's Gambit declined, D52

(Interactive board at the end of the post)

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. c4 d5 4. Nc3 Nbd7 5. Bg5 c6 6. e3 Qa5

This was Botvink’s favourite system back in those years. Black is going to put pressure on the dark squares on the queenside with …Bb4 and …Ne4. Moreover the queen from a5 supports a possible …b7-b6 followed by …Ba6 exchanging the traditionally "bad" Black bishop for White’s "good" bishop.

7. Nd2 Bb4 8. Qc2 O-O 9. Nb3?!

As a general rule one should never move the same piece twice in the opening neglecting development , yet White moved this knight for a third time (!) and we can safely assure that Black is going to equalise now for sure.

9...Bxc3+ 10. bxc3 Qa4!

Pins the knight, prevents physically a2-a4 and prepares the …b7-b6, Ba6 idea.

11. cxd5 cxd5 12. Bd3 b6

Not only prepares 13…Ba6 but also plays against the knight on b3 by ruling out the c5 and a5 squares. This is a standard restricting strategy against knights on b3 (b6) or g3 (g6).

13. Qe2

Perhaps 13.c4 was a better idea. With 13.Qe2 White prevents …Ba6 but leaves the c3-pawn unprotected.

13...Ne4 14. Be7 Nxc3 15. Qc2 Re8

16. Bxh7+ Kh8 17. Bd3 Rxe7 18. Qxc3 Ba6 19. O-O Rc8

After this small tactical sequence the dust has settled; Black’s opening strategy was totally successful since now he dominates the queenside thanks to the queen on a4, which ties down the white rook to the protection of the a2-pawn, and the black rooks on the c-file.

20. Qd2 Bxd3 21. Qxd3 Nf6

Preparing to double rooks on the c-file and jump to e4 with the knight.

22. f3

(22. Rfc1 Rec7 23. Rxc7 Rxc7 doesn’t change much. Unfortunately for White he cannot oppose the black rook with Rc1 because of the vulnerable a-pawn.)

22...Rec7 23. Rf2?!

Now Black invades with tempo, but the position was very hard to defend anyway. (23. Rfc1 Rc4! intending 24…Qa3 would had done the job.)

23...Rc3 24. Qf1 Rxe3 25. Re1 Rxe1 26. Qxe1 Qc4 27. Rd2 a5

The next phase of white knight's restriction. After 28…a4 the knight will be pushed further back.

28. Qh4+ Kg8 29. Rd1 a4 30. Rc1

30...axb3! 31. Rxc4 dxc4 0-1

An elegant finish for a fine strategic game.