12. Ultra-Sharp Botvinnik System (5.Bg5 dxc4 6.e4 b5)
The sharpest variation in all of 1.d4 theory: piece sacrifices and passed pawns.
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.Bg5 dxc4 6.e4 b5 7.e5 h6 8.Bh4 g5 9.Nxg5 hxg5 10.Bxg5 Nbd7 11.g3 Bb7 12.Bg2 Qb6
Move by move
- 1.d4 – White takes the center with the queen's pawn, already defended by the Queen, and opens the diagonal for the c1 Bishop. The repertoire plan is c4 next move to attack Black's d5 pawn at once.
- 1...d5 – Black answers symmetrically: the d5 pawn prevents e4 and contests the center. White can now hit it from the side with the c-pawn.
- 2.c4 – The Queen's Gambit attacks d5 with a flank pawn. It is not a real sacrifice: after 2...dxc4 White regains the pawn with e3 and Bxc4, or takes the center with e4.
- 2...c6 – Slav Defense: Black supports d5 with the c-pawn and leaves the c8 Bishop's diagonal free, so it can come out to f5 or g4 before ...e6. In return it gives up the ...c5 push for now.
- 3.Nf3 – The Knight defends d4 and controls e5, preventing ...e5. It is the most flexible move: White waits to see where Black's c8 Bishop will go.
- 3...Nf6 – Black develops and defends d5. The main choices now are ...dxc4, ...a6 or ...e6 with the Semi-Slav.
- 4.Nc3 – The Knight attacks d5 a second time and prepares e4. Black can now take on c4, because White does not yet have e3 to recapture at once with the Bishop.
- 4...e6 – Semi-Slav: Black supports d5 with c6 and e6, a very solid structure. The c8 Bishop stays shut in, but Black prepares ...dxc4 followed by ...b5.
- 5.Bg5 – The Bishop pins the f6 Knight and invites Black to choose between the Botvinnik system with ...dxc4 and the Moscow system with ...h6.
- 5...dxc4 – Botvinnik Variation: Black takes on c4 taking advantage of the fact that the g5 Bishop does not defend the queenside, and prepares ...b5 to keep the extra pawn.
- 6.e4 – White answers by taking the center with two pawns: it threatens e5, which would attack the f6 Knight already pinned by the g5 Bishop.
- 6...b5 – Black defends the c4 pawn with ...b5 and accepts complications: after e5 the f6 Knight will have no safe squares.
- 7.e5 – The pawn attacks the f6 Knight, which is pinned to the Queen and cannot move: Black must counterattack at once.
- 7...h6 – Black counterattacks the g5 Bishop instead of saving the Knight: if 8.exf6 hxg5 Black regains the piece.
- 8.Bh4 – White keeps the pin on f6, which is attacked by the e5 pawn.
- 8...g5 – Black breaks the pin with the g-pawn: now the f6 Knight is free, but Black's position is weakened.
- 9.Nxg5 – White sacrifices the Knight on g5: after hxg5 Bxg5 has two pawns, the pin on f6 and the e5 pawn attacking the Knight.
- 9...hxg5 – Black takes the Knight. Now White rebuilds the pin with Bxg5.
- 10.Bxg5 – The Bishop recaptures on g5 and pins the f6 Knight again. White has two pawns for the piece and threatens exf6.
- 10...Nbd7 – The Knight defends f6 and prepares ...Bb7. Black keeps the piece for now.
- 11.g3 – White prepares the Bg2 fianchetto to hit the a8-h1 diagonal, where c6 and the a8 Rook stand.
- 11...Bb7 – The Bishop develops on the long diagonal and defends c6.
- 12.Bg2 – The Bishop opposes the b7 Bishop on the long diagonal. White prepares exf6 and castling.
- 12...Qb6 – The Queen develops and prepares ...O-O-O. From b6 it also attacks d4.
How to exploit the position
Very sharp position: White will recover the piece with exf6 and have a strong pawn on f6; Black has the c4-b5 pawns and prepares long castling.
- Play 13.exf6 to recover the piece: the f6 pawn will remain a thorn in Black's position.
- Castle and prepare d5 to open the g2 Bishop's diagonal against c6 and b7.
- With a4 attack the b5-c4 chain to weaken the queenside, where the black King will go to castle.
- Black wants ...O-O-O and ...c5: do not let his passed pawns advance.
Master tips
The Nxg5 sacrifice
In the Botvinnik system 9.Nxg5 is a temporary sacrifice: the e5 pawn and the pin on f6 allow you to recover the piece.