In the James Bond film From Russia with Love there is an evil mastermind named Kronsteen. The character is in some ways based on the Russian chess genius David Bronstein, and the chess game ‘from the Venice International Tournament’ that forms the backdrop to the opening sequence is taken from a game between Bronstein and Boris Spassky. A new book by Steve Giddins, Bronstein Move by Move (Everyman Chess), gives a superb insight into the creative processes of the chessboard colossus through a series of deeply annotated games. This week’s game and notes are based on those in this highly rewarding and entertaining book.

Botvinnik-Bronstein; World Championship Moscow (Game 17) 1951; Nimzo-Indian Defence

1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nc3 Bb4 4 e3 b6 5 Nge2 Ba6 6 a3 Be7 7 Ng3 d5 8 cxd5 Bxf1 9 Nxf1 exd5 10 Ng3 Qd7 Black has emerged from the opening with a good game. He has solved all his development problems, and the exchange of light-squared bishops has left White with weaknesses on the light squares, as well as a rather poor bishop. 11 Qf3 Nc6 12 0-0 g6 13 Bd2 0-0 14 Nce2 h5 Seizing the initiative, and threatening to drive back the knight from g3, thus further undermining White’s hopes of achieving e4. 15 Rfc1 h4 16 Nf1 Ne4 17 Nf4 a5 18 Rc2 Bd8 19 Be1 Ne7 20 Qe2 Nd6 (see diagram 1) 21 f3 The advance e4 is White’s only real hope of serious counterplay, so he feels obliged to attempt it, but there is always the risk that, if he fails to get in e4 in favourable circumstances, f3 will just prove to be a weakening, as in fact happens. 21 … g5 22 Nd3 Qe6 23 a4 Ng6 24 h3 f5 25 Bc3 Bronstein writes that Botvinnik clearly feared … Rf7, … Bf6 and … f4, so he overprotects d4. However, the problem with this move is that he relieves Black of any worries over his c7-pawn, which permits the black queen’s rook to come to the e-file. Sveshnikov’s suggestion of 25 Rac1 would at least make that plan more difficult to carry out. 25 … Bf6 26 Re1 Rae8 27 Qd1 Rf7 28 b3 Rfe7 29 Bb2 Black’s build-up has been completed and his pressure down the e-file reaches its apotheosis. Time for the breakthrough. 29 … f4 30 Ne5 Bxe5 Not 30 … Nxe5? 31 dxe5 Bxe5 32 exf4 White is winning, because of the pin down the e-file: for example, 32 … Bd4+ 33 Qxd4 Qxe1 34 Qh8+ Kf7 35 Qf6+ Kg8 36 f5 and Black is busted. 31 dxe5 Nf7 32 exf4 Nxf4 33 Nh2 c5 34 Ng4 (see diagram 2) 34 … d4 A time-trouble mistake that could have cost him dearly. Instead, 34 … Qg6 keeps a large advantage, the difference from the next note being that now 35 Bc1 is met simply by 35 … Nxe5. 35 Nf6+?? A shocker of a blunder. Black is only slightly better after 35 Bc1. 35 … Qxf6 White resigns