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Home›World chess champions›Mikhail Botvinnik
World champion #6 · 1948–1957, 1958–1960, 1961–1963

♚ Mikhail Botvinnik

Methodical strategist · Soviet Union

The patriarch of the Soviet school treated chess like science: physical training, deep home analysis and honest self-criticism. His systematic approach shaped how champions prepare to this day.

Three lessons from Botvinnik for your own games

  1. Analyse your own games honestly
  2. Build plans around pawn structures
  3. Prepare physically and mentally

Mikhail Botvinnik’s games to replay

Botvinnik, Mikhail – Capablanca, Jose RaulAVRO · 1938Botvinnik–Capablanca1–0Botvinnik,Il – Khmelniker,ITCh-ISR · 2002½–½Botvinnik, Mikhail – Spassky, Boris VLeiden · 1970½–½Larsen, Bent – Botvinnik, MikhailLeiden · 1970½–½Spassky, Boris V – Botvinnik, MikhailLeiden · 1970½–½Botvinnik, Mikhail – Donner, Jan HeinLeiden · 1970½–½Botvinnik, Mikhail – Matulovic, MilanBelgrade URS-World · 1970½–½Matulovic, Milan – Botvinnik, MikhailBelgrade URS-World · 19700–1Donner, Jan Hein – Botvinnik, MikhailLeiden · 1970½–½Botvinnik, Mikhail – Donner, Jan HeinLeiden · 1970½–½Botvinnik, Mikhail – Matulovic, MilanBelgrade URS-World · 1970½–½Botvinnik, Mikhail – Larsen, BentLeiden · 19700–1Botvinnik, Mikhail – Spassky, Boris VLeiden · 1970½–½Spassky, Boris V – Botvinnik, MikhailLeiden · 1970½–½Larsen, Bent – Botvinnik, MikhailLeiden · 19701–0Donner, Jan Hein – Botvinnik, MikhailLeiden · 1970½–½Botvinnik, Mikhail – Larsen, BentLeiden · 19701–0Matulovic, Milan – Botvinnik, MikhailBelgrade URS-World · 1970½–½Botvinnik, Mikhail – Suttles, DuncanBelgrade · 19691–0Botvinnik, Mikhail – Ivkov, BorislavBelgrade · 1969½–½Ciric, Dragoljub M – Botvinnik, MikhailHoogovens · 1969½–½Lengyel, Levente – Botvinnik, MikhailBelgrade · 19691–0Medina Garcia, Antonio Angel – Botvinnik, MikhailHoogovens · 19690–1Botvinnik, Mikhail – Kurajica, BojanBelgrade · 19691–0
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