The Botvinnik System is lesson 3 of 10 in Brilliant sacrifices 5: master sacrifices, an opening course suited to players rated around 2100 (strong club players). Semi-Slav, Botvinnik System, D44. White gives a knight on g5 to open Black's king side. It has 3 interactive exercises: 3 find-the-move puzzles. You play every move on a board and get feedback straight away. The lesson is free.
What this lesson explains
This is the Botvinnik System of the Semi-Slav. Black's pawns on h6 and g5 kicked your bishop, and the e5 pawn attacks the knight on f6. Mikhail Botvinnik made this line famous as Black. About 160,000 rated games on Lichess have reached this position.
Nxg5! The knight takes the pawn. If hxg5, the bishop takes back, and the pin on the f6 knight returns.
After hxg5 and Bxg5, Black develops with Nbd7. White has two pawns for the knight, and the f6 knight stays pinned. The engines like White a little.
Recap.
In the Botvinnik System, h6 and g5 kick the bishop.
Nxg5 gives a knight for two pawns.
Bxg5 keeps the pin on f6.
The position is sharp for both sides.
What you practise
First play the line. You are White: play the moves of the Semi-Slav Defence, up to the moment of the sacrifice.
Your turn: find the sacrifice. The pawn on g5 attacks your bishop on h4. Do not retreat it. Take on g5 with the knight.
Black does not take the knight. Black plays Nd5 instead. Find the strong knight move.
Worked examples
First play the line. You are White: play the moves of the Semi-Slav Defence, up to the moment of the sacrifice. Good. Black answers g5. Now the position is ready for the sacrifice.
Your turn: find the sacrifice. The pawn on g5 attacks your bishop on h4. Do not retreat it. Take on g5 with the knight. That is the Botvinnik sacrifice. Two pawns for a knight, and a pinned piece on f6.
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