Back in July of 1947, I celebrated my 2nd birthday and a training tournament that ended in August was held held in Parnu. It was a strong one...it was billed as the Tournament of the Strongest Masters of the USSR.
It's strength was slightly diminished by the absence of Botvinnik who declined to participate citing his “scientific work.”
Two other strong players, Levenfish and Ragozin, withdrew shortly before the start and their place was taken by two local players, Randviir and Renter.
The tournament received the moniker “training tournament” because Keres and Smyslov were scheduled to play in the upcoming World Championship match-tournament that was to begin in the Netherlands in just over six months.
By winning the tournament Keres consolidated his position as a front runner in the upcoming world championship contest. Kotov missed the chance to tie for first when he let slip a winning advantage against Lilienthal in the final round.
In the 1948 World Championship event Botvinnik dominated the field. Smyslov finished second while Keres tied with Reshevsky for third. Former World Champion Max Euwe finished fifth (last).
In the following game Alexander Kotov (1913-1981) takes down the local Raul Renter (August 1, 1920 – November 20, 1992, 70 years old). Renter was born in Tallinn, Estonia. In 1936, he won the second Soviet Junior Championship, was Estonian champion in 1946 and in 1949 he shared first with the other local in this Parnu tournament, Juri Randviir. In 1950, Renter finished first in Parnu ahead of Pitksaar, Kholmov and Mikenas.
What was interesting about this game is that Kotov’s play was nearly flawless. Except for his 14th move, it’s hard to suggest an improvement on his play anywhere.
[Event "Training Tournament, Parnu"]
[Site ""]
[Date "1947.07.16"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Raul Renter"]
[Black "Alexander Kotov"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E32"]
[Annotator "Stockfish 15.1"]
[PlyCount "48"]
[EventDate "1947.??.??"]
{Nimzo-Indian: Classical} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 {This is the
Classical (or Capablanca) Variation. It was popular in the early days of the
Nimzo-Indian, but it was eventually replaced by the Rubinstein Variation (4.e3)
. With 4.Qc2 white aims to acquire the two B without allowing doubled c-Pawns.
The drawback is that the Q must move at least twice and his K-side development
is delayed. As a result, it is usually advisable for black to open the game
quickly to exploit his lead in development.} d6 {Black has tried just about
every reasonable move here. Most popular are 4...O-O and 5...d5 with 4...c5
and 4...Nc5 coming next order of preference. The text move has not fared well
in practice and so is rarely seen.} 5. e3 {White does better with 5.Nf3} O-O 6.
Nge2 (6. Bd3 c5 {Also playable is 6...e5} 7. dxc5 d5 8. Nf3 Nc6 9. O-O {
The position is equal. Bischoff,K (2556)-Speelman,J (2623) Hastings 2001}) 6...
c5 (6... e5 7. Bd2 Re8 8. a3 Bxc3 9. Bxc3 exd4 10. Nxd4 Ne4 11. Bd3 Nxc3 12.
Qxc3 Nd7 {is equal. Keres,P-Smyslov,V Leningrad/Moscow 1941}) 7. Ng3 cxd4 8.
exd4 Nc6 9. Be3 Ng4 {Black has a wide choice of satisfactory moves here, but
this is the start of an interesting idea.} 10. Bd3 (10. Be2 {was better
because after} Nxe3 11. fxe3 Qg5 12. Qd2 {the position is equal.}) 10... f5 {
[%mdl 32] Hoiw should white meet the threat of ...f4?} 11. O-O-O {Not this way!
} (11. h3 Nxe3 12. fxe3 Qg5 13. Qf2 {White has avoided disaster, but black
still has the more promising position.}) 11... Bxc3 (11... f4 {was equally
good. White's best continuation is} 12. Bxh7+ Kh8 13. Qg6 fxe3 14. Qxg4 Kxh7
15. fxe3 {White has two Ps vs. a minor piece, but it is not enough
compensation, so black has what can be considered a decisive advantage.}) 12.
bxc3 {Better that capturing with the Q because then he would not be able to
capture on h7.} f4 13. Bxh7+ Kh8 14. Bd2 {One wonders if Rentner saw this
position and was relying on this clever move iin anticipation of black playing
the obvious (and titally wrong) 14...fxc3?} Qh4 (14... fxg3 15. hxg3 Nh6 (15...
Rxf2 16. Qg6 e5 17. Qh5 Nh6 18. Bd3 Qf8 19. Rdf1 Bg4 20. Qg6 {and wins...}
Rxf1+ 21. Rxf1 Qxf1+ 22. Bxf1 Rf8 23. Bxh6 Rxf1+ 24. Kd2 gxh6 25. Qxg4) 16. f3
{Here, again, white has two Ps vs a minor piece, but this time he is the one
that is winning! For example...} d5 17. g4 Bd7 18. Bg6 Kg8 19. Bh7+ Kh8 20. g5
{wins} Re8 (20... Nf7 21. Bg8+ Kxg8 22. Qh7#) 21. gxh6 g6 22. Qxg6 {White is
winning.}) (14... Nxf2 {was even better.} 15. Rdf1 Nxh1 16. Rxh1 e5 {is
winning for black.} (16... fxg3 {would be wrong because after} 17. hxg3 Rf6 {
white is clearly better.})) 15. Bg6 (15. Bxf4 Rxf4 16. Bg6 Rxf2 {spells
disaster fir white.}) 15... Nxf2 16. Ne4 Nxh1 17. Rxh1 e5 {Black's small slip
on move 14 has complicated his task, but he is now helped out by his opponent.}
18. d5 {[%mdl 8192] This results in a quick loss.} (18. Nxd6 {This is the
crucial defense.} {Stockfish 15.1:} Rf6 19. Nf7+ Kg8 20. Nxe5 Nxe5 21. dxe5 Ra6
22. Rf1 Be6 23. Rxf4 Qxh2 24. Qd3 Rxa2 {Black is better and with careful play
he has excellent winning chances.}) 18... Ne7 {After this black is clearly
winning.} (18... Qg4 {was also good, but it allows white too much play.} 19.
Nxd6 Rf6 20. Nf7+ Kg8 21. dxc6 Qxg6 22. Qxg6 Rxg6 23. Nxe5 Rxg2 24. Nd3 bxc6 {
winning.}) 19. Nxd6 Qf6 20. Nf7+ Rxf7 {This is the quickest way to win.} 21.
Bxf7 Qxf7 22. Re1 Bf5 23. Qb3 Ng6 24. c5 e4 {White resigned.} (24... e4 25. d6
(25. g4 Bxg4 26. Rxe4 f3 27. Be3 f2 28. Bxf2 Qxf2 {White is two pieces down.})
25... Be6 26. Qc2 e3 27. Bxe3 fxe3 28. Rxe3 {Here, too, white is two pieces
down.}) 0-1
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