Among the books in my library is his My Best Games of Chess 1935-1957. Smyslov's original book contained games only up to 1951. My copy is the 1958 edition translated and edited by Peter H. Clarke, who (unfortunately) felt it necessary to eliminate 11 games from the original work while adding 18 later games "for balance."
After posting one of Smyslov's miserable losses to Botvinnik in their 1958 World Championship match, let's go back to their 1954 tied match and watch Smyslov absolutely crush Botvinnik.
In this match there were 14 decisive games, 12 of the first 16, including a streak of 8 decisive results in a row!
[Event "World Championship Match, Moscow"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1954.04.03"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Vasily Smyslov"]
[Black "Mikhail Botvinnik"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C18"]
[Annotator "Stockfish 15"]
[PlyCount "49"]
[EventDate "1954.??.??"]
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. a3 Ba5 6. b4 cxd4 7. Qg4 {This is the
most aggressive continuation. In the 1st and 3rd games Smyslov played 7.Ng5
but didn't get any advantage.} Ne7 (7... Kf8 {gives white a dangerous attack.}
8. Nb5 {White gets the initiative.} (8. bxa5 dxc3 9. Nf3 Ne7 10. Bd3 Nd7 11.
Qb4 Qc7 12. O-O {Unzicker,W (2592)-Botvinnik,M (2702) Amsterdam 1954. White is
better, but despite Botvinnik's subsequent poor play Unzicker could only
manage a draw.}) 8... Bb6 9. Nf3 Nc6 10. Bb2) 8. bxa5 {This is the only try
for an advantage.} (8. Qxg7 Rg8 9. Qxh7 Bc7 10. Nb5 a6 11. Nxc7+ (11. Nxd4 {
is less good.} Bxe5 12. Ngf3 {and now in Estrin-Khasin, Moscow Championship
1953 black could have gotten the better game with 12...Bf6}) 11... Qxc7 12. Ne2
Qxe5 {with plenty of play.}) (8. Nb5 {leads to no more than equality after} Bc7
9. Nf3 Ng6 10. Bd3 Nc6) 8... dxc3 9. Qxg7 Rg8 10. Qxh7 Nd7 {Bringing another
piece over to defend the K. Smyslov is already threatening to launch a
formidable K-side attack by Nf3-g5 etc.} 11. Nf3 Nf8 {This is not very good.
11...Qc8 tying white down to the defense of his e-Pawn was better.} 12. Qd3
Qxa5 13. h4 {secures g5 and, given the opportunity, the further advance of the
h-Pawn is a real possibility. Smyslov has already built up a position that's
on the verge of being decisive. This seems unimaginable against Botvinnik.} Bd7
14. Bg5 {White would also have a good position after 14.Ng5, but developing
the B on g5 is better.} (14. Ng5 Ba4 15. Rh3 Nd7 16. f4 {with good attacking
possibilities.}) 14... Rc8 15. Nd4 {Centralizing the N is quite logical, but
the all seeing Stockfish prefers 15.Rb1 and then 16.Qd4. Smyslov's move is
perfectly OK though.} Nf5 16. Rb1 {Very nice. White does not want to exchange
the light squared Bs and so prevents ...Bb5.} Rc4 {Botvinnik should have
contented himself with the docile 16...b6, but instead he plans to sacrifice
the exchange in the hopes of obtaining some play.} (16... b6 17. g4 Nxd4 18.
Qxd4 Qxa3 {Even though he is a P up and has a passed a-Pawn white is still
better because he has good attacking possibilities. White scored 5 out of 5 in
Shootouts from this position, but they were long games and securing the win
could prove quite tricky.}) 17. Nxf5 exf5 (17... Re4+ {loses at once because
of the nifty...} 18. Qxe4 dxe4 19. Nd6#) 18. Rxb7 Re4+ {Botvinnik's intention
was to play 18...Rxg5, but it is hardly much better.} (18... Rxg5 19. hxg5 Qxa3
20. Rb8+ Ke7 21. Qxd5 Re4+ 22. Be2 Qc1+ 23. Qd1 Qxd1+ 24. Kxd1 {and white is
winning.}) (18... Qxa3 {is also insufficient.} 19. Rb8+ Rc8 20. Rxc8+ Bxc8 21.
Qxd5 Qa1+ 22. Qd1 {here, too, white is winning.}) 19. Qxe4 dxe4 20. Rb8+ Bc8
21. Bb5+ Qxb5 22. Rxb5 Ne6 23. Bf6 {The advance of the h-Pawn quickly decides
the outcome.} Rxg2 24. h5 Ba6 25. h6 {Botvinnik resigned. Forceful play by
Smyslov!} 1-0
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