In this collection of his best games, former world champion Mikhail Botvinnik demonstrates the deep strategic style that took him to the title . Written by one of the greatest players of all time . Contains 90 annotated games from Botvinnik's career . Includes victories over Capablanca, Alekhine, Smyslov, Tal and Petrosian . Incorporates background material on key personalities and events Mikhail Botvinnik (1911-1995) made a unique impression on chess history. After victories at Moscow 1935 (shared with Flohr) and Nottingham 193 (shared with Capablanca), Botvinnik won the 'absolute championship' of the USSR in 1941 before the war interrupted all chess activity. After winning the match/tournament of 1948 to decide Alekhine's successor, Botvinnik held the world championship (apart form two brief interludes) until 1963 and retired from active play in 1970, after which he devoted himself to coaching young players 9his list of former pupils include Garry Kasparov) and developing a chess-playing computer program.

When Mikhail Botvinnik lost the world championship in 1960 to the dazzling attacking player from Riga, Mikhail Tal, there seemed little chance of him regaining his title. Yet in the Return Match a year later, with a surprising demonstration of aggressive chess, Botvinnik completely outplayed his young opponent and ran out the easy winner. All 21 games of the match are deeply annotated.