GM
Anatoly Karpov (2710) -
GM Gyula Sax
(2560)
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*********************
More normal in this position is the
sharp continuation of h2-h4.
{Or even the immediate sharp
Pawn advance of g4-g5 here.}
********************************************************************************
[
By far the two moves that are
the most popular ... and also
used the most often, would be:
7.h4!?, (wild!)
{Diagram?}
(This is the most
ambitious try -
Karpov has also used this
particular line - at least 3 times.);
and also
7.g5!?,
(tension-h6/g5) when White holds a slight edge ('+/=')
in both
continuations. (With
the most exact play!)
[ See MCO-14, page # 294; columns # 13 - col. # 18, and also all applicable notes as well. ] ]
********************************************************************************
Both sides continue their respective
modes of development here.
7...Be7;
8.Be3 Nc6; 9.Qe2, ('!?' maybe - '!')
{See the diagram ... just below.}
This is OK, perhaps even good ...
This is a somewhat different approach, the "book" line at that time was for the first player to play Be2.
*********************
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This would be a good spot to stop and look around. White has a little more space ... but the Queen on the e2-square, (blocking in the KB); makes something of an odd impression here.
[ White can also play:
9.Be2 a6; 10.Qd2!?,
{Diagram?}
The most straight-forward.
( Perhaps an idea is: 10.Nb3!? )
10...Nxd4; 11.Qxd4 e5!?;
12.Qd2!? Be6; 13.Bf3 Nd7!?;
14.Nd5 Bg5; 15.0-0-0 Rc8;
16.Kb1 Bxd5; 17.exd5 Nc5;
"="
18.Rh1,
"~" {Diagram?}
Black seems to be OK in this
position, but Karpov claims that ...
"he gained some advantage"
out of this opening. (Really?)
{Black won a nice game.}
GM A. Karpov - GM J. Timman;
/ ICT / Masters
(0-1, 51 moves.)
Mar del Plata,
ARG; {South
America} 1982.
]
**************
9...Bd7;
(TN) (Maybe - '!?')
{See the diagram - just below here.}
Apparently this move was new
to master-level practice at that
time. The move makes a great
deal of sense, as it is a good,
solid and useful developing
move ... that also allows the
second player to keep most
of his options open here.
*********************
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White is only slightly better in
this position, but watch how Karpov
manages to make something
out
of almost nothing!
[ For the move of:
9...Nxd4!?, {Diagram?}
- See the Informant, issue # 34;
game no. # 291.
*******************************************
A sample continuation after the move, ...Nxd4; is:
9...Nxd4; 10.Bxd4 e5!?;
11.Be3 Be6; 12.0-0-0 Nd7;
{Diag?}
A retreat designed to avoid the
dangers of g4-g5 by the first
player
in this position.
( Playable is: 12...Rc8!? )
13.Kb1,
{Diagram?}
Not bad, but not the only move
that White has in this position.
( Maybe better is: >/=
13.Qd2!, "+/=" {Diagram?}
which is also good at move 14. )
13...a6; 14.f4!? exf4;
15.Bxf4 Bf6; 16.Qe3!? Be5!;
"=" {Diagram?}
Black seems to be OK here.
{The game was very long and
was eventually drawn.}
Anatoli Karpov - GM Ulf Andersson;
/
ICT / Masters Section
Turin, Italy; 1982.
(1/2, 61 moves.) ]
10.h4!?,
(Maybe - '!')
White stakes out some space on
the King-side before proceeding
with the rest of his development.
[ Interesting ... and playable
is: 10.0-0-0,
"+/=" ('!?') {Dm?}
also with a solid advantage for
White in this position. ]
Black now decides he lacks for
space, and wisely decides to
swap off a set of Knights.
10...Nxd4!?;
11.Bxd4 e5; 12.Be3 Bc6; 13.Qd3!, "+/="
{See the diagram ... below.}
This is an extremely brilliant ...
and a very deep move; White plays
for an optimal setting of
his pieces. (You could almost give this move
two exclams.)
It is also a violation of the rule ...
that you should never move a piece
twice in the opening
phase of the game.
*********************
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This would be a good place for a
diagram ...
to try to assess what is
really happening in this amazing
and wonderful game.
[ Also good for White is:
(>/=) 13.Bg2,
"+/=" {Diagram?}
(with a very solid edge here);
and of course the simple:
13.f3!?,
"+/=" {Diagram?}
when White {also} keeps a
small,
but a very solid edge, here. ]
13...Qa5!?;
(hmmm)
{Diagram?}
A perfectly reasonable and also
a very natural move in this position.
(Black must bring his Queen out
before being able to complete his
own development.)
This is also a standard method of
getting this piece into the game ...
in any Sicilian-type formation.
[
13...Nh7!?;
14.g5 hxg5; 15.Nd5, "+/="
{Diag?}
- GM A. Karpov
**********************************************
>/= 13...Nd7!; 14.0-0-0 Bxh4;
15.Qxd6, "+/=" {D?}
- LM A.J. Goldsby I
]
White - very naturally - castles here.
But Black pounces, believing
that his opponent has made a
small error.
14.0-0-0,
('!')
You could almost give this move
an exclam here.
(I feel quite
sure that Karpov had anticipated
the dangers ... AND the coming
combination!)
[ But not
</= 14.f3?,
as 14...d5!;
"/+" {Diag?}
is practically winning for Black.
]
14...Nxe4;
('!?')
(Hmmmm.)
Black makes a combination ...
that seems to win material, or at
least leave the second player
with
the slightly better position.
[ Black can also play:
14...0-0-0!?;
{Diagram?}
in this position.
[ But after g4-g5, the first
player achieves - and also
maintains - a fairly large and
a significant edge. ('±') ] ]
15.Nxe4 d5;
16.Qb3!, '!!'
A very brilliant move, and according
to one account in a local newspaper,
- Black probably did not expect this
particular (and) stunning reply.
"To all appearances, Black was hoping
for favourable complications -
16.Nd2, Qxa2; or 16.Qd2, Qxa2;
17.Nc3, Qa1+; obtaining for the
piece an almost
equivalent number
of Pawns and also taking the
initiative. Now, however, the situation
changes and with a series of counter-sacrifices White himself forces the
opponent to
adopt the role of
defender." - GM Anatoly Karpov
{Source = Damsky's book, page # 104.}
[
GM Anatoly Karpov said that Nd2!
was incorrect ...
but his
analysis of the key lines was
probably faulty.
For example: 16.Nd2!? Qxa2!?; ('?!')
{Diagram?}
This could be less than best.
( Probably the best for Black
is the continuation:
>/= 16...d4!; 17.Nb3 Qxa2!;
18.Bd2!?, "+/="
18...Ba4!; "<=>" with very good compensation. )
17.Qf5!,
'±' (Maybe "+/-")
{Diagram?}
and White is clearly better.
(Black cannot now
play ...d5-d4;
because of the reply, Bc4!)
( Not as convincing is the line
given by the Champ
in the
Informant: </= 17.Nb3? a5!; "=/+" {D?}
- GM Anatoly Karpov. (35/299) )
**********************************************
White should NOT play: </=
16.Qd2? Qxa2!;
{Diag?}
This is best.
( Maybe not as accurate is:
</= 16...Qxd2+!?; 17.Nxd2 d4;
"=/+" {Diag?}
but Black is still OK. )
17.Nc3 Qa1+; 18.Nb1 d4;
"/+" {Diagram?}
Black is clearly better ... he
has regained the piece with
a better game. - GM A. Karpov
]
16...dxe4;
17.Bc4 Rf8; '[]'
Apparently, this was forced.
(Although Sax thought for close to 20 minutes before playing this move.)
[
Or </=
17...0-0!?; ('?!')
18.g5, '±' (Maybe "+/-")
{Diag?}
White's attack is most intimidating.
(If Black plays ...h6-h5; then
White plays Bxf7+, and then g6.)
( </= 18.Bd2?! Qa4; "~" ("=/+") )
Now (supposedly) Karpov gives
the following continuation:
18...b5?;
{Diagram?}
This is both silly ... and just
plain bad!
{This move also
dramatically changes the
computer evaluations ...
FOR THE WORSE ...
by many, many points here.}
( The best try at a defense here
is probably the move:
>/= 18...Qa4[]; ('!?') {Diagram?}
although this will probably also
lose - with best play. )
19.Bxf7+ Rxf7; 20.gxh6!,
{Diagram?}
This is - by far - the most
accurate move.
(Karpov only
gave the less accurate try
of g5-g6 here, but this variation
also wins for White as well.)
( </= 20.g6!? Be8; 21.Bxh6!!, "+/-" )
20...Bf6[];
{Box.}
{Diagram?}
This is forced, Black must guard
the g7-square again.
(...Kh8??;
only drops a Rook, while ...Kf8?;
allows
White to make another
Queen with h6-h7!)
The rest of these moves are all
forced or best ... if you do not
believe me,
check them with any
strong computer program.
21.Rd6! Be8!?; 22.Rxf6 Qc7;
23.Qe6! Rc8; 24.c3 a5!?;
{Diag?}
Black is now lost ... it does not
really matter any more ... and nothing is
substantially
better
than this move.
25.Rxf7 Bxf7[];
{Diagram?}
Taking with the Queen here
loses to the very simple Rxg7+.
26.Rxg7+ Kh8; 27.Rxf7,
("+/-") {Diagram?}
Not only does Black lose the
Queen here, {to prevent mate};
the box says it is a forced mate
in very short order!
This is a big improvement over
the analysis given in the Damsky
book for this line. (See the bottom
of the first column, pg. # 104.) ]
18.Rd5!!,
(Really - '!!!')
{Diagram?}
One of the most brilliant moves
ever played, this is the beginning
of a combination -
as it was
actually played - that is OVER 20
moves in length!!
"In my view, the most consistent strategy for White here." - Karpov
This is an exchange sacrifice ...
but one that has no easy, simple
and clear-cut way for White to
proceed from this position. (I have
tested this position for YEARS on
computers ... even today,
{2004}
the best commercial programs
cannot see the resolution of this
combination from start
to finish.)
Since with best play, this game
could have lasted more than 35
moves from this position ...
and there was no way than any
human could reasonably calculate
all of the possibilities here ...
I assert that this move should be
awarded THREE EXCLAMS!
(And it is also one of the few times
that we see Karpov playing a truly
'intuitive' sacrifice.)
*********************
[ Also good for White was g5.
For example:
18.g5!? hxg5;
19.hxg5 g6[];
{Diagram?}
(Karpov said that this was forced,
but ...Qa4; might be a better try.)
20.Bd5,
"+/=" ('±')
{Diagram?}
White retains a solid advantage.
(GM A. Karpov - Informant # 35.)
]
18...Bxd5;
('!')
Here GM Sax seems to have no
choice but to accept the sacrifice
here. At any rate, Black
appears to
be OK, he might have even thought
he had winning chances here.
[ Or if 18...Qc7; then 19.Rgd1!?, "--->" with an attack. (GM A. Karpov.) ]
19.Bxd5 Rd8;
('!')
{See the diagram ... just below.}
This is nice, you could almost
award Black an exclam for not
playing the tempting line
that
began with ...Qb4!?; here.
*********************
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Once more, this would be a good place for a diagram.
(Black's King
is caught in the center ... but it
hardly looks like an overwhelming
attack for
White at this point.)
[ Black might be tempting fate
with the following continuation:
</= 19...Qb4!?; ('?!')
20.Bxb7 Qxb3; 21.axb3 Rb8;
22.Bc6+ Kd8;
23.Bxa7,
"~" ("+/=")
{Diagram?}
when I prefer to play White
in this position. (Once the pawn
mass on the
Q-side gets rolling,
it will become obvious who is
better. I defeated the
computer
several times from this position.) ]
20.Bc4!,
(nice)
"The Bishop is more valuable."
(than the Rook) - GM A. Karpov
With this amazing move - that
Karpov also awarded an exclam
to - White prevents any idea
of
a counter-sacrifice ... and keeps
the pressure on.
[
Interesting were the positions
that arise from the move:
20.c4!?,
"~" ("comp?")
{Diagram?}
when the Bishop on d5 might
be worth more than a Rook. ]
Karpov gave Black's next move
an exclam as well.
20...Bb4!;
(active play)
{Diagram?}
"Black too rises to the occasion!"
- GM Anatoly Karpov
Black finds a way to make some
really meaningful threats, as well
as giving the
BK (the Black King) the valuable e7-square in many variations.
[
Interesting was: (</=)
= 20...Bd6!?; ('?!')
21.Qxb7 Qc7;
22.Qxe4,
"+/=" ('±')
{Diagram?}
but White is definitely better.
- GM Anatoly Karpov;
**************************************************
And after: 20...a6!?;
21.Qxb7, "~"
{Diagram?}
White has too much play. ('+/=')
]
Now Kb1 looks like a fairly decent
and reasonable try here.
21.c3!,
(d4-square)
This stops Black's threats, and also
begins to push the second player
back.
(MOST players and annotators
do not recognize just what a fine
move this pawn play really is.)
White blocks the action of the Bishop,
controls d4, and in some {later}
variations, Black
threatened ...Qe1#.
With one move, White has solved
all of these {potential} problems.
[ But definitely not:
</= 21.a3?? Bd2+;
("/+") {Diagram?}
and suddenly Black is clearly
a whole lot better. ]
21...b5!;
(Maybe - '!!')
Black finds a neat way to try and
force White off the a2-g8 diagonal.
He also continues to try and play
his defense in a vigorous, creative
and dynamic manner.
('!' - GM Anatoly Karpov.)
[ After
21...Bd6!?;
then
22.g5,
"+/=" {Diagram?}
and White is active - and better -
on both sides of the board. ('±') ]
22.Be2!!,
(wow!)
{See
the diagram - just below here.}
According to one account in a
Spanish (chess?) magazine,
most of the players who were
present
and watching this game ...
expected some other move here. (Perhaps like Bd5 here?)
*********************
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Karpov - very modestly - does not
award this any mark at all ... he may
have even considered
this best, - or
even forced. {And thus it was worthy
of no mark at all?}
At any rate, one Spanish Master
was asked by several spectators
to appraise the position after
White's move of B/c4-e2. His
response? "Black is better,"
he said with a great deal of
confidence.
[
After the following moves:
</=
22.Bd5! Bd6; 23.g5!,
"+/=" {Diagram?}
White still holds a slight edge.
(This was verified by the box.);
***************************************************
White should not play:
</=
22.cxb4? bxc4; 23.Qxc4 Qd5;
"/+" {Diagram?}
when Black is very clearly better.
]
22...Bd6;
('!') {Box?}
Once again - we see that
GM G. Sax continues to find the
best and the most precise moves.
[ </= 22...Rc8?!; 23.Qd5!, '±' {A.J.G.} ]
23.Qd5!,
(Probably - '!!')
{See
the diagram - just below.}
White boldly paces his Queen
in the center of the board.
(GM
Karpov - very modestly - only
awards this move one exclam.)
'!' - GM A. Karpov.
*********************
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One of my {former} Internet students,
(whom I believe is rated around
1600 USCF); asked
me here, "Doesn't this just lose to ...Qxc3+!;
followed by the Bishop check on a3?"
(Good question!!)
There can be no doubt that Qd5 was
a very brilliant move here, perhaps
partly aided by training and intuition.
(Most annotators gloss over this
problem at this junction, but it is a
very key point in this game.)
[ After the moves:
(</=) 23.g5!?,
{Diagram?}
(This is probably too slow.)
Black simply plays:
23...b4!;
"~" {Diagram?}
when I don't think that White
is really any better. ("=/+")
]
23...Ke7!?;
(Hmmm, hmmm.)
(Probably - '?!')
This move is probably less than
best, but it is not very easy to see
from this position ...
which remains
extremely complicated.
"Only here is a mistake made,
although it is one that can be
discerned under the microscope."
- NM Iakov Damsky (Damsky awards this move a
dubious appellation, as did Karpov
in
Informant number # 35. Several
other writers - like Burgess - give
this move a whole question
mark ...
but I feel that is definitely too harsh.)
[ Variation # 23B01.)
Probably best for Black was:
>/= 23...Qc7!;
24.Bxb5+!, {Diagram?}
This could be the best way to
proceed for White in this position.
( Another alternative is: 24.g5, "+/=" {Diagram?}
and the Informant says that
White is still better here.
(Maybe just unclear?)
)
24...Ke7; 25.Qxe4,
"~" {Diagram?}
when White has (some)
play ... but I see
no forced win for the first player.
This whole line was originally the
idea (and suggestion) of ...
GM Anatoly Karpov, which he made immediately after this great
game
was played.
**************************************************************
**************************************************************
Variation # 23B02.)
Karpov gave the following analysis
to refute the idea of ...Qxc3+, but
it still would
have been better to
play this than what occurred in
the actual game.
For example:
23...Qxc3+!?; 24.Kb1!,
{Diagram?}
This is pretty much forced.
** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **
( Of course not: </= 24.bxc3?, ('??') {Diagram?}
This is a bad mistake.
24...Ba3+; 25.Kc2 Rxd5; "-/+" {Diagram?}
when Black should win without
any problems. )
** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **
24...Qxb2+; 25.Kxb2 Ba3+;
26.Kxa3 Rxd5; 27.Bxa7 Ke7!?;
{Diag?}
(This is probably inferior, or '?!')
( Or perhaps better was: >/= 27...Kd7!;
28.Be3!, "+/=" {Diagram?}
when White has a definite edge. {A.J.G.} )
28.Be3!?,
"+/=" ('!')
{Diagram?}
White has a very solid edge.
- Analysis by GM A. Karpov
( But I found a large and definite
improvement - with the help of
several
different computer
programs - over Karpov's original
analysis.
To wit: >/= 28.Kb4!! Ra8; 29.Bc5+ Kf6;
30.Bxb5 Rxa2;
31.Bc6! Rd8; 32.Bxe4 Rb8+;
33.Kc3, '±' {Diagram?}
White is clearly better, if not
winning outright. (New computer
analysis shows that the pawns
all on the same side of the board,
do NOT offer the drawing chances
that it was once thought that
this
type of formation contained.) - Analysis by LM A.J. Goldsby I )
]
Now Karpov finds a move ...
(which he also rightfully awarded
another exclam to); that aids him
greatly in the continuation of his
assault. Please note that the Black
Monarch, which is still trapped in the
open, in the middle of the chess
board ... is now further denuded.
24.Bc5! Bxc5[];
Apparently, this move is forced. (Computer analysis confirms this.)
(Some masters - much later - tried to claim this was a mistake.)
[ Obviously bad is:
</= 24...Qc7?;
25.Qxe5+!,
"+/-" {Diagram?}
and Black will lose major material
on the d-file.
**************************************************************
Seemingly attractive at first glance,
but insufficient for Black is the
following continuation of:
</=
24...Rfe8?!; 25.Qxe5+! Kf8; 26.Bxd6+ Kg8;
27.Qxb5!,
"+/-"
{D?}
and White has a win on his
fairly significant material edge.
{Black will never be able to
capture the "hanging" Bishop
on d6, due to his
own unprotected
Rook that sits on the e8-square.}
**************************************************************
Also not satisfactory for Black was the continuation:
</= 24...f6!?; 25.Bc4!!,
{Diagram?}
A brilliant shot foreseen by
Karpov, who showed it just
after the game was finished.
(The threat is Qe6#!)
(Also 25.g5!?, '±' might work.)
25...Rd7;
{Box!}
{Diagram?}
No real choices for Black here.
( Of course not:
</= 25...bxc4??; 26.Bxd6+ Rxd6;
27.Qxa5, ("+/-") winning easily.
)
26.Rd1!,
("+/-") {Diagram?}
A check ... with ANY decent
program ... will reveal that
White is winning easily.
(Analysis by Karpov in the issue
of the Informant, number thirty-five.) ]
The next few moves appear to
be completely forced (or best)
for both parties.
25.Qxe5+ Kd7;
26.Qxc5 Qc7; 27.Qf5+, ('!')
27...Ke7;
Once again, this appears to be
almost completely forced here.
[ After ...Kc6!?; White can quickly gain the upper hand.
For example:
27...Kc6!?; 28.Qxb5+ Kd6;
29.Qb4+! Qc5[]; 30.Qxe4!,
'±' {D?}
White is very clearly better here.
(White has 2 Pawns and a Bishop
for the Rook,
the Black King
remains in the open, and it is
extremely difficult to try and
organize
Black's remaining
disjointed forces.)
This line of analysis also represents
a fairly large improvement over
what some other
chess writers had
given here previously. ]
White now picks off two pawns ...
while maintaining a substantial
array of threats.
(The lower-rated players should notice the
exact method Karpov uses, and
study it
carefully. Of special merit
is the check on f5 - which does
not allow the Black King
to run
away to the Queen-side.)
28.Qxe4+ Kd7;
29.Qf5+ Ke7; 30.Re1!?, (Maybe - '!!')
{See the diagram below.}
I like this ... Karpov targets the
Black King ... and - at least, for
the moment -
ignores any
further material gain.
*********************
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Fritz 8.0 prefers instead the very materialistic Bxb5, '±' or even the dynamic move of g4-g5! ('±')
[ Also very good for White was
the following continuation: (>/=)
"=" 30.g5 Rh8;
31.Bxb5 Kf8; 32.g6 Qe7;
('!?') {Diagram?}
It is difficult to suggest a better
move for Black in this position.
( </= 32...f6?!; 33.Re1!, '±±' {Diagram?}
(White is clearly much better here.)
Or </= 32...Kg8?; 33.Ba4!, ("+/-")
{D?}
The coming Bb3 will win. )
33.Rd1! Rxd1+[]; 34.Kxd1
Qc7; 35.Kc2!, ("+/-")
{Diag?}
Black is in an almost complete
state of Zugzwang ...
he probably
will not ever get his KR back into
{effective} play from here. ]
30...Rd6;
(hmmm)
Most books give no comment here
at all ... the one book that did
comment simply said, "Forced."