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I analyzed this game right after it was played. I have (also) looked at it many times since.
It is a great game of chess. My
analysis (here) took over a week, and I worked on it
at least a few hours every day. (At least!)
Many people have written me and
accused me of being a Karpov hater. NOTHING
could be further from the truth. While my favorites are probably Morphy,
Fischer,
and Kasparov, I like Karpov as well. In fact he had a huge influence on
my play.
(In the early 90's one player described me as "DULL" ... he
said I won games
mainly on the basis of good opening preparation, solid technique and a lot
of
grinding in the end-game phase.) This was actually was meant
(I believe) as an
insult, but I took it as a compliment. Probably more than any other World
(chess)
Champion, I have studied - and been influenced by - the play of KARPOV.
I studied
his games, because he was the reigning
champ ... as I made the most initial progress
to the greatly desired plane of chess master. I also started as an wild and
unpredictable tactician/attacker and getting some
solid technique was VERY
necessary to my maturity as a chess player.
This is a great game that even the computers don't do perfectly. Enjoy.
***
For an explanation of the symbols that I use, please click here.
This is mostly a text-based page, with only one diagram. Therefore, you will probably need a chess board.
*********************************************************************
A fantastic game ...
... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
with an
absolutely unbelievable move
by the great Karpov.
Karpov DOMINATED this tournament,
(Las Palmas, Spain); as the reigning
World Champion. He scored 13.5 out of
15, and was 2.5 points ahead of
GM Bent Larsen. (S. Tatai is an Italian IM.)
This win is one of timeless beauty.
*********************************************************************
1.Nf3 c5; 2.c4 Nf6; {Diagram?}
Play has transposed to a line
of The Symmetrical English.
3.Nc3!?, {Diagram?}
This is a little unusual.
[ A more accepted method for
White to employ here would
have been:
3.d4 cxd4;
4.Nxd4 e6!?; 5.g3 Qc7; 6.Nc3 a6; 7.Bg5 Be7;
8.Rc1 d6;
9.Bg2 Nbd7; {Diagram?}
The end of the column.
10.0-0 h6;
11.Be3 0-0; "=" {Diagram?}
Now according to MCO ... this position is equal.
(I think White is a tiny bit better,
here - in this position.)
GM A. Yusupov - GM L. Psakhis; Yerevan, 1982.
[ See MCO-14; page # 702, column # 105, and note # (j.). ] ]
3...d5!?; (Maybe - '!')
{Diagram?}
I like this ... Black strikes at the
center of the board without delay.
[ Two other lines that the second
player could have tried here was:
3...g6;
4.d4 cxd4; 5.Nxd4 Nc6; 6.e4 d6; 7.Be2 Nxd4;
8.Qxd4,
8...Bg7;
9.Bg5 0-0; 10.Qd2 Be6; 11.Rc1,
"+/=" {Diagram?}
and White is just a little better.
V. Kotronias - S. Tiviakov; Gibralter Masters Open, 2003.
***
3...e6; 4.g3 b6!?; 5.Bg2 Bb7;
6.0-0 Be7; 7.d4 cxd4; 8.Qxd4 d6;
9.b3 0-0;
10.Rd1, "+/=" {Diag?}
and White is clearly better here.
J. Donaldson - A. Stearns; Koltanowski Mem. Open, 2000. ]
4.cxd5 Nxd5; 5.g3 g6;
6.Bg2 Bg7!?; {Diagram?}
An old pamphlet on this opening
calls this interesting, but recommends
that Black play ...Nc7; instead.
But ... obviously! - since Karpov
played this move and won with it,
it is a perfectly legitimate move.
[ 6...Nc7!? ]
7.Qa4+!?, {Diagram?}
"An interesting idea. White tries
immediately to exploit his lead in
development and the relative
disharmony of the Black pieces."
- GM Anatoly Karpov.
[ Also good for White was: 7.0-0,
"=" {Diagram?}
when White is at least
equal. (Maybe better.) ]
7...Nc6; {Diagram?}
Black has developed fairly
normally and is OK here.
[ 7...Bd7!? ]
8.Ng5!?, {Diagram?}
This is interesting, but somewhat
adventurous here.
(White pressures d5 and nearly forces
the win of at least one pawn.)
This might look good on the surface,
but is a strategy that is just a little
suspect, at least IMOHO.
[ Maybe slightly better was:
>/= 8.0-0 0-0; 9.Qc4!,
"+/=" {Diag?}
and White has a small edge.
G. Hertneck - A. Miles; Dortmund, 1986. ]
White continues his little fishing
trip and winds up winning a pawn.
8...e6; 9.Nge4 Nb6!; {Diagram?}
This energetic pawn sacrifice is
the best, according to Karpov.
[ </= 9...Qe7?!; ('?') 10.Nxd5 exd5; 11.Nc3, "+/=" ]
10.Qb5 c4; 11.Na4!? 0-0;
{Diagram?}
Probably the best move.
[ Not as accurate was: 11...Nxa4!?;
12.Qxa4 0-0; 13.Qxc4,
13...Nd4;
"~" {Diagram?} and Black has a lot of play.
]
12.Nxb6 axb6;
13.Qxc4, {Diagram?}
Karpov himself calls this the
critical position of this game.
[ 13.0-0!? ]
13...e5!;
{Diagram?}
Black hits the center, grabs space,
gains the d4-square as an outpost,
and also prepares ...Be6. (With a
gain of time.)
This looks like an obvious move,
but Karpov spent over an hour here
also
examining the move, ...Bd7.
Even in the year 2003, Fritz 7.0
evaluates this position as clearly
better
for White.
[ Black could have also played
the move: 13...Bd7!?; "~"
{Diag?}
with a nice initiative, according
to Karpov.
(The current World
Champion, at that time.)
{See the Damsky book for a long and detailed analysis of ...Bd7.}
*****
14.Nc3!, {Diagram?}
This is the best move, according to
the analysis by GM A. Karpov.
***
a). Also playable is: 14.d3
b5!; 15.Qc5[], {Diagram?}
Probably the only move.
(15.Qxb5? Nd4; 16.Qc5 b6!; At least "=/+")
15...Nd4; 16.Bg5 Qa5+; 17.Bd2
Qa4; "<=>" or "cp" {Diagram?}
Black has good comp ... and a lot of play in this position. {A.J.G.}
b). Not to be recommended was: 14.Qc2?
Nd4; 15.Qb1 Ba4;
16.b3!? Bxb3; 17.axb3 Rxa1; 18.Qxa1
Nc2+; 19.Kf1,
19...Nxa1; "-/+" {Diagram?}
with a won game for Black. (Analysis by GM A. Karpov.)
***
14...Nd4; 15.Qd3
Bc6!?; 16.Bxc6 bxc6; 17.e3
Nf3+!?; {Diagram?}
The best move, at least
according to the analysis given.
(Maybe better is: 17...Nb3!?; 18.Qxd8 Rfxd8; 19.Rb1 Nxc1;
20.Rxc1 Bxc3; 21.bxc3 Rxa2; 22.d4 b5; "~" {Diagram?}
with a fair ending.)
18.Ke2, "+/=" {Diagram?}
White is (maybe) slightly better
here. - Analysis by GM A. Karpov.
]
14.Qc2,
{Diagram?}
This is OK, but I might have looked
for a move that does not lose a
tempo.
White is anticipating Black's eventual
threat of ....b5. White is also
worried
about ...Be6; which comes next move.
Karpov said this,
(The move, Qc2.); was probably forced.
(Damsky calls it the ONLY move.)
[ Maybe White should try: 14.d3!? Be6;
15.Bg5! Qd7!?;
16.Qc1,
"~" {Diagram?} with a fairly decent position.
(- GM Bent Larsen.) ]
Black's next move seems fairly
obvious, but some programs
do
not pick this move at all.
14...Nd4; (!) 15.Qb1, {Diagram?}
This is very nearly forced.
[ </= 15.Qd1 Be6;
16.0-0?! Bb3!; 17.Qe1 Nc2;
18.Qd1
Nxa1; "/+" ]
15...f5; 16.Nc3 e4;
{Diagram?}
This is good ... and probably
best.
(Karpov said also possibly
deserving attention was the move,
...Be6; in this position.)
[ 16...Be6!? ]
17.d3
b5!; {Diagram?}
The most active move, preparing
to play ...b4; forcing
White to move his Knight here.
The World Champion's play here is
reminiscent of Morphy,
Alekhine,
or Tal ... at their very best.
(I can offer no higher praise.)
Many programs appraise this
position as being much
better
for White. ('±' or "+/")
Black has ample play though for his sacrificed material.
[ 17...Be6!? ]
18.Be3!?,
{Diagram?}
This is probably the best move
here.
[ Two other lines were: 18.dxe4 b4;
19.Nd5 b3;
20.0-0 Nxe2+;
{Diagram?}
which seems to be a little
better for Black. ("=/+")
Or White could play: 18.e3 Nf3+; 19.Bxf3 exf3;
20.Nxb5!? Qa5+;
21.Nc3 b5!; "~"
{Diagram?}
and the second player has a ton
of play in this position. ]
18...b4;
19.Nd1 Re8; 20.dxe4 fxe4; 21.Bxd4, {Diagram?}
Most of the annotators have
said this was forced for White.
[ Of course not: 21.Bxe4? Rxe4!;
22.Qxe4 Bf5; "-/+" {Diag?}
which is, of course, winning for
Black. ]
21...Qxd4; 22.a3!?,
{Diagram?}
Some commentators have really
praised this particular move ...
(some even gave it an exclam); but I don't really like it. White is
behind in his development ... it
really is not in the first player's
best interest to open the game
here.
Counter-point: White is dying for
lack of space here, and this is
a
natural attempt to free White's
position.
[ Maybe slightly better was: >/=
22.0-0 Bg4!?; {Diagram?}
Several sources give this
as being best.
(Also interesting is: 22...Qd2!?; 23.Bxe4 Bh3; 24.Bg2 Bxg2;
25.Kxg2 Rxe2; "<=>" or "cp" {Diagram?}
... "puts White under great
pressure." - FM G. Burgess.)
23.e3 Qd5; 24.Bxe4 Rxe4; 25.f3 Bxf3;
{Diagram?}
This is probably best.
26.Rxf3 Rd4; 27.Rf2 Rd3;
"/\" {Diagram?}
but Black seems to be a tad
better here. {At least "=/+".}
(He definitely has the initiative.)
***
Karpov himself recommended
that White play:
>/= 22.Qc2!?,
"~" {Diagram?} with a playable game. ]
22...Bg4!; {Diagram?}
This is the best for Black ... he has many threats - both
short and
long term - with this
particular move.
(I tested this position on many different
programs. ChessMaster 8000, Fritz,
Junior, Crafty, etc, etc. Most programs
do NOT initially look at this move.)
[ Also good for the 2nd player was:
22...bxa3!?; 23.0-0,
23...Bg4;
"=/+" {Diag?} with very active play for Black.
]
23.Qc2!?,
{See the diagram just below.}
White is seemingly playing the
only move that he can.
***
|
|
(The actual position in this game after White's 22nd move.)
***
White seems on the verge of being able to equalize in this game.
[ </= 23.Ne3? Qxb2; "/+" ]
Black's next move is a real
thunderbolt, I saw this game
in a chess
magazine shortly
after it was played. I was VERY
impressed by the
move that
Karpov now plays!!!
23...Qd3!!;
(Maybe - '!!!') {Diagram?}
If I had been playing the White
pieces, I might have fainted here.
(One of my friends thought this
was a definite mis-print!)
[ 23...bxa3!? ]
24.exd3!, {Diagram?}
From the tournament report,
apparently Tatai thought for
quite some
time before replying.
This seems to be the best move,
White incurs the least disadvantage
with this play. (!)
*****
[ The alternatives are clearly worse for Black, some drastically so:
Variation # 24W1.)
</= 24.Qxd3?! exd3;
25.e4, {Diagram?}
This is nearly forced.
(Not 25.Bd5+? Kh8; 26.e4 Bf3; "/+")
25...Bxd1; 26.Rxd1 bxa3; 27.bxa3
Rxa3; "=/+" {Diag?}
Black is definitely just a
little better.
***
Variation # 24W2.)
</= 24.Ne3? Qxc2;
25.Nxc2 Bxb2; 26.Rd1,
26...bxa3;
"-/+" {Diagram?} Black is winning here.
***
Variation 24W3.)
</= 24.Rc1?! bxa3!;
25.exd3 exd3+; 26.Ne3 dxc2; 27.bxa3,
27...Bf5;
28.Bxb7 Rxa3; 29.0-0!? Bd3; {Diagram?}
Probably best.
(Interesting was: 29...Raxe3!?)
30.Nxc2 Rc3; {Diagram?}
and Black will win material.
("/+" or "-/+")
***
Variation # 24W4.)
Probably not as good was: </=
24.Qd2!? Qxd2+!?; {Diag?}
This is the most direct.
(Also maybe 24...Qb3!?; "~" {Diagram?} with a lot of play.)
25.Kxd2 Rad8+!?; {Diagram?} This is very interesting.
(Or 25...Rac8!?; - FM G. Burgess.)
26.Ke1[]; {Diagram?} This is probably forced.
(Bad is 26.Ke3?? Bh6+; 27.f4 exf3+; 28.Kf2 Rxe2+; 29.Kg1 Rxd1+!;
30.Rxd1 Be3+; 31.Kf1 fxg2#. And not 26.Kc2? Bxe2;
"/+")
26...Bf3; 27.Rg1, {Diagram?} This may be best.
(27.exf3 exf3+; 28.Kf1 fxg2+; 29.Kxg2 b3; "~")
27...Bxg2; 28.Rxg2 Rc8!;
"=/+" (Maybe "/+") {Diagram?}
Black has too much play and
White's Rook is horrible on g2.
- GM A.
Karpov. ]
*****
24...exd3+;
25.Kd2, {Diagram?}
This move is forced.
[ Much worse is: 25.Kf1?
dxc2; "-/+" {Diagram?}
with an easy win for Black.
Or 25.Ne3 dxc2;
"/+" {Diagram?}
& Black is much better here.
]
25...Re2+!;
{Diagram?}
The best move here, and given
an exclam in Informant # 23.
[ 25...dxc2!?; 26.Ne3!? Rxe3; "~" ]
26.Kxd3 Rd8+; 27.Kc4,
{Diagram?}
Unfortunately this ugly move
is completely forced. (again)
[ Even worse for White was: 27.Bd5+ Rxd5+!;
28.Kc4 Rxc2+!;
29.Kxd5?!,
{Diagram?}
Several books give this move,
but it is quite inferior.
(White had to play: 29.Kb3 Bxd1; 30.Rhxd1 Rxb2+; 31.Kc4,
31...Rxd1; 32.Rxd1 bxa3; "-/+" but Black is winning here.)
29...Bf3+!; 30.Ke6 Rc6+; 31.Kd7 Bg4+;
32.Ke8 Bf6;
33.Rc1 Rd6;
34.Rc8 Bd7# ]
Black now finishes off sharply.
27...Rxc2+; 28.Kxb4 Rcd2!?; ('!') {Diagram?}
Black had several attractive moves
here. Damsky (and others!)
gives
this move (...Rcd2) an exclamation
point here.
[ 28...Rd3!? ]
29.f3!? Bf8+; 30.Ka5 Bd7!;
"-/+" {Diagram?}
White Resigns.
(His King will be mated, at least
according to all the pundits.)
One of Karpov's best games.
A brilliancy that is a very sharp
struggle ...
with incredible tactics.
It is also a contest ... where, at
least according to
Damsky; the
loser played well, inventively,
non-routinely, and without any
obvious mistakes.
This great contest was picked as
the best game for 1977 by a panel
of
judges for an English magazine.
This game was also picked as the
best game ... ... ... ... ...
by the panel of judges
for the Informant. (# 24)
{Some of the judges gave this game
VERY high marks.}
Additionally, the readers of nearly
all of Yugoslavia ... and the magazine
called 'Politika Ekspres' ... also chose
this game as the best of the year
for
the whole of 1977.
******************************************
---> An interesting note here is: that in the late eighties, most
chess
computer programs did NOT
come close to finding the correct
moves
in this game!!
***
Copyright (c) A.J. Goldsby I. Copyright (c) A.J.G; 2003.
*******
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
I used many books, (and a few old
magazines as well); to annotate this
game, but the following were the
most helpful:
# 1.)
"My (300) Best Games,"
by GM Anatoly Karpov.
(Copyright © 1997,
by Anatoly Karpov. Printed in Moscow.
Published by
Murad Amannazarov. <Chess V-I-P's> )
# 2.)
'Chess Brilliancy, ' 250 historic games; by
NM Iakov Damsky.
Published by
EVERYMAN Chess, formerly Cadogan Books.
Translated by K.
Neat. (Copyright 2002.) {Game # 61, page # 83.}
# 3.)
[The Mammoth Book Of]
"The World's Greatest Chess Games,"
by Dr.
(& GM) John Nunn, GM John Emms, and FM Graham
Burgess.
Published by
Carroll & Graf books. Copyrighted by the authors, 1998.
(This game is
not in here. I used this
book as a reference only; a
couple of the games in here are very similar
to this game here.)
# 4.)
"Chess Highlights of The 20th Century,"
('The
Best Chess 1900-1999 In Historical Context')
by
FM Graham Burgess. (The year 1977.)
Published by Gambit
Books, Copyright G. Burgess, © 1999.
# 5.)
Several issues of the INFORMANT. Mainly 1977.
(Issue #
23.)
(Published in
Yugoslavia.)
***
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Copyright (©) A.J. Goldsby, 2004.
Copyright (©) A.J. Goldsby, 2005. All rights reserved.
