Karpov – Kasparov

This game was for all the marbles. If Karpov won, he would retain his title. I needed only a draw, but it is very dangerous for me to play without risk. I decided that I would accept any invitation to an open battle.

Metadata » Click to open.

Date: 1985.??.??
Location: ?
Tournament: World Championship
Round:
Opening:
Submitted by:
Published on: February 9, 2020

[Event "World Championship"] [Site "?"] [Date "1985.??.??"] [Round "24"] [White "Karpov"] [Black "Kasparov"] [Result "0-1"] [PlyCount "84"] 1.e4 {This game was for all the marbles. If Karpov won, he would retain his title. I needed only a draw, but it is very dangerous for me to play without risk. I decided that I would accept any invitation to an open battle.} c5 {I reply with the sharpest of my weapons -- the Sicilian Defense.} 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be2 e6 {The Scheveningen Variation is appropriate for championship play. It is sharp, but also subtle. A complicated, double-edged struggle usually arises. We both knew the opening well, and continued our previous "discussions".} 7.O-O Be7 8.f4 O-O 9.Kh1 Qc7 10.a4 Nc6 11.Be3 Re8 12.Bf3 Rb8 13.Qd2 Bd7 14.Nb3 b6 15.g4 {Karpov attacks rather earlier than usual, deviating from his play in the 18th game. He was inspired by a game which was played after that encounter, in the Candidates' tournament in France. Wonders of modern communication!} Bc8 16.g5 Nd7 17.Qf2 {And here Karpov introduced an improvement over that game.} Bf8 18.Bg2 Bb7 19.Rad1 g6 20.Bc1 {A very good move, played after almost 45 minutes of thought. The idea is that the 3rd rank can be used by a rook to transfer to the kingside and bring pressure against my king.} Rbc8 {I should have played 20...Nc5, because time was important. 20...Nc5 21.Nxc5 bxc5 22.Rd3 Nd4 23.Rh3 Qe7 My defenses should be sufficient.} 21.Rd3 Nb4 22.Rh3 Bg7 {A careless move in such a critical game. I should have played 22...f5 in order to more easily defend my second rank. 22...f5 23.gxf6 Nxf6 24. Qd4 e5 25.Qxb4 d5 26.Nxd5 Nxd5 27.Qe1 Nxf4 Black stands better.} 23.Be3 {One of the most important decisions of Karpov's World Championship career, and one which may have cost him the title. Deep analysis later revealed the best line, but Karpov played this move after just a few minutes. 23.f5 exf5 24.exf5 Bxg2+ 25.Kxg2 Qb7+ 26.Kg1 Rc5 A complicated position, with chances for both sides. But there are many byways toexplore!} Re7 {If I had captured on c3, disaster would have struck quickly. Do you see how? 23...Bxc3 24.bxc3 Qxc3 25.Bd4 Qxc2 26.Rxh7 Kxh7 27.Qh4+ Kg8 28.Qh8++} 24.Kg1 {Karpov now waits to see what I have in mind, but this is not so simple, since my next move is seemingly absurd.} Rce8 {Why am I doubling rooks on the closed e-file? Karpov must have asked himself this question more than once. But there is a good reason. Now if White plays 25.f5, I can open up the e-file. And I have kingside aspirations, too.} 25.Rd1 {The best reply. Now it is my turn to find an effective move.} f5 {I am planning to sacrifice a pawn and use the power of my bishops to good effect.} 26.gxf6 {26.Qd2 e5 27.exf5 gxf5 28.Nd5 Nxd5 29.Bxd5+ Kh8 Black controls the center.} Nxf6 {I give up the b-pawn which, however, cannot be taken right away.} 27.Rg3 {27.Bxb6 Qb8 The threat is Ng4. 28.Bf3 e5 29.f5 gxf5 30.exf5 e4 31.Bg2 e3 32.Qe2 Bxg2 33.Qxg2 Qxb6} Rf7 28.Bxb6 Qb8 29.Be3 {Despite the presence of many pieces, the White kingside is vulnerable.} Nh5 30.Rg4 {30.Rf3 Bxc3 31.bxc3 Na2} Nf6 31.Rh4 {If 31.Rg3 Nh5, then Karpov would be repeating move and accepting a draw, which would have cost him his title. 31.Rg5 Bh6 32.Rg3 Nh5 33.Rf3 Ref8 34.Bh3 Bc8 White is in trouble. If you think you can defend, try playing the position against Gambit.} g5 32.fxg5 Ng4 {I want to get rid of the bishop at e3.} 33.Qd2 Nxe3 34.Qxe3 Nxc2 35.Qb6 {A strong move. But Karpov was running short of time and my next move added further confusion to the position.} Ba8 {At the time, I thought Karpov's position was indefensible, but it turns out that it was more complicated than I thought. Fortunately, he blundered here.} 36.Rxd6 {After this move Karpov is lost, if I play correctly. 36.Qxb8 Rxb8 37.Bh3 Re7 38.Rxd6 Rxb3 39.Rd8+ Kf7 40.Rxa8 Rxb2 This is still a very messy position, but my analysis indicates that I come out on top.} Rb7 37.Qxa6 Rxb3 {I missed a more effective line here. I moved too quickly, influenced both by Karpov's time pressure and the feeling that victory was near. 37...Nb4 38.Qa5 Qxd6 39.e5 Qd3 40.Bxb7 Qe3+ 41.Kf1 Nd3 Mate at f2 is threatened.} 38.Rxe6 Rxb2 39.Qc4 Kh8 40.e5 {Karpov had just a few seconds left. Had he found the best move, his "reward" would have been a losing endgame. 40.g6 h5 41.Rxe8+ Qxe8 42. Nd1 Na3 43.Qf7 Qxf7 44.gxf7 Rb1 45.Bf3 Nc4 46.Rf4 Rb8 My extra piece is worth more than the three scattered pawns.} Qa7+ 41.Kh1 Bxg2+ 42.Kxg2 Nd4+ {This wins a whole rook. Karpov pondered for a few minutes and then congratulated me both on my victory in this game and on winning the World Championship.} 0-1