Kasparov – Karpov

I used the Scotch Game in this match in part because I knew it would have some surprise value, and also because I felt there were some untapped resources to be exploited. The opening really is unjustly neglected!

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Date: 1990.??.??
Location: ?
Tournament: World Championship
Round:
Opening:
Submitted by:
Published on: February 9, 2020

[Event "World Championship"] [Site "?"] [Date "1990.??.??"] [Round "16"] [White "Kasparov"] [Black "Karpov"] [Result "1-0"] [PlyCount "87"] 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 {I used the Scotch Game in this match in part because I knew it would have some surprise value, and also because I felt there were some untapped resources to be exploited. The opening really is unjustly neglected!} exd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nxc6 bxc6 6.e5 Qe7 7.Qe2 Nd5 8.c4 Nb6 {8...Ba6 This was Karpov's choice in the previous game in which he had Black, and it worked for him there.} 9.Nd2 Qe6 10.b3 a5 {A waste of time. 10...Be7 This would have been a safer choice.} 11.Bb2 Bb4 {11...a4 This would obviously have been a more consistent move. But I could have obtained the advantage. 12.Qe3 Bb4 13.Bd3 d5 14.O-O Bxd2 15.Qxd2 dxc4 16.bxc4 Nxc4 17.Bxc4 Qxc4 18.Ba3 Black's king would be trapped in the center.} 12.a3 {OK, my friend, what do you want to do with the bishop?} Bxd2+ 13.Qxd2 {This is a key position. I have the bishop pair and can attack on the kingside, but Karpov has some chances on the queenside.} d5 {13...a4 14.c5 Nd5 15.b4 d6 would have been interesting.} 14.cxd5 cxd5 15.Rc1 O-O {This sacrifices a pawn, but it was probably the best move. Especially since I took it. 15...c6 16.Qc2} 16.Rxc7 {I should have resisted this temptation! 16.Bd3 a4 17.O-O axb3 18.f4 Now I would have sacrificed a pawn for the initiative. Much more my style!} Qg6 17.f3 Bf5 {17...a4 This would have given Karpov more chances.} 18.g4 Bb1 {18...Bxg4 19.Rg1 18...Be6 19.Bd3 Qh6 20.Qxh6 gxh6 21.a4} 19.Bb5 Rac8 20.Rxc8 Rxc8 21.O-O {21.Qxa5 Qc2} h5 {21...Rc2 22.Qd4 Qh6 23.Rf2} 22.h3 hxg4 23.hxg4 Bc2 24.Qd4 {24.Rc1 Bxb3 25.Rxc8+ Nxc8 26.Qc3 Qc2 24.Qe3} Qe6 {24...Bxb3 25.e6} 25.Rf2 Rc7 {25...Bxb3 26.Rh2 Bc2 27.Bc3} 26.Rh2 {26.Bc3} Nd7 {26...Bxb3 This would allow a double attack.} 27.Qd3 {b4 A mistake. I had played well up to this point. I should have moved the other pawn. axb4 axb4} Nf8 {Bf1 29.Be2 Bb3 Bd3} 28.Bc4 {Bf5} Qe7 29.Qd2 {32.Bc3 Ne6 33.Qd2 Rd7} Rc6 30.Bd4 Ra6 {Bb1 Ra3} 31.Rh3 {35.Bc3 Qa7+ 36.Bd4 Qe7 Rb3 Bc2} Qb4 32.Qf2 Ng6 {37...Ne6 38.Qh4 Rb1+} 33.e6 {I had played pretty well for a few moves, but now I threw away my advantage. 38.Bxb3 Bxb3 39.f4 The win would have been quite easy here. Rb1+} Bb1 {39.Kh2 Qd6+ Qxb1+} 34.Kh2 fxe6 {Here the game was adjourned. Karpov's sealed move gets the queens off the board, and is an expression of confidence that the endgame can be drawn.} 35.Qb2 {Qxb2+ Bxb2} Nf4 {42...e5 43.Kg3} 36.Rh4 {43.Rg3 Be2 I would have a hard time getting the rook into the game.} Nd3 37.Bc3 e5 38.Kg3 {d4 45...Kf7 46.Rh5 Ke6 47.Rh8 Bd2 Bd5 Rh5} Kf7 {Ba5 Ke6} 39.Rh8 Nxb2 {49...e4 50.fxe4 Bxe4 51.Bb6} 40.Re8 {Kd6 Bb4+ Kc6 Rc8+ 52.Rxe5 Nd3 Kd7 Rc5 Ke6 Rc7} g6 {54...Kf6 55.Bf8} 41.Re7+ Kf6 42.Rd7 Ba2 {56...Nd3 57.Rxd5 Nxb4 58.Rd6+ Kf7 59.f4} 43.Ra7 {Bc4 Ba5 Bd3 f4 exf4+ 59...e4 60.Bb6 Kxf4 Bc2 Ra6+ Kf7 Ke5} Nd3 {62...d3 63.Ra7+ Ke8 64.Ke6 Bb3+ 65.Kf6 Bc4 66.Re7+ Kf8 67.Bb4 62...Nc4+ 63. Kxd4 Nxa5 64.Rxa5 Kxd4 Nf2} 44.g5+ {Bf5 Bd2 Ke7 Kd5 Ne4 Ra7+ Ke8 Be3 Nc3+ Ke5 Kd8 Bb6+ Ke8 Rc7 Ne4 Be3 Ng3 Bf4 Nh5 The knight is trapped at the edge of the board, but helps to defend the key f6-square. I want to dominate the knight by playing Be5. Ra7 Kf8 Bh2 Ng7 Bg1 Nh5 Bc5+ Kg8 Kd6 Kf8 Bd4 Bg4 Be5 Now I have to get my king to d8. Karpov defends well and I have some difficult work ahead of me. I played for a while, knowing that adjournment was coming. Bf5 Rh7 81.Kc6 Kg8 Rc7 Kf8 Kc6 Kg8 Re7 84. Ra7 Kf8 Bd6 85.Ra7 Kg8 Re8+ Kf7 Re7+ Kg8 Be5 Kf8 Here the game was adjourned and I was able to seal my move and go home. This is the kind of positions computers can chew on all night! Ra7 89.Kd6 Bg4 90.Ra7 Bg4 Kd6 Bh3 Ra3 Bg4 Re3 Bf5 Kc7 Kf7 Kd8 Mission accomplished! Now the winning plan is clear. Bg4 Bb2 Be6 95...Nf4 96.Re7+ Kf8 97.Ba3 Bc3 Bf5 96...Nf4 97.Rf3 Re7+ Kf8 Be5 Bd3 Ra7 Be4 Rc7 Bb1 Bd6+ Kg8 Ke7 Karpov resigned. 102.Ke7 Ng7 103.Rc8+ Kh7 104.Be5 Nf5+ 105.Kf8} 1-0