Another Fun Night 021819 - And a Anatoly Karpov Masterpiece Anotated

Michigan chess legend Norman Haygood (L) takes on our own Sam Thompson

We had 11 players this night and a fun night it was.
We have quite a few fun events lined up in the coming weeks so the Club is where you want to be.
A newsletter will be published in the next few days and posted on the website - so stay tuned.

Here is a game well annotated by none other than Anatoly Karpov.  He is the ex-World Champion and one that many said had a fighting chance to defeat Bobby Fischer if Fischer would have played him. 

Your scribe’s computer Igor3000 will comment in bold italics.

Dos Hermanos, Spain 1995

White: GM Joel Lautier – Black: GM Anatoly Karpov – Catatlan Defense

1.      d4              Nf6

2.      c4              e6

3.      g3              d5

4.      Bg2            Be7

5.      Nf3            O-O

6.      O-O           dxc4

7.      Nc3            Nc6

8.      e3               Bd6

9.      Nd2            e5

While White spends time to recover the c4 pawn, Black must strike at the White center. Igor3000 has White up (+.24).

10.  Nxc4          exd4

Black is slightly better after 10. d5, Na5 11. Qa4, b6 as White cannot recover the c4 pawn with 12. Nxc4 due to 12. …..Bd7 – driving the Queen away from protection of c4.

11.  Exd4           Bg4

12.  Qb3             Nxd4

Notice that 12. f3 closes the Catalan bishop on g2 and weakens White’s kingside. (+.1)

13.  Qxb7           Bf3

White expected  13. …..Rb8 14. Qxa7, Ne2 15. Kh1, Nxc3 16. Nxd6, giving White the advantage. The game is EVEN.

14.  Qa6?            Bb4

It was necessary for White to play Bxf3 and holding for a draw. Now Black threatens to remove the c3 knight, which is protecting the important light squares d5, e4 and c2.

Igor agrees with GM Karpov’s analysis. Black now up (-.2).

15.  Be3!             Bxg2

This exchange is necessary now as 15. …… Bxc3 16. Bxc4!, Bxg2 allows 17. Bxf6! and White’s problems are solved as 17. ….Qd5? 18. Ne3 is available.

Igor has a problem with the exclamation point given by Karpov to White as Black is now up (-.6). White needed 15. Ne3 to maintain.

16.  Rfd1!                    c5

Move 16 was White’s only move as 16. Kxg2, Bxc3 17. bxc3,  Qd5+ 18. F3, Nc2 19. Rfd1, Qxc4! 20. Qxc4, Nxe3+ and that forks the entire White family. Black’s move simply reinforces his centralized knight.

17.  Bxd4                     cxd4

18.  Kxg2                     Rc8!

19.  Kg1                       Re8

The White pieces (the knights in particular) lack the coordination to form a blockade in front of the passed d-pawn. In addition, White’s Queen on a6 is out of play. (-.7)

20.  Rac1                      Qd7!

21.  Nb5?                     d3!

White misses 21. Ne3 which holds by opening up the a6-f1 diagonal for the White Queen, while also closing the e-file. (-2.5)

Now it is downhill for White as Karpov now continues to increase his advantage.

22.  Ne3                       Rxc1

23.  Rxc1                      d2

24.  Rd1                       Nd5!

The simplest way to eliminate the blockaders and open the e-file. (-4.1)

Igor says 24. ….Ng4 was a shorter path to victory – 25. Rxd2, Qxd2 26. Nxg4, Re1+ 27. Kg2, Qd5+ 28. Kh3, Qh5+ 29. Kg2, Qxg4 (-5.4) but the game is over in any event.

25.  Qa4                       a6!

This gains a critical tempo while the b4 bishop is still protected. (-5.8)

Igor3000 says 25. ……Nxe3 is better after 26. fxe3, Qd3 but I am splitting hairs at this point. (-6.8)

26.  Qxa6                     Nxe3

27.  Fxe3                      qd3!

28.  Qc6                       Qxe3+

29.  Kg2                       Qe2+

30.  Kh3                       Qh5+

White Resigns