White: Anatoly Karpov  1/2



Black: Gata Kamsky     1/2







Played 26 June 96 in Elista, Kalmykia

GM Gabriel Schwartzman is in New Jersey to compete in the Interplay US Junior Invitational Championship, and will resume doing coverage in early July. Meanwhile, we wish him the best of luck! In his absence well known Grandmaster Walter Browne will be providing the post-game coverage, assisted by IM John Grefe.

 1.  d2-d4    d7-d5



 2.  c2-c4    c7-c6



 3. Ng1-f3   Ng8-f6



 4. Nb1-c3    e7-e6



 5.  e2-e3

Karpov is not interested in entering the dizzying complications of the anti-Meran gambit with 5.Bc1-g5 d5xc4 6.e2-e4 b7-b5 7.e4-e5 h7-h6, etc.

 5. ...      Nb8-d7



 6. Qd1-c2

Another line that can lead to sharp play is 6.Bf1-d3 d5xc4 7.Bd3xc4 b7-b5 8.Bc4-d3 Bc8-b7 9.0-0 a7-a6 10.e3-e4 c6-c5. Karpov opts for quieter play, as usual.

 6. ...      Bf8-d6



 7. Bf1-e2   O-O



 8. O-O      Rf8-e8

8...Qd8-e7 has also been tried, and could transpose to the game. An independent idea, though, is 9.e3-e4 d5xe4 10.Nc3xe4 Nf6xe4 11.Qc2xe4 e6-e5 12.Bc1-g5 Nd7-f6 13.Bg5xf6 g7xf6, with a complex game in Rogozenko-Novikov, Nikolaev 1995. Another try, similar to our game, is 8...b7-b6 9.Rf1-d1 Bc8-b7 10.e3-e4 Nf6xe4 11.Nc3xe4 d5xe4 12.Qc2xe4 Qd8-e7 13.Bc1-f4, but here it would be a mistake to play 13...Bd6xf4 14.Qe4xf4 c6-c5 because of 15.Qf4-c7 with a big edge for White. The difference is that here the Black queen is unguarded.

 9. Rf1-d1   Qd8-e7



10.  a2-a3    b7-b6

A couple of alternative lines are 10...a7-a6 11.b2-b4 b7-b5 12.c4-c5 Bd6-c7 13.e3-e4 d5xe4 14.Nc3xe4 Nf6xe4 15.Qc2xe4, as in Kelecevic-Amman, 1995 and 10...h7-h6 11.Bc1-d2 a7-a6 12.Bd2-e1 d5xc4 13.Be2xc4 b7-b5 14.Bc4-a2 c6-c5 15.d4xc5 Bd6xc5 16.Ne4, with sharp play.

11.  e3-e4

This thematic central break is the best way for Karpov to press his first move initiative.

11. ...      Nf6xe4



12. Nc3xe4    d5xe4



13. Qc2xe4   Bc8-b7

Kamsky must get in either ...c6-c5 or ...e6-e5 in order to equalize. If he just sits around and does nothing Karpov will eventually capitalize on his spatial advantage.

14. Bc1-f4   Bd6xf4

14...c6-c5 is not as good. After 15.Qe4xb7 Bd6xf4 16.d4xc5 Nd7xc5 17.Qb7xe7 Re8xe7 White would keep annoying pressure in the ending.

15. Qe4xf4    c6-c5

Black probably gets into trouble if he doesn't play this at once, e.g., 15...Ra8-c8 16.Nf3-e5 c6-c5 (16...Nd7xe5 17.d4xe5 gives White a big edge because of his outpost at d6) 17.Ne5xd7 Qe7xd7 18.d4xc5 Qd7-c6 19.Bf3.

16. Qf4-c7

Black wants to take on d4 followed by ...Nd7-c5 and/or ...e6-e5, which would at least equalize. 16.Qf4-c7 looks like the best way for Karpov to maintain the pressure. If 16.Rd1-d2 (16.Nf3-e5 c5xd4 17.Ne5xd7 Qe7xd7 18.Rd1xd4 Qd7-e7 means few worries for Black) 16...c5xd4 17.Qf4xd4 Nd7-c5 the Black knight eyes b3 and e4.

16. ...      Ra8-b8

If 16...Nd7-f6 17.Qc7xe7 Re8xe7 18.d4xc5 b6xc5 19.Ne5, White has control of the d-file, a 3:2 queenside majority and chances to attack the Black a- and c-pawns.

17.  b2-b4

17.b4! could be a theoretical novelty and is a good way for Karpov to keep his opponent on the run.

17. ...      Re8-c8

There's no point in capturing on b4 just yet because that would open the a-file for White. If 17...c5xd4 18.Nxd4 (18.Rd1xd4 may also be good, though Karpov must sidestep the trap 18...Bb7xf3?! [18...Nd7-f6 is better, e.g., 19.Qc7xe7 Re8xe7 20.Ne5 Ne4] 19.Be2xf3 Qe7-f6 20.Qc7xd7? [20.Ra1-d1!, with a big edge] 20...Rb8-d8) 18...Re8-c8 19.Qc7-g3 a7-a6 (keeping the knight out of b5 and d6) 20.Ra2!, Karpov will dominate the d-file with persistent pressure, and Kamsky would have getting counterplay.

18. Qc7-f4

Not 18.Qc7-g3 because then ...Nd7-f6 would threaten to invade at e4 with tempo.

18. ...      Bb7xf3

18...h7-h6 deserves consideration, though with 18...Bb7xf3! Kamsky insightfully elimates Karpov's most dangerous piece even though he gives up a strong bishop for a knight. 18...c5xd4? 19.Nf3xd4! e6-e5 20.Nd4-f5 Qe7-f6 21.Qf4-g4 gives White a winning initiative.

19. Be2xf3    c5xd4



20. Qf4xd4

20.Rd1xd4 was also possible, since on 20...e6-e5 Karpov has 21.Ra1-e1, when the premature weakening of the d5 square could cause Kamsky problems.

20. ...      Rc8-c7

This is surprising. After the natural 20...Rc8-d8 21.g3 White also keeps a small edge. Trailing by three points in the match, perhaps Kamsky felt he should keep as many pieces on the board as possible if he hopes to win.

21. Bf3-e2   Rb8-c8



22. Ra1-a2    h7-h6



23. Ra2-d2   Nd7-f6



24. Qd4-e5

Over the last few moves both players have strengthened their positions, and now Karpov threatens to completely take over the d-file with Rd2-d6 and Qe5-d4. Kamsky stops this.

24. ...      Rc7-d7



25. Rd2xd7

Else 25...Rc8-d8.

25. ...      Nf6xd7



26. Qe5-d4   Nd7-f6



27.  h2-h3

It's hard to make progress, so Karpov tacks while hopefully improving his game, even if it's just by tiny increments.

27. ...      Kg8-f8



28. Rd1-c1   Nf6-d7

Karpov's bishop is better than the knight, he controls the only open file, and has a mobile queenside majority for the ending, all undeniable advantages. Kamsky realizes he must prevent the creation of a passed pawn by c4-c5 because the bishop could escort it toward the queening square.

29. Be2-f3    e6-e5

29....Kf8-e8? 30.Bf3-b7! Rc8-c7 31.Bb7-a6 Nd7-b8 32.Ba6-b5 Ke8-f8 33.Rc1-d1 with a clear edge. Also if: 33.c4-c5 Rd8 34.c5xb6? Rxd4 35.Rc1-c8+ Rd4-d8 36.Rc8xd8 Qe7xd8 37.b6xa7 Nb8-d7 black wins. Tired of dilly-dallying Kamsky strikes back ceding the d5 square.

30. Qd4-d3

Eyeing the f5 and h7 squares.

30. ...       g7-g6



31. Rc1-d1   Rc8-c7



32. Bf3-e2   Kf8-g7



33. Qd3-c3   Nd7-f6



34. Qc3-e3    h6-h5



35. Be2-f1

Black has equalized fully, yet neither player wants to split the point.

35. ...      Rc7-c6



36. Rd1-c1   Qe7-d6



37.  g2-g3

Why not 37.c4-c5 with the idea Bf1-b5?

37. ...      Nf6-d7



38.  c4-c5    b6xc5



39. Bf1-b5   Rc6-c7



40. Bb5xd7   Rc7xd7



41. Rc1xc5

After a forced series of exchanges white has a small yet enduring edge. And Kamsky's response weakens both the 6th and 7th ranks.

43. ...       f7-f6



42.  h3-h4   Qd6-e6



43. Kg1-h2   Qe6-a6



44. Qe3-f3

44.b4-b5 Qa6-b7? 45.a3-a4 Rd7-d1 46.Rc5-c6 shuts out the black queen. A better try was 44....Qa6-b6! 45.a3-a4 Rd7-d4 46.Rc5-c6 Qb6-d8 with control of the d-line and protection of f6 black is okay.

44. ...      Qa6-f1



45. Rc5-c6   Rd7-f7



46. Qf3-e3   Qf1-b5



47. Qe3-c5   Qb5xc5

47...Qb5-f1? 48.b4-b5 with the unstoppable idea Ra6xa7 would spell doom.

48. Rc6xc5    g6-g5

This active move should ensure the draw, but white is still slightly better.

49.  h4xg5    f6xg5



50. Kh2-g2   Kg7-f6



51.  b4-b5   Kf6-f5



52.  a3-a4    h5-h4



53.  a4-a5   Rf7-b7

The text is inaccurate. 53...hg3! 54.Kg2xg3 Rf7-d7 is equal.

54.  f2-f3   Kf5-e6



55.  b5-b6    a7xb6



56. Rc5-b5    h4-h3+



57. Kg2xh3   Rb7-h7+



58. Kh3-g4    b6xa5



59. Rb5xa5   Adjourned

Despite liquidation black must lose a pawn and may draw yet it's quite difficult.

59. ...      Rh7-b7



60. Ra5-a6+  Ke6-e7



61. Kg4xg5   Rb7-b3



62. Kg5-g4   Ke7-f7



63. Ra6-h6   Rb3-a3



64. Rh6-h5   Kf7-f6



65. Rh5-f5+  Kf6-e6



66. Kg4-g5    e5-e4



    Draw