White: Anatoly Karpov  0.5



Black: Gata Kamsky     0.5







Played 30 June, 1 July 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    Ng8-f6



 2.  c2-c4     e7-e6



 3. Ng1-f3     b7-b6

The Queen's Indian is not the ideal opening to play for a win as Black, the more so when three points behind with only eight games left. But Kamsky perhaps doesn't trust his other openings.

 4.  g2-g3    Bc8-a6

This extended fianchetto idea stems from that great pioneer of chess strategy, Aron Nimzowitsch, a world championship hopeful back in the twenties. It's more active than the mechanical 4...Bc8-b7. Unfortunately for Kamsky, the FIDE champion has great experience on both sides of this line.

 5.  b2-b3    Bf8-b4



 6. Bc1-d2    Bb4-e7

Kamsky's KB maneuver appears to lose a tempo, but by luring the White QB to d2 he actually hopes to gain time because the natural spot for this man is b2.

 7. Bf1-g2     c7-c6



 8. Bd2-c3     d7-d5

Kamsky uses his pawns to attack c4, inhibit e2-e4 and jam the White KB. Other tries here are 8...Nf6-e4 9.Bc3-b2 d7-d5 10.0-0 Nb8-d7 11.Nb1-d2 Ne4xd2 Nf3xd2 f7-f5 13.Qd1-c1, with a slight edge for White in Morovic- Bareev, 1995; and 8...0-0 9.Nb1-d2 d7-d5 10.Nf3-e5 Ba6-b7 11.0-0, which was agreed drawn(!) here in the 11th game of the 1993 FIDE world championship between Timman and Karpov.

 9. Nf3-e5    Nf6-d7

Getting rid of the annoying beast at e5 like this is very common in this line.

10. Ne5xd7    Nb8xd7



11. Nb1-d2

White will play for e2-e4 while Black operates on the queenside with ...c6-c5 or ...b6-b5.

11. ...       O-O



12. O-O       Ra8-b8

Playing the rook to b8 before striking out with ...b6-b5 is unusual.

13. Bc3-b2

Some other ides here are: (1) 13.e2-e4 b6-b5 14.Rf1-e1 b5xc4 15.b3xc4 d5xc4 16.Qd1-a4 Ba6-b5 17.Qa4-c2 Be7-a3 18.Nd2xc4 Bb5xc4 19.Qc2xc4, with interesting play; (2) 13.a2-a4 Nd7-f6 14.e2-e4 c6-c5, draw in Horvath-Farago, Hun. Ch 1993; (3) 13.Rf1-e1 b6-b5 14.c4-c5!? b5-b4 15.Bc3-b2 e6-e5 16.d4xe5 Be7xc5 17.Ra1-c1, with a samll edge for White in Gagarin-Batsarnin, Vladivostok 1995.

13. ...        b6-b5



14.  c4-c5

With this committal advance Karpov shows that he's still pressing for an edge when he has White.

14. ...        e6-e5

Without this counterstroke in the center Kamsky would be in danger of being slowly squeezed to death. Karpov's favorite positions are those in which he can play for a win without risk, even if the process is a long drawn out one.

15.  d4xe5    Nd7xc5



16.  a2-a3    Ba6-b7



17.  b3-b4

The last few moves were expected, but it looks like White is getting the upper hand. The pawn structure resembles one that often arises in the Exchange Variation of the Queen's Gambit Declined. Black is saddled with a backward pawn on the open c-file which he must try to shield by planting a knight at c4. But his game remains passive, while White can gradually improve the position of his pieces and then try to break open the game. If 17...Nc5-e6 18.f2-f4 [or even 18.Nd2-b3 at once] ...f7-f5 19.e5xf6 Be7xf6 20.Bb2xf6 Qd8xf6 21.Nb3, Karpov commands key squares and can zero in on c6.

17. ...       Nc5-a4

Kamsky gains a tempo to bring his knight to c4 via b6.

18. Bb2-d4     a7-a5



19. Qd1-b3

Karpov guards b4 and clears d1 for a rook. Also, with the queen at b3 he inhibits ...f7-f6 because e2-e4 would go right after the vulnerable a2-g8 diagonal.

19. ...       Na4-b6



20. Qb3-c3

Karpov guards the bishop so he can play e2-e4 and possibly e5-e6, discovering an attack on g7. 20.b4xa4 was an interesting alternative. After 20...Nb6-c4 21.Nd2xc4 d5xc4 [21...b5xc4 22.Qb3-b6! Qd8-c8 23.Rf1-b1 c6- c5 24.Bd4-e3 Bb7-c6 25.Qb6-a7 gives White some pressure, though the game remains tricky] 22.Qb3-e3 [22.Qb3-c3 c6-c5 23.Bd4-e3 Bb7xbg2 24.Kg1xg2 Qd8-d5 is OK for Black] 22...Qd8xa5 23.Bd4-c5 Qa5-c7 is slightly better for Karpov due to his dark square control, better bishop and d-file possibilities.

20. ...       Nb6-a4

It looks like Kamsky might be happy just to repeat moves and make a quick draw. Will Karpov acquiesce, three points ahead, or does he like his position so much that he feels obliged to continue?

21. Qc3-b3    Na4-b6



22. Rf1-d1

Karpov would probably like to keep this rook on f1 to support the charge of his KBP, but with a knight on c4 and rook on a8 Kamsky will be threatening to invade at a3.

22. ...       Nb6-c4



23. Qb3-c3

23.e2-e4 looks promising, but after 23...Qd8-c8 24.e4xd5 [24.f2-f4 c6-c5 gives Black counterplay] 24...c6xd5 25.f2-f4 Nc4xd2 [25...Qc8-f5 26.Nd2-f3 Rf8-c8 27.Bd4-f2, intending Nf3-d4, looks excellent for White] 26.Rd1xd2 Qc8-c4 Kamsky is getting more activity than his position merits. Besides, Karpov is never in a hurry.

23. ...       Rb8-a8

Another way to play it was 23...a5xb4 24.a3xb4 Bb7-c8, so that if 25.e2-e4, Black can try to mix it up with 25...Bc8-g4 26.f2-f3 Bg4-h5.

24. Nd2-b3    Qd8-c7

This stops Bd4-c5 because Kamsky could then play ...Nc4xe5.

25. Nb3-c5

25.f2-f4 allows Kamsky to go in for complications with 25...Nc4xa3! 26.Nb3xa5 [Karpov must avoid 26.Ra1xa3 a5xb4] 26...Be7xb4! 27.Qc3xb4 Qc7xa5, since 28.Bd4-c5 Qa5xb4 29.Bc5xb4 Na3-c2! allows Black to overcome his troubles.

25. ...       Bb7-c8



26.  h2-h3

The sharp line 6.e2-e4 Bc8-g4 27.e4xd5 c6xd5 [27...Bg4xd1 is no good brecause of 28.d5-d6] 28.Bg2xd5 Ra8-d8 29.Bd5xc4 Bg4xd1 30.Ra1xd1 [30.Bc4xf7!?] ...a5xb4 31.a3xb4 b5xc4 32.Qc3xc4 Qc7-c6, giving Karpov two pawns for the exchange, allows Kamsky good chances for a draw and is less arduous for him than the text.

26. ...       Rf8-d8

Now the tactical shot e5-e6 can easily be refuted by ...f7xe6. If White then takes on g7 he loses a piece after ...Be7xc5 and ...Qc7xg7.)

27.  g3-g4

The fine move 27.g3-g4! is far better than the routine 27.f2-f4, which might be met by the feisty 27...h7-h5!. For instance, 28.Qc3-c2 [28.e2-e4 Be7xc5 29.Bd4xc4 d5xe4 30.Bg2xe4 Bc8xh3 is not good for White] 28...a5xb4 29.a3xb4 Ra8xa1 30.Rd1xa1 [forced] ...g7-g6, with ...Bc8-f5 coming up.

27. ...        a5xb4

Kamsky tries to relieve the pressure by some exchanges.

28.  a3xb4    Ra8xa1



29. Rd1xa1    Be7xc5

The protected passed b-pawn will prove a vital asset for Kamsky.

30.  b4xc5    Bc8-b7

Going after e5 with 30...Rd8-e8 could be playing with fire after 31.Ra1-a8! . If then Qc7-b7 32.Qc3-a1 b5-b4 33.e5-e6! f7-f6 [not 33...Re8xe6 34.Qa1-a7!, winning; or 33...b4-b3 34.Ra8-a7] 34.Ra8-a7 Qb7-b8 35.g4-g5 b4-b3 36.g5xf6 g7xf6 37.Bd4xg7 b3-b2 38.Ra7-g7 Kg8-f8 39.Rg7-f7 Kf8-g8 40.Qa1-b1, and White's attack crashes through before Black can queen his pawn.

31.  e2-e3

31.e2-e4 also looks reasonable, e.g., 31...d5xe4 32.Bg2xe4 Qc7-d7 33.Ra1-a7!. But Karpov is happy to play an ending with two bishops because even though the clogged middle restricts their activity, he has a dangerous mobile kingside pawn majority.

31. ...       Rd8-a8



32. Bg2-f1    Ra8xa1



33. Qc3xa1    Qc7-a5



34. Qa1xa5    Nc4xa5



35. Bf1-d3     b5-b4



36.  f2-f4    Na5-c4

Not 36...b4-b3 because after 37.Bd4-c3 Na5-c4 38.Bd3xc4 d5xc4 Kamsky's queenside pawns are blockaded.

37. Bd3-c2

37.e3-e4? is bad due to 37...Nc4-d2, hitting e4 and threatening the fork at f3.

37. ...       Bb7-c8

The more active 37...Bb7-a6 fails to 38.Bc2-a4 Ba6-b5 39.Ba4xb5 c6xb5 40.c5-c6, and the pawn cannot be stopped.

38.  f4-f5    Nc4-d2



39. Bc2-a4    Bc8-d7



40. Kg1-f2     g7-g6



41. Kf2-g3

Karpov sees that he just has time to get his king to a threatening post because now 41...g6xf5 42.g4xf5 Bd7xf5 43.Ba4xc6 gives him a dangerous passer at c5.

41. ...       Kg8-f8



42. Kg3-f4    Kf8-e7



43.  e5-e6

43.e5-e6?! is a surprisingly risky winning try. Karpov must have overlooked something in his calculations of this intriguing and difficult ending. He could have increased the pressure with the safer 43.h3-h4!, maintaining at least a small edge. Then Kamsky's best seems to be 43...g6xf5! [ marking time will lose to a similar breakthough to the game] 44.g4xf5 h7-h6 45.Ba4-c2 [ 44.e5-e6 f7xe6 45.f5-f6 Ke7-f7 47.Bc2-d1 b4-b3 48.Bd1-h5+ Kf7-f8 49.Be5 Ne4 looks OK for Black] 45...b4-b3 46.Bc2-d3 Bd7-c8 [46...Nd2-c4 47.e3-e4 b3-b2 48.e4xd5 c6xd5 gives White more options with two passed pawns] 47.h4-h5 Bc8-d7. Now the breakthrough 48.e5-e6 f7xe6 49.f5-f6 Ke7-f8 is defensible, e.g., 50.Bd3-g6 Nd2-c4 51.e3-e4 d5xe4 52.Kf4xe4 b3-b2 53.Ke4- f4 e6-e5! 54.Bd4xe5 Nc4xe5 55.Kf4xe5 Bd7-e8!, and White could even lose.

43. ...        f7xe6



44.  f5-f6+   Ke7-f7



45. Ba4-c2     h7-h6



46.  h3-h4     b4-b3



47. Bc2-d3     g6-g5

With 47...g6-g5! Kamsky gets healthy. If instead he had allowed g4- g5 he'd probably lose.

48.  h4xg5     h6xg5



49. Kf4-g3

After the further error 49.Kf4-g3? Karpov is in danger of losing. With 49.Kf4xg5 a draw is the likely result, e.g., 49...Nd2-f3+ 50.Kg5-f4 e6- e5+ 51.Kf4xf3 [ not 51.Bd4xe5? Nf3xe5 52.Kf4xe5 Bd7xg4 53.Ke5-d6 Bg4- d1 and Black wins] e5-e4+, and the opposite-colored bishops guarantee the draw.

49. ...        b3-b2

49...b3-b2! is a fine move that Karpov might have missed. Now Kamsky can simplify into a position in which he may be able to cash in his extra pawn [or two].

50. Bd4xb2    Nd2-b3



51. Bd3-c2

51.Bb2-d4 Nb3xd4 with the f6 pawn.

51. ...       Nb3xc5



52.  e3-e4

My how things have changed! Karpov's situation looks desperate but he may be able to finagle a draw if he can reduce the number of pawns and tie Kamsky up by attacking those that remain with the far-ranging bishops. But probably not.

52. ...        d5xe4

52...Bd7-c8!? was also possible, intending ...Nc5-d7 and then ...c6- c5, ...d5-d4, etc.

53. Kg3-f2    Bd7-c8



54. Kf2-e3    Nc5-d7



55. Bc2xe4     c6-c5



56. Be4-f3    Bc8-a6



    Adjourned

The game was adjourned here with Karpov sealing his 57th move. The best try may be 57.Bb2-a3 with the idea 57...c5-c4 58.Ba3-d6 Nd7xf6 59.Ke3-d4, trying to tie Black to the defense of his pawns and making it difficult for him to make progress. Another line, winning for Kamsky, would be 57.Bb2-c3 e6-e5 58.Bf3-c6 Nd7xf6 59.Bc3xe5 Nf6xg4+ 60.Ke3-e4 Ba6-d3+! 61.Ke4-d5 Ng4xe5 62.Kd5xe5 c5-c4 63.Bc6-b5 Kf7-g6 64.Bb5-e8 Kg6-h6, when Black must break through.

Play Resumed 1 July 1996...

57. Bb2-a3   Ba6-b5



58. Ke3-f2   Bb5-c4

Black can take the f pawn at his leisure. It's more important to try and centralize the bishop first.

59. Bf3-c6   Nd7-e5



60. Bc6-f3   Bc4-d5



61. Bf3-e2   Ne5-d7

...c5-c4 62.Kf2-e3 Ne5-d7 (62...Kf7xf6?? 63.Ba3-b2 followed by moving the bishop to d4 and the king all around to d6 will win the knight and the game.) 63.Ba3-b2 Nd7xf6 64.Ke3-d4 and white has a good chance of defense with control of the d4 square.

62. Kf2-e3   Bd5-c6

63.Be2-b5 wins a pawn.

(64B...Kf6-e5 65.Ba3-c1 Ke5-f6 66.Bc1-a3 forces black to try something else.)

63. Be2-d3   Kf7xf6



64. Ke3-e2   Kf6-f7



65. Ba3-c1   Nd7-e5



66. Bc1xg5   Ne5xg4



67. Ke2-d2   Bc6-d5



68. Kd2-c3    e6-e5



69. Bd3-f5   Ng4-f6



70. Bg5-h4

with the idea to play Bh4-f2.

70. ...      Nf6-e8

70B...Bd5-e4?

71.Bh4xf6 Be4xf5 72.Bf6xe5= With the two bishops white will often threaten to trade to a bishops of opposite colors ending which draws easily with the pawns one file apart.

71. Bh4-f2   Ne8-d6



72. Bf5-d3    c5-c4



73. Bd3-h7   Kf7-g7

After white's last sharp move black has few options. 73...Bd5-e4 74.Bf2-g3! Be4xh7 (Or 74.... Kf7-f6 75.Bf2-h4+= or 74.... Kf7-e6 75.Bh7-g8+ draws.) 75.Bg3xe5 Kf7-e6 76.Be5xd6=

74. Bh7-c2   Kg7-f6



75. Kc3-b4   Kf6-e6



76. Bf2-c5   Nd6-b7



77. Bc5-f2   Nb7-d6



78. Bf2-c5   Nd6-f7



79. Bc5-e3   Ke6-f6



80. Bc2-d1    e5-e4

This was an ugly move ceding the d4 square, but there is no way to make progress. After being close to victory for so many moves Kamsky had his chance to fight.

81. Bd1-e2   Nf7-e5



82. Kb4-c5   Bd5-f7



83. Kc5-d4   Kf6-f5



84. Kd4-c3   Bf7-d5



85. Kc3-d4   Kf5-e6



86. Kd4-c3   Ke6-f5



87. Kc3-d4   Bd5-f7



88. Kd4-c3   Ne5-g4



89. Be2xg4+  Kf5xg4



90. Kc3-d2   Draw

The score is now Karpov 8 Kamsky 5 We applaud Kamsky's fighting spirit but time is running out.