CHESS
King Karpov
Raymond Keene
OVER THE PAST TWO WEEKS I have concentrated on the extraordinary play of young Gata Kamsky from the Fide semi- fmals in Sanghi Nagar. Not only does the young American (by adoption) now look like a future world champion, his populari- ty has also increased as a result of the fact that he remained aloof from the curious deal struck between Fide and the PCA and their respective supremos Florencio Campomanes and Garry Kasparov.
A second beneficiary of the shift in pub- lic sentiment has been the Fide champion Anatoly Karpov. In the past it was always difficult to sympathise with him. He suf- fered from winning the title by default against Fischer in 1975 and another blow to his credibility was dealt when Campo- manes stopped Kasparov's first challenge against Karpov in Moscow ten years later. Karpov's public image was further handi- capped by his evident predilection for the Soviet regime.
Now, all this has changed. The Soviet Union has been swept away and Karpov's allegiance to it more or less forgotten. Additionally Karpov has gained points for his staunch, if unreciprocated, loyalty to Fide while they were in extremis, and the notably ungracious handling he received from the organisers of the Moscow Olympiad, where, even though he is reign- ing Fide champion, Karpov was virtually excluded from all of the official ceremonies in his own home town. There is definitely a wave of support for him now, one that is reinforced by the excellent chess he contin- ues to produce.
In Sanghi Nagar he started slowly against Gelfand, a most formidable opponent, scoring just one point from the first three games. Thereafter, Karpov rose like a phoenix from the ashes, taking an amazing five points from the next six games and concluding with the following smashing vic- tory with the black pieces.
I find this game strangely reminiscent of Karpov's win in game two from his 1987 match against Garry Kasparov at Seville. Both started as an English Opening and both finished with a fierce Black attack against the white king.
Gelfand-Karpov: Fide Candidates, Sanghi Nagar; Game 9, English Opening.
1 c4 e5 2 g3 Nf6 3 Bg2 Nc6 4 Nf3 Bc5 5 0-0 d6 6 Nc3 0-0 7 d3 a6 8 a3 I would prefer 8 Bg5 to accentuate White's light square strategy. 8 ...Nd4 9 Nd2 c6 10 b4 Ba7 11 Bbl Bf5 12 e3 Ne6 Interesting is 12 ...Exd3 13 exd4 Bxfl 14 Nxfl Bxd4 with sufficient material equiyalent for Black. However there is a danger that White's minor pieces might eventually become too active. The safe retreat in the text guarantees Karpov an easy position and one with fluid piece play, which is to his liking. 13 N13 h6 14 Qb3 Qd7 If instead 14 ...Bxd3 15 Rdl e4 16 Nel
advantageously regaining the sacrificed pawn. 15 Radl Bg4 16 Rd2 Rad8 17 Rcl Bxf3 18 Bxf3 d5 19 cxd5 cxd5 20 Na4 d4 Black's central pressure more than compensates for White's edge on the queen's flank. White's safest now is 21 e4 but after 21 ...Ng5 Black's position is fine. 21 Nc5 Qe7 22 Rdc2 dxe3 23 fxe3 e4 A bold decision to come to grips with White's king. 24 Bxf6 gxf6 Although this weakens Black's kingside it is vital in order to retain attacking chances. Instead 24
Qxf6 25 Bxe4 leaves White on top. 25 Bxe4 Ng5 26 Bxb7 Bxc5 27 bxc5 Qxe3+ (Diagram above) On the queenside White, with his far- ranging bishop and heavily supported passed 'c' pawn, has a won game. On the other flank, though, Black's concentration of force is so intense that he is in no danger at all of losing. 28 Kbl Rxd3 29 Qc4 Rfd8 30 Rfl R8d4 31 Qxa6 Ne4 32 Rg2 Rd1 33 Bxe4 Qxe4 34 Qxf6 Qd5 35 Kg! Rxfl+ 36 Kill Rdl+ White resigns After 37 Kf2 Qd2+ 38 Kf3 Rfl+ White is lost.
And now for good measure, the conclusion of Kasparov-Karpov: Game 2, Seville 1987.
(Diagram) 26 ...Re8 27 Qa5 b5 28 Nd2 Qd3 29 Nb3 BS 30 Bxf3 Qxf3+ 31 Kgl Rxel+ 32 Qxel Ne3 White resigns.
It is interesting to note that in both cases Karpov whipped up a serious attack even though suffering from doubled isolated T pawns in front of his king.
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