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Anatoli Karpov vs Veselin Topalov
"Discovery Channel" (game of the day Jun-29-07)
Dos Hermanas, Cat.16 1994  ·  Benoni Defense: Benoni-Indian Defense. Kingside move order (A43)  ·  1-0


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Kibitzer's Corner
< Earlier Kibitzing  · PAGE 4 OF 4 ·  Later Kibitzing >
Nov-04-06   dehanne: Karpov was hot in 1994. The crush over Topalov in Linares is even more impressive.
Dec-02-06
Premium Chessgames Member
  notyetagm: <acirce: <gilbertv> It loses. 31...Qxf3. That's why the _double_ check is important.>

Yes, <DOUBLE CHECKS> succeed where <DISCOVERED CHECKS> fail.

If your opponent threatens you with a <DISCOVERED CHECK>, one way to meet this threat is to attack the rear (masked line) piece. That way when the <DISCOVERER> moves out of the way, you simply capture the newly unmasked checking rear piece.

But if the <DISCOVERER> -also- gives check, as it does here with 31 Be5++! <DOUBLE CHECK>, then capturing the rear piece is not sufficient for getting out of check because the <DISCOVERER> also gave check.

<DOUBLE CHECK> means you have to move the king. Here, Karpov's 31 Be5++! is not just a <DOUBLE CHECK>, it also <BLOCKS> the Black e8-rook from <DEFENDING> the <LOOSE> Black e4-queen. Since Black has to move his king to get out of the <DOUBLE CHECK> -and- meet the threat to his now undefended e4-queen, 31 ... Kxe5 is forced as it is the only way to meet both threats.

A -brilliant- petite combination by Karpov.

May-28-07   Voxation: Shouldn't Topalov have given up his light squared bishop instead of his dark squared bishop? Because wouldn't that lead to an ending with opposite colored bishops in which Topalov would have more of a drawing chance?
Jun-29-07   jellyace: Oh I see it now. Declining the Bishop by 31. ... Kg5 32. Bf6# or 31. ... Ke6 (or ... Ke7) 32. Qf6# both lose immediately. Nice combination.
Jun-29-07
Premium Chessgames Member
  An Englishman: Good Evening: The funny thing about Karpov's wins is how much he seems to annoy the opponent for so much of the game. Here Topalov frees up lines for his Bishops, puts the Rooks on seemingly good squares, gets rid of his backward pawn...and yet his position is just not quite right. One Bishop has to retreat to c8 because of that annoying Knight, the other can never quite get to the great g7 square because of the annoying reply Rd6, and the Black Queen is annoyingly placed--oh, and that Bc7 move is, well, annoying. And Nd5 turns out to be a huge annoyance, too.
Jun-29-07   Chess Carnival: 30.Nf6! Karpov is a real delight to watch!

<An Englishman> <The funny thing about Karpov's wins is how much he seems to annoy the opponent for so much of the game. Here Topalov frees up lines for his Bishops, puts the Rooks on seemingly good squares, gets rid of his backward pawn...and yet his position is just not quite right.>

This is what I like in his games. This is the Karpov Phenomena !

Jun-29-07
Premium Chessgames Member
  Billy Ray Valentine: Karpov has had at least a few nice wins against Topalov. The funny thing to me is how tactical the games were--as opposed to the more typical positional play by Karpov.

I also love this win by Karpov over Topalov:

Karpov vs Topalov, 2002

Jun-29-07
Premium Chessgames Member
  tatarch: 30.Nf6 is one of those moves that dreams are made of.

I'm usually not a fan of Karpov's games, but this one is very entertaining.

Jun-29-07
Premium Chessgames Member
  kevin86: This was a fine game! Here,white uses a fork to smoke the black king into the open and setting up a powerful double check.

BTW,I love a few of the shows on THE DISCOVERY CHANNEL:namely,MYTHBUSTERS and CASH CAB. I am looking forward to SHARK WEEK next month.

Jun-29-07   Kublo: I love this game. I analyzed this game with my teacher. Intresting.
Jun-29-07   masoud alameri: i realy love this game espcially 30.Nf6!!!!! it is brilliant..
Jun-29-07
Premium Chessgames Member
  fm avari viraf: Karpov's 30.Nf6 is a gem of a move which wins the exchange & the game.
Jun-29-07   newton296: I like this game . It makes u think about just what is possible when U see the opponent has lots of loose pieces. here karpov sees he can sac his N + B for the loose R + B later. But he has too see 10 moves deep to find this one . Ruthless board vision like fisher or capablanca ! karpov was really feeling his oats in this game.
Dec-15-07   syracrophy: Topalov is the punching bag of the champions. What a shame. Just look at these humilliating games:

Kasparov vs Topalov, 1999

Karpov vs Topalov, 2002

The only good thing of this guy is that Karpov and Kasparov played their immortal games against him

Dec-15-07   you vs yourself: <Just look at these humilliating games:> You're looking at it the wrong way. These games are immortal and beautiful because Topalov was on the other side.

I can play Kasparov and Karpov a 1000 times and everyone of them will be forgotten in a second. Ks can play perfect moves but if the guy on the other side is playing 1...f6 2...a5, it will be humiliating and embarrassing.

The point is, the strength of the opposition and the quality of their play are what makes a fraction of all chess games played immortal. The quality of this game- Kasparov vs Topalov, 1999 was so high, in part, because of Topalov.

Apr-19-08
Premium Chessgames Member
  positionalgenius: A beautiful game. Karpov shows his tactical prowess
Aug-15-08   Woody Wood Pusher: Wow this is an amazing combination, great game by Karpov!
Aug-15-08
Premium Chessgames Member
  keypusher: <you vs yourself>

<The point is, the strength of the opposition and the quality of their play are what makes a fraction of all chess games played immortal. The quality of this game- Kasparov vs Topalov, 1999 was so high, in part, because of Topalov.>

Well said.

Aug-16-08   Woody Wood Pusher: this game reminds me of some comments about Topalov's style, he likes to push pawns up the board very quickly to gain space for his pieces which he flings in behind. The thing is, in this game Karpov doesn't allow any of his pieces good positions anywhere and keeps them on his back rank, only allowing Topalov's king to rush forward into the center LOL
Sep-04-08   sicilianhugefun: A big performance from Tolya! Topalov is a punching bag of the russian chess gods; such as Kasparov, Karpov, kramnik
Jan-17-09   WhiteRook48: amazing tactics!
DOUBLE CHECK!! Spectacular!! (Well, maybe not as much as in Reti-Tartakower, 1910...) Then the skewer and fork at the end!! This is the best example of Karpov's attacking style!
Apr-21-09   WhiteRook48: 31 Be5+!!
Aug-18-09   WhiteRook48: or rather tactical
Sep-22-09
Premium Chessgames Member
  holy tramp: I wonder how long Karpov deliberated before 30...Nf6. The combination is just so damn beautiful. And that was his G1 Knight(!) making the long, arduous journey to get centralized-- in order to be in position for such brilliant tactical play. Chessmetrics states that in 1994 Karpov reached the highest tournament event rating in chess history- at Linares posting a 2899!! Say what you will about chessmetrics, Karpov in '94 was a mind-blowing stud with games like this above, his "Immortal" also against Topalov of course, as well as his aforementioned tournament play.
Sep-22-09
Premium Chessgames Member
  Open Defence: I hope he is able to bring some of this ability to the board today!!!

Go Karpov!!!

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