17...ne7! black gets the upper hand after this surprising manoeuver.

19.nc4 karpov's play against the isolani is very instructive. (19.d5? ne3: 20.nd7: rd7: 21.de nd1: 22.ed nf2: and black is better)

22.ne5 (22.g4? g5!)

30..re4! the rook paralyses white's position

33...h6! a nice prophylactic measure that emphasizes white's helplessness

39.rc4? white wastes his only chance during the whole game to get rid of his isolated pawn by 39.d5!

39...bf8! the bishop is ready to get to the h2-ba8 diagonale. the fight is over

40...qe6 (40...wd5! was more precise)

44...qe5! 45. nh3? (white loses quickly) 45...qe7! a very elegant win by karpov!

Its been said many times that Karpov with either side, with or without the pawn...was probably the best to ever to play positions in which there was an IQP.

Beacuse of Karpov the Tarrasch is dead at the GM level.

Normally a black piece - often a knight - would stay at d5 to blockade the IQP. But that is the old-fashioned way. The modern way is to keep pieces on and keep attacking the pawn so that white's pieces end up in a defensive position. So that instead of the usual N/d5 B/b7 setup, we get the piece formation as happened in this game.

But could anyone tell me:

1) IQP is "isolated queen pawn" or "isolani". There are many good middlegame books that discuss the respective strategies for each side in these positions.

2) I had to look up the book answer because it's a little tricky. Take your line 14. Bc3 Qd8 (avoiding the doubling of pawns on the kingside). 15. Nxf6+ Bxf6 16. Rfd1 and now

16 ... Qe7 17. Qe4 g6 18. Bb4 wins the exchange or

<10...Nf6> Prophylactic play preventing 11.Qe4 followed by Qh4 and Bg5 with kingside initiative.

<12...Qb6!> Getting the queen off the back rank and preparing to connect the rooks. Of course Karpov doesn't play 12... Nxd4? 13. Nxd4 Qxd4 14.Bc3 with a big initiative for White.

<13...Bd7> Taking on b2 would lose the queen to 14.Rfb1.

<14...Rfd8> Karpov decides to put his queen's rook on d8, keeping his other rook on f8 in case of Ne5 and Ng5 with threats to f7.

<17...Ne7!!> Again 17...Qxb2? 18.Rfb1 Qc3 19.Bd2 would lose the queen. Karpov sidesteps the threat of 18.d5 and prepares Nf5. If now 18.d5 Qxb2! is a safe capture- Black win two rooks for the Queen.

<19...Qa6!> 19...Qc7 20.Bf4 and 19...Qc6 20.Na5 were considerably weaker. Karpov is unafraid of 20.Ne5 Bb5! with Black in charge of the light squares.

<21...Bd5> Now the problem piece for Black in so many queen's pawn games has achieved an ideal post for attack and defence.>

<22...Qb6> Black is prepared for 23.g4 g5! winning the queen.

<30...Re4!> White has to meet the threat of ...Rg4.

<31...b5!> preventing any activity for White's a1 rook.

<33...h6> a simple patient move making luft in the event of a back rank check.

<35...Rc6> Provoking 36.d5 Rc8 37. Rdc1 b3 38.Rd2 Be5, where White is under heavy pressure.

<38...Bxc6> here again 39.d5 Ba8 40. b3 Be5 is in Black's favour.

<39...Bf8!> Preventing any counterplay with Rb4.

<40...Qe6> A time pressure move, 40...Qd5 41.Ne5 Rxe5 42.Rxc6 Rxe3 wins faster. Black had to avoid 40...Rg4? 41.Ne5! Rxg3 42. Nxd7 Rxg2+ 43.Kh1! when Black has too much hanging.

<43...Bd6!> Not 43...Qa6? 44.Bc5 defending. Now if 44.f4 Qd7! 45.Bd4 (45.Be3 Bxd3 46.Qxd3 Bxf4+ wins) Bxd3 46.Qxd3 Bxf4+ 47. g3 Be5 winning.

<44...Qe5> Now 45.Be3 Qxb2 46.a6 Qc3 and only Black's pawn is promoting.

<45...Qe7> The concluding stroke- the bishop on a7 is lost.