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Anatoly Karpov vs Garry Kasparov
Kasparov - Karpov World Championship Match (1990), Lyon FRA, rd 21, Dec-19
King's Indian Defense: Saemisch. Closed Variation (E87)  ·  1/2-1/2

ANALYSIS [x]

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Kibitzer's Corner
Nov-21-04  who: I can't believe Karpov made this game play out this long. It's an obvious draw 20 moves before the end.
Nov-22-04  drukenknight: are we sure it's not Kasp. who insists on continuing?
Nov-22-04  acirce: It was a virtual must-win for Karpov. It was the 1990 WC match and Kasparov was ahead by 2 points with only 4 games to go AND draw odds to his favour.
Nov-22-04
Premium Chessgames Member
  offramp: Who offers the draw in this case? It is normally the one who is slightly ahead. Perhaps both players thought they were inferior?
Dec-06-04  who: white is clearly down, a knight though it may be worth three pawns is not capable of checkmating on its own thus white has no mating chances even if he gains both pawns.
Dec-06-04  who: The incredible thing which gives away that Karpov was dragging his feet is 76 Qh1 After 76.QxQ KxQ 77.Kc3 Kf6 78.Kd4 Kf5 Nd6+ wins the pawn and ensures a draw immediately. This implies that Karpov was waiting for Kasparov to BLUNDER HIS QUEEN!!!!! Of course Kasparov knew it too but felt he might be able to win. there were certainly not questions of politeness in either player's mind
Dec-08-04  acirce: <who> Why do you assume that was what he was waiting for? It seems more plausible that he somehow hoped to get rid of Black's two pawns to reach a Q+N vs Q endgame with not negligible winning chances in practical play.
Oct-30-05
Premium Chessgames Member
  wwall: If 48.Kd2, then 48...Ra1 49.b4 Ra2+ 50.Nc2 (50.Bc2 Nxe4+ 51.Kd3 Nd6 52.Nc4 may draw; 50.Kc3 Nd7 51.Nd5 Rxg2 52.Bb5 Rg3+ 53.Kd2 Nb8 may be in Black's favor) 50...Nd7 (50...Nxd3? 51.b7 Rxc2+ Kxd3 wins) 51.Bc4 (51.b7 Ra7) 51...Ra8 (51...Rxc2+?! 52.Kxc2 Nxb6 53.Kb3 Kf6 54.h4 or 54.b5 favors White) 52.b7 Rb8 53.Ba6 (53.Bd5 Nb6 54.Bc6 Nc4+ 55.Kc3 Nd6 56.b5 Nxb7 should draw) 53...Nf6 54.Kd3 Ne8 55.Kc4 Nd6+ 56.Kd5 Nxb7 57.Kxe5 Re8+ 58.Kd4 Nd6 should draw. Perhaps better is 48.b4 Nd7 49.Nc4 Rg1 50.b7 Rxg2+ 51.Kc3 Kf6 52.Nb6 Nb8 53.Bb5 Rg3+ 54.Kc4 Ke6 55.Nd7.

52...Nxd3?? 53.b7. 52...Bd7 53.b7 Kf6 54.Na5 Rg3 should draw.

Jul-01-09  Knight13: <offramp: Who offers the draw in this case? It is normally the one who is slightly ahead. Perhaps both players thought they were inferior?> Perpetual Check.
May-06-12  wordfunph: GM Vlastimil Hort commented before the game..

"Today Karpov must win if he is to catch the 12-12 train!"

Source: Five Crowns Kasparov-Karpov 1990 by Seirawan & Tisdall

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