chessgames.com
Members · Prefs · Laboratory · Collections · Openings · Endgames · Sacrifices · History · Search Kibitzing · Kibitzer's Café · Chessforums · Tournament Index · Players · Kibitzing
Viktor Korchnoi vs Anatoly Karpov
Moscow (1971), Moscow URS, rd 14, Dec-13
English Opening: Symmetrical Variation. General (A30)  ·  0-1

8
7
6
5
4
3
2
a
1
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
White to move.
ANALYSIS [x]
0-1

rnbqkbnr/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/RNBQKBNR w KQkq - 0 1
FEN COPIED

Click Here to play Guess-the-Move
Given 60 times; par: 48 [what's this?]

explore this opening
find similar games 120 more Korchnoi/Karpov games
PGN: download | view | print Help: general | java-troubleshooting

TIP: You can make these tips go away by registering a free account then visiting your preferences page. Simply check the option "Don't show random tips on game pages." and click the Update Profile button at the bottom.

PGN Viewer:  What is this?
For help with this chess viewer, please see the Olga Chess Viewer Quickstart Guide.
PREMIUM MEMBERS CAN REQUEST COMPUTER ANALYSIS [more info]

A COMPUTER ANNOTATED SCORE OF THIS GAME IS AVAILABLE.  [CLICK HERE]

Kibitzer's Corner
Feb-14-04
Premium Chessgames Member
  nasmichael: Mednis--"In some difficulty after an experimental opening, Karpov resourcefully complicated the position. Korchnoi starts taking things too easily and suddenly finds himself pushed back on all fronts. Karpov consistently goes for a strategically superior position. When his opponent misses a tactical point, Black also gains material superiority. It takes only ten moves of the Karpov technique before White must resign." --HOW KARPOV WINS

Do you believe this? Let's look at the game itself, and see.

I find it hard to take the one-sidedness of the commentaries sometimes--but when I see the games, I try to absorb the position and not get caught up in the veracity of the commentary. Hero worship--or in chessic commentaries, victor worship--can cloud the judgement. Everyone forgets the player's mind. It is not always clairvoyance, but he/she has everyday things on the mind, like everyone else. But when it is time to move, the warrior comes out.

Feb-14-04  ughaibu: It's a very energetic game on Karpov's part and he shows remarkable judgement with the advance of his d-pawn. I assume white cant play 28.Qd3 because of Nf2(?)
Oct-15-07  notyetagm: Game Collection: Grooming passed pawns for promotion

Position after 32 ... ♕e6-c4:


click for larger view

Jan-24-08  Everett: There are parallels between this game and Morozevich's win over Kramnik here.

Morozevich vs Kramnik, 2007

Similar ugly pushing of the K-side pawns.

This Karpov is nearly unrecognizable in the opening.

Apr-01-12  skemup: what's wrong with 21...Qb4 ?
Jan-15-13  Kola: <skemup> "again, it is important in understanding Karpov's style to recognize that, in an unclear situation, he generally prefers to retain some positional initiative rather than to gain material. Thus he eschews the win of the exchange with 21...N-N5 22. BxB N-B7 23. BxQP NxKR 24. B-K2 N-B7." - quoted from the book "How Karpov Wins"
Nov-21-20
Premium Chessgames Member
  woldsmandriffield: 14..Qb6 was a very interesting move instead of the natural 14..Rc8. I thought the idea as 15 Ne5 g5 but Karpov demonstrates that the exchange of minor pieces with 15..Bxe5 16 Bxe5 f6 is correct.

18..g5 was a simple but precise and better than 18..Be2 when Korchnoi has 19 Bh3! Rc4 20 Qd7 with counter-play. After 18..g5 19 Be1 Be2 the move 20 Bh3? can be met with ..g4.

24..e5 was another precise move, putting White under more pressure than either 24..Qa6 or 24..Qb5 unpinning.

27 b4? was a serious mistake. Korchnoi may have overlooked 27..Nxe4 28 Qxd3 Nxf2! when White's pieces are overloaded.

Jan-24-24  N.O.F. NAJDORF: 39. Qxc2 Qxe3+ 40. Kf1 Qf3+ 41. Qf2 Qd3+ 42. Kg1 Re2 43. Qf1 Qe3+ 44. Kh1 Rf2 winning the queen

NOTE: Create an account today to post replies and access other powerful features which are available only to registered users. Becoming a member is free, anonymous, and takes less than 1 minute! If you already have a username, then simply login login under your username now to join the discussion.

Please observe our posting guidelines:

  1. No obscene, racist, sexist, or profane language.
  2. No spamming, advertising, duplicate, or gibberish posts.
  3. No vitriolic or systematic personal attacks against other members.
  4. Nothing in violation of United States law.
  5. No cyberstalking or malicious posting of negative or private information (doxing/doxxing) of members.
  6. No trolling.
  7. The use of "sock puppet" accounts to circumvent disciplinary action taken by moderators, create a false impression of consensus or support, or stage conversations, is prohibited.
  8. Do not degrade Chessgames or any of it's staff/volunteers.

Please try to maintain a semblance of civility at all times.

Blow the Whistle

See something that violates our rules? Blow the whistle and inform a moderator.


NOTE: Please keep all discussion on-topic. This forum is for this specific game only. To discuss chess or this site in general, visit the Kibitzer's Café.

Messages posted by Chessgames members do not necessarily represent the views of Chessgames.com, its employees, or sponsors.
All moderator actions taken are ultimately at the sole discretion of the administration.

This game is type: CLASSICAL. Please report incorrect or missing information by submitting a correction slip to help us improve the quality of our content.

Home | About | Login | Logout | F.A.Q. | Profile | Preferences | Premium Membership | Kibitzer's Café | Biographer's Bistro | New Kibitzing | Chessforums | Tournament Index | Player Directory | Notable Games | World Chess Championships | Opening Explorer | Guess the Move | Game Collections | ChessBookie Game | Chessgames Challenge | Store | Privacy Notice | Contact Us

Copyright 2001-2025, Chessgames Services LLC