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Anatoly Karpov vs Nigel Short
"Karpov Stops Short" (game of the day May-16-2008)
Eurotel Trophy KO (2002) (rapid), Prague CZE, rd 1, Apr-29
Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical. Noa Variation (E34)  ·  1-0

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

rnbqkbnr/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/RNBQKBNR w KQkq - 0 1
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Kibitzer's Corner
Dec-23-02  pawntificator: Nigel loses terribly with either Ke8 or Ke7. Short had a nice looking attack going for a second, but one can see that it was premature. Rather foolish to try such an early assault on a K. Why in the world did Short castle short? heh heh, I know why, I just wanted to say that. Of course, there weren't any other good options at that point, he loses no matter what. Still, it was a very bad move to top off a slew of other bad moves.
May-16-08  addiction to chess: That's what people call "castling into it"!
May-16-08  think: Here's why I think Short resigned:
20. ... Kg1 21. Bh7+ with mate in 3 more moves.
20. ... Ke1 21. Bxc6+ wins a knight (because 21. ... bxc6 22. Qxc6+ wins a Rook) 20. ... Ke2 21. Qd6+ Ke1 22. Bxc6+, same as the second line.
May-16-08  kellmano: I seem to remember Short playing a similar line against Kasparov in their title match. First time he used it he got a quick draw, then he foolishly used it again and got destroyed just like in this game.
May-16-08  DeltaHawk: make some excellent decisions, that karpov
May-16-08  ALwoodpusher: How about 12...Bg6!? How does white respond?
May-16-08  patzer2: Perhaps 19. Qh7+!! would make a good puzzle, as after 19...Kf8 20. Qxh6+! he has a winning double attack (threatening mate or win of decisive material as described by <think>).
May-16-08  charliechaffka: ALwoodpusher has a point. If Nigel plays 12..Bg6 he has chances. I think Karpov threw him with the Zwischenzug and made him feel he needed to respond decisively but prematurely. He could have kept up the pressure
May-16-08  kutuzov: 12...Bg6 and I think Karpov can fairly easily play 13. Qa4+, transposing into endgame with an extra pawn.
May-16-08
Premium Chessgames Member
  Jimfromprovidence: Short missed 16...Nxe5, didn't he?


click for larger view

This move probably sets off a massive series of exchanges:

17 Nxd5 Nxd3 18 Qxe4 Nxc5 19 Qxb4 Qxb4 20 Nxb4 Rfd8


click for larger view

Black’s not in bad shape at this point.

May-16-08  JG27Pyth: JG27Pyth: <think: Here's why I think Short resigned 20. ... Ke1 21. Bxc6+ wins a knight (because 21. ... bxc6 22. Qxc6+ wins a Rook) 20. ... Ke2 21. Qd6+ Ke1 22. Bxc6+, same as the second line.>

There's just a little more to it than that I think...

You meant Ke8 and Ke7...... (I think they both lose a bit more decisively than you've given because the bxc6 recapture is forced in all lines.)

20. Ke8 21.Bxc6+ bxc6 (forced! Otherwise: 21...Kd8 22.Qd6+ Kc8 23.Qd7+ Kb8 Qb7#)... and now white has his choice of rooks to win, plus a complimentary pawn, and if black isn't accurate white can actually win _both_ rooks. Down the exchange and three pawns, black is hopeless.

20...Ke7 21.Qd6+ Ke8 22.Bxc6+ bxc6... the only legal move and we've tranposed into the first line.

I seem incapable of posting anything to this forum that is strictly accurate, so my main question here is...ok, whaddid I get wrong this time?

-- Pyth

May-16-08  DaveyL: In the words of Frank Costanza, "He stopped short? That's my move!"
May-16-08  mistreaver: the move 10.. Qa5 was first played by short in the 5th game of his 1993 Kasparov-Short match. This is what Karoly says about it: It is remarkable to find such a novelty so early in such a well-known opening. There have been few games with this move since 1993, but those who have played it were clearly inspired by short. Black tries to force matters with lively piece play;the only question is what can be acchieved by his immediate threats. It should also be mentioned that he played 12... 0-0 in the ninth game of the same match and suffered a defeat. Here are both games:
Kasparov vs Short, 1993
Kasparov vs Short, 1993
May-16-08  Lightboxes: Great game by white, not allowing black to attack the white king even with enemy pieces surrounding the white king.

The two knights on c3 were under constant attack. Black would win the exchange, but with a pause with #. ...Nxc3 (and no check), white could make one devestating move for more material gain or check mate.

May-16-08  zdigyigy: Alwoodpusher- I believe white takes the rook on his thirteenth move and if 13...Nxc3 (it looks like black's only chance) then 14.Qb3 and if then 14...Nxe2 then 15.Kxe2 and black gets some checks but nothing decisive. Forget 13.Qa4+. It does not work because the knight on c3 is still pinned by the bishop and cannot recapture.
May-17-08  charliechaffka: Actually Short should have castled after Be5 and been fine.
May-19-08  kevin86: Ex-champ makes Short work of Mr. Short.
Sep-04-13  IceT: Haha! I get it! Short is his name but also a measurement of a distance. So funny
May-04-21  Gaito:


click for larger view

BLACK TO MOVE

12...Nxc3??

A serious oversight, but it was a rapid game. With more time on the clock Nigel Short would probably have found the correct move: 12...O-O with equality.

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