Karpov's masterclass! - Silent poetry

"The direction of the brushstroke is no longer an aid to the reading of forms. It is without any support from structure that the beholder must mobilize his memory of visible world and project it into the mosaic of strokes and dabs on the canvas before him. The image, it might be said, has no firm anchorage left on the canvas - it is only "conjured up' in our minds". - Gombrich  

.....and so is perception in Chess....whether you are the onlooker or the creator of a game!

Generally, I only scan the games in the tournament sites and other Chess portals......to select instructive ones.....but thanks to my friend Sagar, I watched the commentary by Karpov in Biel site on the rapid games for about 30 minutes.....pure gold.....a rare occasion where you get to witness the legend in flow!

I shall give you a glimpse of it....before moving into my subject article...




This was a position from Pelletier -Harikrishna, Biel Rapid - 2017.

Looking at White's last move.....6.b3?!......Karpov smiled shaking his head sideways .....and said; "...hmm....it is possible" which essentially means that such move - giving up the centre for no reason - will never fall in the zone of his consideration!


In the Morozevich - Navara, Biel Rapid - 2017 game, Karpov was giving a great lesson to everyone, including Grandmaster Daniel King on the conduct of attack and defence.....right from the start to the end......and the following position was reached after Navara failed to respond well in defending a difficult phase after the opening. 




As this position was reached, Karpov immediately said 26.g4! a classical move which hems Black's pawns on the Kingside.....and it hides a nasty threat.....if Black plays 26.....Nd6 then 27.d5!! followed by 28.Nd4!

A few moves later, the following position was reached...




In the above position, the great master suggested a seemingly mysterious 35.Rb2! followed by e5...say....after 35.....Ke7. When Daniel King asked him why Rb2 instead of direct e5....Karpov said, the c2 square is a protected square for the Rook, not allowing Black to play Nc4 in response to 36.e5 and if 36.....Nf7....he said "then put the Rook on b5 and do whatever you want"!!  

This uncanny ability to spot the right squares for the right piece...."that feel" for the position.....is what differentiates great masters from the mortals.

When asked for his memorable games played in Biel....Karpov cited many including......


Karpov - Lautier, Biel - 1992


...this acclaimed masterpiece...where Karpov buried Lautier's Bishop alive on a8....

....but I am going to deal here with one of my (many) favourites by Karpov...


Anatoly Karpov - Boris Spassky, Candidates Leningrad - 1974




Having reached this position, Black still was not able to play either the liberating .....d5 and...... in order to play .....e5 and not allow White Knight to f5 square, Spassky played......

13......g6 14.Rf2!

The Rook is not only preparing to meet Black's e5 and enter the d-file......but also protects the c2 pawn to liberate the Queen from that duty...!

14......e5 15.Nc6 bc6 16.fe5 de5 17.Qf1!




Another fine 'Karpov move'! He is not rushing to occupy the d-file with 'tempo' which will only result in further liquidation without any considerable gain. Karpov's Queen is heading for a nice post on c4 from where it will exert pressure on the light diagonal a2-g8 as well as hitting on the c6 pawn.

17......Qc8 18.h3 

Not only preventing the invasion .....Ng4 but also creates the loop hole for Kh2 to avoid any spate checks.

18......Nd7 19.Bg4! h5 20.Bd7!

Master stroke! Karpov eliminates one potentially active piece that can cover the weaknesses including the light squares.

20......Qd7 21.Qc4 Bh4 22.Rd2 Qe7 23.Rf1!

Of course! The d-file can wait.....till Black is forced to weaken his Kingside further.  23.Bc5 is also possible with similar ideas.....but Rf1 and the move that is to follow are touch of a zen master!

23......Rfd8




24.Nb1!!

Silent poetry!  

Karpov "improves" his only 'inactive' piece.....putting it to better use!!

24......Qb7 25.Kh2!

When you have nothing to do.....just remain!  Such moves are non-doing moves......and on many occasions you will find its true value in hindsight....

25.....Kg7 26.c3 Na6 27.Re2!!




This is not just to have the b2 protected by this Rook (as Black was threatening Rd2 followed by Qb2) .....it vacates the d2 square for the Knight to hop onto f3!

27......Rf8

Spassky senses danger and is trying to reinforce protection of critical squares around the King.....alas it is too late!

28.Nd2 Bd8 29.Nf3 f6 30.Rd2!

Threatening Qe6 followed by Rd7

30.....Be7 31.Qe6 Rad8 32.Rd8 




32......Bd8

32.....Rd8 is met with 33.Ne5!  

33.Rd1 Nb8 34.Bc5 Rh8 35.Rd8!   1 - 0



This is just one gem from a mine.....!


END


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