1.e4
c6
The Caro-Kann Defense
2.d4
d5
Counter-attacking as in the French, but here, avoiding a bad Bc8 by not having played e6
3.Nd2
Avoiding Nc3 when black has the additional option of playing g6 and Bg7. The fianchetto does not work well here because white can respond with c2-c3
3...dxe4
4.Nxe4
Nd7
A solid variation, preparing rather than playing Ngf6
5.Ng5
Sharp, third move for the knight but an ideal post. ...h6 Ne6!
5...Ngf6
[5...h6
6.Ne6
fxe6
7.Qh5+
g6
8.Qxg6#
]
6.Bd3
idea Qe2 and 0-0
6...e6
7.N1f3
Guarding the d4-pawn and eyeing e5
7...Bd6
8.Qe2
h6
9.Ne4
Nxe4
10.Qxe4
Nf6
11.Qh4
Diagram
11...Ke7
Karpov had prepared this five years before for his match against Kasparov. Black's position comes alive with the idea of g7-g5
12.Ne5
Sacrificing a pawn for play against the exposed king
12...Bxe5
13.dxe5
Qa5+
Winning the e-pawn
14.c3
Qxe5+
15.Be3
b6
16.0-0-0
For the pawn, white has the two bishops and activity.
16...g5
17.Qa4
c5
18.Rhe1
Gladly offering the h-pawn
18...Bd7
19.Qa3
Rhd8
20.g3
[Karpov gives 20.f4
gxf4
21.Bd4
Qg5
22.Re5
Qh4
23.g3
fxg3
24.hxg3
Qxg3
25.Rxc5
bxc5
26.Qxc5+
Ke8
27.Bxf6
Qf4+
]
20...Qc7
consolidating. Karpov is a master of defense
21.Bd4
Tying the Ke7 to the defense of the Nf6
21...Be8
22.Kb1
Rd5
23.f4
Rad8
24.Bc2
R5d6
25.Bxf6+
[25.Be5
Rxd1+
26.Bxd1
Qb7
; 25.fxg5
hxg5
26.Be3
Rxd1+
27.Bxd1
Ne4
]
25...Kxf6
26.fxg5+
hxg5
27.Rxd6
Rxd6
28.c4
Bringing the queen back into play
28...Ke7
29.Qe3
f6
30.h4
Offering a draw, but white's compensation for the pawn has declined. White no longer has the two bishops, black remains a pawn to the good, and the Ke7 has places to hide
30...gxh4
31.gxh4
Qd7
32.Qh6
e5
[32...Rd2
]
33.h5
Qg4
34.Qh7+
Kd8
[34...Bf7
35.Bg6
Rd1+
36.Kc2
Rxe1
37.Qxf7+
Kd6
38.Qxf6+
Kc7
39.Qg7+=
]
35.h6
Rd2
36.Qf5
[36.Qxa7
]
36...Qxf5
37.Bxf5
Bd7
38.Bg6
[38.Kc1!
]
38...Rh2
39.h7
Ke7
40.Bd3
Be6
41.Rg1
f5
42.Rg7+
Kf6
43.Rxa7
e4
Material is even here, but black's connected passers decide the game
44.Be2
f4
45.b3
f3
46.Bd1
Bf5
47.Kc1
Bxh7
48.Rb7
Ke5
49.Rxb6
Rxa2
0-1