[Event "Nice ol (Men) fin-A"] [Site "Nice"] [Date "1974.06.17"] [Round "3"] [White "Karpov, Anatoly"] [Black "Unzicker, Wolfgang"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C98"] [WhiteElo "2700"] [BlackElo "2535"] [Annotator "Martin"] [PlyCount "87"] [EventDate "1974.06.06"] [EventType "team"] [EventRounds "15"] [EventCountry "FRA"] [Source "ChessBase"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3 O-O 9. h3 Na5 10. Bc2 c5 11. d4 Qc7 12. Nbd2 Nc6 13. d5 Nd8 14. a4 Rb8 15. axb5 axb5 16. b4 Nb7 17. Nf1 Bd7 18. Be3 Ra8 19. Qd2 Rfc8 20. Bd3 g6 21. Ng3 Bf8 22. Ra2 c4 23. Bb1 Qd8 {The diagram position has been reached. The centre is blocked and the a-file is open but neither side is currently dominant along it. Black's knight on b7 is completely passive and, for the moment, the same could be said for White's bishop on b1. It would appear that the action will be focussed on the kingside where White's pieces look slightly better placed. Option F} 24. Ba7 $1 {is widely regarded by chess experts as the strongest move. If White is to gain any significant advantage it is important that not all rooks are traded and White does not concede the a-file for any Black counterplay. The idea behind this brilliant constricting move was probably picked up by Karpov from a similar position earlier in the same year when he was Black against Spassky. Although he managed to draw that game he was put under a little pressure. The cunning positional plan is to park the bishop an a7 to allow time for the White rooks to take control of the a-file by doubling up and only then retreating the bishop when Black cannot contest the a-file. Black can only sit back and admire all this unfold.} ({Option A} 24. h4 { This is the weakest move as it weakens the g4 square and allows Black to seize the initiative with} Rxa2 25. Qxa2 Ra8 26. Qd2 Ng4 {Black can now exchange on e3 at his leisure when it suits him and probably when he has control of the a-file. The only weak Black piece is the knight on b7 (which can be brought into the game via d8 & f7). Black is better.}) ({Option B} 24. Bh6 {This would appear to be a natural choice for many club players but if there is no immediate kingside attack the exchange of bishops favours Black.} Rxa2 25. Bxa2 Bxh6 26. Qxh6 Ra8 {Black has taken control of the a-file and has exchanged his weaker dark squared bishop. White's attack on the kingside can be repelled comfortably with moves like Qf8 if necessary.}) ({Option C} 24. Rxa8 {This exchange favours Black as he is lacking space and it allows him to take control of the a-file. After} Rxa8 25. Nh2 Qe7 26. f4 Bh6 {Nice move.} 27. f5 Bxe3+ 28. Qxe3 Ra1 {the rook on a1 is the most active (and annoying) piece on the board! The game might continue} 29. Bc2 Rxe1+ (29... Ra2 {may also be good, keeping the rooks on.}) 30. Qxe1 Qd8 {and if now} 31. Qa1 {to take control of the a-file then} Qb6+ 32. Kf1 gxf5 33. Nxf5 (33. exf5 {may be better but after} Qe3 {the Black queen so well placed and Black should be the only one with the winning chances. If White's queen now goes AWOL with} 34. Qa8+ Kg7 35. Qxb7 { then} Qc1+ 36. Kf2 Qxc2+ 37. Kg1 Qc1+ 38. Nhf1 Qxc3 {is winning!}) 33... Bxf5 34. exf5 Nxd5 {when Black has won a central pawn.}) ({Option D} 24. Nh2 { This is sensible as White prepares f4 but it allows Black to play} Rxa2 25. Qxa2 Ra8 {when Black takes control of the a-file. Play may continue} 26. Qd2 Qe7 27. f4 {The consistent move.} Bh6 {That move again (see option C)!} 28. Rf1 Ra1 29. Nf3 Ne8 30. f5 Bxe3+ 31. Qxe3 {White may still be a little better but Black has taken control of the a-file and has successfully exchanged his weaker bishop.}) ({Option E} 24. Rb2 {There is nothing much to recommend this move other than it keeps pieces on the board. After} Ra3 {it is clear Black has active counterplay to maintain balanced chances.}) 24... Ne8 25. Bc2 Nc7 26. Rea1 {Karpov has successfully doubled rooks and may threaten Bb6 or Be3 at any point fully justifying his brilliant 24th move.} Qe7 27. Bb1 {The idea of retreating the bishop to b1 is to keep an eye on any f5 break by Black and also if the other bishop retreats then White can recapture on a2 with the queen if Black swaps rooks. Ruy Lopez positions are often slow positional games.} Be8 28. Ne2 {designed to support an f4 break.} Nd8 {Black is in a bit of a straightjacket and can only juggle around on the back two ranks whilst watching Karpov carefully optimise the position of his pieces.} 29. Nh2 Bg7 30. f4 {At last!} f6 $2 {This seems very passive and allows White to gain extra space.} (30... exf4 {seems more sensible to open up the long diagonal also perhaps securing the e5 outpost for a knight whilst conceding the d4 outpost for a White knight.}) 31. f5 g5 {Black is hoping there would be insufficient open files but Karpov expertly infiltrates along the light squares.} 32. Bc2 { The start of a clever and well timed manoeuvre to h5 to swap itself off for Black's bishop further weakening Black's light square control.} Bf7 33. Ng3 Nb7 {The chess engines now really like Karpov's position.} 34. Bd1 h6 {This seems unnecessary weakening the g6 square.} 35. Bh5 Qe8 36. Qd1 Nd8 37. Ra3 Kf8 38. R1a2 {Karpov is now toying with his opponent!} Kg8 39. Ng4 Kf8 (39... Bxh5 40. Nxh5 Qxh5 $2 41. Nxf6+ $18) 40. Ne3 Kg8 41. Bxf7+ Nxf7 (41... Qxf7 42. Nh5 Qe7 43. Ng4 Qf7 {What else?} 44. Bb6 {and White's 24th move has again been fully justified! e.g.} Rxa3 45. Rxa3 Ne8 46. Nxg7 $1 Qxg7 47. Ra7 Nb7 48. Qa1 { when White's dominance of the a-file and better minor pieces will decide the day.}) 42. Qh5 Nd8 (42... Nh8 {covers g6 but it looks horrible. After} 43. Bb6 Qxh5 44. Nxh5 Rab8 45. Bxc7 Rxc7 46. Ra8 Rcb7 47. R2a7 Nf7 (47... Rxa8 48. Rxb7 {wins the b-pawn and game.}) 48. Rxb7 Rxa8 49. Rxb5 {the end is nigh!}) 43. Qg6 Kf8 44. Nh5 {Black calls it a day recognising he has been positionally outplayed by Karpov. There is no defence to Bb6 which was probably seen by Karpov on move 24! A very instructive game.} 1-0