Game analysis: Karpov vs. Kamsky

Yasser Annotates for www.ChessCafe.com

Karpov–Kamsky, FIDE-Wch Elista 1996

Karpov, Anatoly (2770) – Kamsky, Gata (2735)
FIDE-Wch Elista (1), June 6, 1996
Grünfeld [D98]

1.d4 Nf6

Karpov, as expected, opened with his d-pawn.

2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5

I expected Kamsky to answer with the King’s Indian Defense. Instead he chose the Grünfeld, a very dangerous opening. Kasparov himself has gotten clobbered by Karpov in this line.

4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Qb3

This was a surprising choice. Karpov has preferred both the Exchange Variation and, more recently, Fianchetto lines. In the period 1991 through 1993 he employed 5.cxd5 in nine of the thirteen Grünfelds he played, scoring eight wins and one loss, to Kamsky!

5.Qb3 has been a favorite line of GM Jeroen Piket. He used it to defeat Garry Kasparov at the 1995 VSB tournament. Karpov last played the line in 1986 and 1987, chiefly in his Seville and Leningrad World Championship matches against Kasparov.

5…dxc4 6.Qxc4 O‑O 7.e4 Nc6

Also a surprise, though Gata has faced 5.Qb3 only a few times in his career, managing but one draw in four games! The text is an old favorite of Smyslov. The modern choice is to play 7…Nb8-a6 followed by 8…c7-c5.

8.Be2 Bg4 9.Be3 Bxf3 10.Bxf3

The move 10.Bxf3 is considered inferior to 10.gxf3. The idea is prevent Black from gaining control over the d4-square.

10…e5

This line is considered innocuous for Black.

11.d5 Nd4

This is Black’s point, i.e., 12.Bxd4?? exd4 13.Qxd4? Nxe4! leads to an advantage for Black.

12.Bd1

With this passive move, the theoreticians consider Black’s chances equal. After all, the d1-bishop isn’t any great shakes. But Karpov is very good at probing weak places.

12…b5

Here is the full analysis.