[Event "World-ch28 FINAL ARTICLE"]
[Site "Baguio City"]
[Date "1978.09.12"]
[Round "21"]
[White "Kortschnoj, Viktor Lvovich"]
[Black "Karpov, Anatoly"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "Charles Sullivan et al."]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2665"]
[BlackElo "2725"]
[WhiteFideId "-1"]
[WhiteFideId "-1"]
[PlyCount "119"]
[GameId "2252203601137796"]
[EventDate "1978.07.18"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "32"]
[EventCountry "PHI"]

{[%evp 0,119,22,14,16,4,16,13,14,21,20,24,31,16,24,41,27,21,37,32,18,-7,16,30,45,124,68,103,95,51,63,107,58,40,77,91,81,68,95,110,140,159,161,123,142,207,170,79,77,76,132,138,136,60,137,117,142,117,129,138,183,140,131,135,127,140,152,167,174,161,139,122,138,63,89,65,146,192,156,141,169,187,171,228,197,204,236,215,158,150,219,213,171,189,178,211,224,213,203,220,236,242,220,211,174,255,250,189,179,187,258,251,410,101,84,86,547,555,547,547,547,557]} 1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. d4 Be7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 c5 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8. Qc2 Nc6 9. Rd1 Qa5 10. a3 Re8 11. Nd2 e5 12. Bg5 Nd4 {The best move, according to Stockfish.} 13. Qb1 {Other good moves are 13.Qc1 and 13.Qa4.} ({White is lost after} 13. exd4 $2 exd4+ 14. Be2 dxc3 15. Bxf6 cxd2+ 16. Rxd2 Rxe2+ 17. Kxe2 gxf6 18. Rc1 Bg4+ 19. Kf1 dxc4 20. Qxc4 Be6 21. Qf4 Bb6 22. a4 Qg5 23. Qxg5+ fxg5 24. b4 Bd8 25. Ke2 Kg7 $19) 13... Bf5 14. Bd3 e4 $2 ({Since 2017, top grandmasters have played} 14... Bxd3 15. Qxd3 Ne4 16. Nxd5 Nxg5 17. b4 Qd8 18. bxc5 Nde6 {(Kasparov2021)} 19. O-O Nxc5 $13 {.}) 15. Bc2 $2 {White avoids complications, but also misses a chance to win material and the game.} ({Kasparov2021 gives a good variation:} 15. Bf1 Ng4 {(Ratmir Kholmov)} 16. cxd5 Ne5 {(Sergey Dolmatov)} 17. exd4 Bxd4 {(Timman)} ({After} 17... Nf3+ 18. gxf3 exf3+ 19. Nde4 ({If you like unbalanced -- but winning -- positions, then Stockfish suggests} 19. Be3 $1 Bxb1 20. Nc4 Qc7 21. dxc5 Bg6 22. Kd2 Rxe3 23. Nxe3 Qxc5 24. Kc1 f5 25. Rd2 Rc8 26. h4 Be8 27. Rh3 Qd6 28. Rd4 Bh5 29. Rh1 Be8 30. Bd3 Bd7 31. Kb1 Rf8 32. Nc2 a6 33. Ne1 g6 34. Nxf3 h6 35. Rd1 $18) 19... Bxe4 20. Qc1 Bxd5+ 21. Be3 {(Kasparov2021)}) 18. Be2 $1 Nd3+ (18... Bxf2+ 19. Kf1 $1 {--Kasparov2006.}) 19. Kf1 Bxc3 20. bxc3 Nxf2 21. Nc4 Qc7 22. d6 Qd7 23. Rd5 Nxh1 24. Ne3 $18 {(Kasparov2021). Stockfish finishes with} f6 25. Bb5 Qe6 26. Rxf5 Qxd6 27. Qa2+ Kh8 28. Bf4 Qe6 29. Rd5 Rf8 30. Qd2 a6 31. Be2 Qb6 32. Kg1 Qb1+ 33. Bd1 Qa1 34. Kxh1 $18 {.}) 15... Nxc2+ 16. Qxc2 Qa6 $2 {Now the computers give White a distinct advantage.} ({Kholmov's line} 16... dxc4 17. Bxf6 gxf6 18. Nxc4 Qa6 $13 {is approximately equal.}) 17. Bxf6 Qxf6 18. Nb3 Bd6 $6 {This makes his defense harder.} ({Relatively best is} 18... Bf8 19. Nxd5 {(Kasparov2021) but Stockfish constructs a best-play variation that is almost certainly winning for White:} Qe5 20. Nf4 Rad8 21. O-O Bg4 22. Rd4 Rxd4 23. Nxd4 Bd6 24. g3 Qe7 25. h3 Bc8 26. Nde2 Bb8 27. Rd1 f6 28. c5 Qf7 29. h4 h6 30. Ng2 g5 31. Nd4 a6 32. c6 b5 33. a4 bxa4 34. Qxa4 Bc7 35. b4 Qc4 36. Ra1 {etc.}) 19. Rxd5 Re5 $6 {Now Black is definitely lost.} ({After} 19... Qg6 20. O-O {(Kortschnoj), Stockfish gives} Be5 21. Nd4 Bg4 22. Nxe4 Rad8 23. Ng3 Qxc2 24. Nxc2 Bxb2 25. Rb1 Bf6 26. Rxb7 Be6 27. Rxd8 Rxd8 28. Nd4 Bxc4 29. Rc7 Bd5 30. Rxa7 $18) 20. Nd4 Rc8 21. Rxe5 Qxe5 22. Nxf5 $2 {After this move, the game is essentially even.} ({Kasparov credits Dvoretsky with finding the best move:} 22. f4 Qf6 (22... exf3 $2 23. Nxf5 $18) {Stockfish likes} 23. Qb3 Qh4+ 24. g3 Qh3 25. Nxf5 Qxf5 26. Qxb7 Rxc4 27. Qa6 Qc5 28. Ke2 Bf8 29. Rd1 Qh5+ 30. Kd2 Rc7 31. Kc1 Qc5 32. Kb1 Rc6 33. Qb5 Qxb5 34. Nxb5 a6 35. Nd4 Rh6 36. Rd2 Rh3 37. Kc2 h5 38. Re2 h4 39. Nf5 hxg3 40. Nxg3 Be7 41. Nxe4 $18) 22... Qxf5 23. O-O Rxc4 24. Rd1 {[#]} Qe5 $6 {Timman approves ("We may conclude that the move chosen by Karpov is the most stubborn continuation"), but other commentators have doubts. Kasparov2021 says: "The queen's move was widely criticized: it was likely a decisive mistake, and now the only hope is for the opponent to make a blunder."} ({(A) Stockfish very quickly gives} 24... Be7 25. Qb3 (25. b3 Rc8 26. Qxe4 Qxe4 27. Nxe4 Bxa3 28. g4 Re8 29. f3 a6 30. Rd7 Rb8 $11) 25... Qc8 26. g3 g6 27. Rd4 Rxd4 28. exd4 e3 29. fxe3 Bg5 30. Ne2 Qf5 31. Nf4 Qe4 32. Ng2 Qf3 33. Qd3 Kg7 $11) ({(B) Stockfish takes a couple of minutes before concluding that} 24... Bf8 {is also good:} 25. Rd8 Rc8 26. Rxc8 Qxc8 27. Qxe4 h5 28. Qd4 a6 29. a4 Be7 $11) ({(C) Stockfish takes much longer before concluding that} 24... Qe5 {is also a move that should draw.}) ({(D) Even as recently as 2021, Kasparov shows the following variation, found by Kholmov, as winning for White:} 24... Be7 25. Rd4 Rxd4 26. exd4 Qg5 27. g3 e3 28. f4 {(Kasparov2021 stops here)} Qg4 29. Qe4 {"and wins" (Kasparov2006). However, Black has a miraculous draw:} g6 $3 30. Qxe7 Qf3 $1 {and now either White or Black must force a perpetual check:} 31. Qe8+ (31. Ne4 Qd1+ 32. Kg2 e2 33. Qe8+ Kg7 34. Qe5+ Kf8 $1 (34... Kg8 $4 35. Nf6+ Kg7 36. Nh5+ Kf8 37. Qd6+ Ke8 38. Nf6#) 35. Qd6+ Kg7 36. Qf6+ Kg8 37. Qd8+ $11 {perpetual check}) 31... Kg7 32. Qb5 Qf2+ 33. Kh1 Qf3+ $11 {perpetual check.}) 25. g3 a6 26. Qb3 b5 27. a4 ({Renette/Karolyi praise the game move, but also mention} 27. Rd5 Qe6 28. Qd1 Bf8 29. Rd8 Rc8 30. Rxc8 Qxc8 31. Nxe4 {. "It would be hard but not impossible for White to convert his advantage" (Renette/Karolyi). Stockfish disagrees; with correct play, Black will not lose:} h6 32. Nd2 g6 33. Nf3 Be7 34. h4 Bf6 35. b3 Kg7 36. Ne1 Qc5 37. a4 bxa4 38. bxa4 Qc3 39. Nd3 h5 40. Nf4 Qc4 {and it is clear that Black should hold this position.}) 27... Rb4 28. Qd5 Qxd5 29. Rxd5 Bf8 30. axb5 {[#]} a5 $6 ({(A) Timman: "The only fighting chance. The winning process would run smoothly after} 30... axb5 31. Rxb5 {."}) ({(B) Dvoretsky: "The only move.} 30... axb5 31. Rxb5 {would be completely hopeless."}) ({(C) Kasparov2006 and Kasparov2021: "Avoiding} 30... axb5 31. Rxb5 {."}) ({(D) Fishbein: "Does} 30... axb5 {draw (instead of the game move 30...a5)? I think it does."}) ({(E) Grandmaster Fishbein is right. Black holds after} 30... axb5 31. Rxb5 Rxb5 32. Nxb5 f5 33. Nd4 g6 34. Ne6 Bd6 35. Kg2 Kf7 36. Ng5+ Kg8 $11 {. A simple variation to calculate, yet Karpov must have believed Black would lose this position.}) 31. Rd8 {Alex Fishbein asks, "Is the highly recommended 31.b6 only a draw? I think it is."} ({Most older sources (Timman, Kasparov2006, Dvoretsky) suggest that a stronger, winning line is Bent Larsen's} 31. b6 Rxb6 32. Rxa5 Rxb2 33. Nxe4 {. However, Kasparov2021 has removed his endorsement and Renette/Karolyi and Fishbein do not see a win for White. Stockfish agrees -- Black should not fear} Rb4 34. Ng5 h6 35. Nf3 g6 36. Ra7 Bg7 37. Ra8+ Kh7 38. Ra6 Rb5 39. Ra7 Kg8 40. Kg2 h5 $11 {, so Fishbein was correct about that.}) 31... Rxb2 32. Ra8 f5 33. Rxa5 Bb4 34. Ra8+ Kf7 {[#]} 35. Na4 ({Dvoretsky boldly claimed a win after} 35. Ra7+ Ke6 36. Na4 {without supplying evidence. After} Rb1+ 37. Kg2 {perhaps he overlooked} Be7 $1 38. Ra6+ ({or} 38. b6 Rb4 39. h4 g6 $1 {also holds}) 38... Bd6 39. Nc3 Rb4 40. Ne2 g6 41. Nd4+ Kd5 42. Ra7 Rb2 43. Rxh7 Bc5 44. Rd7+ Ke5 45. h4 Bxd4 46. Rxd4 Rxb5 $11 {and Stockfish says that Black will draw.}) 35... Rb1+ 36. Kg2 Bd6 $2 {Renette/Karolyi first identified this as the "losing mistake," 46(!!) years after the game was played.} ({To hold this ending, Black must find many beautiful, inhumanly accurate moves:} 36... Ke6 $1 37. b6 (37. Ra7 Be7 $1 38. b6 (38. Ra6+ Bd6 39. Nc3 (39. b6 Rb4 40. b7 g6 41. Kh3 Kd7 42. Nb6+ Kc6 43. Nc4+ Kxb7 44. Rxd6 Rxc4 45. Rd7+ Kc6 46. Rxh7 Kd5 47. Rg7 Rc2 48. Kg2 Rc6 $11) 39... Rb4 40. h3 Rb2 41. g4 g6 42. b6 Rb4 43. h4 fxg4 $1 44. b7 Ke5 $1 45. Nxe4 Kxe4 46. Rxd6 Rxb7 47. Rd4+ Kf5 48. Rf4+ Ke6 49. Rxg4 Kf6 $11) 38... Rb4 {"and Black resists" (Renette/Karolyi)} (38... g6 $2 39. g4 $1 Rb5 40. gxf5+ gxf5 41. b7 Bd6 42. Ra6 Kd7 43. Nb6+ Kc7 44. Nc4 Bb4 45. Rh6 Kxb7 46. Kg3 Kc7 47. Kf4 Be1 48. Rxh7+ Kc6 49. Ne5+ Kd6 50. Rh6+ Ke7 51. Kxf5 Bxf2 52. Re6+ Kd8 53. Kxe4 $18) 39. b7 g6 40. Ra6+ Bd6 {and White might continue} 41. Nb6 Bc7 (41... Be5 $2 42. h3 Bc7 43. g4 $18) 42. h4 Kf7 43. h5 Rb5 $1 (43... gxh5 $2 44. Nd5 Rxb7 45. Rf6+ Kg7 46. Rxf5 $18) 44. h6 Ke7 $11) (37. h4 Bd6 38. b6 Rb4 39. Ra7 g6 $1 40. Kh3 Kf6 41. Ra6 Ke5 42. h5 gxh5 43. Nc3 Rb2 $1 44. Ra5+ Kf6 45. Na4 Rb4 46. Ra7 Ke6 47. b7 Rb1 48. Kg2 Rb4 49. Ra6 Rb1 50. Nb6 Bc7 51. Na8+ Bd6 52. Rb6 Rxb6 53. Nxb6 h4 $1 54. gxh4 Bc7 $1 55. Nc8 Kd7 56. h5 Kc6 57. Ne7+ Kxb7 58. Nxf5 Kc6 59. Kh3 Kd5 60. Kh4 Ba5 $1 61. Nh6 Bc7 $1 62. Kg5 Ke5 63. Nf5 Bd8+ 64. Kg4 Bc7 $1 $11) (37. Ra6+ Bd6 $1 38. b6 g6 39. b7 ({ChessBase reader albitex's analysis is} 39. h4 Rb4 40. h5 gxh5 41. b7 Ke5 $2 ({Leading to a draw is} 41... Rb1 $1 42. Nb6 Bc7 43. Na8+ Bd6 44. Rb6 Rxb6 45. Nxb6 h4 $11 {[Stockfish]}) 42. Nb6 Bc7 43. Nd7+ Kd5 44. Rh6 Rxb7 45. Rxh7 Ra7 46. Nf6+ Ke6 47. Nxh5 {and Stockfish finished with} Bb8 48. Rh6+ Ke7 49. Rh8 Bc7 50. Rh7+ Kf8 51. Nf6 Bb8 52. Rh5 Kg7 53. Rxf5 $18) 39... Rb4 $1 40. Nb6 Bc7 $1 41. h4 Kf7 $1 42. h5 Rb5 $1 (42... gxh5 43. Nd5 Rxb7 44. Rf6+ Kg7 45. Rxf5 Rb5 46. Rxh5 Ba5 47. g4 $18) 43. h6 g5 44. Nd7 Rxb7 45. Nc5 Rb5 46. Ne6 Bb6 $1 (46... Be5 47. Nxg5+ Kg8 48. Re6 $18 {threatens mate; if} Kf8 49. Nxh7+ Kg8 50. Ng5 Kf8 51. Rxe5 Rxe5 52. h7 Kg7 53. h8=Q+ Kxh8 54. Nf7+ $18) 47. Nxg5+ Kg6 48. Ne6 Rb2 $1 (48... Kh5 $2 49. Kh3 Rb2 50. g4+ fxg4+ 51. Kg3) (48... Kxh6 $2 49. Nc7 Rb2 50. Nd5 $18) 49. Nf4+ Kg5 $1 (49... Kxh6 $4 50. Nd5 $18) 50. Kh3 Rb1 $1 51. Ne6+ Kf6 $1 (51... Kxh6 $2 52. g4) 52. Nf8 Ke7 $1 53. Nxh7 Rh1+ 54. Kg2 Rxh6 $11) 37... Bd6 $1 38. h4 (38. Ra7 Rb4 $1 39. h4 g6 40. h5 gxh5 $1 41. Kh3 Rc4 $3 42. b7 Rc1 43. Kg2 Rb1 $11) 38... Rb4 {(Renette/Karolyi)} 39. h5 g6 $1 40. Ra7 gxh5 $1 41. Kh3 Rc4 $3 42. Ra6 Rc1 $1 43. Kg2 Rb1 44. b7 h4 $3 45. Nb6 Bc7 $1 46. gxh4 h5 $1 47. Na4+ Bd6 48. Nc5+ Kd5 $1 49. Nd7 Rxb7 50. Nf6+ Ke5 51. Nxh5 Kd5 $1 52. Ra8 Be5 53. Ra5+ Ke6 54. Ra6+ Kd5 $1 55. Ng3 Bxg3 56. Kxg3 Rh7 $1 57. Rg6 Ke5 58. Kh3 Rh8 $1 $11 (58... Rh5 $2 59. Rg5 Rh6 60. h5 $18)) 37. Ra7+ Kf6 {[#]} 38. b6 Bb8 {A position that generated much discussion.} ({(A) Although both Dvoretsky and Kasparov2006 thought that} 38... Rb4 {gave Black drawing chances, Kasparov2021 was the first to conclude that White wins after} 39. Nc3 {(Kortschnoj's idea)} Rb3 ({or} 39... Rb2 40. h4 Ke6 41. Na4 Rb4 42. h5 Kf6 43. h6 gxh6 44. b7 {(Renette/Karolyi)} h5 45. Kh3 Bb8 46. Ra6+ Ke7 47. Ra5 Kf6 48. Nc5 Bd6 49. Ra8 Kg5 50. Ne6+ Kf6 51. Nd4 Rxb7 {(Sullivan: Black is a pawn to the good!)} 52. Ra6 Ke5 53. Ra5+ Kf6 54. Rxf5+ Kg6 55. Rd5 Bb4 56. Ne2 Be1 57. Kg2 Kf6 58. Rxh5 Bd2 59. Nf4 Rb2 60. g4 Be1 61. Rf5+ Ke7 62. Nh5 Ra2 63. Ng3 Bd2 64. Re5+ Kf7 65. Rxe4 $18) 40. Nd5+ Ke5 41. Nc7 Bxc7 42. bxc7 Rc3 43. c8=Q Rxc8 44. Rxg7 {"with a winning endgame" (Kasparov2021). Stockfish calculates the end to be} Rh8 45. Ra7 Kf6 46. Ra6+ Kg5 47. h4+ Kh5 48. Rf6 Kg4 49. Rh6 f4 50. gxf4 Kf5 51. Kh3 Rg8 52. Rh5+ Kf6 53. Rxh7 $18) ({(B) ChessBase reader albitex posted "that White has objectively won at this point" and gives} 38... Be5 39. b7 Rb5 40. Ra6+ Kf7 41. Rb6 Rxb6 42. Nxb6 Ke6 43. Kh3 $3 $18 {and Stockfish gives the rest:} h6 44. Nc4 Bb8 45. Nd2 Bc7 46. f4 exf3 47. Nxf3 Kd5 48. Nh4 Ke5 49. Kg2 Ke6 50. Ng6 Kd7 51. Kf3 Kc6 52. Ne7+ Kxb7 53. Nxf5 $18) 39. Ra8 ({After Oscar Panno's offer of a "Trojan castle"} 39. Rc7 $1 {Black can choose suicide with} Bxc7 ({or a slower death:} 39... h6 40. h3 h5 41. Rc6+ Ke7 42. Nc3 Rb2 43. Nd5+ Kf7 44. h4 Be5 45. Nc7 Bf6 46. Ne6 Rb5 47. Nf4 Rb2 48. Rc7+ Kg8 49. b7 Be5 50. Rc5 Bxf4 51. gxf4 Kh7 52. Rxf5 Kg6 53. Rg5+ Kh6 54. Re5 Rxb7 55. Rxe4 $18) 40. bxc7 Rc1 41. Nb6 Rxc7 42. Nd5+ $18) ({White's position is so strong that even a move like} 39. Rd7 {wins:} h5 40. b7 g6 41. Nc5 Ba7 42. Rd8 Kg5 43. Ne6+ Kf6 44. Nf4 Rxb7 45. Rd6+ Kf7 46. Nxg6 Bc5 47. Ne5+ Ke7 48. Rd5 Bb4 49. Ng6+ Kf7 50. Nf4 Kf6 51. Nxh5+ $18) 39... Be5 {Only recently have the computers helped us figure out this position.} ({(A) As Kortschnoj said, "The game could have unfolded differently after} 39... Bd6 40. Ra6 {". Kortschnoj assessed this as a win for White, but Black draws:} Ke5 $1 41. Ra7 Rb4 42. Nc3 Rb3 {(Kortschnoj)} 43. Ra5+ Kf6 44. Na4 Ke6 45. Ra7 Rb4 46. h4 h5 47. b7 Kd5 $1 48. Nc3+ Ke6 $1 (48... Kc6 $2 49. b8=Q Rxb8 50. Rxg7 $18) (48... Kc4 $2 49. Ne2 Rb6 50. b8=Q Rxb8 51. Rxg7 $18) 49. b8=Q (49. Na4 Kd5 50. Ra5+ Kc4 $1 $11) 49... Rxb8 50. Rxg7 Be5 51. Rg6+ Kf7 52. Rc6 Bxc3 53. Rxc3 Rb2 $11) ({(B) Timman, Dvoretsky, and Kasparov2006 got most of the way to proving that White wins after} 39... Bd6 40. Nc3 Rb3 41. Nd5+ Ke6 42. Nc7+ Kd7 43. Ne8 ({Sullivan:} 43. Ra7 $142 $1 $18) 43... g6 44. Nxd6 $2 ({Sullivan:} 44. Nf6+ $1 $18) 44... Kxd6 45. Rb8 Kc6 {but this is only a draw}) ({(C) Kasparov2021 finally got it right:} 39... Bd6 40. Nc3 Rb3 41. Nd5+ Ke6 42. Nc7+ Kd7 43. Ra7 Be5 44. h4 {(Sergey Sorokhtin)} g6 45. Na8+ Ke6 46. Rxh7 $18) ({(D) Karsten Müller showed another winning method:} 39... Bd6 40. g4 $1 ({also winning are} 40. Ra7 $18) (40. Kh3 $18) (40. h4 $18) 40... Rb4 41. gxf5 Kxf5 {(Müller)} 42. Ra5+ Ke6 43. h4 Be7 44. h5 Bd6 45. Ra6 Kd7 46. Kh3 Bb8 47. Ra8 Bd6 48. Nc3 Ke6 49. Kg4 Rxb6 50. Nxe4 Rb4 51. Kf3 Be7 52. h6 gxh6 53. Ra6+ Kf7 54. Rxh6 Kg8 55. Ra6 Rb5 56. Kf4 Rb2 57. Kg3 Rb5 58. f4 Kg7 59. Kf3 h6 60. Ra7 Kf8 61. Rd7 Ra5 62. Nc3 Ke8 63. Rd5 Ra1 64. Ne4 Kf7 65. Ng3 Ra3 66. Rf5+ Kg6 67. Rb5 Bf6 68. Rb6 Kf7 69. Rb7+ Kg8 70. Rd7 Rb3 71. Nf5 h5 72. Nh6+ Kh8 73. Rd5 Kg7 74. Rxh5 $18) 40. Nc5 {[#]} Bd6 ({(A) Müller offered} 40... Rb5 41. Nd7+ Ke6 42. Nxe5 Kxe5 43. Rb8 Kf6 {and Stockfish proves that the King is a powerful piece:} 44. Kf1 $3 $18 {. A possible conclusion is} Rb1+ ({White also wins after} 44... Rb2 45. Ke1 Kg5 46. h3 Kh5 47. Rb7 Kg6 48. Kd1 Kf6 49. Kc1 Rb5 50. Kc2 g6 51. Kc3 Ke6 52. h4 Kd5 53. h5 gxh5 54. Rf7 Kc6 55. b7 Rc5+ 56. Kd2 Rd5+ 57. Ke2 Rb5 58. Rxf5 Rb2+ 59. Kf1 h4 60. gxh4 Rxb7 61. Re5 Rb4 62. Re7 $18) 45. Ke2 Rb2+ 46. Ke1 Rb1+ 47. Kd2 Ke6 48. Kc2 Rb4 49. Rb7 Kf6 50. h3 Rb5 51. Kc3 Rb1 52. Kd4 Rb2 53. Kc5 Rc2+ 54. Kd6 Rd2+ 55. Kc6 Rc2+ 56. Kd7 Rb2 57. Rb8 Ke5 58. Kc6 Rc2+ 59. Kb5 Rb2+ 60. Kc5 Ke6 61. b7 Kf7 62. Kc6 Rc2+ 63. Kd5 Rb2 64. g4 fxg4 65. hxg4 Rb4 66. Kc6 Rc4+ 67. Kb5 Rc2 68. Rc8 $18) ({(B) After} 40... Rb5 41. Nd7+ Ke6 {another winning line is} 42. Nf8+ Kf7 43. Nxh7 Rxb6 44. Ra7+ Kg8 45. Ng5 g6 46. h4 Bf6 47. Nh3 Be5 48. Ra5 Bc7 49. g4 fxg4 50. Ng5 Rb2 51. Ra8+ Bb8 52. Nxe4 Kg7 53. Ra4 Kh6 54. Ng3 Bd6 55. Rxg4 $18) 41. b7 Ke7 42. Rg8 Be5 ({Kortschnoj: "Black has a limited number of moves. On} 42... Kf7 43. Rd8 {decides." (Kortschnoj)} Bxc5 44. b8=Q Rxb8 45. Rxb8 Be7 46. Rb5 g6 47. h3 h5 48. g4 hxg4 49. hxg4 fxg4 50. Kg3 $18 {(Müller).}) ({"If} 42... g6 {then} 43. Na6 $1 {" (Kortschnoj).}) 43. f4 $1 {"The sealed move and the only way to win. The king will take away more key squares from Black." (Fishbein2022)} exf3+ 44. Kxf3 Kf7 {[#]} 45. Rc8 {During the adjournment, Kortschnoj and his team did not find a definite win. And later, because some commentators felt that Black's losing blunder was at move 46, the search for a White win at move 45 was intense.} ({(A) Kortschnoj: "According to home analysis, the maneuver} 45. Rd8 Ke7 46. Rd7+ Ke8 (46... Kf6 $2 47. Rd5 $1 Bc7 48. Na6 Rxb7 49. Rd7) 47. Rd5 Bb8 48. Rxf5 {wins the second pawn, but temporarily. After} Ba7 $1 {the b-pawn is lost. I want more!"}) ({(B) Timman/Andersson found a correct winning variation after about an hour of analysis:} 45. Rd8 Ke7 46. Rd7+ Ke8 47. e4 $1 Rb5 48. Rd5 $1 fxe4+ 49. Kxe4 Bb8 {and now Stockfish gives best-play as} 50. Rh5 ({Timman concluded with} 50. Kd4 Ba7 51. Kc4 Rb6 52. Ne4 Bb8 53. Rb5 Re6 54. Nc5 Re2 55. Na6 Ba7 56. b8=Q+ Bxb8 57. Rxb8+ Kf7 58. h3 Rh2 59. h4 $18) 50... Kf7 51. Kd5 Kg6 52. g4 Rb6 53. h3 Rd6+ 54. Kc4 Rb6 55. Rf5 Bd6 56. Ne4 Rb4+ 57. Kd5 Bh2 58. Nc5 Rb6 59. Rf3 Bb8 60. h4 Rb2 61. Rf5 Rb6 62. Rf8 Bh2 63. Rf3 Rb2 64. Rb3 Rd2+ 65. Ke4 Re2+ 66. Kf3 Rc2 67. Ne6 Bb8 68. Rb6 Rc3+ 69. Ke2 Kf7 70. Nd8+ Ke8 71. Nc6 Bd6 72. b8=Q+ Bxb8 73. Rxb8+ $18) ({(C) The line advocated as winning by Dvoretsky and Kasparov} 45. Rd8 Ke7 46. Rd7+ Ke8 47. e4 $1 Rb5 48. exf5 Rxc5 49. Rxg7 h6 50. f6 Kf8 51. Re7 {is refuted by} Bb8 $3 52. Rd7 (52. Rh7 $144 Rf5+ 53. Ke4 Rxf6 54. Rh8+ Kg7 $1 55. Rxb8 $11) 52... Rf5+ 53. Ke4 Rxf6 54. Rd8+ Kg7 $1 55. Rxb8 Rb6 56. Kd5 Rb1 57. Kc6 Rc1+ 58. Kb6 Rb1+ $11 {and White, with two extra pawns (one on the 7th rank), cannot win, according to the computer.}) ({(D) After} 45. Rd8 Ke7 46. Rd7+ Ke8 {the computer finds a slightly different winning method:} 47. Ke2 $1 Rb5 (47... h6 48. Kd2 Rb6 49. Kd3 Rb2 50. e4 Rb4 51. exf5 Rb5 52. Rd5 Bb8 53. Kc4 Rb2 54. Rd3 Rc2+ 55. Kd5 Ke7 56. Na6 Ba7 57. b8=Q Bxb8 58. Nxb8 $18) 48. Rd5 Bb8 49. Kd3 $1 g6 50. Kc4 Rb1 51. Rd2 Ba7 52. Nb3 Bb8 53. Rd3 Rb2 54. Nc5 Rxh2 55. Na6 $1 Ba7 (55... Bxg3 56. e4 Bf4 57. e5 Rb2 58. Nb4 Bxe5 59. Re3 $18) 56. Nb4 (56. b8=Q+ Bxb8 57. Nxb8 Rg2) 56... Bb8 57. Nc6 Rc2+ 58. Kd5 Bc7 59. b8=Q+ Bxb8 60. Nxb8 $18) 45... Ke7 ({If} 45... Bd6 46. Rd8 Bxc5 47. b8=Q Rxb8 48. Rxb8 $18 {Stockfish considers this to be an easy win for White.}) 46. h3 {[#] "This clever maneuver escaped the attention of the Soviet experts" (Kortschnoj).} ({(A) Timman, because he thought (correctly) that 45.Rd8 -- see above -- would have been a winning move, said that repeating the position} 46. Rg8 Kf7 {was best; then} 47. Rd8 $1 Ke7 48. Rd7+ Ke8 49. e4 Rb5 50. Rd5 $1 $18) ({(B) Timman:} 46. e4 {"is another interesting winning try." If} fxe4+ 47. Kxe4 Bd6 48. Kd5 Bxc5 49. b8=Q Rxb8 50. Rxb8 {"Black reaches an ending that is a theoretical draw with the bishop on the a1-h8 diagonal -- but it's hard to see how to get it there. Best seems"} Bg1 51. h3 Kf7 {, "and I think Black need not despair" (Timman). However, the computer sees the win:} 52. Rb1 Be3 53. Ke4 Bc5 54. Kf5 Bf2 55. Rb3 g6+ 56. Kg5 Kg7 57. h4 Bc5 58. Rb7+ Kg8 59. g4 Be3+ 60. Kf6 Bd4+ 61. Ke6 h6 62. h5 gxh5 63. gxh5 {and the endgame tablebase gives the conclusion:} Be3 64. Kf5 Bc1 65. Kg6 Kf8 66. Rf7+ Ke8 67. Rf1 Bd2 68. Rd1 Bg5 69. Kg7 Bf4 70. Re1+ Kd7 71. Kg6 Kd6 72. Rf1 Bg5 73. Rg1 Bf4 74. Kf5 Be3 75. Rd1+ Kc6 76. Rd3 Bg5 77. Rg3 Bd2 78. Rg2 Be3 79. Ke4 Bc1 80. Rc2+ $18) ({(C) Sullivan: Stockfish also likes} 46. h4 Rb5 47. g4 $1 fxg4+ 48. Kxg4 Bd6 49. Kf3 h5 50. Ke4 Kf7 51. Kd3 Bg3 52. Kc4 Rb1 53. e4 Rc1+ 54. Kd5 Rd1+ 55. Kc6 Rd6+ 56. Kb5 Rd1 57. Rh8 Rb1+ 58. Kc6 g6 59. Nd3 Kg7 (59... Rb3 60. Rh7+ Kf6 61. e5+ Kf5 62. Rd7 $1 Rb1 63. Rd8 $18) 60. Rd8 Rb3 61. Nc5 Rb2 62. Nd3 Rc2+ 63. Kb5 Rd2 64. e5 Bxe5 65. Rd7+ $1 Kf6 66. Nxe5 Rb2+ 67. Kc6 Rc2+ 68. Nc4 Rxc4+ 69. Kb5 Rc1 70. Rd4 Rb1+ 71. Rb4 $18) ({(D) Sullivan: White even has the time for} 46. Ke2 $5 Rb2+ 47. Kd3 Rxh2 ({Black can last longer with} 47... Bd6 48. Rg8 g6 49. e4 $1 h5 50. e5 Bxe5 51. Rxg6 Kf7 52. Re6 Bb8 53. Re2 Rb6 54. Kc4 Rb1 55. Rd2 h4 56. gxh4 Rb6 57. Ra2 Kg7 58. Ra6 Rb1 59. h3 f4 60. Ra3 Rc1+ 61. Kd5 Rd1+ 62. Rd3 Rb1 63. Ke4 Re1+ 64. Kf3 Rf1+ 65. Kg2 Rb1 66. Rd8 $18) 48. g4 fxg4 49. Ke4 Bg3 50. b8=Q Bxb8 51. Rxb8 Rh5 52. Rb7+ Kf6 53. Rb6+ Kf7 54. Nd3 g3 55. Rb1 h6 56. Rf1+ Ke7 57. Rg1 Rg5 58. Kf3 Rd5 59. Nf4 Ra5 60. Kxg3 $18) 46... h5 {Kortschnoj said this move "accelerates the defeat" and recommended 46...g6 or 46...Rb5. Michael Stean (in Chess Life in 1979) says: "Falling headlong into the trap. He should play waiting moves." Timman calls 46...h5 "a baffling inaccuracy. Black wants to prevent the advance of White's g-pawn, but in so doing he makes possible a smooth winning method that was not in the position before." According to Timman, "it is difficult to see how White can make progress after 46...Rb5."} ({(A) Dvoretsky found the way for White to win:} 46... Rb5 47. g4 fxg4+ 48. hxg4 Bd6 49. Ke4 h6 50. Kd3 Rb4 51. e4 Be5 {(Ulf Andersson)} 52. Rg8 {(zugzwang, says Dvoretsky)} Kf7 ({or} 52... Rd4+ 53. Ke2 Rb4 54. Nd3 $18 {(Dvoretsky).}) 53. Rd8 Ke7 54. Rd7+ Ke8 55. Rd5 Bf6 56. e5 Be7 57. Rd4 Rb5 58. Ra4 $1 Bxc5 59. Ra8+ Kf7 60. b8=Q $18 {(Dvoretsky)}) ({(B) No better for Black is} 46... g6 47. g4 ({also winning is} 47. Nd3 Bd6 48. Rh8 h5 49. Nc5 $1 ({not} 49. Nf4 Kf6 50. Rh7 {(Timman)} Bxf4 $11 {draws}) 49... Be5 50. Rg8 Kf7 51. Rd8 g5 52. g4 hxg4+ 53. hxg4 Ke7 54. Rg8 Kf7 55. Rc8 f4 56. Nd7 Bd6 57. b8=Q Bxb8 58. Rxb8 $18) 47... fxg4+ 48. Kxg4 {(Larsen)} Bh2 49. Rh8 h6 50. Kf3 Kf7 51. Nd7 Rb5 52. b8=Q Bxb8 53. Rxb8 $18) ({(C) Müller discusses the best "waiting move" and shows that Black is simply lost:} 46... Rf1+ 47. Ke2 Rb1 48. g4 f4 49. exf4 Bxf4 50. Rg8 Kf7 51. Rd8 Rb5 52. Rd5 Ke7 53. Kd3 Bd6 54. Kc4 Rb1 55. Nb3 Bb8 56. Rd3 Rb2 57. Nc5 Bd6 58. Rb3 Rc2+ 59. Rc3 Rb2 60. Nb3 Bh2 61. Kd5 $18) 47. Rg8 $1 {The only winning move.} Kf7 48. Rd8 g5 {"Karpov uses his last practical chance. He threatens g5-g4, winning the g3-pawn." (Kortschnoj)} ({Lakdawala says "Karpov may well have held the draw if he had maintained a passive stance." But} 48... Ke7 49. Rd7+ Kf6 50. Rd5 Bc7 {(as given by Lakdawala) can be cracked by} 51. h4 Rf1+ 52. Kg2 Rb1 53. Rd7 Rb2+ 54. Kf3 Be5 55. Rd3 Rb5 (55... Ke7 56. Rb3 Rd2 57. b8=Q Bxb8 58. Rxb8 $18) 56. Rd5 $1 Rb1 (56... Bc7 57. Nd7+ $18) 57. Rxe5 $1 Kxe5 58. b8=Q+ Rxb8 59. Nd7+ $18 {(Sullivan).}) 49. g4 $1 ({(A) Dvoretsky was the first to show that} 49. Nd3 {also wins:} g4+ 50. Kg2 $3 Ke7 51. Rd5 Bd6 52. Rxf5 Rb3 53. Rd5 gxh3+ 54. Kxh3 Rxb7 55. Rxh5 $18 {"with two extra pawns" (Dvoretsky).}) ({(B) The final way to win is} 49. Nd7 g4+ 50. hxg4 hxg4+ 51. Ke2 Rb2+ 52. Kd3 Bxg3 53. b8=Q Bxb8 54. Rxb8 $18 {(Kholmov).}) 49... hxg4+ ({After Kortschnoj's} 49... fxg4+ 50. hxg4 h4 51. Nd7 Ke7 52. b8=Q Bxb8 53. Rxb8 {all the commentators (and common sense) will tell you that Black is lost. But Kortschnoj continued with} Rf1+ 54. Ke2 $4 ({the right way is} 54. Kg2 $1 Ra1 55. Nc5 Ra2+ 56. Kf3 h3 57. Rh8 h2 58. Ne4 $18) {and now} 54... Ra1 {is a draw!! Despite the extra piece, White does not win:} 55. Ne5 (55. Nc5 h3 56. Rh8 (56. Ne4 h2 57. Rh8 (57. Ng3 h1=Q 58. Nxh1 Rxh1 59. Rb5 Kf6 $11) 57... h1=Q 58. Rxh1 Rxh1 59. Nxg5 $11) 56... h2 57. Rxh2 Ra2+ 58. Kf3 Rxh2 $11) 55... h3 56. Nf3 h2 57. Nxh2 (57. Rh8 h1=Q 58. Rxh1 Rxh1 $11) 57... Ra2+ 58. Kd3 Rxh2 $11) 50. hxg4 Ke7 51. Rg8 {Kortschnoj: "If Black's pawn were on h5 instead of f5, then 51.Rd7+ followed by gxh5 would have been possible."} fxg4+ 52. Kxg4 Kf7 ({Kortschnoj: "Or"} 52... Bd6 53. Na6 {"with an immediate win." (Kortschnoj)}) 53. Rc8 Bd6 54. e4 $1 (54. Kxg5 $4 Bxc5 $11 {draws}) 54... Rg1+ ({Kortschnoj: "In the case of"} 54... Kf6 {"winning is"} 55. b8=Q Bxb8 56. Rxb8 Rxb8 57. Nd7+ Ke6 58. Nxb8 Ke5 59. Kf3 g4+ 60. Ke3 g3 61. Nc6+ Kd6 62. Nd4 g2 63. Nf3 {(Kortschnoj)}) 55. Kf5 g4 ({Kortschnoj:} 55... g4 56. b8=Q {"of course, White wins. But since Karpov wasn't giving up, apparently hoping to prolong the game, I decided to finish it as quickly and elegantly as possible." (Kortschnoj) A possible finish is} Bxb8 57. Rxb8 g3 58. Rb7+ Ke8 59. Rg7 g2 60. Ke6 Kd8 61. e5 (61. Nd3 Rd1 62. Rg8+ Kc7 63. Rxg2 Rxd3 64. e5 $18) 61... Rc1 (61... Kc8 62. Nd3 Kb8 63. Nf4 $18) 62. Rxg2 Rxc5 63. Kd6 $18 Z0 {The threat of} 64. Rg8# {wins. (Sullivan).}) 56. e5 Rf1+ 57. Ke4 Re1+ 58. Kd5 Rd1+ 59. Nd3 Rxd3+ 60. Kc4 (60. Kc4 Rc3+ 61. Kxc3 Bxe5+ 62. Kd3 g3 63. b8=Q Bxb8 64. Rxb8 g2 65. Rb1 $18 {(Sullivan).}) 1-0

