Riddle solved: Kasparov could have drawn

by Karsten Müller
3/23/2021 – Karsten Müller once again asked our readers for help to solve an endgame riddle. This time, he looked at the 27th game of the first World Championship match between Anatoly Karpov and Garry Kasparov. Was Kasparov right when he claimed that the endgame contains a number of mistakes? Turns out he was as, after all, he could have held the draw!
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A legendary rivalry is born

Garry KasparovThe first World Championship match between Anatoly Karpov and Garry Kasparov began on 10 September 1984 and ended on 13 February 1985. After only nine games Karpov was already leading 4-0 and the match seemed to be decided. However, then followed a series of 17 draws, some of them very short and boring — until Karpov finally managed to win the 27th game, which gave him a 5-0 lead.

The 27th game is not only memorable because it was Karpov’s last victory in the match, but also because Karpov seemed to demonstrate his great technical skills. After surprising Kasparov in the opening, Karpov managed to outplay his opponent in a seemingly equal and rather harmless position and eventually gained material. Particularly stunning was Karpov’s paradoxical 17th move, 17.Rfc1:

 

White put his rook on the c-file, where it seemed to be blocked by a white pawn on c3. On first sight this rook move appeared to be senseless, but it soon turned out to be quite dangerous.

After winning the pawn, Karpov seemed to convert his advantage smoothly. But, as Jan Timman reveals in his fine book The Longest Game, Kasparov did not think that Karpov handled the technical phase of this famous game particularly well.

We took a close look at this encounter, with the help of ChessBase readers who joined the search for the truth. It turns out Kasparov could have drawn after the time control. The readers made the new discovery that Karpov’s 40.a3? was a mistake.

As usual, Zoran Petronijevic  sent in the best solution. His main conclusions are:

  1. The initial position is lost.
  2. 37.Ke3?! is not precise and makes the win very deep and difficult. 37.h4, which was also mentioned by Karpov, is better.
  3. 40.a3? was a mistake, after which the position is drawn. Only 40.c5+! wins. This is a new discovery. Probably the 7-men tablebases were needed for the engines to be sure here.
  4. The last mistake was the greedy 45...Rxh2? as 45...Rb2! defends.
 
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Sources: 1. Kasparov, Velikoe protivostojanie, Moi poedinki so Karpovim, 2008. 2. Timman, The longest game, New in chess, Nederland 2019. 3. Karpov, Moi lucsie partii, Moscow, Astrel 2004. 4. Karpov anatoly, My 300 best games, Moscow 1997 5.Karolyi, Aplin, Endgame virtuoso Anatoly Karpov, New in chess, 2007. In our initial position, Black is lost. 31...Kd6 32.Ra5 f5 Kasparov is right when he claims that 32...f6 cannot help much. 33.Kd2 Rc7 34.Kc3 Ke7 35.Ba4! "White would transpose into a won rook ending." Kasparov (1). 33.Ke2 h5 33...Ke7 Is Karloyi and Aplin's suggestion (5) 34.Kd3 Kf6 35.Ra6 35.Bc2 Seems stronger Rc7 36.Kd4+- Petronijevic 35...Rc7 36.Kd4 "White is much better." In fact, White is winning. 33...Rg7 Reccomendation by Tisdall (source:5). 34.Kd3 g4 35.c5+ Ke5 36.f4+ Kf6 37.g3 " and White is pawn up for nothing." (5). 34.e4 Move suggested by Averbakh 34.Kd3 (Also suggested by Karpov (4) and Geller in Chess Informant) was the easiest option, "with the intention of e3-e4-e5" (source 1). e5 does not work because of 34...g4 loses after 35.Kd4! gxf3 36.gxf3 Bxf3 37.Ra6+ Kasparov's line also wins 37.c5+ Ke7 38.Ke5+- 37...Kd7 38.Ke5 Rc7 39.Kf6+- 35.Kc3 It is stronger than Kasparov's 35.e4 although White is winning as well. 35...g4 36.Bc2 gxf3 37.gxf3 Bxf3 38.Bxf5 Rg7 39.e4 h4 40.Ra6+ Kc5 41.Re6+- In Kasparov's opinion, "Karpov was clearly aiming for the adjournment and his only concern was not to squander his advantage." Kasparov (1). 34...fxe4 35.fxe4 Bxe4 36.Rxg5 Bf5 37.Ke3 According Timman (2), the game move is impresicse and better is 37.h4 Z Timman's suggestion Bg4+ 37...Rf7 38.Ke3 Kasparov (1). Bg4 39.c5+ Kc6 40.Ba4+ Kc7 41.Be8 Rh7 42.Bg6 Rh6 43.Be4+- Karpov (4). 38.Ke3 Rc7 39.Ra5 "Black wouldn’t have stood a chance" - Timman (2). The game move also wins. We should mention 37.Kf3 Rh7 38.h4 a5 39.g3 Ke5 40.Ke3 Rc7 41.Rxh5 a4 42.Bxa4 Rxc4 43.Bb3 Rc3+ 44.Kf2+- 37.g3 Is another good idea (5). 37...h4 "Of course. Now, White has to proceed with accuracy to bring home the point." Timman (2). 38.Kd4 According to Kasparov better was 38.g4! hxg3 39.hxg3 Ke5 40.g4 , which would have won most simply: Kf6 41.Rg8 Kf7 A bit better is 41...Bh7 although loses as well: 42.Rd8 Rg7 43.c5 Rxg4 44.c6 Rg3+ 45.Kd2 Rg7 46.Rd6 Bf5 47.Kc3 Bh3 48.Bc4 Rg5 49.Kb4 Rg7 50.Rd8 Rc7 51.Kc5 Bg2 52.Rd6 Bh3 53.Rd2 Ke7 54.Rb2 Bf5 55.Rb7 Kd8 56.Rb4 a5 57.Rb8+ Ke7 58.Kb6+- 42.Rh8 Kg7 43.Rh2 Z stronger is 43.Rh5+- 43...Bg6 44.Kf4+- Kasparov (1). 38...e5+ 39.Kc3?! Dubious move. Stronger is 39.Ke3 Bb1 40.c5+ Kxc5 41.Rxe5+ Kc6 42.Kf4 Kd6 43.Ra5 Rb4+ 44.Kg5 Be4 45.Kxh4 Bxg2+ 46.Kg3 Bb7 47.Rxa7+- 39...Bb1
40.a3? Clear mistake which throws away the win! Interesting is that no one (as far as I know!) claimed that this move is a mistake. "The last move before the time control - and again an unnecessary one: the quickest way to the goal was 40.c5+! In fact only this move wins. Kxc5 41.Rxe5+ Kd6 42.Re6+ Kc5 43.Re1 Bh7 44.Re5+ Kb6 Timman (2) gives 44...Kc6 45.Bd5+ Kd6 46.Rh5 Bg6 47.Rg5 Rc7+ 48.Kd4 Bb1 49.Rh5 Rh7 50.Rxh7 Bxh7 51.g3 hxg3 52.hxg3+- 45.Rh5 Alas, all the same White's position remains won." Kasparov (1). So, Kasparov in analyze did not see that the position is - even. Karpov thought the same (3): "Analyze showed that adjourned position is extremely sharp. It was necessary to find few brilliant ideas in order to win... It is not accidentally that this endgame has been published in endgame books." or 45.Bd5 Kasparov. 40...Re7 41.Rg4 White spent 24 minutes for sealing this move. "The following day there followed a two-hour adjournment session which was not without its drama." Kasparov (1). 41.a4 leads to an even play: Be4 42.Rg4 Bc6 43.Bc2 Rf7 44.Rxh4 Bxg2 45.Rh7 Rf3+ 46.Kb4 a5+ 47.Kb5 Rc3 48.Rh6+ Ke7 49.Bf5 e4 Activity of e4 pawn saves Black. 50.c5 e3 51.Bg4 Bf1+ 52.Kb6 Rc4 53.Re6+ Kd8 54.Bh5 Rxa4 55.Re8+ Kd7 56.c6+ Kd6 57.Rd8+ Ke5 58.c7 Bh3 59.Re8+ Kd4 60.Bf3 Rb4+ 61.Kxa5 Rb2 62.Rh8 Bf5 63.Rd8+ Kc4 64.c8R+ Bxc8 65.Rxc8+ Kd3= 41...h3 This move Kasparov evaluates with "!". Although the move leads to draw, Black had an easier way. "In home analysis we found this clever chance, which almost saves the game. However, other moves were altogether unpromising. Geller gave 41...e4 Z This move loses. 42.Bd1! Rf7 43.Kd4! Z Stronger is 43.Rxh4 Rf2 44.Rh6+ Ke5 45.c5 Rxg2 46.c6 Rg7 47.Bb3 Re7 48.Kd2 Kd4 49.Rd6+ Kc5 50.Rd7 Re8 51.c7 e3+ 52.Ke2+- 43...Rf2 44.c5++- Kasparov (1). "and after the more tenacious 41...Rh7 Z This move leads to a draw on an easier way. 42.h3 Karpov suggests this move claiming that "there is no hope for Black." (3). However, my analyzes show that the position is even (Timman has the same opinion). Stronger is 42.Rg5 although, after precise play, it leads to an even position: Re7 43.a4 a5 44.Bd1 Re6 45.Bf3 h3 46.Bg4 Rf6 47.gxh3 Be4 48.Rg8 Bf3 49.Rb8 Rf4 50.Rb6+ Kc7 51.Ra6 Bxg4 52.hxg4 Rxg4 53.Rxa5 Rh4 54.Rxe5 Rxh2 with a theoretical draw. 42...Kc5 Z After 42...Rh6 the position is even: 43.Bd1 Bf5 44.Rg5 Rf6 45.Bf3 Bxh3 46.c5+ Kc7 47.Rg7+ Kd8 48.Rxa7 Be6 49.Bc6 Rf5 50.Ra6 Ke7 51.Rb6 e4 52.Kd4 e3 53.Rb2 Rf2 54.Rb7+ Kf6 55.Kxe3 Rc2 56.Rb5 Ke5 57.Bf3 Rc3+ 58.Kf2 Rxa3 59.c6+ Kf4 60.Rb4+ Kg5 61.Rb6 Rc3 62.Rb5+ Kf4 63.Rb4+ Kg5= Z Timman's suggestion is 42...Bf5 43.Rg5 Be4 44.c5+ Kc7 He is right 45.Kd2 Kc6 46.Ba4+ Kb7 47.Ke3 Bd5 48.Kf2 Rf7+ 49.Kg1 Re7 50.Rh5 Rg7 51.g4 hxg3 52.Rxe5 Bf3 53.Rf5 Be4 54.Rf4 Bc6 55.h4 Bxa4 56.Rxa4 Kc6 57.Rc4 g2 58.h5 Rh7 59.Rh4 Kxc5 60.Kxg2 Kd6= 43.Bd1 Better is 43.Rg5 although after very precise play Black can equalise: Re7 44.Bd1 Be4 45.Rg4 Ba8 46.Rxh4 Bxg2 47.Rh5 Bf1 48.Bb3 a5 49.h4 a4 50.Bxa4 Bxc4 51.Bd1 Bd5 52.Rg5 Kd6 53.h5 Ke6 54.Bg4+ Kf7 55.a4 Be4 56.Be2 Rc7+ 57.Kb4 Kf6 58.Rg4 Bf5 59.Rh4 Rb7+ 60.Kc5 Kg5 61.Rh1 Ra7 62.Ra1 Rc7+ 63.Kb4 Rb7+ 64.Kc3 Rc7+ 65.Kd2 Rc2+ 66.Kd1 Rc8 67.Ra3 Be6 68.Kd2 Bc4 69.Rg3+ Kf6 70.Rg6+ Kf7 71.Bd1 Rd8+ 72.Ke1 Be6 73.Rg3 Ra8 74.Ra3 Ra5 75.Rd3 Ke7 76.Kf2 Bd7 77.Rg3 Bxa4 78.Ra3 Bxd1 79.Rxa5 Kf6 80.h6 Kg6 81.Ra6+ Kh7= 43...Rd7 44.Be2 Rd4 45.Rg5 Re4 46.Kd2 Rd4+ 47.Kc1 , when Bd3 48.Bxd3! Rxd3 49.Rxe5+ Kxc4 50.Re4+ Kd5 51.Rxh4 Rxa3 52.Rg4 "leads to a technically won rook ending." Kasparov (1). In fact, according to Tablebase, the position is a draw. 42.g3 Z In my opinion the position is even. Kasparov gave "?!" to this move. "This gives Black some chances. To judge by Karpov's insipid play before the time control, that day he was not ready for an intense, calculating battle and he was assuming that he would win easily after the adjournment. Possibly, therefore, his analysis of the adjourned position was insufficiently deep." Kasparov (1). We see that Kasparov thought that the position is lost. In fact it is a draw: 42.gxh3 Kasparov's sign "!". "would have won far more easily" Kasparov (1). however, the position is EVEN: Bf5 43.Rh4 e4 44.Bd1 e3 Z Timman suggests as stronger 44...Ke5 He is right: this move leads to a draw, but we should improve a bit his line: 45.Rh8 Rd7 Timman's move loses. Stronger is 45...Rg7 which after precise play leads to a draw 46.Re8+ Kf4 47.c5 e3 48.c6 48.Bg4 Bd7 49.Bxd7 Rxd7 50.c6 Rd6 51.c7 Rc6+ 52.Kd4 Rxc7 53.Re4+ Kf5 54.Rxe3 Rd7+ 55.Kc5 Rh7= 48...Rc7 49.Ba4 Be4 50.Kd4 Bxc6 51.Bxc6 Rxc6 52.Rxe3 52.Re4+ Kf5= 52...Ra6 This position is even. A possible line is: 53.Rc3 Kf5 54.Kd5 Ra5+ 55.Kc6 Ra6+ 56.Kb5 Rh6 57.Rc5+ Ke4 58.h4 a6+ 58...Kd4 leads to a draw as well. 59.Kb4 Kd4 60.Rc4+ Kd3 61.Kb3 Rh5 62.Rc3+ Kd2 63.Rc4 Kd3 64.Rg4 Rb5+ 65.Rb4 Rc5 65...Rh5= 66.h3 Rc3+ 67.Kb2 Rc2+ 68.Kb1 Rc6 69.Rg4 Kc3 70.Rg3+ Kd2 71.Rg2+ Kd3 72.Kb2 Rh6 73.Rg4 Rh5 74.Rb4 Rh8 74...Ke2? This move loses 75.Kc1 Rh6 and win isn't visible. 46.Bc2 Timman's move leads to even play. After the best 46.Re8+ White wins. A possible line is: Kf4 47.Bg4 Rd3+ 47...Bxg4 48.hxg4 Rd3+ 49.Kb4 e3 49...Rd4 50.Kb5 e3 51.c5 Re4 52.Rxe4+ Kxe4 53.c6 e2 54.c7 e1Q 55.c8Q transposinig to the main line. 50.c5 Rd4+ 51.Kb5 Re4 52.Rxe4+ Kxe4 53.c6 e2 54.c7 e1Q 55.c8Q Qb1+ 56.Kc6 Qb6+ 57.Kd7 Qd4+ 58.Ke6 Qd5+ 58...Qe5+ 59.Kf7 Qxh2 60.Qf5++- Transposing to the main line. 59.Kf6 Qe5+ 60.Kf7 Qxh2 61.Qf5++- 48.Kb4 Bg6 49.Re6 Bh7 50.Rf6+ Kg5 51.Rf7 a5+ 52.Kxa5 Bg6 53.Re7 Rxa3+ 54.Kb4 Ra2 55.c5 Rc2 56.Kb5 Rb2+ 57.Kc4 Kf6 58.Re6+ Kg7 59.c6 Bf7 60.Kc3 Rb1 61.Rd6 Rc1+ 62.Kd2 Rc4 63.Ke3 Kf8 64.h4 Rc1 65.Kf4 Be8 66.Bd7 Bf7 67.Kxe4+- 46...Rc7 Timman is not right. After the best After the best 46...Rd6 Black can equalise: 47.Re8+ Kf4 48.h4 Ra6 49.a4 Rh6 50.h3 Rc6 51.Rd8 Bxh3 52.Kd4 Bf5 53.c5 Rc7 54.h5 Re7 55.Bd1 e3 56.Be2 Re4+ 57.Kd5 Be6+ 58.Kd6 Rd4+ 59.Ke7 Re4 60.Rf8+ Bf5+ 61.Kd6 Rd4+ 62.Kc7 Ke5 63.c6 Rxa4= 47.Re8+ Black loses: Kf4 48.h4 Rc6 49.Rd8 Be6 50.Rd4 Bf5 51.h5 Rc8 52.Rd6 Ke5 53.Rd5+ Kf4 54.Bd1 Be6 55.Rd4 Bf5 56.Rd6 Ke5 57.Rd5+ Kf4 58.h4 Rc6 59.c5 e3 59...Be6 60.Rg5 Bf5 61.Kc4 Rc8 62.Bc2 Rd8 63.h6 Rh8 64.c6 Rxh6 65.Kd5 Be6+ 66.Kd4 e3 67.Re5 Bg4 68.Re4+ Kg3 69.Rxe3+ Kxh4 70.Be4+- 60.Kb4 Rc8 61.h6 Bh3 62.Be2 Kg3 63.Bd3 Kf2 64.h7 Rb8+ 65.Kc3 e2 66.Bxe2 Kxe2 67.Rh5 Rh8 68.Kd4 Bg4 69.Rh6 Bf5 70.c6 Kf3 71.c7 Kf4 72.Kd5 Bd3 73.c8Q Rxc8 74.h8Q Rxh8 75.Rxh8+- 45.Rh5 Z Stronger is Timman's suggestion 45.Be2 after which White is winning. A possible line is: Ke5 46.Rh5 Kf6 47.Rh8 Ke5 48.Rf8 Rb7 49.Rd8 a5 50.Rd5+ Kf4 51.c5 Be6 52.Rd8 Rb3+ 53.Kd4 Rxa3 54.Rf8+ Kg5 55.h4+ Kxh4 56.c6 Kh3 57.Re8 Bf5 58.Rh8+ Kg2 59.Rf8 Ra4+ 60.Kxe3 Be6 61.Re8 Bf5 62.Re5 Bc8 63.Bd3 Rh4 64.Be4+ Kxh2 65.Rxa5+- 45...Be6 Z Kasparov misses 45...e2 46.Bxe2 Rxe2 47.Rxf5 Re3+ 48.Kb4 Rxh3 49.Rf2 Rh5= 46.c5++- . 42...Re8 The best move. 42...Bf5 43.Rg5 Kasparov's move is bad. Better was 43.Rh4 Kc5 44.Rh5 Bg4 45.Rg5 Be2 46.Rg8 Rd7 47.Rc8+ Kb6 48.Bc2 Rd4 49.c5+ Kb5 50.Rc7 a6 51.c6 Bg4 52.Re7 Rc4+ 53.Kd2 Kxc6 54.Rxe5 Kd6 55.Ra5 Bc8 56.Bd3 Rc7 57.Ra4 Ke5 58.Re4+ Kd5 59.Rh4 Ke5 60.Ke3 Rb7 61.Re4+ Kf6 62.Rb4 Rg7 63.Kf4 Rg4+ 64.Kf3 Rg5 65.Bxa6 Be6 66.Rf4+ Ke7 67.Bc4+- 43...Bd7 44.g4 This position is even: e4 45.Bd1 Rf7 46.Bc2 Rf3+ 47.Kd4 e3 48.Bd3 e2 49.c5+ Kc7 50.Bxe2 Rf2 51.Ke3 Rxh2 52.Rg7 Kd8 53.Rh7 Rg2 54.Bf3 Ra2 55.Kf4 Rxa3 56.c6 Ra4+ 57.Ke5 Bxc6 58.Bxc6 Rxg4= 43.Rg7 Kasparov (1) thought that this move is a mistake. As a better one, he suggested 43.Rh4 He gave "!" to this move, and he commented: "was decisive. It is true that Black would have retained some practical chances (this position is not as hopeless as the one after 42 gxh3 ) , but even so, after Rf8 44.Rxh3 Rf3+ 45.Kb2 Kc5 Z After 45...Be4 46.Rh8 Rf2+ the position is even. 46.Rh8 Be4 47.Rc8+ Kd4 Z Easier is 47...Kb6 48.c5+ Kb5 49.Bd1 Rf2+ 50.Kc3 Rxh2 51.Rc7 Bc6 52.a4+ Kxc5 53.Bf3 Rh6 54.g4 Kb6 55.Rxc6+ Rxc6+ 56.Bxc6 Kxc6 57.a5 Kd5= 48.Rd8+ Ke3 Z This move loses. Timman (2) is right that after 48...Kc5 White only has symbolical advantage. 49.c5 the passed pawn would win for White." Kasparov (1). 43...Rf8 Let us quote Kasparov (1): "Black has no alternative, other than the activation of his rook, and the long think testifies to my lack of faith in the possibility of defending this unpleasant position." The position is even. 44.Rxa7 "Things are not so clear after 44.Ba4 Be4! 45.Rxa7 Rf2 46.Rd7+ Kc5 47.Rd2 Rf3+ 48.Kb2 Kxc4 "it is not easy to convert the extra pawn." Kasparov. Z In fact the The position is even. 44...Rf2 45.Kb4
"In White's plan the main role is played by the c-pawn. A very interesting position has arisen, one which we briefly analysed among various others. And here I automatically made a move, after which Black's further resistance became hopeless." Kasparov (1). 45...Rxh2? "Thus I could even have avoided a theoretically drawn, but always unpleasant rook endgame with white a- and c-pawns. Alas, despite all Karpov's efforts to create problems for himself with the conversion of his advantage, I was destined to lose this game. Although again, as in the 9th game, I was just a step away from a draw...  This was also not noticed by the commentators, who attached an exclamation mark to 43 Rg7 - 'accurate conversion of the extra pawn' (Averbakh), concluded that 'Karpov won in truly classical style' (Taimanov), and called the 27th game 'the champion's best achievement in the match' (Suetin)." Kasparov (1). Kasparov pointed our properly that 45...Rb2! was the best, after which the position is even. 46.c5+ Kc6 . Moreover, "modern analysis with computer assistance shows that objectively this position is drawn!" Kasparov (1) Kasparov gives possible lines: 47.-- 47.Ra6+ Kc7 48.Kc4 Rxh2! 49.Kd5 Rg2 50.Kxe5 h2 51.Rc6+ Kxc6 52.Bd5+ Kxc5 53.Bxg2 Kb5= analyze by Dokhoian, Source (1). 47.Kc4 Bc2 48.Ra6+ Kc7 49.Bxc2 Rxc2+ 50.Kd5 Rxh2 51.Ra7+! Kb8 52.Rh7 Rh1 53.Ke4! h2 54.Kf3 Kc8! 54...Ra1? is bad due to 55.Rxh2 Rxa3+ 56.Kg4 Rc3 57.Re2 Rxc5 58.Kf5+- analyze by Geller. 54...e4+? 55.Kg2 Rc1 56.Kxh2 Rxc5 57.Re7 Rc4 58.g4+- Timman (2): 54...Rc1 55.Rxh2 Rxc5 "the rook ending is a theoretical draw." In fact, this position is lost after 56.a4+- 55.Kg2 Rc1 56.Kxh2 Rxc5 57.g4 Kd8! 58.g5 Ke8 59.g6 Kf8 60.Ra7 Rc6 61.g7+ Kg8 62.Kg3 Rc4= . Kasparov (1). 46.c5++- Kc6 47.Ba4+ "Driving the black king away from the c-pawn, which is clearly more dangerous than its rival on h3." Kasparov (1). Kd5 48.Rd7+ Ke4 49.c6 Rb2+ 50.Ka5 50.Kc3 Is good as well. 50...Rb8 51.c7 Rc8 52.Kb6 Ke3 53.Bc6 h2 54.g4 54.Rd8 Bf5 55.Bb7 e4 56.Bxc8 h1Q 57.Bxf5 Qb1+ 58.Ka5 Qe1+ 59.Ka4+- Kasparov (1). 54...Rh8 55.Rd1 Ba2 56.Re1+ Kf4 57.Re4+ Kg3 58.Rxe5 Kxg4 59.Re2 Very interesting is Timman's rememberance of this game: "For this game, Karpov received the Best Game prize in Chess Informant, put up by the Dutch insurance company Interpolis. The prize was 1000 US dollars: 800 for the winner and 200 for the loser. A representative of Interpolis asked me to present the loser’s prize to Kasparov. I was going to see him in Cologne in the summer of 1985, right before his match against Robert Hübner in Hamburg. To my surprise, Kasparov didn’t want to accept the 200 dollars. He vehemently disagreed with the decision to give Karpov the prize. Agitated, and fiercely gesticulating, he made it clear to me how bad the game had been. Now, so many years later, and after a thorough investigation, I can understand what he meant." 1–0
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Karpov,A-Kasparov,G-1–01984D55World Championship Match, 27th Game

On this DVD a team of experts looks closely at the secrets of Karpov's games. In more than 7 hours of video, the authors examine four essential aspects of Karpov's superb play.

Links

Karsten Müller is considered to be one of the greatest endgame experts in the world. His books on the endgame - among them "Fundamentals of Chess Endings", co-authored with Frank Lamprecht, that helped to improve Magnus Carlsen's endgame knowledge - and his endgame columns for the ChessCafe website and the ChessBase Magazine helped to establish and to confirm this reputation. Karsten's Fritztrainer DVDs on the endgame are bestsellers. The mathematician with a PhD lives in Hamburg, and for more than 25 years he has been scoring points for the Hamburger Schachklub (HSK) in the Bundesliga.

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Aurelio Agosti Aurelio Agosti 3/30/2021 03:43
Well, wouldn't it better that Zoran Petronijevic uses his extraordinary computer-like talent to flourish in the 2021 world championship? ;)
nirvana1963 nirvana1963 3/24/2021 06:04
@Vinodkumar Poduval, Kasparov didn't lose the match 5-0, it was 5-3 after 48 games. Actually he didn't lose the match at all because it was ended without result by FIDE president Campomanes. Kasparov won games 47 and 48 and his chances to win the match had increased considerably. It was all set up, Campomanes (also known as 'Karpomanes') didn't want Kasparov to win the match. I remember the press conference where Campomanes announced the termination of the match. No word from Karpov but Kasparov was furious because he wanted to continue the match, which was hardly surprising.
malfa malfa 3/24/2021 04:22
@bbrodinsky,
I definitely share your view: frankly I see no point in giving tons of computer-generated lines without providing the slightest hint of plans, ideas, tactical points etc. My personal idea of what a decent game analysis is is a completely different one and after following a couple or more of these "riddles" I feel I am really fed up with them.
chessgod0 chessgod0 3/24/2021 03:22
@bbrodinsky

An excellent comment that really needed to be said.
bbrodinsky bbrodinsky 3/24/2021 11:21
I understand the desire to use computers in the modern day to find the "final truth" of these positions. It leads to fascinating lines of play.

What is not fair is labeling a game "mistake prone" just because the human was not lucky enough to find the same move a computer found working at 50 ply. And that's all it is, is luck (or cheating). If the players were to play this endgame perfectly, it would just have been luck, not skill to have mimicked a computer, since it is impossible for it to be skill. It's meaningless to judge a game, especially an endgame, by comparing the moves with an engine at this point.
dumkof dumkof 3/24/2021 08:52
@Vinodkumar Poduval, I'm a Karpov fan myself.
Showing possible lines to draw against Karpov, with the help of best grandmasters and chess engines, after almost 40 years, doesn't belittle Karpov's strength and games at all. In contrary, it shows how deep and untouchable he was.
Gerald C Gerald C 3/24/2021 06:48
Great analysis, thank you !
Vinodkumar Poduval Vinodkumar Poduval 3/24/2021 04:15
There has been constant efforts to show that Karpov's games are of inferior ones and he is an average chess player, but the fact is the so- called chess genius Kasparov and his teams are not free from the shock the 5-0 result of Karpov match gave them, even after all these years and it haunts them, enjoy the 5-0 loss, enjoy.
Karsten Müller Karsten Müller 3/23/2021 10:01
More new insights into this fascinating game can be found in Johannes Fischer's interview with Adrian Mikhalchishin, who was one of Karpov's seconds:
https://en.chessbase.com/post/an-interview-with-adrian-michalchishin-player-coach-author-part-ii
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