Svitlana's Smart Moves - The octopus knight of Kasparov

by Arne Kaehler
5/30/2025 – In this episode of Svitlana's Smart Moves, Svitlana and Arne analyse a historic World Championship game from the 1985 match between Karpov and Kasparov. The focus is on Kasparov's bold pawn sacrifice, 9...d5, in the Sicilian, which showcases deep home preparation and leads to him getting a powerful "octopus knight" on d3. The analysis reveals how Kasparov's strategic mastery and piece coordination slowly restricted Karpov's position until it collapsed under pressure. The episode highlights how classical games still offer valuable lessons, especially in regard to positional dominance and long-term planning.
The King‘s Indian Attack is a universal opening: easy to learn, flexible, and rich in both tactical and positional opportunities.

Svitlana's Smart Moves - Episode 116

With Svitlana Demchenko and Arne Kaehler

Svitlana Demchenko is a 20-year-old, Canadian WIM and chess coach. Here and now, she will teach us plenty of smart moves on the board, ranging from tactics, strategies, openings, and everything else chess-related. In the process, I'm happy to be available as a student at club player level, and pester the Women's International Master with questions. Anyone who wants to strengthen their chess skills is welcome to watch, and actively replay the positions from the video on our chessboard.

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MoveNResultEloPlayers
1.e41,187,37854%2421---
1.d4960,97355%2434---
1.Nf3287,04656%2440---
1.c4185,21656%2442---
1.g319,90856%2427---
1.b314,61554%2428---
1.f45,96148%2376---
1.Nc33,92350%2383---
1.b41,79148%2379---
1.a31,25354%2406---
1.e31,08149%2409---
1.d396950%2378---
1.g467046%2361---
1.h446654%2382---
1.c343951%2425---
1.h328956%2420---
1.a411860%2461---
1.f310047%2427---
1.Nh39366%2506---
1.Na34762%2476---
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.Nb5 5.Nc3 most popular 5...d6 6.c4 Nf6 7.N1c3 a6 8.Na3 d5?! An interesting novelty back at the time, sacrificing a pawn. 8...Be7 is usual 9.Be2 0-0 10.0-0 b6 hedgehog structure from the previous lesson! 9.cxd5 exd5 10.exd5 Nb4 11.Be2 Karpov's team came up with this alternative following game 12. In game 12 of the match, this is what happened: 11.Bc4 Bg4 12.Be2 12.f3 Bf5 12...Bxe2 13.Qxe2+ Qe7 14.Be3 Nbxd5 15.Nc2 Nxe3 16.Nxe3 Black had no difficulty to make a draw. 11...Bc5 12.0-0?! It was discovered later that: 12.Be3! secures an extra pawn for White Bxe3 13.Qa4+ Bd7 14.Qxb4 Qb6 15.Qxb6 Bxb6 12...0-0 13.Bf3 13.Bg5 would lead to a safe line, but with White, Karpov wanted to aim for more than this. Nbxd5 14.Nxd5 Qxd5 15.Qxd5 15.Bxf6 Qxd1 16.Rfxd1 gxf6= 15...Nxd5 16.Bf3 Be6 17.Rfd1 Nf6 18.Rac1= 13...Bf5 14.Bg5 Re8!? Controlling e4, preventing Be4 exchange threat. 14...b5? 15.Be4! 15.Qd2 15.Nc4 was the last chance to free the knight 15...b5! 16.Rad1 Nd3! Octopus knight! 16...Bd3?! 17.Nab1! Bxf1? 18.Kxf1 a5 19.a3 Na6 20.d6+- 17.Nab1? 17.d6! Qxd6 17...Rb8= 18.Bxa8 Rxa8 17...h6! Important move, driving the bishop back. 18.Bh4 18.Be3 Bxe3 19.fxe3 Qb6-+ 18...b4 19.Na4 19.Ne2!? g5 20.Bxg5 Nxf2! 20...hxg5? 21.Qxg5+ Bg6 22.Rxd3+- 21.Rxf2 Bxf2+ 21...hxg5 22.Qxg5+ Bg6 22.Kxf2 hxg5 23.Qxg5+ Bg6 24.Nd2 19...Bd6 20.Bg3 Rc8 21.b3 g5‼ 21...Bxg3 22.hxg3 Qd6 23.Nb2 21...Be5 22.a3 21...a5 22.Nb2 Nxb2 23.Qxb2 Rc2 21...Ne4 22.Bxe4 Bxe4 23.Qe3 22.Bxd6 22.Nb2? Nxb2 23.Qxb2 g4 24.Be2 Rc2-+ 22...Qxd6 23.g3 Nd7! 23...g4! 24.Bg2 Nxd5-+ 24.Bg2 24.Nb2 Qf6! 25.Nxd3 25.Nc4 N7e5 25...Bxd3 26.Qxd3 Ne5!-+ queen is trapped! 24...Qf6! 25.a3 a5 26.axb4 axb4 White barely has any moves. 27.Qa2 Bg6! 28.d6 28.Nd2 Re2-+ 28...g4 29.Qd2 Kg7 30.f3 Qxd6 31.fxg4 Qd4+ 32.Kh1 Nf6! 33.Rf4 Ne4 34.Qxd3 Karpov has nothing better left than to give up the queen. Nf2+ 35.Rxf2 Bxd3 36.Rfd2 Qe3! 37.Rxd3 Rc1! 38.Nb2 38.Rxe3 Rxd1+ 39.Bf1 Rxe3-+ 38...Qf2 39.Nd2 Rxd1+ 40.Nxd1 Re1+ 0–1
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Karpov,A2720Kasparov,G27000–11985B44World-ch31-KK2 Kasparov-Karpov +5-3=1616

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If you like Svitlana's Smart moves, you will certainly enjoy her video lectures about "Surprising your opponents with the Lazy Sicilian", her first Fritztrainer "Understanding Material Imbalances", and her courses "The Scotch Game", and the "Leningrad Dutch Defence". Her newest Entry is the "King's Indian Attack"!

In just 60 minutes, you will be well-equipped with a surprise weapon, which will take most of your opponents out of book right from the start.

This DVD focuses on several types of material imbalances, such as Rook vs 2 Pieces, Queen vs 2 Rooks, and Queen vs Pieces.

Besides in-depth theory and exciting tactical exercises in the Scotch Game, this video course also includes a bonus section on the Scotch Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Bc4), a lively variation often leading to very dynamic positions.

The Leningrad Dutch Defence is a dynamic and aggressive opening choice for Black, perfect for players who want to add some adventure and spice to their repertoire.

The King‘s Indian Attack is a universal opening: easy to learn, flexible, and rich in both tactical and positional opportunities.

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Arne Kaehler, a creative mind who is passionate about board games in general, was born in Hamburg and learned to play chess at a young age. By teaching chess to youth teams and creating chess-related videos on YouTube, Arne was able to expand this passion and has even created an online course for anyone who wants to learn how to play chess. Arne writes for the English and German news sites, but focuses mainly on content for the ChessBase media channels.

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