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Next week I shall focus on games, results and critical positions from the 4th London Classic, which concluded last month.
Kasparov-Karpov; World Championship London (Game 4) 1986; Nimzo-Indian Defence
1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nc3 Bb4 4 Nf3 c5 5 g3 cxd4 6 Nxd4 0-0 7 Bg2 d5 8 Qb3 Bxc3+ 9 bxc3 The critical move: White spoils his own pawn structure in the hope of exploiting dynamic factors, the pair of powerful bishops, and the threat of Nb5. 9 … Nc6 10 cxd5 Na5 11 Qc2 Nxd5 With the c-file open and his pieces able to develop normally, the weak c3-pawn alone should be sufficient for Black to gain good counterplay. 12 Qd3 Bd7 13 c4 Ne7 14 0-0 For the present it is too early to bring out the bishop to the vulnerable a3-square – it may also be developed at g5 or at e3, and it may also remain at c1. 14 … Rc8 15 Nb3 Nxc4 16 Bxb7 Rc7 (see diagram 1) 17 Ba6 The light-square bishop has fulfilled its mission on the long diagonal and it changes the direction of his activity. The knight at c4 is a strong point for Black, with which his hopes of counterplay are associated. 17 … Ne5 18 Qe3 Nc4 19 Qe4 Nd6 20 Qd3 Karpov was hoping to solve his problems thanks to the symmetry of the pawn structure, but he is let down by his ‘hanging’ knights. 20 … Rc6 21 Ba3 Bc8 22 Bxc8 Ndxc8 23 Rfd1 A psychologically unpleasant move for Black – after the forced exchange of queens, the rhythm of the play changes. 23 … Qxd3 24 Rxd3 Re8 25 Rad1 (see diagram 2) 25 … f6 The most natural move, but it does not take into account the concrete nuances of the position. For … e6-e5 Black lacks just one tempo, and he loses. 25 … g6 would have enabled him to avoid loss of material. 26 Nd4 Rb6 27 Bc5 Ra6 28 Nb5 Rc6 29 Bxe7 Black loses a pawn in an unfavourable situation. 29 … Nxe7 30 Rd7 Ng6 31 Rxa7 Nf8 32 a4 Rb8 33 e3 h5 34 Kg2 e5 35 Rd3 With the idea of Rc3 (35 Rd6 Rc2 is less convincing). The exchange of a pair of rooks deprives Black of his saving hopes. 35 … Kh7 36 Rc3 Rbc8 37 Rxc6 Rxc6 38 Nc7 Ne6 39 Nd5 White activates his pieces to the maximum, at the same time creating tactical threats. 39 … Kh6 40 a5 e4 41 a6 Black resigns
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