[Event "Candidates'"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1984.??.??"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Smyslov"]
[Black "Kasparov"]
[Result "0-1"]
[PlyCount "80"]

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 c5 3. c4 e6 4. cxd5 exd5 { Play has transposed into the Tarrasch Defense. Smyslov chooses the approved line. } 5. g3 Nf6 6. Bg2 Be7 7. O-O O-O 8. Nc3 Nc6 { This is the starting position of the Classical Tarrasch, which I adopted during my rise to the World Championship in 1983-84. It is a fighting defense which also requires positional understanding. } 9. Bg5 { White has many options here, but this remains the favorite, just ahead of the capture at c5. } 9... cxd4 { The normal move. 9...c4 was popular for some time, but I had some great successes with White against it and then it faded for a while. Recently, however, new resources have been found for Black. } 10. Nxd4 { The stage is set. Black has an isolated pawn which is blockaded by the White knight. The pawn is a weakness, but if it can advance, it will cramp White's position. A dynamically balanced game usually results. } 10... h6 11. Be3 Re8 { In order to achieve an advantage White will eventually capture an enemy bishop on e6, weakening Black's kingside and gaining the bishop pair. On the other hand it will be difficult to fight against Black's pawn center. } 12. a3 { Many plans have been tried here, including bringing the queen out to b3 or a4, moving the rook to c1 etc. This move keeps the Black knight from getting to b4, and making Qc2 or Qd3 possible without risk. } 12... Be6 13. Nxe6 fxe6 14. Qa4 { White plans Rad1 and Kh1. I decided to move my king to a safer post at h8 and then operate against e3. I guessed that Smyslov might want to play f4, which would weaken e3. Also, I knew that my Nc6 belonged at c4. } 14... Kh8 15. Rad1 Rc8 16. Kh1 a6 17. f4 Na5 { I am about to achieve my objective, so Smyslov correctly makes a sharp move which alters the character of the struggle. } 18. f5 { Now it looks tempting to move a piece to c4, but I couldn't find any good continuation. } 18... b5 { 18...Rc4 19.Qc2 e5 20.Qd2 d4 21.Bxh6 dxc3 22.Qg5 18...Nc4 19.Bc1 } 19. Qh4 { Smyslov makes menacing gestures on the kingside, threatening to sacrifice at h6. My next move not only defends h6, but also takes the initiative by attacking the enemy queen. } 19... Ng8 20. Qh3 { This was the wrong square. 20. Qg4 Nc4 21.Bc1 Bg5 Now Smyslov would have had a promising sacrificial line. Tal would certainly have seen this entire line: 22.fxe6 Bxc1 23.Rxd5 Qb6 24. Rf7 Bg5 25.Rxg5 hxg5 26.Qh5+ Nh6 27.Qg6 Nf5 28.Qxf5 Nd6 29.Qg6 Qd4 30.Be4 Nxe4 31.Nxe4 Rc1+ 32.Kg2 Rg1+ 33.Kh3 } 20... Nc4 21. Bc1 Bg5 { This is a strateg y based on control of the dark-squares, which is common in the Tarrasch. Once the dark-squared bishops are gone the e3-square becomes a serious weakness. } 22. fxe6 Bxc1 23. Rxc1 Ne3 { White cannot permit this knight to sit there and rule the kingside and center, so Smyslov sacrifices the exchange for two pawns, but these pawns are weak and Black's pieces are ideally placed. } 24. Nxd5 Nxf1 25. Rxf1 Rf8 26. Nf4 { Smyslov should have exchanged rooks, but he was short of time and way behind in the match (I led 7-4 at the time). } 26... Ne7 27. Qg4 { Another World Champion, Mikhail Tal, suggested 27.Qh5 here. } 27... g5 { This move effectively wins the game. The White knight is driven back, rooks are exchanged, and the bishop will be badly placed. Also, the White queen is in a poor position. The rest is simple. } 28. Qh3 Rf6 29. Nd3 Rxf1+ 30. Bxf1 Kg7 31. Qg4 Qd5+ 32. e4 Qd4 33. h4 Rf8 34. Be2 Qe3 35. Kg2 Ng6 36. h5 Ne7 37. b4 Kh7 38. Kh2 Rd8 39. e5 Rxd3 40. Bxd3+ Qxd3 0-1