[Event "?"]
[Site "Biel"]
[Date "1997.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Pelletier, Y"]
[Black "Karpov, An"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Annotator "Karpov, An"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. a3 Bb7 5. Nc3 d5 6. Bg5 Be7 7. Qa4+ Bc6 $5 { This is a sharp method of fighting for the initiative for Black. Allowing the endgame after 7...Qd7 8.Qxd7+ Nbxd7 is also possible although Black will be on the defensive for quite a while. } 8. Qb3 dxc4 9. Qxc4 O-O 10. e3 Bb7 { Returning the bishop to its natural Queen's Indian square is necessary in order to develop my knight from b8 and to free my c-pawn. The loss of time involved is more than offset by the three White queen moves. } 11. Be2 { Not 11.Bd3? Ba6 12.Nb5 c6 and Black wins. Premature is 11.b4 (trying to clamp down on the Black queenside and the Black c-pawn in particular) as White is still lagging in development, for example: 11...Nbd7 12.Be2 c5 13.dxc5 bxc5 14.b5 (If 14.Bxf6?! Bxf6 15.bxc5 Qa5 16.Rc1 Rfc8 and Black will regain the pawn on c5 with a clear queenside initiative.) 14...Qa5 (14...Nd5!?) 15.0-0 Nb6, with good counterplay. } 11... a6 12. Rc1 Nbd7 13. O-O b5 14. Qa2 c5 15. Rfd1 { On the surface White's prospects seem quite promising as he has completed his development and centralized his rooks. } 15... Nd5 $1 { Forcing the exchange of bishops on e7 and securing me control of the d5-square. } 16. Bxe7 { If 16.Bf4 Nxf4 17.exf4 Qb6 18.d5 c4, with an edge for Black. } 16... Qxe7 17. dxc5 Nxc5 18. b4 { A very ambitious approach which weakens the c3-square. More prudent was 18.Nd4. } 18... Nxc3 19. Rxc3 Ne4 { Black has secured control of the classic b7-g2 QID diagonal and in particular the e4-square. } 20. Rcd3 $6 { The optimism of youth, as doubling on the open d-file seems aggressive, but is really a blind alley. In addition, the rook on d3 interferes with the bishop on e2 attacking the Black a6-b5 pawn duo. It was time for White to pursue equality with 20.Rcc1 Rac8 21.Qb3 with the plan of a3-a4 to liquidate the queenside pawns. } 20... Bd5 $1 { This move appeals to my sense of maximization, as thanks to my control of the d5-square, one bishop and one pawn (4 points) is able to neutralize two rooks (10 points) and attack one queen (9 points)! } 21. Qb2 Rac8 22. Nd2 $1 { White correctly attempts to exchange my influential knight. The attempt to contest the open c-file would leave Black slightly better: 22.Rc1 Rxc1+ 23.Qxc1 Qb7 24.Bd1 Rc8. } 22... Nd6 $1 23. f3 $6 { This protects the e4-square and blunts the Black bishop on d5, while preparing to play e3-e4. However, it weakens the e3-point and the White second rank. 23.Bf3 would be better. } 23... Bc4 $1 { Forcing the exchange of the White knight, after which the lone White bishop does not have positive prospects. } 24. Nxc4 Nxc4 25. Qb3 Nb6 $1 { This prevents any a3-a4 action by White, and his rooks still can't penetrate down the d-file in a meaningful manner. } 26. Bf1 h6 { Making luft and hoping to lure White in. If 26...Rc6 27.Rc3. } 27. Rd6 $6 { After 27.Rc3 Nd5! 28.Rxc8 Rxc8, Black has a meaningful initiative. If 27.e4 Rc6, with the idea of Rf8-c8 and Qe7-c7 with the initiative. } 27... Nd5 $1 { This cuts the connection and co-ordination of the White rooks. White is now forced to accept the offer of the a6-pawn, after which his rook is out of play. } 28. Rxa6 Rc3 29. Qb2 Rfc8 $1 { Securing total control of the c-file. Instead 29...Rxe3 is premature, as after 30.Rc1 Black has surrendered the open c-file, while 30.Qf2 and White obtains some counterplay can also be considered. Note that 30.Bxb5? would be a mistake in view of 30...Nc3! 31.Qc1 (31.Rd7 Re1+ 32.Kf2 Qh4+ 33.g3 Qxh2+ wins for Black) 31...Nxd1 and Black is better. } 30. e4 Ne3 31. Re1 { Not 31.Rd2? Rc1 32.Rf2 Qg5 33.h3 (33.Ra8 Qxg2+! 34.Rxg2 Rxf1 mate) 33...Nxf1 34.Rxf1 R8c2 and Black wins. } 31... Nxf1 { Capturing the bishop weakens White further on the second rank and on g2 in particular. } 32. Rxf1 Rc2 33. Qe5 Rd8 $1 { Note how Black has secured the only two open files on the chessboard, which is ironic when you consider the disposition of the White rooks after 15.Rfd1. } 34. Qxb5 { Black wins quickly after 34.Rf2 Rd1+ 35.Rf1 Rdd2. } 34... Rdd2 { Double trouble. } 35. Qb8+ Kh7 36. Qg3 Qd7 $1 { Preparing decisive penetration along the weakened d4-g1 diagonal and the White first rank. Also winning is 36...Qg5 37.Qxg5 hxg5 38.Rb1 Rxg2+ 39.Kf1 Rcf2+ 40.Ke1 Rxh2 and White is toast. } 37. Ra5 Qd4+ 38. Kh1 Rd1 { White's back rank is overpowered. } 0-1