[Event "GMA, Wijk aan Zee NED"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2003.??.??"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Ponomariov,R"]
[Black "Karpov,An"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "Hathaway"]
[BlackElo "2685"]
[ECO "C42"]
[PlyCount "151"]
[WhiteElo "2730"]

1. e4 e5 { Ponomariov is one of the most classically-oriented players around who still plays 1. e4 (occasionally) and does well with it. Karpov used to play 1. e4, but now only plays 1. d4. However, with the Black pieces the two are very different: against 1. e4 Ponomariov has played 1...c5 a few times in this event while Karpov plays 1...c6 or 1...e5. Their understanding of the game might be similar, but Pono has youth and Karpov has tremendous experience. For those who know how to handle it 1...e5 has been doing quite well the last few years. But, that success hasn't been with the Spanish Game as much as with the Scotch Game (by White's choice) or the Russian Game/Petrov's Defense. Black seeks a little simplification and more open space to develop pieces with both of those. } 2. Nf3 { No King's Gambit for this young, but somewhat stodgy strategician. } 2... Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Be7 ( 6... Nc6 { is more forceful and waits for c2-c4 before moving Bf8-b4 with check } ) ( 6... Bd6 { is also played } ) 7. O-O Nc6 8. c4 { White seeks to undermine Ne4 and gain sole control of the d3-h7 diagonal. } 8... Nf6 { This is a lot less contentious and, as is Karpov's style, more cautious than the other plans available (see variations below) , but with a plan: he'll probably aim for ...dxc4 and control of d5 and offense against Pd4. } ( 8... Nb4 9. Be2 O-O ( 9... Be6 10. Nc3 Nxc3 11. bxc3 Nc6 ) 10. Nc3 Nxc3 11. bxc3 Nc6 12. cxd5 Qxd5 13. Bf4 ) 9. h3 { With a more static position it becomes important to prevent ...Bc8-g4. Ph3 also helps secure Bc1-e3. If Black wants to play ...Bc8-e6 he might consider ...h7-h6 to prevent Nf3-g5xe6. } 9... Nb4 10. Be2 dxc4 11. Bxc4 O-O ( 11... Bf5 $11 { Fritz7 } ) 12. Nc3 c6 { Karpov prefers positions with relatively fixed positional elements upon which he can base his plans. He likes to out-maneuver his opponents, rather than basing his offense on direct attacks on the opponent's king. } 13. Re1 ( 13. Ne5 { Fritz7 } ) 13... Nbd5 ( 13... Bf5 { Fritz7 } ) 14. Qb3 ( 14. Bg5 h6 15. Bxf6 Nxf6 16. Ne5 $14 { Fritz7 } ) 14... Nb6 15. Bd3 Be6 16. Qc2 { Black has solid control of d5, but at the cost of making Nb6 passive. White has room to develop, but it's not clear there is any point in Black's position he can assault. That's a typical situation in games with Karpov. } 16... Bd5 { Black has terrific control of d5. White could trade Nc3xd5, but that wouldn't help matters much. The direct threat of ...Bd5xf3 must be answered. } ( 16... h6 $11 { Fritz7 } ) 17. Ne5 { White admits his loss of control of d5 and makes use of the advanced e5. Ne5 also prevents Black from playing a piece to c4. } 17... h6 { preventing Bc1-g5xf6, Bd3xh7+ and removing Ph7 as a target of Bd3 } ( { Fritz7 prefers the slightly perverse } 17... Be6 18. Nf3 ) ( { or the more obvious } 17... Re8 ) 18. Bf4 Re8 { Having made Ph6 an obvious target Karpov now plans ...Be7-f8 to make it very safe. } 19. Re2 { Ponomariov is activating his pieces in small ways and not committing to any specific plan; he likes to maintain his position's coordination. In this respect he's very similar to Karpov. } 19... Be6 { threatening ...Qd8xd4 and perhaps wanting to chase away Bf4 by ...Nd5 } 20. Qd2 Bf8 ( { Karpov might have missed an opportunity. } 20... Nfd5 21. Bg3 Bg5 $15 { Fritz7 } ) 21. Rae1 Nbd5 22. Bg3 { This eliminates the threat of a sacrifice at h6 once and for all. Now the middle-game begins anew, with Karpov happy to have a safe king and harmonious position and sole control of d5. Ponomariov is also well developed, but he must find an offense sufficient to counterbalance the weakness of Pd4. What will the target be? } 22... Rc8 { I suppose Karpov was aiming for ...c6-c5 to simplify the position and completely equalize. } ( 22... Bb4 23. Qc1 Nh5 24. Bh2 Qg5 $11 { Fritz7 } ) 23. Bh4 $1 { I like this a lot. The bishop seemed to be inactive and he just moves it to a good square. Now White might be able to continue with Nd3-e4 or Bd3-b1, Qd2-d3, renewing the threat of invasion at h7. } 23... g5 $5 { Wow! When Karpov makes a move which weakens his king this way, it's saying a lot. He clearly had to have considered all the alternatives and found them wanting. } ( 23... Be7 { to break the pin and give Kg8 more air might be good } ) 24. Bg3 { Well, that little provocation worked wonders. Now White has a clear target in Pg5, though Black also has ...Bf8-g7 to guard the dark squares around Kg8. } 24... Nh5 { Does he plan ...Nh5xg3 or something more ambitious like ...f7-f5-f4? Pono obviously thought the latter was a real threat and he immediately fights for control of f5! } 25. Nxd5 Nxg3 26. fxg3 { White might well switch his rooks to the f-file to target Pf7. But at this point a lot begins to hinge on how much time one has to carry out a specific plan (move-sequence) . } 26... cxd5 { If ...Be6xd5 then f5 is in White's hands, so I thought ...Qd8xd5 was the move. Maybe Karpov thought Bd3-c4 to eliminate Be6 would be too strong. } ( 26... Qxd5 27. Bc4 Qd6 28. Ng4 { threatens Ng4-f6+ or Bc4xe6 and Black can't avoid this with ...Be6xc4 because of Re2xe8, winning material } ( 28. Nxf7 Kxf7 29. Rxe6 Rxe6 30. Rxe6 Qxe6 31. Qf2+ Ke7 32. Bxe6 Kxe6 33. Qf3 $18 { Fritz7; I have my doubts about this evaluation. } ) ) 27. Bb1 { Again White plans Qd2-d3-h7+, a direct and sometimes very effective idea. } ( 27. Bb5 $5 Re7 28. Ng6 fxg6 29. Rxe6 Rxe6 30. Rxe6 { Fritz7 } ) 27... Qf6 28. Ng4 ( 28. Rf2 Qg7 29. Bf5 $16 { Fritz7 } ) 28... Qg7 29. Bf5 { The same theme as earlier comes back. Black's several weaknesses (pinned Be6, f6 and h6) are causing him fits. } ( 29. Ne3 $14 { Fritz7 } ) 29... h5 ( 29... Rc4 $1 $11 { Fritz7 } ) 30. Rxe6 { striking while the iron is hot and renewing the threat of Ng4-f6+ } 30... Rxe6 $18 { Fritz7 } ( 30... fxe6 31. Rxe6 { threatens Re6-g6 to win Black's queen and Pg5! } ( 31. Bxe6+ $4 Rxe6 $19 ) 31... hxg4 32. Rg6 $16 { Mark & Fritz7 } ) 31. Rxe6 hxg4 32. Re5 { This is very nice. He threatens Bf5xc8 and if the bishop can move with a threat Re5xg5. He might also just play Bf5xg4 and Re5xd5 to simplify to an endgame where he's ahead materially. } 32... Rc7 33. Bxg4 Be7 34. Rxd5 $16 { It's amazing, when you see a game such as this, just how simple it can be. White is ahead two pawns, but one is doubled, so he still has some work to do before this is easily winnable. Pd4 could advance and he might still threaten Pg5 (though that seems less likely to be successful with Be7 defending) and the queen-side pawns are a little exposed while Black's queen is stuck at g7. } 34... Qg6 35. Kh2 Qb6 { Well, that guards the queen-side! Karpov can recognize the stable elements of a position as well as anyone. So, how does White win? There's an old saying that when there are "opposite color" bishops then "he who is attacking has the extra bishop". So, White might aim to trade rooks to limit counter-play and then go right back to the attack at f7 & h7. } 36. b3 Bf6 37. Bf3 Kg7 38. Be4 Re7 39. Bd3 { Rd5 looks a little awkward, but Bd3-c4 would keep it safe. The question is how to move it to clear the way for Pd4 to advance. It seems Rd5-f5, d4-d5 and White is in excellent position to play offensively at all the right points. } 39... Qe6 40. Bc4 Qe4 { keeping Rd5 tied to the d-file } 41. Qd1 b6 { Fritz7 prefers ...a7-a6 or ...g5-g4 to fight more for the light squares. } 42. Rd6 Rc7 43. Qf3 $1 { Taking advantage of the fact Qe4 isn't defended gives him a chance to maneuver away from Pd4. Black is also stuck because he needs to pressure Pd4, but White is aligned on Bf6. I suppose a queen trade under other circumstances would be fine, but in this case it undoubles White's pawns. Black has a serious problem. } ( 43. a4 Qe7 44. Rd5 Rd7 45. Rxd7 Qxd7 46. d5 { and despite the opposite color bishops Fritz7 still thinks White is winning. } ) 43... Qxf3 ( 43... Qg6 44. Qd5 { and Rd6-d7 to hit Pa7, Rc7 and Pf7 } ) 44. gxf3 b5 45. Bd3 Rc3 46. Be4 Re3 { Karpov is angling for ...Re3-e2+xa2 or possibly ...Rd?xd4 to force a rook trade and retrieving a draw. } 47. h4 $1 $16 { Fritz7 drops his evaluation a bit; probably because there's less material and the offensive tactical threats are less. This pawn sacrifice gives the king some air and keeps the game going. White's rook will have some play on the queen-side, so Black's active rook won't eliminate too many pawns. } ( 47. Kg1 Re2 ( 47... Re1+ $2 48. Kf2 Rd1 49. Ke3 ) 48. a4 bxa4 49. bxa4 Rd2 $14 ) 47... gxh4 ( 47... Re2+ 48. Kh3 Rxa2 49. hxg5 ( 49. Kg4 gxh4 50. gxh4 Rh2 ) 49... Bxg5 50. f4 { Despite Black having an advantage (the queen-side pawn majority) White can still press his own advantages. White would hope his ability to make his pieces cooperate more than Black's split forces could make the difference. } ) 48. gxh4 Bxh4 { Every pawn he can get rid of safely is one less potential queen. } 49. Kh3 { Now the position remains balanced, with White's Pd4 being the one unblocked advantage. Black has to be careful though to not allow Re3 to be cut-off from his other pieces, such that none of them can do anything because they don't work together. } 49... Bf6 ( { Fritz7 thinks } 49... Bf2 { is significantly better! } 50. d5 Re2 51. Bd3 Rxa2 52. Bxb5 $16 ) 50. Kg4 a5 { White was threatening Rd6-a6xa7, so he had to move the pawn onto a safer square. Black would like to play ...b5-b4 to fix White's pawns and then ...Re3-e2 would grab at least one. } 51. Kf5 { This king position hinders Black's king, so the threat to Pf7 will pack more punch. It's also closer to Pd4, so that in some endings the king will be well placed to defend either Pd4 or Pf3. } 51... Be7 52. Ra6 Bb4 $6 ( 52... Bd8 { might be better } ) 53. Ra7 { Now if Black's king retreats to the back rank f6 is weak and White's king can approach Pf7. } ( 53. d5 $18 Re1 54. a3 { a theme similar to the game } 54... Bc3 55. Rb6 b4 56. a4 Rg1 57. Rb5 Bd2 { threatening ...Rg1-g5# } 58. Ke5 Rg5+ 59. Bf5 Bc3+ 60. Kf4 Rg2 61. Rxa5 { Fritz7 } ) 53... Re2 54. a3 $18 { Fritz7 sees the tactics as favorable to White and changes the evaluation again. } 54... Bxa3 55. Rxa5 b4 { With Ba3 out of play Black's Kg7 is a defenseless target. } 56. Rb5 $18 { holding Ba3 in place! Curiously, Fritz7 thinks this is a mistake and moves the evaluation back to +/-. } ( 56. d5 Rh2 57. d6 Rh5+ 58. Kg4 Rh8 ( 58... Rxa5 59. d7 f5+ 60. Kg3 fxe4 61. d8=Q $18 ) 59. Kg5 Bb2 60. Rd5 f6+ 61. Kf5 Kf7 62. Rd2 Bc3 63. Bd5+ Ke8 64. Bc6+ Kf7 65. Rd3 Rh5+ { Fritz7 sees it as +-, but doesn't show a finishing plan, though it might eventually get there. Against best defense it would always take a little longer to complete. } ) 56... Rd2 57. d5 Rh2 58. Rb6 { White has several routes to victory. } ( 58. Ke5 { immediately takes advantage of the fact that Black's pieces are all towards the edge of the board and not able to impede White's king! } 58... Bb2+ ( 58... Rh6 59. d6 Bb2+ ( 59... Rh5+ 60. Bf5 Bb2+ 61. Ke4 Bc3 62. d7 Rh8 63. Kd5 ) 60. Kd5 Bc3 ( 60... Rh5+ 61. Kc6 ) 61. Kc6 ) 59. Kd6 Bc3 60. Kc6 { is clearly winning for White } ) 58... Rh5+ 59. Kg4 Rh8 60. Bd3 { Fritz7 prefers f3-f4 or Kg4-g5, though I wouldn't expect it to show a variation of sufficient length to get to a simple winning position. } 60... Rd8 61. Bc4 Kf8 62. d6 $6 { The winning plan isn't completely obvious because Black's weaknesses are few. Best would be to keep Ba3 tied-up as long as possible. I understand d5-d6 is to restrain Kf8, but Ba3 really should be kept out of play. } ( 62. Rb7 { gives up control of d6 too quickly } 62... Rd6 63. Kf5 f6 ) ( 62. Kf5 { trying to position the king ideally before committing to anything } ) 62... Bb2 { Trading Pd6 for Pb4 doesn't eliminate White's advantage, but it becomes much much more difficult to win because there are cases where Black could sacrifice his bishop for Pb3 and perhaps still draw (especially if Pf3 & Pf7 are traded) . And, now that the bishop is back in control of f6 it becomes more difficult for White to use his king against Pf7. } 63. Kf5 Bd4 64. Rc6 Bc3 { White can play Bc4-b5, Rc6-a6 and d6-d7 to ensure Rd8 stays in place. } 65. Ra6 Ke8 66. Ke4 Bd2 67. f4 { Using this extra pawn could be very important. } 67... Kf8 68. f5 Kg7 69. Bb5 Kf6 { Getting chased away or just walking away from f8 does two things: one it avoids back rank mates; two it weakens control of d8. } 70. d7+ Kg5 ( 70... Ke7 71. f6+ Kf8 72. Rc6 Rxd7 73. Rc8+ Rd8 74. Rxd8# ) 71. Ra7 ( 71. Rd6 { Fritz7; continues to keep Kg5 from coming back to e7 or d8 while trying to get Ke4-c7 to force Pd7 to promote } ) 71... Bc3 72. Rc7 Bb2 ( 72... Kf6 73. Rc8 Ke7 74. Kd5 { Fritz7; wins easily enough } ) 73. Bd3 Bf6 74. Kd5 { Karpov has allowed his king to be chased out of position, much the way Ba3 was. } 74... Rh8 75. Rc8 { and the Fritz7 evaluation shows White ahead a piece and winning easily } 75... Bd8 $2 ( { A better try is to reposition the rook to indirectly control d8. } 75... Rh3 76. Be4 ( 76. Kc4 $2 Rh4+ 77. Kc5 Rd4 ) ( 76. Rg8+ Kh6 77. Bc4 Rh5 78. d8=Q Bxd8 79. Rxd8 Rxf5+ 80. Ke4 $18 ) 76... Rxb3 77. d8=Q Bxd8 78. Rxd8 Rc3 ) 76. Rxd8 { Thus simplifying the situation: White's king and pawn will defeat Black's rook after ...Rh8xd8 and then the remaining White bishop and pawns will easily beat Black's two pawns. White probably wouldn't even go after Pb4. He'd just push Black's king away and advance Pf5. This was a terrific game to see. Karpov isn't quite as sharp as in younger days he's still tough to beat several younger players have shown recently that they can do it. } 1-0