MARK RUBERY CHESS

Perhaps one of the decisive moments of Anatoly Karpov’s ascent the chess throne was his victory over Lev Polugayevsky in the fourth game of their Candidates match in Moscow 1974. With peerless preparation, Polugayevsky had seized the initiative on the Black side of the Sicilian Najdorf, yet it was in such a prospectless position that his opponent’s fighting qualities came to the fore. Botvinnik, a former teacher of Karpov, opined the following: ‘At first, Karpov did not appreciate where his opponent’s weaknesses were. But he employed one of the strongest features of his nature – his self-education program- and he reorganised himself. The point is Polugayevsky is strong when he knows what has to be done. But when the plan is not clear, and the game drags out, Polugayevsky is weaker. After the fourth game Karpov gained in confidence.’ Karpov,Anatoly (2700) - Polugaevsky,Lev (2630) [B92] Candidats qf1 Moscow (4), 1974

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be2 e5 7.Nb3 Be7 8.0–0 Be6 9.f4 Qc7 10.a4 Nbd7 11.Kh1 0–0 12.Be3 (The modern and aggressive 12 g4!? is not quite Karpov’s style) …exf4 13.Rxf4 Ne5 14.Nd4 Rad8 15.Qg1 Rd7 16.Rd1 Re8

17.Nf5 Bd8! (This is the setup devised by Polugayevsky: he has everything defended and there is nothing for White to attack!Kasparov) 18.Nd4 (After 25 minutes thought Karpov admits that his previous move was pointless)…Ng6 (18…Bc4! followed by d5 was more pointed) 19.Rff1 Ne5 20.Bf4 Qc5

(Inviting a roughly equal ending. 18…Bc4 and 18…Qa5 were sharper) 21.Nxe6 Qxg1+ 22.Rxg1 Rxe6 23.Bf3 Neg4 24.Rgf1 Bb6 25.Rd2 Be3 26.Bxe3?! (26 Bxg4 would lead to a draw instead Karpov presses optimistically for a win) …Nxe3 27.Rb1 Kf8 28.Kg1 Rc7 29.Kf2 Nc4 30.Rd3 g5 31.h3 h5 32.Nd5 (Here Polugayevsky was already in time trouble and such was his emotional state that he contrived, without leaving a single pawn or piece en prise, to lose this excellent position within eight movesKasparov) …Nxd5 33.Rxd5 Ne5 34.c3 h4 35.Rbd1 Ke7 36.R1d4 f6?! 37.a5 Rc6 38.Be2 Kd8 39.c4 Kc7? (A fatal error with

the flag about to fall) 40.b4 Ng6 41.b5 axb5 42.cxb5 Rc2 43.b6+ Kd7

SEE DIAGRAM

44.Rd2! (‘A move of fearful strength. Now the main soloist becomes the previously unnoticed ‘stupid bishop’, which Karpov preserved from exchange!’-Kasparov) … Rxd2 45.Rxd2 Re5 46.a6 Kc6 47.Rb2 Nf4 48.a7 Ra5 49.Bc4 1–0 The radiant combinations of this chess genius can be compared with the transparent music of Mozart, and his impeccable behaviour at the board and his precise observance of the chess rules, which he himself introduced, resemble the Mendeleyev Table of the elements. Anatoly Karpov