Hi there.
In this lecture, we see Anatoly Karpov playing against Raphael, the Ghanaian.
This is 1976.
Scobey torments around one, so E four from Karpov E six We have default D five.
So the Ghanian is a French defense expert, all major exponents.
So we see 92 from Karpov.
So this is the tarrasch variation and quite often it can lead to an isolated Queen's pawn situation.
So here after E takes E takes, we have a potential for an isolated Queen's pawn.
As soon as white plays D take C five.
But why is waiting here for the bishop to move first?
A six is played there now, but here, instead of waiting further, why actually does commit to D take
C five even though it seems to give a tempo.
So this is an interesting situation.
The thing is there is might be free gaining a tempo.
Bishop B6 and now Bishop de fray.
So what has a comfortable position at the opening 97 white castles like BC six rookie one and this isn't
this is isn't just about the E fold this is about a strategic bishop exchange.
If we can remove the dark square bishops, then the default blockade square is further amplified.
Bishop G four We have C free h6h free Bishop H five and our Bishop E three.
So this important strategic Bishop exchange tries to nullify the dynamic aspects of the position.
The F two The King safety needs to be nullified to be safer.
And getting rid of that dance quo, Bishop say, makes the king safer.
But also the blockade square a bit cozier.
We have Queen E to rook 58, Rook 81, and now a five, and now Bishop B one.
There are tactics to consider in this position because Black's threats things, sometimes it seems to
potentially win a pawn.
So tactical considerations.
If the Queen's not protecting B two, isn't this dangerous?
Well, one could question that there is another move here Instead of Bishop B one, there is actually
G four, but this might only lead to an equal position if the Queen's are challenged.
The Black could keep the Queen's on.
This position is just even anyway, So Bishop B one is played and now Bishop takes a three, which is
actually it's tempting, but it's a mistake.
It's compromising black on the light squares.
So the instructive thing about this game, it's not all about the isolated Queen's pawn now.
It's quite a lot about this bishop, our counterpart.
In fact, there is an attacking perspective around this structure, even though you'd think usually
the attacking player is the one that's taking the risk with the pawns.
Russia kind of sacrificed pawn structure for peace activity.
But here why is really good on the light squares and we see a four and the idea of black to win this
pawn on B two.
However now the forcing move might take six so the knight has to take on C six and now we get light
squared pressure Queen F five inviting will kind of encouraging dark square weaknesses, otherwise black's
going to get mated.
So we see this is a very interesting situation.
But also here, perhaps even more accurate in this position is to play h four.
Because this has ideas of playing queen differ in age five.
So as example, if Rook dd six queen dd free black does best it seems well any rook g six there's H
five so let's say g6h5.
This is difficult for black, this position.
All of a sudden it's become about attack.
So after F takes, because if Rook takes, then that kind of fragments black structure here and this
situation with Queen a free is just going to be very favorable for white taking out D five and then
later to take out H six it's going to be extremely favorable.
So let's imagine F takes g six instead.
Rookie two, Queen free, Queen G free six.
This position white's just better.
That is another legitimate way of playing it.
H four here it seems better.
Yeah, we have Queen f5g6.
Queen F six.
So this protects C free.
But also there's another very interesting idea here.
Well, there's an idea of sacrificing on G six Black tries to make provision for that with rook these
seven if rook e eight bishop takes g six is strong.
This is just attacking chess here because the queen can mop up the pawns and then the rook comes in
for the kill here or winning the queen.
So Rook D seven was tried, but now there's a shocking tactical move from Karpov.
So yes, very aware of the concrete stuff of positions.
So in this, in this position, what would you play for 100 points?
A forcing move.
Bishop at five.
Yeah.
This is very interesting.
If rook free, there is d44 black to play and this possession black should be just about OC.
For example, here it should be about even so oc Bishop F five though, is the move.
Yeah.
This is a very, very interesting move, Bishop.
At five we have rook e seven.
Funny enough, if it was taken rook D three does seem very strong.
There's four the Queen could take and it seems as though y it's got a very strong attack for the piece.
But there is one move which might save black f six is the only move, in fact, which seems to save
black because it facilitates rook g seven and here White just has perpetual check scenarios or potential
attack scenarios for a draw.
So it seems yeah, that would have been perhaps a better idea.
G takes her five.
If Rook D we see Bishop G six again and this is a strong attack.
The Queen and the rook.
Very, very strong force here.
So Rook E seven was played and we have rook takes e seven knights, 87 Bishop drops back, and there's
the potential now to do a lot of damage.
So five Bishop takes F five and you can see all of a sudden look at the structural wreck, train wreck
of Black's position.
Structurally we have rook e one so ideas of either rook lifts or rook E seven we have queen takes a
two, queen takes h6a free queen g five check king of fake queen F six.
So this threatens to play potentially queen air can pick the rook up King Queen takes a five queen rd
to rook e seven is used so rook eight queen G four check King H seven and now rook E five.
So a little mermaid pattern.
So, blimey, is this a position, of course, or an attacking course?
Well, the thing is, I think it's important to show that when playing against the isolated Queen's
pawn, it's not all about the pawn structure sometimes.
Sometimes it is about other dynamic aspects.
So here, Queen H six, Rook five.
And yeah, Black's really kind of had it.
The pawn isn't enough here.
So Queen at five, King G seven Rook takes H six King takes a six.
Queen of six check King eight, seven Queen takes F seven check cash eights and now Queen takes B seven
ends the game.
If rook a five, then Queen C and Queen C seven will pick up the rook.
If rook a four, then Queen c H, Queen D seven champ will pick up the rook.
Yes, it's a hopeless position in the end.
So a very interesting kind of dynamic treatment against the isolated Queen's pawn.
So a positional kind of variation, it seems again, structure.
And because of the tempo gaining aspect of might be free.
What didn't really wait any longer, didn't see the need to wait any longer here so interesting.
So D takes this might be free Bishop D free so key points positioning against the Queen's pawn.
Take out the Dart square campaign of black.
Try and exchange off Dart Square bishops, reinforce the blockade square d four and if black plays actively
against B two, there are other aspects in the position here.
King Safety with the knight on E seven rather than six means that this diagonal maybe is a bit more
dangerous than usual, especially the H seven is a softer spot than usual.
So this position is a very interesting basically kind of gambit for a strong attack potential here after
nine, 8c6 and queen of five, how the weaknesses are encouraged and then the threats imminent.
But Bishop at five is a very, very good try.
So black goes wrong and actually gets a lost position.
Soon after rookie seven black had to take on five.
So a very, very interesting game.
Is it positional is it attacking well that there's a blur there's this fine blurred distinction So sometimes
in this course we will see attacking games but there is a positional undertone to this attack So here
yeah the pawns getting mopped up.
It's a very, very dangerous scenario.
So yeah, crushing attack in the end.
And if at five by the way there's rook E seven check and that will be mating pretty soon after.
So yeah.
This is just an absolute last position now so.
Och interesting game.
I hope you enjoyed this one.
And the game ended on Queen B seven has so much.