Hi there.
In this lecture, we see Anatoly Karpov playing against Susan Polgar in 1997 Bilbao tournament C4.
From Karpov we have e59c3 96 and now Karpov plays G3.
So this looks like a very logical English opening, controlling the D5 square.
We have Bishop G seven and now E three, so Karpov doesn't want to block in his f pawn.
So he's allowing the knight to go to E two.
So it's pieces behind pawns.
So it's kind of harmonious to try and avoid the pieces being blocked in by the pawns.
We have Rook b19, G seven, and now B for a6d frame.
We have Bishop E six.
And now to prevent D five.
R lock and key is put on the D five square with 90 5d5 would be sometimes a liberating move for black.
So 95 we have black casting 92 Queen D seven and now actually before Castling Knight s free is played,
we have 98.
So one of the ideas of this is to play 9c8 for C six so that there's no Knight B6 for King, Queen and
Rook.
It takes a bit of time to do this as an alternative.
Bishop H three seems logical.
If White Castle's bishop takes G to this position of the king, takes G to F five, F three should be
about even one should be careful.
There's been a lot of pull moves of white place F4.
This could open up the position in Black's favor in this variation.
So for example, here it looks a little bit shaky here.
If the pawn takes, then Bishop takes C free, but this starts to look a little bit on the shaky side
here.
If C six is played in this fashion with 98 for C six and black might actually be getting a small edge,
you can see that there's been a lot of pawn moves.
So White would have to tread carefully there in that variation, it seems that would be the best way
to go.
Bishop H.
Free.
But we have 98 and now I fall in this position also it seems.
Knight six, E seven check queen text and 95 could actually be a good idea.
This position looks good for white.
So if see six again, there's might be six and let's say 96, you know, White has a nice edge here.
Things haven't opened up too quickly.
Why has control over the position So okay.
A four though was played 98.
So the fret now.
Well kind of see sex kick in the night we have 94 which addresses that actually why it's immediately
frightening any night to f six to -- king and queen we have F six.
Let's put that on the board for fun.
C six.
Yes, any night.
And then taking the queen, it's pretty noncontroversial.
If King H eight again night.
Going to F six is painful for blank.
For example, if Queen C six white can end up potentially trapping the Queen like this with 94, where's
the queen going?
So yes, that would be an adventure.
And if Bishop takes first nine takes, this is going to be better for why it's getting that dance square
Bishop has compromised the black position.
If Bishop takes D five, that's a bit of a concession to give up the light square.
Bishop, The knight could go back.
There is E4 hitting the knight, so swapping pawns, basically.
But this ends up favoring white.
So okay f six is tried comp of castle C sex knight DC free.
I have seven Queen C two and no F five is played.
This is quite look aggressive looking but it is creating a potential vacuum around the king.
So if things open up later, this could be a problem for the king.
We have a five.
So this is getting the clause into key squares which might be useful later.
If a knight goes into basics, it could be useful to support possibilities.
So we have H five and F four.
So making sure that the kingside attack is limited and it seems okay to offer the opening of the position
here.
This seems okay.
Now we have Knight E seven so Black didn't really want to take on our four.
We have a four rook now, Knight B six, Queen seven and now actually might be free.
It seems as though as though a lot of pieces are away from the king, but it's difficult for the king
to be blasted open here.
And there is actually a this is interesting.
This is a simple, logical looking move.
White doesn't really want to enter complications.
F takes G five, if you remember, call pops quotation.
It doesn't really like unclear stuff.
So this position, even though it seems as though White is going to win a pawn, there is some complexity
here which requires calculation.
Winning that pawn and having the queen harassed like this.
It seems more complex than needed.
And it seems here, for example, you know, Black's getting some aggressive play.
But yeah, if you're a computer, you can play like this and carry on like this.
That would be a nice pawn sac to make sure control position and it ends up with a nice edge for white
hair.
But okay.
So yeah, thanks for the record.
Seems to be an idea to target h five.
Not that the idea of it hitting H five is ruled out in the main line in the game we see Knight be free
first knight G six and now Queen D one here looking at H five and it commits the pawns g four And here
Karpov has the perk that the knight on B six holds c four.
So this next move is possible without dropping C for D four.
Interesting decision point we have E takes F four.
Things are starting to open up around the king if e four though there is d5c take c text and this position
White can play bishop b two and get an absolutely gorgeous knight on D four here after Bishop takes
G seven, King G seven.
We have for example Rook C one and then a gorgeous knight which immediately flattens Knight takes a
five in this line and 96 and let's say 98 we can move the rook.
And we just got a fantastic position here.
Yeah, this is just great.
It shows actually that the kingside attack is frozen and when it's got key dark square knights, it's
a beautiful position to behold.
So he takes her four is played, he takes her four.
And then of course, this gives one a share of the e-file.
Potentially.
We have D five, which gives ac5 out post.
It seems advantages are accumulating here.
So C takes D five Bishop takes and now Knight takes D five.
That seems to be an advantage in its own right.
And here it's a bit risky to take on D five.
Karpov didn't entertain that.
Bishop, 25.
He actually played the night outpost for Simple Chess.
Bishop b2 Simple Chess Queen before putting more pressure on DD five and now Rookie two is played.
So this is black indulging in tactics to try and make taking on defined backfire.
But Cop Off is saying that he's going to benefit from Bishop 65 now Queen DD six and now Rook for one,
which actually allows a mini combination by black, which is harmless.
The thing is, this is a very difficult position for black.
If Rook for eight, we're just going to take on F seven.
Thanks very much.
Ouch.
So the combination allow this rook takes two and it seems as though.
Hold on.
If Queen takes B two, there's Queen takes D five and Black's winning back.
Karpov has seen this and actually takes with the rook, allowing Bishop takes the fall check.
And now king of one.
Yeah.
This avoids any immediate checks like h three, which might have been useful at some point.
King often seems safe enough.
So Bishop takes B two.
So what is the point?
Because if Queen takes, there's Queen 65, right?
The point is revealed.
It's rookie sex and all of a sudden.
Hold on.
Black's king looks extremely weak.
Now, after this, we see.
Quincy, 7 to 1 is getting the material back with interest.
And here Ruby six was played.
In fact, there's a tactical knockout blow combination as well.
Can you see what it is?
There is actually Queen Bee two here as well.
So if King takes there's actually 96, which hits the queen, and queen hasn't got any useful checks
against the king and also supports G seven.
So Queen moves.
Queen G seven check.
Queen H seven check.
And here 97 is a cute chap, mate.
So rugby six is played, which is strong as well because it's threatening all sorts of things.
It's threatening the bishop and is frightening.
The black is losing material.
Here we have Bishop G seven and now Rook takes B seven, Queen D six.
And here.
Yeah why it's absolutely winning and chooses Knights Essex funny enough and now takes that peace piece
up It's it's over really.
Brook takes a five and black resigns here What a dismantling in the end.
Wow.
If rook see What if Rook see one check.
It's not going to last long after rook age five check Knight takes G seven.
Check.
Quincy Free check, rook G five check.
And we take the queen.
So, yes, quite crushing game.
A beautiful advert for the English opening actually emphasizing control of the position.
When we talk about positional control, it seems like the English opening avoids the massive complex
chess of F4 openings sometimes, and we're just looking at control of key squares.
I remember Andrew Webster saying to me, to use the English opening, you know, can just control D
five It seems, you know, Karpov is just controlling key squares in this game in the center.
The pawn is really helpful here on C four sometimes.
Yeah, well, that's one of the big points of the English opening, so it's a very nice control game.
Pieces behind Pawns.
The pieces were in harmony with the pawns in more than one way, you know, not just that, not just
compatibility, but also the scope of the pieces.
You know, they weren't being blockaded by the pawns with the knight going on.
E two later.
There's no the pieces are all behind the pawns at the moment.
The exception for Black's position.
That piece is in front of a pawn, and it caused awkwardness that Black has to kind of play strange
looking moves just to kick the knight on D5 five because that's c pawn is locked in.
So we see some issues about having to waste time there.
Yeah, a very, very interesting positional game with a gradual accumulation of advantages.
Okay, I hope you enjoyed this one and so much.