Hi there.
In this lecture, we see Anatoly Karpov playing against Johann Hodgson.
This is in 1989.
The candidates quarterfinal that they played round to C4 from Karpov we have E5, G3.
So this English opening actually seems to fit Karpov style very well.
He actually scores very well with the English opening, and the same with Michael Adams, but it's a
smaller game sample than when they play E4 or E4, but both of them score well with the English opening.
There is an element naturally, of control in this position to try and control the D5 square.
We see nine of six Bishop G2, d5 C tanks DD 592 65.
So here we have nine C Free Knight B six Knight every night C6 White Castle, Bishop E seven, A Free
Bishop, e6b4 black consoles and now Rook B one.
This is actually a safety move.
If we played B5 immediately, the problem is Black could play 94 and this could get nasty.
Black is actually threatening Bishop B free.
So we can't really take on E5 because of Bishop be free.
And then what happens?
We move our Queen and then horrible things happen out.
Like to Knight takes a one.
So it's a precaution.
It is a preventative move for a potential act of operation B five to play B one.
And now we see F6 and in fact here B five isn't chosen D free.
We see Queen de seven, Knights E 495 Queen C2.
So that C five square is a useful outpost square like in the Sicilian.
It's like Sicilian in reverse, where the semi-open C file dictates that this is actually quite a dangerous
outpost square.
And here we see B six, which weakens black on the light squares.
Now, is that a theoretical concern?
Black has already played Additionally, these these pawns, the dark squares, so black is potentially
vulnerable online squares.
The Guardian bishop, the e sex bishop will be interesting to take out somehow.
Bishop B two AC eight rook BC one and now 94.
Here we have Bishop takes RD for e tanks RD for now.
Here.
Yeah.
It does seem as though black's gone wrong.
Already in the opening, Karpov played a very strong move.
Queen C six He could also just take on RD four because that is a sense pawn.
There is no takes b4, but it's like losing a flank pawn for a sense pawn.
This position with B five is actually significantly better for white in any case, but Karpov's approach
is even stronger.
Queen C six So we have here Queen C six, Rook takes six and black plays Bishop D seven expecting the
rook to go back and then Black would be able to play, for example, C five to hold the default pawn.
So in this position, this is a critical junction point of the game.
Maybe.
Yeah.
So what would you play here for 100 points and why?
Okay.
Yeah, a positional test.
It's a positional exchange.
Sacrifice which is needed.
If we played Rook C2, then Black gets the play, C5 protects D four and.
This is going to be just even this kind of position is just even.
So Karpov actually plays here.
In this position, a positional exchange sacrifice.
Takes the fall and it's very, very dangerous.
Black.
Black takes on C six, nine, eight, C six.
Now, immediately, there are big concerns here.
Very, very big concerns.
So a seven is hence E seven is under pressure and this bishop is looking to hit the five.
So black played rook ce8 if a six then here 92 And what does black do.
This is nasty because the knights protecting the bishop, how do we protect the night after night moves
nine takes e seven check.
But if rook FDA offering the exchange back, we don't take the exchange back here.
Guess what?
We play here for five points.
Yeah, we just play.
Bishop takes the five check, and then here we're winning everything.
Nearly everything.
So Rook C eight was played, and now instead of taking on a seven, that gives a bit of play.
Potentially.
We have a very strong, powerful move.
Roxy one.
The frets here is actually 92.
The rooks taken away the C free square.
If we played 92 immediately to hit the knight on D five for this discovery attack, there is 90 C free.
And we'd have to defend this pawn, let's say Bishop a free A six and Y has an advantage, but it's
not as convincing as the game with Rook one there's a big idea of 92 now.
Big threat.
So Black compromised the position further with five we have 92.
So the knight is under pressure.
It moves.
But now two pawns for the exchange.
And the bishop has a clear view on the whole diagonal.
Beautiful stuff.
Great compensation for the exchange sacrifice.
So Bishop DD six unveils an attack on the E two pawn that's just moved to E three.
We have C five and now Knight C for hitting B, B six and D six.
Bishop B ain't hitting a seven.
Not giving time for Knight takes B six, but C six now.
And black's really under pressure.
We have b54 to 85c takes b486b4 97 and now D four.
Look how harmonious the bishop is of the pawns.
So the pawns on the other color, all of them on the other color.
Look at the harmony here.
Enjoy it.
G five is played.
We have Knight six B which breaks into that seven Frank that entry points.
So we get juicy targets now across the seven.
Frank 9f6 the seven Frank was raved around about by NIMZOWITSCH.
It's not just the middle game element, it's also an end game element quite often to restrict kings
or win pawns statistically.
But in the middle game it's so dangerous for king safety.
Quite often if Rook have seven here, what would we play?
Five points?
Yeah, we just play Bishop D five.
So nine of six is played.
We have nine, C six and now Rook six.
Black has to tread carefully given that there's 97 in Roxy.
Eight So Rook B six, there's 97.
Shaq here winning another pawn.
So.
King Actually, yeah, Black's been dismantled.
Don't take that five.
We have Rook six rook c one preventing a check.
Rook A two We have H three rook b2 And Karpov is not worried about losing this pawn.
He's got these central connected past pawns here e4 he starts pushing them rook tanks b4 now g four
that cements the knight on F five, which is holding d4h5 and now E five.
And this is really, really bad.
H takes G4 just giving up basically.
But if knight g A This is hopeless.
Bishop d5 let's say rook D eight, rook c five And then here we can just simplify that.
Knight's kind of stranded by this knight.
We can just take it off actually soon.
But first get behind the opponent's passport is a principle.
The Tarrasch rule Either get behind your past pawns or the opponents.
And here we can just take on G eight and play D five.
And our exchange sacrifice here is four absolutely wonderful, visually crushing compensation, visually
crushing.
These two past pawns are worth their weight in gold, as the expression goes.
If pawns on the six four especially, they become worth their weight in gold.
So anyway, h takes is just desperate.
E takes g takes H three, Bishop takes H, three, rook takes F six rook c h, check king H seven and
now rook C seven, check King G six.
The king's brought into a mating that this is fun.
King H five And guess what ends the game here?
Yeah.
Free.
So Bishop G for mate France and the game.
If rugby one check, then we're just going to chat mate soon.
If Rook takes a five, we're just going to take that bishop out.
Thanks very much.
This move also friends now mating again.
So say this possession the king can come to the centre.
It's just crushing bishop up.
So yeah, a very nice clear cut kind of exchange sacrifice game.
The English opening really seemed beautiful from beginning to end in this game with karpov's treatments.
I hope you enjoyed this game and consider the positional exchange sacrifice as part of your toolkit.
So things to look out for which make this really effective is that statistically it's like there's a
statistical context to this.
Look at all the potential light square liabilities in Black's position because of the pawns on the dark
squares.
This makes the exchange sacrifice particularly dangerous.
If this guardian bishop can be removed and we have this bishop without the counterpart.
So that's essentially what the transaction was getting.
This bishop with that counterpart and white running rampant on light squares with gigantic compensation.
I hope you enjoyed this.
Thanks very much.