(The annotations to this game, by A. E. Karpov, appear in Shakhmaty v SSSR (№ 9 1979).

The
translation from the original Russian is by Douglas Griffin.)

Karpov – Timman
2 round, ‘Tournament of Stars’, Montréal, 12th April 1979
nd

1.e4 d6
I had virtually no doubt that a theoretical discussion would be conducted on one of the branches
of the Pirc-Ufimtsev Defence. In the overwhelming majority of cases, in reply to the move of the
king's pawn, Timman chooses precisely this opening set-up.

2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.g3

In the period of preparation for the match in Baguio, I paid a great deal of attention to the
fashionable variations of the Pirc-Ufimtsev and now, despite the fact that the Dutch grandmaster is
considered one of the principal experts of this opening, I had every basis for entering an
'argumentative' analytical dispute with him. But on that precise day I somehow had no desire to
repeat lengthy variations from home analysis. I wanted to experiment to some extent, to test
something a little bit new, and I played according to my mood.

4...Bg7
The undermining 4...c5 is still premature: 5.dxc5 Qa5 6.cxd6 Nxe4 7.Qd5!, and Black suffers a
noticeable loss in 'manpower',

5.Bg2 0–0 6.Nge2

Already on more than one occasion I had heard from many chessplayers that the system with the
flank development of the bishop is not at all bad. However, it had been encountered rather rarely
in practice, and there is a quite convincing explanation for this. From the moment the
Pirc-Ufimtsev Defence appeared at the forefront of theory, it had gained a solid reputation as not
being a completely correct opening. During this period, in confirmation of this opinion, attacking
schemes for White were strenuously developed. The theory of what was then still a 'young'
opening began to form in just such a direction. It took years to get rid of such 'reprehensible'
treatment, and still now many unhurried strategic plans have from inertia remained 'in the
shadows'... Possibly, I have become somewhat distracted from the course of the present duel, but it it
sometimes proves useful to carry out such a 'psycho-analysis' of the development of an opening, in
order to get away from a stereotyped and conventional treatment of it.

Instead of the last move, Spassky, against the very same Timman (Tilburg, 1978) continued
6.Nf3 and then: 6...Bg4 (Timman, not without justification, believes that 6...c5 7.dxc5 Qa5 8.cxd6
Nxe4 9.dxe7 Re8 10.0–0 Nxc3 11.bxc3 Bxc3 12.Rb1 Nc6 gives Black approximately level chances)
7.Be3 Nc6 8.h3 Bxf3 9.Qxf3 e5 10.dxe5 dxe5 11.0–0 Nd4 12.Qd1 Qe7 13.Nb1 h5!, and Black
seized the initiative.
6...e5 7.0–0
XIIIIIIIIY
8rsnlwq-trk+0
7zppzp-+pvlp0
6-+-zp-snp+0
5+-+-zp-+-0
4-+-zPP+-+0
3+-sN-+-zP-0
2PzPP+NzPLzP0
1tR-vLQ+RmK-0
xabcdefghy
7...Na6
Apparently, not the best decision. Now any attempt to bring this knight into play will be
associated either with giving up the centre (the exchange ...e5xd4) or with a significant loss of time.
For the time being these considerations are of a too general and, it may even seem, abstract character.
But as the middlegame approaches, and in particular, in the middlegame itself, the scattered nature
of his forces will be the cause of no little inconvenience for Black.

The theoretical continuations 7...c6 8.a4 a5 9.Bg5 Nbd7 10.Qd2 Qc7 11.Rad1 Nb6 12.b3 or
7...Nc6 8.dxe5 (8.h3 exd4 9.Nxd4 Nxe4) 8...dxe5 9.Bg5 (9.Qxd8 Rxd8 10.Bg5 Be6 11.Nd5 Bxd5
12.exd5 Nd4 permits Black to equalise the chances) 9...Be6 10.Nd5 Bxd5 11.exd5 Ne7 12.c4 also
promise White slightly the better game. However, leading grandmasters (and Timman
undoubtedly belongs among these) are obliged to have and, as a rule, do have 'their own opinion'
regarding one book variation or another. This permits assessments to be refined, and is the
fundamental engine of contemporary theory.

8.Re1 c6 9.h3
A prophylactic move typical of such situations. While restricting the opponent's bishop, White
simultaneously creates on the king's flank a 'no-go area' for the remaining minor pieces as well.

9...Re8
Black's principal strategic line - pressure on the e4–pawn - is the common thread running
through the whole game.

10.Bg5
Again a characteristic method, pursuing the same goal - the accumulation of small advantages.
After all, each of these imperceptible factors merge together, creating the supremacy of one piece
over another that we call a 'positional advantage'. This move of the bishop, with the given pawn
configuration for Black, is very common both in the King's Indian Defence and in the
Pirc-Ufimtsev. On the one hand, the pin on the knight is unpleasant, the more so since White
threatens with the move 11.Qd2 to 'legalise it' and in general to hold back Black's entire king's
flank. Black also has to reckon the whole time with the possibility of the manoeuvre Bg5–h6.
Evidently, these considerations forced my opponent to make the following move.

10...h6
After 10...Qb6 White could obtain an advantage with the simple 11.Rb1, since 11...exd4
12.Nxd4 Nc5 13.b4 Ncxe4 is clearly unfavourable in view of 14.Bxe4! Nxe4 15.Nxe4 Bxd4
16.Nf6+. It could seem that Black achieves a useful (from his point of view) change in the
situation with 10...exd4 11.Nxd4, and only then 11...h6. Indeed, after 12.Be3 Nc5 13.f3 Black's
pieces have come to life, but with 12.Bf4 g5 13.Bc1 I think that White retains a very attractive
position.

11.Be3
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7zpp+-+pvl-0
6n+pzp-snpzp0
5+-+-zp-+-0
4-+-zPP+-+0
3+-sN-vL-zPP0
2PzPP+NzPL+0
1tR-+QtR-mK-0
xabcdefghy
Now, however, White wins just a single tempo for the mobilisation of his forces (the move
Qd1–d2 will be made with an attack on h6), but this also plays a definite role in the general
offensive.

11...Qc7
Black is quite unable to bring his sidelined knight into play. Thus, on 11...exd4 there follows
12.Bxd4 (if 12.Nxd4 Nc5 13.Bf4, then with 13...Nh5 Black drives back the white pieces) 12...Nc5
(clearly, relatively best here is the manoeuvre ...Na6–c7–e6, acting in the spirit of the game
Sveshnikov-Tseshkovsky (Chigorin Memorial, 1976), although this also does not promise Black
equal chances) 13.e5! Nh7 (as may be readily verified, this is the only continuation with which Black
retains the material balance) 14.exd6 Qxd6 15.b4 (also possible is the immediate 15.Bxg7 Qxd1
16.Raxd1 Kxg7 17.b4 Na6 18.b5 with an advantage in the endgame) 15...Na6 16.b5 cxb5 17.Nxb5
with clearly the better chances for White.

One thing is certain (speaking of the move ...Qd8–c7): the moving of such a powerful piece as
the queen always has a noticeable effect on the position, and therefore a stance for it must be looked
for with particular thoroughness. When there is no necessity, as, for example, in the present case,
then in general one should not hurry with this. Based on the above, Black possibly should have
satisfied himself with the prophylactic 11...Kh7; after all, sooner or later this move will have to be
played. After 11...Kh7 12.Qd2 Black disposes of the reply 12...exd4 13.Bxd4 (on 13.Nxd4 good,
as previously, is 13...Nc5 14.f3 d5! 15.Nxc6 Ncxe4 16.fxe4 - 16.Nxd8 Nxd2 17.Nxf7 Rxe3!
18.Rxe3 d4 can hardly suit White - 16...bxc6, and Black has a good game) 13...Nc5, since White
does not have the standard break 14.e5.

12.Qd2 Kh7
Now on 12...exd4, based on tactical considerations, White already would have replied 13.Nxd4,
since Black all the same has to spend time on the defence of the h6–pawn.

13.Rad1
Thus, White has come out of the opening having outstripped the opponent in development, and
having a more expedient piece arrangement.

13...Bd7
If 13...Be6, then continuing 14.g4 Rad8 15.f4 Bc4 16.Ng3, White retains just as promising a
position as in the game.
XIIIIIIIIY
8r+-+r+-+0
7zppwql+pvlk0
6n+pzp-snpzp0
5+-+-zp-+-0
4-+-zPP+-+0
3+-sN-vL-zPP0
2PzPPwQNzPL+0
1+-+RtR-mK-0
xabcdefghy
On the threshhold of the middlegame it is always useful to once more weigh up the resources of
both sides and to correspondingly adjust the original plans. Here I went into thought and soon
came to the conclusion that straightforward play in the centre already does not promise anything.
Now, with the aim of seizing new bridgeheads, it will be essential to advance the king-side pawns.
But I did not want to play immediately 14.f4. It is illogical to increase the tension right away; after
all, since g3–g4 will all the same have to be played in the future, then why not first of all exploit such
a resource for strengthening the position as g3–g4 and Ne2–g3? At the same time, White decides
on his basic strategic task - to reinforce the e4–pawn against the possible opening of the centre.
14.g4 Rad8 15.Ng3 Bc8
To radically prevent the move f2–f4 was possible only with ...g6–g5. But Black's position is still
not bad that he has to decide on such desperate measures.

16.f4
While Black has been completing the opening mobilisation of force, White has had time to carry
out in full his intended plan. Black is not forced to solve some very difficult problems. To
prevent the further advance of the king-side pawns is possible only by opening the centre, but this
leads to White's spatial advantage being increased still futher.

Ultimately, Timman played the move that I had expected from him.

16...b5
One of Timman's favourite moves, but here, since White has still not weakened the queen's
flank, he can very easily neutralise the counter-threats.

17.a3
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8-+ltrr+-+0
7zp-wq-+pvlk0
6n+pzp-snpzp0
5+p+-zp-+-0
4-+-zPPzPP+0
3zP-sN-vL-sNP0
2-zPPwQ-+L+0
1+-+RtR-mK-0
xabcdefghy
17...b4?!
Having lost the skirmish on the king's flank, the Dutch grandmaster wishes at any cost to stir up
complications on another sector of the board.

All the same, it was more reasonable to adhere to waiting tactics instead of breaking up the
pawns, since now White can at a favourable moment transpose into any endgame. In the game,
admittedly, matters do not get this far.

18.axb4 Nxb4 19.Nce2

Black's idea consists in playing ...a7–a5, ...Ba6, ...e5xd4 and ...c6–c5, and to somehow find places
for his pieces. But, as the reader will see, this path is a long one, and White has time to frustrate
the opponent's plan.

19...exd4
In the case of 19...a5 Black, not without justification, feared the reinforcing reply 20.c3.

However, the last move signifies something more. In giving up the centre, Black as if openly
admits that the opening skirmish has been lost. The strategic initiative is now wholly on the side of
White.

Also rather cheerless was 19...c5 20.fxe5 dxe5 (20...cxd4 leads to the loss of a piece) 21.d5.

20.Nxd4 a5
White's further play essentially comes down to not allowing the opponent's pieces to come into
the game.

21.c3 Na6
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6n+pzp-snpzp0
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4-+-sNPzPP+0
3+-zP-vL-sNP0
2-zP-wQ-+L+0
1+-+RtR-mK-0
xabcdefghy
22.Qc2!
A fine move, which, first of all, does not permit the black knight to come out to c5 (in view of
the reply b2–b4!) and, secondly, continues the earlier strategic task of reinforcing the e4–pawn.

22...Bd7
All the same intending to carry out the move ...Nc5, for which it is essential to defend the
c7–pawn in advance (23...Nc5 24.b4 axb4 25.cxb4 Ne6).

23.Nf3 Re7
23...Nc5 will not do, by reason of 24.e5.

Possibly, it was worth deciding on 23...c5. Admittedly, in this case the knight at a6 would been
a constant remider to Black of the failure of his actions.

24.Bf2
One of the final prophylactic moves. Prior to decisive offensive operations, White disposes his
forces in the most harmonious fashion and... once again, reinforces the central forepost e4!

24.Qd3 is premature in view of 24...Bc8.

24...Be8
A mistake of a tactical nature. However, Black's position is so bad and so much to the distaste
of my opponent that I sensed: the dénoeument is already close.

25.Qd3! Qb7
In replying 25...Nb8 Black suffers major loss of material after 26.e5.
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8-+-trl+-+0
7+q+-trpvlk0
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4-+-+PzPP+0
3+-zPQ+NsNP0
2-zP-+-vLL+0
1+-+RtR-mK-0
xabcdefghy
26.Ra1!
Another fine move, which essentially concludes the struggle. It is not in Black's power to defend
the weaknesses on the queen's flank, while 26...Qxb2 is of course unsatisfactory on account of
27.Reb1 with the capture of the queen.

26...Nc7 27.Rxa5 Rdd7 28.b4 Ne6 29.Be3

The position is of course completely winning for White, but a certain accuracy is still required.
Thus, after 29.Qd2 d5!? Black could obtain some sort of counter-play: 30.e5 Ne4 31.Nxe4 dxe4
32.Nd4 c5, and matters become more complicated.

29...c5 30.f5 Nd8 31.b5

For 'complete happiness' it only remains for White to play c2–c4, in order to achieve domination
over the whole board.

31...Kh8 32.Bf2 Qc7 33.Ra4 Qb8 34.c4

 XIIIIIIIIY
8-wq-snl+-mk0
7+-+rtrpvl-0
6-+-zp-snpzp0
5+Pzp-+P+-0
4R+P+P+P+0
3+-+Q+NsNP0
2-+-+-vLL+0
1+-+-tR-mK-0
xabcdefghy
The white pieces have finished their great work. Now there remains only to quietly but
precisely 'hit the net'.

34...Ra7 35.Rxa7 Rxa7 36.e5 dxe5 37.Nxe5 Ra2 38.Bxc5

Black resigned.