(The annotations to this game, by A. E.

Karpov, are from his autobiographical Sto pobednykh partii

(Fizkultura i Sport, Moscow 1984). Commentary from E. P. Geller’s book on the match, Pobeda v
Merano (Voennoe Izdatel’stvo Ministerstva Oborony SSSR, Moscow 1982) is also incorporated at
key junctures. In both cases, translation from the original Russian is by Douglas Griffin.)

Korchnoi – Karpov
1 match-game, World Championship, Merano, 1st October 1981
st

1.c4
This move was not a surprise for me. In this way Korchnoi had begun the majority of his games
in all three matches that I had had occasion to play against him. Korchnoi has a stable opening
repertoire, with the help of which he strives to lure the opponent into well-studied set-ups.

Running ahead, I will note that in Merano this weapon of Korchnoi’s was far from always
effective. Possibly, one of the reasons for this was my painstaking preparation for the match, in the
process of which plenty of attention was devoted to the move 1.c4.

1...e6 2.Nc3 d5 3.d4 Be7 4.Nf3 Nf6 5.Bg5

In the last match, in Baguio, Korchnoi gravitated more towards the move 5.Bf4, which here was
encountered only twice – in the 11th and 13th games.

5...h6
Modern theory considers it useful to make this move, leading to the system bearing the name of
three theoreticians: S. Tartakower, V. Makogonov & I. Bondarevsky, early – prior to castling, since
after it additional choice appears for White.

6.Bh4 0–0 7.e3 b6 8.Rc1 Bb7 9.Be2

XIIIIIIIIY
8rsn-wq-trk+0
7zplzp-vlpzp-0
6-zp-+psn-zp0
5+-+p+-+-0
4-+PzP-+-vL0
3+-sN-zPN+-0
2PzP-+LzPPzP0
1+-tRQmK-+R0
xabcdefghy
In the 1st game of the 1978 match there was played 9.Bd3 dxc4 10.Bxc4 Nbd7 11.0–0 c5
12.dxc5 , which led to a rapid draw. If desired, now too Black can lead the game into this
continuation, but for the time being he prefers to wait.

9...Nbd7
I though for 30 minutes not so much over the move played, as on the assessment of the prospects
of the creation of ‘hanging’ c- and d-pawns. I knew that my opponent very much likes to play
against these pawns, but the resultant dynamic position was also to my taste.

10.cxd5 exd5
Here the move 10...Nxd5 is impossible, since after 11.Nxd5 exd5 12.Bxe7 Qxe7 the c7–pawn is
undefended.

11.0–0 c5
Premature would have been 11...Ne4 , as was demonstrated by the game Portisch-Vaganian,
played in 1978: 12.Bxe7 Qxe7 13.Qb3 Ndf6 14.Nxe4 Nxe4 15.Rc2 with advantage for White.

12.dxc5
In this position L. Portisch has tried the moves 12.Bb5 in a game against M. Tal (Tilburg, 1980)
and 12.Qc2 against E. Geller (Moscow, 1981). Naturally, I was aware of these continuations.

(Translator’s note: Three years later, in the 31st match-game Karpov-Kasparov (Moscow, 1984),
the World Champion was himself to prefer the continuation 12.Qa4 a6 13.dxc5 bxc5 14.Rfd1 Qb6
15.Qb3 (cf. the note to White’s 15th move).)

12...bxc5 13.Qc2
White begins a regrouping with the aim of developing maximal pressure on the d5–pawn but, as
the further course of the struggle shows, Black has sufficient counter-play.

13...Rc8 14.Rfd1 Qb6

XIIIIIIIIY
8-+r+-trk+0
7zpl+nvlpzp-0
6-wq-+-sn-zp0
5+-zpp+-+-0
4-+-+-+-vL0
3+-sN-zPN+-0
2PzPQ+LzPPzP0
1+-tRR+-mK-0
xabcdefghy
An essential move. On b6 the queen is placed most succesfully. It has possibilities of
manoeuvre. In particular, the thrust Qf5 will be parried with the move ...Qe6. It may be said
that Black is ready for operations in the centre.

15.Qb1
After a half-hour’s thought Korchnoi fails to find a plan besides that of doubling rooks on the
d-file, while this, as soon becomes clear, has its negative sides. Possibly, 15.Qb3 should be
preferred, with an approximately level endgame in the case of the exchange of queens. But, playing
White in the 1st game of a match it is not so easy to be satisfied by such a prospect.

(Translator’s note: Here Geller suggests the alternative 15.b3 followed by Nc3–a4 and, if
necessary, Qc2–b2. “However, it is noteable that White already has difficulties in the choice of
positions for his pieces...”.)

15...Rfd8 16.Rc2 Qe6

XIIIIIIIIY
8-+rtr-+k+0
7zpl+nvlpzp-0
6-+-+qsn-zp0
5+-zpp+-+-0
4-+-+-+-vL0
3+-sN-zPN+-0
2PzPR+LzPPzP0
1+Q+R+-mK-0
xabcdefghy
A single glance at the position is sufficient for one to be convinced that Black has solved the
problems of the opening.

17.Bg3
White decided not to play the planned move 17.Rcd2, evidently fearing the reply 17...Ne4,
which, in the opinion of a number of commentators, led to material loss for White. However,
things were not so simple. Indeed, White loses after 18.Nxe4 dxe4 19.Bxe7 exf3 20.Bxd8 fxe2
21.Rxd7 Qg4 22.R1d5 Qe4!, but the outcome of the struggle is not clear in the case of 20.Bb5
(instead of 20.Bxd8) 20...Be4 21.Qc1 Qxe7 22.Bxd7 (22.Rxd7 Rxd7 23.Rxd7 Qe6).

17...Nh5 18.Rcd2 Nxg3 19.hxg3 Nf6

The opinion of the experts in the press-centre was divided between this move and 19...Nb6. I
was naturally more attracted by the position of the knight on f6, from where it controls the central
squares.
20.Qc2
The regrouping of the major pieces does not create a convincing impression.

20...g6
Covering the f5–square, so as to free the queen from this function.

21.Qa4 a6 22.Bd3 Kg7

Essential prophylaxis. In the case of a pawn break in the centre, in some variations it can be
important that the exchange of rooks takes place without check.

23.Bb1
(Translator’s note: Here Geller suggests 23.Ne2 Qb6 24.Nf4 “as the lesser of the evils” for White,
“although here too after 24...d4! Black has the better chances”.)

23...Qb6
XIIIIIIIIY
8-+rtr-+-+0
7+l+-vlpmk-0
6pwq-+-snpzp0
5+-zpp+-+-0
4Q+-+-+-+0
3+-sN-zPNzP-0
2PzP-tR-zPP+0
1+L+R+-mK-0
xabcdefghy
A critical position. Here 24.Ne5 was recommended, and if 24...Bd6, then 25.Nxg6 fxg6
26.Qc2 Ne4 27.Nxd5, or 26...Bf8 27.Qxg6+ Kh8 28.Nxd5. On 24...d4 the reply 25.Qc4 is
unpleasant.

Probably, the simplest would have been to return to e6 with the queen.

24.a3
This move, having the aim of transferring the bishop to a2 in order to increase the pressure on
the d5–pawn, was unanimously assessed by the commentators as a decisive mistake.

(Translator’s note: Geller indicates that relatively best was 24.Qb3, but that after 24...Qxb3
25.axb3 Rb8 Black’s advantage was “fairly substantial”.)

24...d4!
 A thematic breakthrough, crowning Black’s strategy.

25.Ne2
Leading to defeat. It was hardly possible to avoid this with 25.exd4, for instance: 25...Bc6
26.Qc2 Bxf3 27.gxf3 cxd4 28.Na4 Qb5. Black’s task is more complicated after 26.Qc4 Bxf3 (or
26...cxd4 27.Nxd4 Bf3 28.Qxc8 Rxc8 29.Nxf3 Bxa3 30.Na4 Qb3) 27.gxf3 cxd4 28.Na4 Qb5
29.Qe2! Bf8* (or 29...Ng8) 30.Qxb5 (30.Bc2 Rxc2 31.Qxb5 axb5 32.Rxc2 bxa4) 30...axb5 31.Nc3
dxc3! 32.Rxd8 c2 33.Bxc2 Rxc2, and White has drawing chances.

(*Translator’s note: Geller gives instead 29...Re8 with the point 30.Qxb5 axb5 31.Nb6 Rc6.)

Korchnoi played his 25th move fairly quickly. I do not know whether he examined all these
variations, or assessed the position intuitively. During the match I noticed that Korchnoi often
avoided tactical complications, although previously he had always prided himself on his calculational
abilities.

25...dxe3 26.fxe3 c4! 27.Ned4 Qc7

Here there are also other good paths, for instance 27...Nd5 , combining threats of ...Nxe3 and
...c4–c3.

28.Nh4
Indirectly defending the g3– and e3–pawns in view of the tactical blow Nf5+ in reply. The
following stage of the game took place in mutual time trouble, and I tried to choose the least
‘obliging’ continuations.

28...Qe5 29.Kh1 Kg8

XIIIIIIIIY
8-+rtr-+k+0
7+l+-vlp+-0
6p+-+-snpzp0
5+-+-wq-+-0
4Q+psN-+-sN0
3zP-+-zP-zP-0
2-zP-tR-+P+0
1+L+R+-+K0
xabcdefghy
Simplest of all. Although also after 29...Ng4 30.Nhf5+ gxf5 31.Nxf5+ Kg8 (31...Kh8 or
31...Kf8 32.Rxd8+ Rxd8 33.Rxd8+ Bxd8 34.Qb4+) 32.Rxd8+ Rxd8 33.Rxd8+ Bxd8 White
ultimately loses.
30.Ndf3 Qxg3 31.Rxd8+ Bxd8 32.Qb4 Be4! 33.Bxe4 Nxe4 34.Rd4 Nf2+ 35.Kg1 Nd3
More clear-cut was 35...Ng4 36.Qb7 Qf2+ (but not 36...Rb8 on account of 37.Rxg4) 37.Kh1
Qf1+ 38.Ng1 Nf2+ 39.Kh2 Bc7+ 40.g3 Bxg3+ 41.Kxg3 Qxg1+ 42.Kf3 Rf8.

36.Qb7 Rb8 37.Qd7 Bc7 38.Kh1 Rxb2

With this the struggle may be considered to be over.

39.Rxd3 cxd3 40.Qxd3 Qd6 41.Qe4 Qd1+ 42.Ng1 Qd6 43.Nhf3 Rb5
XIIIIIIIIY
8-+-+-+k+0
7+-vl-+p+-0
6p+-wq-+pzp0
5+r+-+-+-0
4-+-+Q+-+0
3zP-+-zPN+-0
2-+-+-+P+0
1+-+-+-sNK0
xabcdefghy
Here Korchnoi at first decided to adjourn the game, and I was already writing the position on the
envelope, but, having thought for a few minutes, the Challenger stopped the clocks.