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

Karpov, are from Sto pobednykh partii (Fizkultura i Sport,

1984). The translation from the original Russian is by Douglas Griffin.)

After the 27th game the score became 5:2 (play continued until six victories) and, it seemed, the
match was coming to an end. I had no doubt at all in my victory, and this excessive confidence
clearly enfeebled me. Which is already not to mention the enormous degree of purely physical
tiredness. And when there was only one more step to be taken until overall victory, something
unforseen occurred. Korchnoi, possibly reconciled to defeat, played without inhibition and with
desperate efforts levelled the score – 5:5! There was much to shake off. But all the same I
managed to lose the burden of the vexing mistakes, tried to relax properly and in the 32nd game was
in the mood to give battle in decisive fashion.

I played the final game quietly and confidently, and having gained an overwhelming position,
impressed upon myself “Just do not hurry!”, understanding that the desire to realise an advantage as
quickly as possible had more than once betrayed me in this match.

Karpov – Korchnoi
32 match-game, World Championship, Baguio City, 17th October 1978
nd

1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Be2 0–0 6.0–0

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6...c5
The choice of one or another variation takes on a mainly psychological character. The main
events, as a rule, occur at later stages, and it is precisely these that have a decisive influence on the
result of the majority of battles. The present game is good confirmation of this.

Korchnoi is true to his favourite tactic – to change the opening pattern as often as possible. In
the 18th game, in which the Pirc-Ufimtsev Defence was also played, the discussion unfolded along
the lines of the main variation: 6...Bg4 7.Be3 Nc6. Then I employed a novelty – 8.Qd3?!.
Clearly, in order to avoid surprises on this occasion, Korchnoi turns abruptly to the side. In
principle, the whole variation after 7.dxc5 dxc5 is assessed by theory as slightly favourable to White.
But I could have supposed that the Challenger had prepared some forcing improvement or other in
Black’s play, and therefore, quite naturally, avoided the exchanging continuation.

7.d5 Na6
Black makes a bet on flank operations. It is difficult to say which of the two plans – this, or the
one associated with the undermining move ...e7–e6 – should be given preference.

8.Bf4
White deploys his forces with the aim of preparating the thematic break in the centre, e4–e5.

8...Nc7 9.a4 b6 10.Re1 Bb7 11.Bc4

The prophylactic 11.h3, with the idea of retaining the bishop on the diagonal h2–b8, could have
proved to be a significant delay. After 11...Qd7! 12.Bc4 Rad8! 13.Qd3 e5 highly double-edged
play begins.
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11...Nh5?
A loss of valuable time. Instead of standing still, essential was 11...Qd7, aiming after 12.e5 dxe5
13.Nxe5 Qf5 to provoke tactical complications at any cost, for instance: 14.Nxg6 fxg6 15.Bxc7
Ng4.

Clearly, on 11...Qd7 White should reply 12.Qd3, retaining slightly the better chances, but on the
whole the battle develops in very tense fashion. As it seems to me, Korchnoi’s partiality for solid
positions did him a disservice on this occasion.

12.Bg5 Nf6 13.Qd3

Now, in all directions, it is much more difficult for Black to gain counter-play.

13...a6 14.Rad1 Rb8

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15.h3
At this moment I did not risk anything. The in principle consistent continuation, which
increases White’s spatial advantage and increases his pressure, is 15.e5!?. For instance: 15...dxe5
16.Nxe5 b5?! 17.axb5 axb5 18.Bxb5! Ncxd5 19.Nxd5 Bxd5 (19...Qxd5 20.Qg3 Qa2 21.Bc4 Qxb2
22.Nxf7) 20.c4 Ba8 (20...Be6 21.Nc6 Qxd3 22.Nxe7+) 21.Nd7. In another situation I would
certainly have played this way, but in this game there was no way that I could afford to ‘sell myself
short’ and put my entire initiative at stake.

15...Nd7
Black cannot try the opponent’s patience for long and prevents the threatened breakthrough in
the centre.

16.Qe3
Occupying one more important highway and at the same time nipping in the bud counter-play
such as 16...b5 17.axb5 Nb6.

16...Ba8 17.Bh6 b5 18.Bxg7 Kxg7 19.Bf1 Nf6 20.axb5 axb5

The pawn offensive on the queen’s flank without the fianchettoed bishop at g7 reminds one of an
infantry attack without proper preparation by the artillery.

21.Ne2 Bb7
Black’s main trouble lies in poor communications. Supposing Black managed to carry out the
move...e6–e5, the transfer of force from one region of the board to another would have taken place
much more freely. But the move 21...e5 (or 21...e6) leads after 22.dxe6 Nxe6 23.Ng3 to a serious
weakening of the pawn structure. Therefore the reserves on one flank have to be transferred to the
other along the 8th rank literally at a crawl, and this is not familiar and accessible to all chess pieces.

22.Ng3 Ra8 23.c3 Ra4 24.Bd3 Qa8

Scornful of White’s threats, the queen moves to the edge of the board at that moment when the
clouds have gathered over the black king. Possibly, Korchnoi under-estimated the danger?
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25.e5!
A dagger-blow, reinforced by the appropriate arguments: 25...Nfxd5 26.Nh5+ (or 26.Nf5+)
26...gxh5 (26...Kh8 27.Qh6 Rg8 28.Ng5) 27.Qg5+ Kh8 28.Qf5.

25...dxe5 26.Qxe5
26.Qxc5 would have been mistaken on account of 26...Ncxd5, and the white queen proves to be
in danger.

26...Ncxd5 27.Bxb5 Ra7

The only way to at least temporarily maintain the material balance.

28.Nh4
After this manoeuvre, more than just Black’s king is threatened. In many cases, no less
unpleasant is the prosaic 28.c4. Thus, on 28...Bc6 possible is 29.Bxc6 Qxc6 30.c4 Nb4 31.Rd6
exd6 32.Nh5+ gxh5 33.Qg5+ Kh8 34.Qxf6+ Kg8 35.Nf5, while on 28...Qb8, 29.c4 Qxe5 30.Rxe5
led to a hopeless endgame for Black.

28...Bc8 29.Be2!
You will agree that in this move there is something attractive. Henceforth, all of White’s pieces
will be acting consistently and accurately. After the game I was told that it was this move which at
long last brought calm to the souls of my comrades.

29...Be6 30.c4 Nb4 31.Qxc5 Qb8 32.Bf1 Rc8 33.Qg5 Kh8 34.Rd2 Nc6 35.Qh6!
It becomes clear that White has not only an extra pawn, but in addition also a strong initiative.
Black literally breaks apart under the strain: he must repulse the attack on the king while attentively
keeping an eye on the queen’s flank.

35...Rg8 36.Nf3 Qf8 37.Qe3 Kg7?

 A decisive mistake, after which resistance becomes pointless. 37...Rb7 could have still prolonged
the struggle.

38.Ng5 Bd7 39.b4 Qa8

Black’s time-trouble agony is coming to an end. Already nothing can help him.

40.b5 Na5 41.b6

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My final move in the match. The saying ‘all roads lead to Rome’ was never more suitable than
to this position. Korchnoi sealed the move

41...Rb7
but on the following day his second brought news of the resignation of the game.