(The annotations to this game are by M. N.

Tal, from the first in his series of contemporary reports

from the weekly magazine ‘64’ (№ 16, 1974), and by M. M. Botvinnik, from his work Tri matcha
Anatoliya Karpova (Molodaya Gvardia, Moscow 1975). The annotations have been edited in places
to avoid repetition. In both cases the translation from the original Russian is by Douglas Griffin.

Tal: ...already from the first moves of the game presented below, Spassky emphasised his
aspiration for a complicated and uncompromising struggle. Who knows, perhaps this fighting
mood will proved to be a surprise from his opponent.

Karpov – Spassky
1 match-game, FIDE Candidates’ Semi-final, Leningrad, 12th & 13th April 1974
st

1.e4 c5
Tal: It is well known that both opponents have much in common in their opening repertoire,
especially with Black in reply to 1.e4. Both Karpov and Spassky have on many occasions
succesfully employed the system with 9...Nb8 in the Spanish game. In this regard, Spassky’s first
move is rather eloquent – for the time being he prefers to conduct the discussion on the Spanish
theme ‘in White’s language’. However, it could very well be that this speculation on the part of the
commentator – after all, the Scheveningen Variation occupies a worthy place in the repertoire of the
ex-World Champion. But for reasons that will be perfectly understandable to the reader (all
commentators on all matche refer to them), I will as far as possible avoid opening recommendations,
and besides, such work should be left to the theoreticians.

2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e6 6.Be2 Be7 7.0–0 0–0 8.f4 Nc6 9.Be3 e5
XIIIIIIIIY
8r+lwq-trk+0
7zpp+-vlpzpp0
6-+nzp-sn-+0
5+-+-zp-+-0
4-+-sNPzP-+0
3+-sN-vL-+-0
2PzPP+L+PzP0
1tR-+Q+RmK-0
xabcdefghy
Tal: This little-known move was encountered in the game Levitina-Kozlovskaya from one of the
USSR women’s championships.
Botvinnik: !? Spassky was aiming at a sharpening of the game and therefore he avoids quiet
continuations. After this encounter, only in the 9th game did Karpov decide to repeat this
position, but Spassky played differently – 9...Bd7. And this is a shame! Thus, the chess world did
not learn what novelty Karpov had prepared in this variation.

10.Nb3 a5 11.a4 Nb4 12.Bf3 Be6

Botvinnik: Seemingly, Black has succesfully solved the problems of the opening. Already the
win of a pawn is threatened: 13...exf4 14.Bxf4 Nxc2 15.Qxc2 Qb6+.

13.Kh1 Qc7 14.Rf2 Rfd8 15.Rd2

Tal: The plan carried out by Karpov had previously brought White success. Here is how the
game Geller-Reshevsky (Interzonal Tournament, 1970) developed: 9...Bd7 (the first moves were as
in the game being commented on) 10.Nb3 a5 11.a4 e5 12.Kh1 Nb4 13.Bf3 Rc8 14.Rf2 Rc4
15.fxe5 dxe5 16.Rd2 Qc7 17.Qg1! with a perceptible advantage. Now, however, the situation is
now quite the same, since Black’s queen’s bishop is more actively placed on e6, and as a consequence
it is more difficult for White to prevent the counter-blow ...d6–d5. Were it now Karpov’s move,
he could have played 16.Nd5, gaining a favourable position. However...

15...Bc4!
Tal: Now the knight move to d5 is much less effective. One gains the impression that Black can
be happy with the results of the opening. Karpov takes a committing decision and goes in for a
variation that is fairly forcing for both sides.

16.Nb5
Botvinnik: Not seeing the possibility of strengthening his position, Karpov goes in for a
sharpening of the game, hoping after the exchange to win the b4–knight, which has fallen into
encirclement. White does win the piece, but at a high cost. Exploiting the classical method (for
the Sicilian Defence) of a breakhrough in the centre, Spassky seizes the initiative.

16...Bxb5 17.axb5 a4
Botvinnik: Driving the white knight back to the 1st rank.

18.Nc1
XIIIIIIIIY
8r+-tr-+k+0
7+pwq-vlpzpp0
6-+-zp-sn-+0
5+P+-zp-+-0
4psn-+PzP-+0
3+-+-vLL+-0
2-zPPtR-+PzP0
1tR-sNQ+-+K0
xabcdefghy
 Tal: The knight on b4 is in a desperate position. Extreme measures have to be taken.

18...d5! 19.fxe5
Botvinnik: The only move. After 19.c3 dxe4 White has a broken position without any material
compensation.

19...Nxe4 20.c3
Botvinnik: Already a forced decision. After 20.Re2 a3 Black achieves a material advantage.

20...Nxd2 21.Bxd2
Tal: White rejected the natural 21.Qxd2 in view of the intermediate move 21...d4. After
22.Bxd4, 22...Qxe5 23.Ne2, as well as 22...Nd5 23.Nd3 gives White a pawn for the exchange with
the initiative. However, with the help of a tactic (22...Nc2!) Black manages to noticeably disturb
the attacking order of the opponent. The possible variation 23.Qxc2 Rxd4 24.Be4 Rdd8 25.Bxh7+
Kh8 is favourable for Black, who wins the e5–pawn on account of the weakness of the back rank.
The continuation chosen by Karpov should have led, as it seems to me, to a position of dynamic
equality.

21...Qxe5!
XIIIIIIIIY
8r+-tr-+k+0
7+p+-vlpzpp0
6-+-+-+-+0
5+P+pwq-+-0
4psn-+-+-+0
3+-zP-+L+-0
2-zP-vL-+PzP0
1tR-sNQ+-+K0
xabcdefghy
22.cxb4
Tal: The knight is not going anywhere, and therefore the most serious attention was deserved by
22.g3! , so as to cover the h2–square, to open a ‘luft’ for the king and to give the possibility of going
to f4 with the bishop. Naturally, Black’s position remains quite good, after, say, 22...d4 23.cxb4
Qxb5. But this, as they say, is quite another matter. I think that in his calculations, beginning,
incidentally, as far back as the 16th move, Karpov under-estimated Spassky’s brilliant retort on the
24th move.

(Translator’s note: Botvinnik continues the variation given by Tal by one move: “24.Qe2!”).
22...Qxb2 23.Nd3 Qd4 24.Ra3
Tal: For White there remains only to transfer the bishop to c3, and his minor pieces will stand
very actively. However, he does not have time to do this.
Botvinnik: Passively played. Sharper was 24.Nc5 , and in the case of 24...a3 25.Nxb7, as well as
after 24...Bxc5 25.bxc5 White’s chances are perhaps higher than after that which occurred in the
game. Now Black wins the important b5–pawn, preserving the bishop from exchange.

24...Qb6!
Tal: It transpires that 25.Bc3 is pointless on account of 25...d4, while after 25.Rxa4 Black replies
25...Qxb5 (25...Qd4 is less clear on account of 26.Be2), forcing the opponent to concede the open
file. After 26.Rxa8 Rxa8 27.Be2 Bf6 it is difficult for White to defend.

25.Qe2
Tal: While now Black manages to retain the a-pawn, which has somehow imperceptibly become
passed.
Botvinnik: All in the same somewhat passive style. Here it was worth risking the move 25.Rxa4,
not being afraid of providing the opponent with the open a-file: 25...Qxb5 (25...Qd4 26.Be2)
26.Rxa8 Rxa8 27.Be2 Bf6 28.Nc5 Qc6 29.Nb3.

25...Re8
Botvinnik: The poorly-placed rook on a3 unexpectedly comes under attack (...Be7xb4).

26.Bxd5 Bxb4 27.Bxf7+ Kxf7

XIIIIIIIIY
8r+-+r+-+0
7+p+-+kzpp0
6-wq-+-+-+0
5+P+-+-+-0
4pvl-+-+-+0
3tR-+N+-+-0
2-+-vLQ+PzP0
1+-+-+-+K0
xabcdefghy
28.Qf3+
Tal: White’s position was already unpleasant. Now it becomes lost. Perhaps necessary was
28.Qh5+! Qg6 (28...Kg8 29.Bxb4 , and the b5–pawn is defended) 29.Qf3+ Qf6 30.Bxb4! (weaker is
30.Qxf6+ gxf6 31.Bxb4 Rad8 – the back rank once again!) 30...Qxf3 31.gxf3 , and White’s position
is perhaps defensible, since 31...Re3 32.Bc5! is without danger for him.
 Botvinnik: Already now White cannot save the game, since Black’s two connected passed pawns
should decide the struggle. More tenacious was the continuation 28.Qh5+ Qg6 29.Qf3+ Qf6
30.Bxb4 , although here too after 30...Qxf3 31.gxf3 b6 Black’s advantage is obvious.

28...Kg8 29.Bxb4 Qxb5

Tal: Now on Spassky’s side there is both a positional and a material advantage. Any exchange
leads to a hopeless endgame for White. Karpov undertakes heroic attempts to complicate the
opponent’s task. In this he exceeds only to a certain extent.

30.h3 Rad8 31.Bd2 Qd5 32.Qf2 b5 33.Ba5 Rd7 34.Nf4 Rf7

Botvinnik: The white knight, not having an outpost, inevitably comes under a pin.

35.Rf3 Qc4 36.Bd2 b4 37.Qb6

Tal: Aiming to stop the black pawns on light squares, so as to subsequently have the possibility of
blockading them.

37...b3
Botvinnik: 37...a3 led more rapidly to the goal.

38.Kh2 Qc2
Tal: After 38...Ref8 no satisfactory continuation for White was apparent.
XIIIIIIIIY
8-+-+r+k+0
7+-+-+rzpp0
6-wQ-+-+-+0
5+-+-+-+-0
4p+-+-sN-+0
3+p+-+R+P0
2-+qvL-+PmK0
1+-+-+-+-0
xabcdefghy
39.Bc3!
Tal: Unexpectedly, this move proves to be possible: 39...Rxf4 will not do on account of 40.Qc7.

39...Qe4
Botvinnik: The threat of 40.Rg3 has to be parried. In the case of 39...Rxf4? 40.Qc7 White
unexpectedly wins. (Translator’s note: In fact, this leads ‘only’ to a draw after 40...Rf6! 41.Qd7!
Re2! 42.Qd8+ Kf7 43.Qd5+ , etc.)
40.Qd6 h6
Tal: Black could not have continued 40...a3 in view of 41.Qxa3 Rxf4 42.Qa7!, but perhaps he
ought to have done without the weakening of the g6–square. Evidently, Black’s subsequent task
would have been easier after 40...Qe7. However, one can hardly complain about the time-control
move.

41.Bb2
XIIIIIIIIY
8-+-+r+k+0
7+-+-+rzp-0
6-+-wQ-+-zp0
5+-+-+-+-0
4p+-+qsN-+0
3+p+-+R+P0
2-vL-+-+PmK0
1+-+-+-+-0
xabcdefghy
Tal: Here the game was adjourned. Karpov still has some interesting tactical resources at his
disposal. Thus, on 41...Ref8? there could have followed 42.Rg3! , when he becomes noticeably
more active. After 41...Rc8 the possibility 42.Bxg7 had to be reckoned with. To go over these
variations at the board was difficult, and Spassky’s choice settled on the most reliable sealed move.

41...Qc2 42.Qd5
Tal: 42.Qd4 Re4 43.Qd5 Qc4 was completely bad.

42...Qf5
Tal: Bad, of course, was 42...Qxb2?? – 43.Ng6. The ex-World Champion, after home analysis,
chooses what is perhaps not the quickest, but the safest path to victory.

43.Qc6 Qd7 44.Qg6 Ree7

Tal: ! Over-protecting g7. White is in a peculiar zugzwang.
Botvinnik: Defending securely and eliminating White’s last hopes.

45.Qa6 Qb7! 46.Qxa4 Re4

Botvinnik: White loses a piece.

47.Qxb3 Rb4
Tal: The bishop must be eliminated. In the case of 47...Qxb3? 48.Rxb3 Rexf4 White would
have every basis for counting on a draw.
Botvinnik: Spassky prefers to leave White with the weaker piece – the knight.

48.Qe6 Rxb2 49.Rg3 Rb6 50.Qe8+ Kh7

XIIIIIIIIY
8-+-+Q+-+0
7+q+-+rzpk0
6-tr-+-+-zp0
5+-+-+-+-0
4-+-+-sN-+0
3+-+-+-tRP0
2-+-+-+PmK0
1+-+-+-+-0
xabcdefghy
Tal: Black’s plan is simple: to gradually provoke the exchange of heavy pieces. The endgame,
despite the limited material, will be won. A ‘fortress’ does not result.

51.Qe3 Rd6 52.Qc5 Qc7 53.Qb4 Qd7 54.Nh5

Tal: On account of the threat of 54...Rd4 the white knight is forced to abandon its comfortable
stance.

54...Rg6 55.Rxg6 Kxg6

Tal: Black is halfway there.
Botvinnik: After the exchange of rooks the remainder is a matter of technique.

56.Ng3 Qd3 57.h4 Kh7 58.h5 Rd7 59.Qc5 Rd4 60.Qe7 Rg4 61.Qe5 Rh4+ 62.Kg1 Qd1+
63.Kf2 Qd4+
Tal: The remainder is quite straightforward, and therefore White resigned.