Chess Classics Part-2: Anatoly Karpov vs Andrew Jonathan Mestel ,1984
Greetings and thanks for visiting my blog!
I hope everyone is doing great and enjoying this fantastic royal game. Today I made the decision to write about a cool game of legendary Anatoly Karpov which he played against Andrew Jonathan Mestel in 1984.
Its a great example of the following concepts:
1. It will help you understand both sides' plans and teach you how to play in French Nd2 structures.
2. It will teach you which pieces to trade and which pieces to keep in French Nd2 structures.
3. It will teach you the power of maneuvering in strategic games.
4. It will teach you the power of prophylactic thinking in chess.
5. It will teach you how to convert a positional advantage into a winning position. Converting is the toughest skill to master. When your opponent puts an excessive amount of effort into defending his worse position, then you should make solid and accurate moves to stop the opponent's counterplay and win the point.
But before going to the main game, I want to introduce you to the pawn structure that arises in this game, so you will have a better understanding of the game as well as plans and ideas for both sides of the structure.
In the above pawn structure, there are several ideas which both sides should know and understand to play a good game and I am sharing all of them at the bottom.
Plans for White:
1. Most of the battle will revolve around the e5 square, as this square is too strong for white's pieces to occupy as an outpost.
2. White can also try to develop the major pieces on the semi-open e-file as we have a backward pawn on e6. So doubling makes sense.
3. White can also gain space on the queenside with a3-b4 and can also play on the kingside with h4-h5 advance as well as f4 too.
4. White can also use the c and e file for rook lifts to generate some attack.
5. Never let black escape with an e5 advance. Yes, it's possible black can play e5 sometimes, but then try to target the isolated pawn on d5.
Plans for Black:
1. Put pressure on the d4 pawn and prevent white to occupy the outpost on e5.
2. Develop the bad light squared bishop from d7-e8-g6 or h5. From the h5 bishop, harass Nf3 and put indirect pressure on the d4 pawn.
3. A common theme in this pawn formation is rook sacrifice on f3. It helps to destroy the white kingside and also attacks the pawn on d4 in some variations.
4. It would be amazing if somehow you could get an e5 break in this structure, then play the whole game with IQP.
Before we proceed the main game, I'd like to share some training positions with you all so you can test your abilities and learn the entire game!
Test-1: It's white to move, how will you develop and which move you will choose?
Test-2: How will you proceed from white side now and which plan you will choose?
Test-3: What black wants to do and how can white stops it?
Test-4: Black had many alternatives to maintain equality in this situation, but one of them involved forcing a sequence. Can you find that sequence?
Test-5: Black just played Rxe5??, how will you convert this position? Find solution!
Test-6: Here Karpov found an idea which leads to equality according to computers but I do not think in practical game it's possible to defend such a situation against a world class opponent!
Just ideas:
Test-7: How can you restrict opponent's pieces? Find a move!
Test-8: Find the final blow!
Now it's time to show the full annotated game!
I sincerely hope you all enjoyed this fantastic session on classic games. In order for you to fully understand the concepts, I made every effort to show all the important concepts and strategies as well as all the possible critical moments of the game. Please feel free to add me on social media if you like this content, share it, and leave comments below!!
Please message me or visit my chess.com profile if any of you need lessons
