Karpov vs Kasparov, 1985

Game 16 of the 1985 title match. Kasparov plants a knight on d3 and leaves it there until Karpov finally gives the queen to remove it. The bind is the whole game.

White: Anatoly Karpov
Black: Garry Kasparov
Event: World Championship, Moscow, game 16
Year: 1985
Result: 0-1

Critical position

After 16. Rad1. Black to move.

Take over as Black vs Maia

Step through

16. Rad1

Annotated score

1. e4 (best) c5 (excellent)
2. Nf3 (best) e6 (excellent)
3. d4 (best) cxd4 (best)
4. Nxd4 (best) Nc6 (excellent)
5. Nb5 (best) d6 (best)
6. c4 (excellent) Nf6 (best)
7. N1c3 (best) a6 (best)
8. Na3 (best) d5 (excellent)
d5: 8...d5 is the pawn offer that opens the position Kasparov wanted.
9. cxd5 (best) exd5 (best)
10. exd5 (best) Nb4 (best)
11. Be2 (excellent) Bc5 (good)
12. O-O (excellent) O-O (best)
13. Bf3 (best) Bf5 (best)
14. Bg5 (excellent) Re8 (best)
15. Qd2 (excellent) b5 (best)
16. Rad1 (good) Nd3 (good)
Nd3: 16...Nd3. The knight cannot be taken without wrecking White’s coordination.
17. Nab1 (inaccuracy) h6 (best)
h6: Both white knights are back on the first rank.
18. Bh4 (excellent) b4 (best)
19. Na4 (good) Bd6 (best)
20. Bg3 (best) Rc8 (best)
21. b3 (good) g5 (inaccuracy)
22. Bxd6 (inaccuracy) Qxd6 (best)
23. g3 (best) Nd7 (excellent)
24. Bg2 (inaccuracy) Qf6 (best)
25. a3 (best) a5 (best)
26. axb4 (best) axb4 (best)
27. Qa2 (inaccuracy) Bg6 (good)
28. d6 (best) g4 (good)
29. Qd2 (good) Kg7 (excellent)
30. f3 (mistake) Qxd6 (inaccuracy)
31. fxg4 (inaccuracy) Qd4+ (excellent)
32. Kh1 (good) Nf6 (best)
33. Rf4 (best) Ne4 (best)
34. Qxd3 (inaccuracy) Nf2+ (best)
Qxd3: Karpov finally takes the knight and loses the queen for it.
35. Rxf2 (best) Bxd3 (best)
36. Rfd2 (inaccuracy) Qe3 (excellent)
37. Rxd3 (best) Rc1 (best)
38. Nb2 (inaccuracy) Qf2 (good)
39. Nd2 (blunder) Rxd1+ (excellent)
40. Nxd1 (best) Re1+ (best)
Re1+: 40...Re1+ and mate is a move away. Karpov resigns.