Anatoly Karpov's Best Games

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Anatoly Karpov's Best Games
Compiled by SantGG

The best games of Karpov's career.

The boy doesn't have a clue about chess, and there's no future at all for him in this profession. – Mikhail Botvinnik (referring to a 12-year-old boy named Anatoly Karpov)

I like 1.e4 very much but my results with 1.d4 are better. – Anatoly Karpov

Style? I have no style. – Anatoly Karpov

Let us say that a game may be continued in two ways: one of them is a beautiful tactical blow that gives rise to variations that don't yield to precise calculations; the other is clear positional pressure that leads to an endgame with microscopic chances of victory. I would choose the latter without thinking twice. If the opponent offers keen play I don't object; but in such cases I get less satisfaction, even if I win, than from a game conducted according to all the rules of strategy with its ruthless logic. – Anatoly Karpov

Chess is everything: art, science and sport. - Anatoly Karpov

I simply developed that universal style which dominated with the arrival of Spassky and then Fischer. But all the same we were different chess players, of course. Both Spassky and Fischer were brilliant at developing and sensing the initiative. In that regard I was, perhaps, a little inferior, but on the other hand I stood out by having excellent technique for converting an advantage, positional sense and an ability to maneuver positionally – in that area I was clearly superior to Spassky, and Fischer, and perhaps everyone, except Petrosian. - Anatoly Karpov

At first I found some of his moves not altogether understandable, and only after careful analysis did I discover their hidden strength. – Ljubomir Ljubojevic (on Karpov)

When observing Karpov's play or playing against him, one cannot help thinking that all his pieces are linked by invisible threads. This net moves forward unhurriedly, gradually covering the enemy squares, but, amazingly, not relinquishing its own. – Alexander Roshal

When having an edge, Karpov often marked time and still gained the advantage! I don't know anyone else who could do that, it's incredible. I was always impressed and delighted by this skill. When it looked like it was high time to start a decisive attack, Karpov played a3, h3, and his opponent's position collapsed. - Vladimir Kramnik

There are very few madmen who risk employing Pirc or King's Indian against Karpov. - Alexsander Shashin

Many of Karpov's intentions become understandable to his opponents only when salvation is no longer possible. – Mikhail Tal

Known as a negative player, Karpov sets up deep traps and creates moves that seem to allow his opponent possibilities - but that really don't. He takes no chances, and he gives his opponents nothing. He's a trench-warfare fighter who keeps the game moving just an inch at a time. – Bruce Pandolfini

Karpov defeated me in Linares-94 where he scored 11 out of 13. I got into an inferior endgame. However, it did not seem awful. Then I made some appropriate moves and could not understand how I had managed to get into a losing position. Although I was already in the world top ten, I failed to understand it even after the game. This was one of the few games after which I felt like a complete idiot with a total lack of chess understanding! Such things happen very rarely to top level players. Usually you realise why you have lost. This moment defies description - there is something almost imperceptible about it and so characteristic of Karpov. - Vladimir Kramnik

Karpov vs E Gik, 1968
(B77) Sicilian, Dragon, Yugoslav Attack, 36 moves, 1-0
Karpov vs Andersson, 1969
(C97) Ruy Lopez, Closed, Chigorin, 60 moves, 1-0
Karpov vs Bagirov, 1970
(B05) Alekhine's Defense, Modern, 46 moves, 1-0
Karpov vs A Zaitsev, 1970
(B17) Caro-Kann, Steinitz Variation, 72 moves, 1-0
Karpov vs Parma, 1970
(E32) Nimzo-Indian, Classical, 66 moves, 1-0
Karpov vs Bronstein, 1971
(B92) Sicilian, Najdorf, Opocensky Variation, 53 moves, 1-0
Karpov vs Hort, 1971
(B81) Sicilian, Scheveningen, Keres Attack, 33 moves, 1-0
Karpov vs R Byrne, 1971
(B61) Sicilian, Richter-Rauzer, Larsen Variation, 7.Qd2, 40 moves, 1-0
Shamkovich vs Karpov, 1971
(A34) English, Symmetrical, 50 moves, 0-1
Karpov vs Korchnoi, 1971
(C09) French, Tarrasch, Open Variation, Main line, 34 moves, 1-0
Korchnoi vs Karpov, 1971
(A30) English, Symmetrical, 38 moves, 0-1
Karpov vs Savon, 1971
(C82) Ruy Lopez, Open, 24 moves, 1-0
Karpov vs Stein, 1971
(B57) Sicilian, 47 moves, 1-0
Karpov vs Browne, 1972
(A30) English, Symmetrical, 59 moves, 1-0
Karpov vs Huebner, 1972
(B42) Sicilian, Kan, 74 moves, 1-0
Karpov vs Smyslov, 1972
(C42) Petrov Defense, 42 moves, 1-0
Karpov vs Taimanov, 1972
(B42) Sicilian, Kan, 40 moves, 1-0
Karpov vs Gligoric, 1972
(C94) Ruy Lopez, Closed, Breyer Defense, 52 moves, 1-0
Karpov vs E Cobo Arteaga, 1972
(B85) Sicilian, Scheveningen, Classical, 29 moves, 1-0
Karpov vs Andersson, 1973
(E15) Queen's Indian, 38 moves, 1-0
Karpov vs Hort, 1973
(C05) French, Tarrasch, 45 moves, 1-0
Karpov vs Vaganian, 1973
(C09) French, Tarrasch, Open Variation, Main line, 59 moves, 1-0
Korchnoi vs Karpov, 1973
(A05) Reti Opening, 41 moves, 0-1
Karpov vs Spassky, 1973
(C94) Ruy Lopez, Closed, Breyer Defense, 34 moves, 1-0
Smejkal vs Karpov, 1973
(B46) Sicilian, Taimanov Variation, 72 moves, 0-1
Tukmakov vs Karpov, 1973
(C95) Ruy Lopez, Closed, Breyer, 33 moves, 0-1
Karpov vs G Kuzmin, 1973
(C09) French, Tarrasch, Open Variation, Main line, 39 moves, 1-0
Karpov vs Quinteros, 1973
(B97) Sicilian, Najdorf, 37 moves, 1-0
Karpov vs Gligoric, 1973
(C95) Ruy Lopez, Closed, Breyer, 63 moves, 1-0
Karpov vs Uhlmann, 1973
(C09) French, Tarrasch, Open Variation, Main line, 42 moves, 1-0
Taimanov vs Karpov, 1973
(E54) Nimzo-Indian, 4.e3, Gligoric System, 39 moves, 0-1
Karpov vs G Kuzmin, 1973
(B93) Sicilian, Najdorf, 6.f4, 38 moves, 1-0
Spassky vs Karpov, 1974
(B18) Caro-Kann, Classical, 56 moves, 0-1
Karpov vs Spassky, 1974
(E91) King's Indian, 55 moves, 1-0
Karpov vs Spassky, 1974
(B83) Sicilian, 35 moves, 1-0
Karpov vs Spassky, 1974
(D58) Queen's Gambit Declined, Tartakower (Makagonov-Bondarevsky) Syst, 35 moves, 1-0
Karpov vs Polugaevsky, 1974
(B92) Sicilian, Najdorf, Opocensky Variation, 40 moves, 1-0
Karpov vs Polugaevsky, 1974
(B92) Sicilian, Najdorf, Opocensky Variation, 41 moves, 1-0
Karpov vs Unzicker, 1974
(C98) Ruy Lopez, Closed, Chigorin, 44 moves, 1-0
A H Williams vs Karpov, 1974
(E31) Nimzo-Indian, Leningrad, Main line, 30 moves, 0-1
Karpov vs Kavalek, 1974
(A30) English, Symmetrical, 45 moves, 1-0
Karpov vs Korchnoi, 1974
(B77) Sicilian, Dragon, Yugoslav Attack, 27 moves, 1-0
Ljubojevic vs Karpov, 1975
(C84) Ruy Lopez, Closed, 57 moves, 0-1
Karpov vs Unzicker, 1975
(C97) Ruy Lopez, Closed, Chigorin, 22 moves, 1-0
Karpov vs Gligoric, 1975
(C95) Ruy Lopez, Closed, Breyer, 50 moves, 1-0
Karpov vs Portisch, 1975
(D18) Queen's Gambit Declined Slav, Dutch, 32 moves, 1-0
R Osterman vs Karpov, 1975
(E14) Queen's Indian, 45 moves, 0-1
Karpov vs Spassky, 1975
(E17) Queen's Indian, 44 moves, 1-0
Karpov vs Velimirovic, 1976
(E87) King's Indian, Samisch, Orthodox, 67 moves, 1-0
Ljubojevic vs Karpov, 1976
(C95) Ruy Lopez, Closed, Breyer, 42 moves, 0-1
H Pfleger vs Karpov, 1976
(A17) English, 55 moves, 0-1
Karpov vs Vaganian, 1976
(C07) French, Tarrasch, 40 moves, 1-0
B Kurajica vs Karpov, 1976
(C77) Ruy Lopez, 57 moves, 0-1
Uhlmann vs Karpov, 1976
(A17) English, 51 moves, 0-1
Karpov vs Dorfman, 1976
(B81) Sicilian, Scheveningen, Keres Attack, 50 moves, 1-0
E Torre vs Karpov, 1977
(B41) Sicilian, Kan, 34 moves, 0-1
Karpov vs V Liberzon, 1977
(B69) Sicilian, Richter-Rauzer Attack, 7...a6 Defense, 11.Bxf6, 55 moves, 1-0
S Tatai vs Karpov, 1977
(A34) English, Symmetrical, 30 moves, 0-1
Karpov vs Smejkal, 1977
(B08) Pirc, Classical, 35 moves, 1-0
Karpov vs Hort, 1978
(B17) Caro-Kann, Steinitz Variation, 25 moves, 1-0
Karpov vs Korchnoi, 1978
(C82) Ruy Lopez, Open, 50 moves, 1-0
Karpov vs Korchnoi, 1978
(B08) Pirc, Classical, 41 moves, 1-0
Portisch vs Karpov, 1978
(E54) Nimzo-Indian, 4.e3, Gligoric System, 40 moves, 0-1
Karpov vs Korchnoi, 1978
(C80) Ruy Lopez, Open, 28 moves, 1-0
Karpov vs Spassky, 1979
(D37) Queen's Gambit Declined, 41 moves, 1-0
Timman vs Karpov, 1979
(A28) English, 31 moves, 0-1
Spassky vs Karpov, 1979
(E12) Queen's Indian, 42 moves, 0-1
Karpov vs Timman, 1979
(B07) Pirc, 38 moves, 1-0
Karpov vs Hort, 1980
(D41) Queen's Gambit Declined, Semi-Tarrasch, 61 moves, 1-0
Karpov vs Dolmatov, 1980
(B33) Sicilian, 55 moves, 1-0
Karpov vs Ribli, 1980
(A35) English, Symmetrical, 35 moves, 1-0
Karpov vs Van der Wiel, 1980
(B62) Sicilian, Richter-Rauzer, 32 moves, 1-0
Karpov vs Tal, 1980
(D48) Queen's Gambit Declined Semi-Slav, Meran, 34 moves, 1-0
Karpov vs Spassky, 1980
(B81) Sicilian, Scheveningen, Keres Attack, 35 moves, 1-0
Karpov vs Geller, 1981
(D58) Queen's Gambit Declined, Tartakower (Makagonov-Bondarevsky) Syst, 33 moves, 1-0
Karpov vs Korchnoi, 1981
(C80) Ruy Lopez, Open, 41 moves, 1-0
Korchnoi vs Karpov, 1981
(D58) Queen's Gambit Declined, Tartakower (Makagonov-Bondarevsky) Syst, 43 moves, 0-1
Korchnoi vs Karpov, 1981
(D30) Queen's Gambit Declined, 43 moves, 0-1
Karpov vs Larsen, 1982
(B18) Caro-Kann, Classical, 45 moves, 1-0
Karpov vs Huebner, 1982
(B18) Caro-Kann, Classical, 37 moves, 1-0
Seirawan vs Karpov, 1982
(D37) Queen's Gambit Declined, 30 moves, 0-1
Karpov vs Nunn, 1982
(B33) Sicilian, 51 moves, 1-0
Karpov vs V Small, 1982
(B44) Sicilian, 47 moves, 1-0
Karpov vs Sax, 1983
(B81) Sicilian, Scheveningen, Keres Attack, 39 moves, 1-0
Karpov vs Yusupov, 1983
(C82) Ruy Lopez, Open, 44 moves, 1-0
Karpov vs Kasparov, 1984
(D34) Queen's Gambit Declined, Tarrasch, 70 moves, 1-0
Kasparov vs Karpov, 1984
(E15) Queen's Indian, 70 moves, 0-1
Karpov vs Kasparov, 1984
(D37) Queen's Gambit Declined, 59 moves, 1-0
Timman vs Karpov, 1984
(C45) Scotch Game, 26 moves, 0-1
Karpov vs Korchnoi, 1984
(D91) Grunfeld, 5.Bg5, 38 moves, 1-0
Karpov vs Kasparov, 1985
(D31) Queen's Gambit Declined, 63 moves, 1-0
Kasparov vs Karpov, 1985
(C92) Ruy Lopez, Closed, 41 moves, 0-1
Karpov vs Nunn, 1985
(B92) Sicilian, Najdorf, Opocensky Variation, 40 moves, 1-0
Karpov vs Kasparov, 1986
(D97) Grunfeld, Russian, 41 moves, 1-0
Karpov vs Ribli, 1986
(A30) English, Symmetrical, 56 moves, 1-0
Karpov vs A Sznapik, 1986
(B78) Sicilian, Dragon, Yugoslav Attack, 10.castle long, 27 moves, 1-0
Kasparov vs Karpov, 1987
(A29) English, Four Knights, Kingside Fianchetto, 41 moves, 0-1
Kasparov vs Karpov, 1987
(A29) English, Four Knights, Kingside Fianchetto, 32 moves, 0-1
Karpov vs A Sokolov, 1987
(E15) Queen's Indian, 63 moves, 1-0
Karpov vs B Kamber, 1987
(B33) Sicilian, 44 moves, 1-0
Karpov vs Kasparov, 1988
(D87) Grunfeld, Exchange, 38 moves, 1-0
Karpov vs Speelman, 1988
(D20) Queen's Gambit Accepted, 41 moves, 1-0
Karpov vs Chernin, 1988
(C07) French, Tarrasch, 37 moves, 1-0
Karpov vs V Malaniuk, 1988
(A87) Dutch, Leningrad, Main Variation, 35 moves, 1-0
Karpov vs A V Kharitonov, 1988
(D35) Queen's Gambit Declined, 42 moves, 1-0
Karpov vs Ljubojevic, 1988
(D30) Queen's Gambit Declined, 63 moves, 1-0
Karpov vs Adorjan, 1989
(E15) Queen's Indian, 38 moves, 1-0
Yusupov vs Karpov, 1989
(E29) Nimzo-Indian, Samisch, 60 moves, 0-1
Karpov vs Yusupov, 1989
(A88) Dutch, Leningrad, Main Variation with c6, 42 moves, 1-0
Karpov vs Ljubojevic, 1989
(D35) Queen's Gambit Declined, 45 moves, 1-0
Karpov vs Yusupov, 1989
(D56) Queen's Gambit Declined, 53 moves, 1-0
Karpov vs Kasparov, 1990
(D85) Grunfeld, 40 moves, 1-0
Karpov vs Anand, 1991
(D45) Queen's Gambit Declined Semi-Slav, 43 moves, 1-0
Karpov vs Timman, 1991
(D20) Queen's Gambit Accepted, 31 moves, 1-0
Karpov vs Speelman, 1991
(B08) Pirc, Classical, 38 moves, 1-0
Karpov vs Kamsky, 1992
(E60) King's Indian Defense, 54 moves, 1-0
Shirov vs Karpov, 1992
(E25) Nimzo-Indian, Samisch, 39 moves, 0-1
Karpov vs Lautier, 1992
(D45) Queen's Gambit Declined Semi-Slav, 41 moves, 1-0
Karpov vs C Hansen, 1992
(B08) Pirc, Classical, 43 moves, 1-0
Karpov vs Miles, 1992
(E00) Queen's Pawn Game, 35 moves, 1-0
Karpov vs Gelfand, 1993
(D39) Queen's Gambit Declined, Ragozin, Vienna Variation, 45 moves, 1-0
Karpov vs Illescas Cordoba, 1993
(D34) Queen's Gambit Declined, Tarrasch, 36 moves, 1-0
Kamsky vs Karpov, 1993
(B17) Caro-Kann, Steinitz Variation, 49 moves, 0-1
Karpov vs Yusupov, 1993
(E17) Queen's Indian, 59 moves, 1-0
Yusupov vs Karpov, 1993
(E29) Nimzo-Indian, Samisch, 40 moves, 0-1
Karpov vs Topalov, 1994
(A43) Old Benoni, 36 moves, 1-0
Gelfand vs Karpov, 1994
(E54) Nimzo-Indian, 4.e3, Gligoric System, 52 moves, 0-1
Karpov vs Polgar, 1994
(E62) King's Indian, Fianchetto, 28 moves, 1-0
Karpov vs I Morovic Fernandez, 1994
(D32) Queen's Gambit Declined, Tarrasch, 37 moves, 1-0
Karpov vs Kramnik, 1994
(D48) Queen's Gambit Declined Semi-Slav, Meran, 40 moves, 1-0
Karpov vs Topalov, 1994
(A32) English, Symmetrical Variation, 39 moves, 1-0
Gelfand vs Karpov, 1995
(A20) English, 36 moves, 0-1
Karpov vs Gulko, 1996
(D27) Queen's Gambit Accepted, Classical, 42 moves, 1-0
Kamsky vs Karpov, 1996
(E54) Nimzo-Indian, 4.e3, Gligoric System, 45 moves, 0-1
Kamsky vs Karpov, 1996
(C43) Petrov, Modern Attack, 29 moves, 0-1
Karpov vs Z Ilincic, 1996
(E94) King's Indian, Orthodox, 48 moves, 1-0
Karpov vs Leko, 1996
(D97) Grunfeld, Russian, 29 moves, 1-0
Karpov vs Kramnik, 1996
(D45) Queen's Gambit Declined Semi-Slav, 59 moves, 1-0
Karpov vs Anand, 1998
(D47) Queen's Gambit Declined Semi-Slav, 108 moves, 1-0
Karpov vs Svidler, 1999
(D97) Grunfeld, Russian, 49 moves, 1-0
Karpov vs Topalov, 2002
(A57) Benko Gambit, 31 moves, 1-0
G Flear vs Karpov, 2004
(E32) Nimzo-Indian, Classical, 42 moves, 0-1
V Beim vs Karpov, 2008
(A45) Queen's Pawn Game, 58 moves, 0-1
143 games

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