chessgames.com
Members · Prefs · Laboratory · Collections · Openings · Endgames · Sacrifices · History · Search Kibitzing · Kibitzer's Café · Chessforums · Tournament Index · Players · Kibitzing
Anatoly Karpov vs Viktor Korchnoi
Karpov - Korchnoi World Championship Match (1978), City of Baguio PHI, rd 16, Aug-24
French Defense: Tarrasch Variation. Open System (C07)  ·  1/2-1/2

8
7
6
5
4
3
2
a
1
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
White to move.
ANALYSIS [x]
Notes by Stockfish 9 v010218 (minimum 6s/ply)9.Qxe7+ was played in V Mihalichenko vs E Maratkanov, 2002 (1-0)better is 12...O-O-O 13.O-O Nf6 14.Bg5 Rde8 15.Nc3 Ne4 16.Na4 Bd4 = +0.08 (29 ply) ⩲ +0.65 (28 ply) after 13.b4 Bd6 14.O-O f6 15.c3 Kf7 16.Be3 a6 17.Rfd1 g5 18.Bb6 better is 23...d4 24.c4 a5 25.Nc2 Nc6 26.Rh3 h6 27.Ne1 Bc7 28.Nd3 = -0.15 (31 ply)= +0.41 (27 ply)better is 29...c5 30.bxc5 a5 31.Rd2 Rxc5 32.g4 Rb7 33.Kg2 Rcb5 = 0.00 (34 ply) ⩲ +0.53 (28 ply) 34...Rbb7 35.Ra6 Rb6 36.Ra1 Rbb7 37.f4 Re4 38.g3 f5 = +0.21 (29 ply) ⩲ +1.07 (26 ply) 36.Rh1 f5 37.h4 h5 38.Rh3 f4 39.Rf3 Re4 40.g3 fxg3 ⩲ +0.90 (26 ply)better is 36...c5 37.bxc5 Rxb2 38.Rxa6 Kb7 39.Rb6+ Rxb6 40.cxb6 = +0.08 (35 ply) ⩲ +0.81 (26 ply) after 37.Ra5 Kc7 38.Rda1 Kb7 39.h3 h5 40.g3 g5 41.b3 f5 42.R5a2 better is 38.h4 Kc7 39.Rdb1 f5 40.g3 Kd6 41.Rg1 Re6 42.h5 Rh6 ⩲ +0.93 (29 ply)= +0.40 (30 ply) after 38...Re2 39.Re1 Rxb2 40.Kc5 Rb7 41.Rxa6 Rc2 42.Re3 d4 better is 39.Rd2 Re8 40.Kd3 f5 41.Ra5 Kb7 42.Re2 Rxe2 43.Kxe2 Rb5 ⩲ +0.82 (28 ply)= +0.08 (36 ply)51...Rg1 52.Rd7 h5 53.a7+ Ka8 54.c4 h4 55.Kf2 Rg4 56.c5 = 0.00 (45 ply)1/2-1/2

rnbqkbnr/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/RNBQKBNR w KQkq - 0 1
FEN COPIED

Annotations by Stockfish (Computer).      [35437 more games annotated by Stockfish]

explore this opening
find similar games 120 more Karpov/Korchnoi games
PGN: download | view | print Help: general | java-troubleshooting

TIP: The Olga viewer allows you to get computer analysis by clicking the "ENGINE" link on the lower right.

PGN Viewer:  What is this?
For help with this chess viewer, please see the Olga Chess Viewer Quickstart Guide.
PREMIUM MEMBERS CAN REQUEST COMPUTER ANALYSIS [more info]

THIS IS A COMPUTER ANNOTATED SCORE.   [CLICK HERE] FOR ORIGINAL.

Kibitzer's Corner
Mar-27-04  morphyvsfischer: chessgames.com, this is the 16th match game, played on August 24th.
Jul-17-05  calman543: Karpov never got more than a draw against Korchnoi's French Defense during their Candidates and World Title matches, yet Korchnoi didn't employ it during the 1981 World Title match.
Mar-31-06  drukenknight: I was thinking the same thing. To be more precise, in the final game in 1978, Korchnoi had all the momentum, the score was tied, and it seemed all he needed to do was to hold serve as black. So he plays a Pirc and lost a listless game. Why not the French, just to draw?
Apr-01-06
Premium Chessgames Member
  offramp: Everyone seemed to know beforehand that the 32nd game was going to be the last one. Kortschnoi did draw all of those games, but I can't remember him having winning chances in any of those games. As you say, <Korchnoi had all the momentum> and I think he wanted to set Karpov real problems as black in that 32nd game, while Karpov was at a very low ebb.

As it happened, Karpov showed tremendous resilience in winning that game.

Apr-01-06  drukenknight: resiliance is not the word. It was probably the worst performance of the match by Korchnoi, he got no play out of it, his Pirc opening was listless. But like you say, he was really trying to win as black in this game, but again why not go with French and trust his great knowledge of the French as well as his momentum, rather than his drawish record with it.
Apr-01-06
Premium Chessgames Member
  offramp: I am going to post more about that game at Karpov vs Korchnoi, 1978.
Apr-01-06  drukenknight: each player seemed to have one clunker in that match, for Karpov it was one of the early ones, I think his first loss. For Korch. the final game.
Apr-09-08  Knight13: <To be more precise, in the final game in 1978, Korchnoi had all the momentum, the score was tied, and it seemed all he needed to do was to hold serve as black. So he plays a Pirc and lost a listless game. Why not the French, just to draw?> How was he suppose to know that playing French WILL give him a draw?
Nov-21-08  Chessdreamer: Errata! ...42.bxa5 Rxb2 1/2-1/2.
Apr-11-09  WhiteRook48: and yet they played 9 more moves
Jul-19-24
Premium Chessgames Member
  GrahamClayton: Tal suggested 14. Nd3 Bb6 15. Ba5 Ba5 16. Ra5 Rfd8 17. Kd2 as stronger - Karpov's king is centrally placed, he has play/pressure along the a-file and Korchnoi's d5 pawn is a weakness which can be attacked.
Jul-19-24
Premium Chessgames Member
  perfidious: <calman543: Karpov never got more than a draw against Korchnoi's French Defense during their Candidates and World Title matches, yet Korchnoi didn't employ it during the 1981 World Title match.>

Cf Karpov vs Korchnoi, 1978 for the reason: Korchnoi indeed managed to draw that game as he had all the others in this line, yet came under considerable pressure and only survived due to Karpov throwing away a win.

NOTE: Create an account today to post replies and access other powerful features which are available only to registered users. Becoming a member is free, anonymous, and takes less than 1 minute! If you already have a username, then simply login login under your username now to join the discussion.

Please observe our posting guidelines:

  1. No obscene, racist, sexist, or profane language.
  2. No spamming, advertising, duplicate, or gibberish posts.
  3. No vitriolic or systematic personal attacks against other members.
  4. Nothing in violation of United States law.
  5. No cyberstalking or malicious posting of negative or private information (doxing/doxxing) of members.
  6. No trolling.
  7. The use of "sock puppet" accounts to circumvent disciplinary action taken by moderators, create a false impression of consensus or support, or stage conversations, is prohibited.
  8. Do not degrade Chessgames or any of it's staff/volunteers.

Please try to maintain a semblance of civility at all times.

Blow the Whistle

See something that violates our rules? Blow the whistle and inform a moderator.


NOTE: Please keep all discussion on-topic. This forum is for this specific game only. To discuss chess or this site in general, visit the Kibitzer's Café.

Messages posted by Chessgames members do not necessarily represent the views of Chessgames.com, its employees, or sponsors.
All moderator actions taken are ultimately at the sole discretion of the administration.

This game is type: CLASSICAL. Please report incorrect or missing information by submitting a correction slip to help us improve the quality of our content.

<This page contains Editor Notes. Click here to read them.>

Home | About | Login | Logout | F.A.Q. | Profile | Preferences | Premium Membership | Kibitzer's Café | Biographer's Bistro | New Kibitzing | Chessforums | Tournament Index | Player Directory | Notable Games | World Chess Championships | Opening Explorer | Guess the Move | Game Collections | ChessBookie Game | Chessgames Challenge | Store | Privacy Notice | Contact Us

Copyright 2001-2025, Chessgames Services LLC