Choosing the Spanish opening for the next game, Kasparov gave up too early the battle for the center and a pawn to lunch an imprecise attack. With simple play, Karpov kept alive his positional advantage and went to score a second point, which for the first time gave him the lead of the match.
Game 6
Game 6
Queen’s Gambit
Kasparov sacrificed a pawn in the opening of the 6th game with the idea to free himself with an attack on the opponent King. After few exchanges Karpov estimated his position was not so advantageous to take further risk and both players agreed to share the point.
Game 7
Nimzo Indian Defense
Kasparov repeated the same sacrifice in the 7th game. However Karpov missed a promising position when he played 17…Kf7 instead of c5. With a better position but no time to the clock Karpov was happy went Kasparov offering draw by perpetual check.
Game 8
Game 8
Queen’s Gambit
Karpov had also a slight advantage in the next game but couldn’t achieve better than a theoretical draw endgame.
Game 9
Game 9
Ruy Lopez
A great tactical game was lunched in the 9th. A Ruy Lopez opening with big maneuver from both sides. The game was theoretical until move 19 when Kasparov played 19.d3, which indicated the start of the maneuver. Karpov defended well his positions and could even pretend to have winning chance after the adjournment. However, after 2 pawns sacrifice, the draw was agreed between both players.
Game 10
Game 10
Sicilian Defense
In the 10th Game Karpov tried to improve his 2nd game of the match. In the middle game Kasparov sacrificed a pawn to find some counter-play. Soon he managed to compensate his sacrifice with a dynamic position, but had to face a strong attack on his king’s side. With an exchange down, he reached a interesting ending in which he sacrificed his “poisoned” Knight to force Karpov to repeat the position three times and finally succeed to share the point.
Game 11
Game 11
Nimzo-Indian Defense
The players decided to play a Nimzo-Indian Defense. The game followed the line of a game played three years before for the World Championship match between Karpov and Korchnoi. Kasparov diverted with 12 Re1 and got some clear advantage after 22 Qg4. The after match analyses showed clearly that Karpov missed the best answer to this move playing Rcd8 instead of Rdd8, which gave only a small advantage to the White. Immediately after Kasparov played the strong move Qxd7, which immediately finished the game a couple of moves later. After this victory Kasparov equalized the score to 5.5:5.5.
Game 12
Game 12
Sicilian Defense
Kasparov produced another new move with 8…d5 instead the passive Be7 played before. This move must have surprised Karpov, who agreed to quickly draw the games.
Kasparov: “The first part of the match is over. Although it had been full of sharp development on the chess board, all the indication suggested that the most interesting was still to come. As though casting off the burden of the unlimited match, the two opponents had begun playing unrestrainedly, each aiming as soon as possible to seize the initiative.”
Game 13
Game 13
Nimzo-Indian Defense
Both players agreed for another quick draw. Karpov played an interesting 9th move, which minimize the White advantage and after the 18 Qe5, a relatively weak move, the players again agreed to draw the game after the 24th move.
Game 14
Game 14
Sicilian Defense
This time it was Karpov who innovated with move 6 g4. A move, which made Kasparov plays very carefully. Of course, the pattern was easy to be understood: Karpov is launching a strong attack on the King’s side of his opponent until move 18… Qf8 that gave Kasparov some counter-attack. After the exchanges of Queens, without any sufficient material, both players agreed to draw after 32 moves.
Game 15
Game 15
Petroff Defense
The opening chosen showed another peaceful day coming. The game like in the previous days happened without much passion and as expected the battle finished quickly after 22 moves with the equal score.
