Before the match B Spassky predicted: “Today we are going to see a bloodbath, just like a corrida. The bill will be Kasparov and the matador Karpov.”
Kasparov surprised by playing for the first time an English but went into unfamiliar waters when Karpov play a new pawn sacrifice on move 9. Spending 80 minutes (probably the longest time consumed to reply on a move during any world championship) of his time to reply with 10 d3 Kasparov had already spent more than half of his time. However the champion managed to keep a better position until move 20 when he played 20.dxc instead of h3 hanging two pieces but with some winning chances. Instead of a clear plus Kasparov went to a clear minus. In a hopeless time scramble and bad position the Champion forgot to press his clock after the 26th move and lost on move 32 just before to be mated.
Game 3
Game 3
Grünfeld Defense
Careful play marked the third game as Kasparov was more looking to recover from his last defeat and in any case he was playing with black pieces. He held an easy draw after improving on game 1
Game 4
Game 4
English Opening
For the celebration of their 100th encounter Kasparov went on to provoke Karpov on a remake of the 2nd game. Better prepared he built up a kingside attack pushing Karpov, short of time, to miscalculate the best defense and when to the adjournment with two pawns up. Willing not to spend energy on the lost position Karpov resign the next day. Why Karpov did not repeat 9…e3 innovation from game 2 and used already in Merano in 1981 will stay a mystery.
The Spanish journalist Leontxo Garcia commented: “Today Kasparov’s characteristic pride and energy have won through over the nerves he was exhibiting early.”
Game 5
Game 5
Grünfeld Defense
The challenger took his first time-out and when the fifth game was played it was apparent that he had been studying the very aggressive and risky Exchange variation of the Grünfeld. The ploy bore fruit as Kasparov, despite getting the attacking positions that he wanted, consumed too much time on his clock. In severe time pressure, he blundered, simultaneously exposing his King to attack and giving away a Rook.
This period of the match has been more violent than previous encounters. Of the 100 games played prior to this match, only 25 had ended in decisions. So far after five games, three have already ended in wins.
Game 6
Game 6
English Opening
Kasparov decided not to take any risk for this 6th game with only a slight initiative, the players agreed to draw after White were completely neutralized.
Game 7
Game 7
Grünfeld Defense
A time-out taken before the 7th game, appeared not to have helped Kasparov any as he failed to come up with an improvement on the variation that lost for him the fifth game. His attempt at putting pressure on White’s queenside with his 16th move hardly made any impression on Karpov. Kasparov missed several of good opportunities and let Karpov built pressure and an advantageous position which give him a huge advantage until he threw it away with a wrong 42nd move Qh5 instead of a clear win with 42. Rc1. With good adjournment preparation Kasparov had no problem to show his endgame technique and to draw the game.
Game 8
Game 8
English Opening
Another English opening was on the menu of this 8th game. Playing unusual pattern Karpov came soon into trouble after playing a weak 18…Bf5 instead a normal 18…gf5. Immediately after blocking the Queen’s side Kasparov lunched a terrible attack on the opposite side of the board letting Karpov to play only defensive moves. With a very passive position and wrong sealing move Karpov resign 8 moves later. After the third of the match, the score is tied at 4-4.
During the beak, World Champion gave an interview to the Spanish TV: Q: Grandmaster Gennadi Sosonko said yesterday that this game could serve for you to find bach to yourself again. Do you agree?
A: I played quite well yesterday, but I have to recognize Karpov’s help who did not evaluate the position correctly and committed a serious positional error when he took on f5 with his bishop, after which he was left with a totally passive position. It was easy to play. I played the end of the game in a very good style, reassembling my forces favorably. When we adjourned the game, I had already an advantage
Q: When you retired to rest yesterday night, did you know that you were going to win, or did you have to work a lot with your analysts?
A: Evidently, we had to analyze the game, because there were still many pieces on the board, and everything depended from Karpov’s sealed move. I think he put down one of the weakest possible moves which made him lose necessarily. There were other possibilities. One of them, bishop b7, obliged White to choose a very strong continuation, g4, which offered probably winning chances, though their was no clear way to victory. Another possible move was f5 which allowed to win the exchange, but it would have prolonged the struggle and, in the long run, White could have won. Then there was a third move, rook e8, after which White could have decided the game in a beautiful way. We analyzed for a long time and did not find on immediate solution, although the overall evaluation of the position presented no doubt. White’s pieces were so favorably situated and Block’s knight on a5 so badly, an almost useless piece, that there was an overwhelming positional advantage for White.
Q: Anyway, it must be completely different if one goes to bed with an adjourned game in a winning or losing position. How does a chess player feel in such situations?
A: We can say that there are different kinds of adjourned positions.
The first kind of positions are won or lost, and then you don’t keep on playing, you simply wait that your opponent resigns. Other positions are complicated and difficult, actually lost, but it is necessary to ploy them, like today. There is no difference between these two cases, you may win or lose, because when you go to bed, you are excited due to the imminence of the following day. If you play the adjourned game —above all in a World Championship— there is a great nervous tension. It is much more pleasant to go to sleep with a clearly favorable position, since this makes you experience positive emotions, if you find a winning continuation, this is very satisfying, though the tension does not diminish.
Q: After two victories in eight games, you have proved that you may win again against Karpov, but your fight against the clock is still pending.
A: Yesterday, I was better than in the previous games, though the position helped me. I hope that I am going to warm up gradually.
Game 9
Game 9
Grünfeld Defense
Both players debated again the Grünfeld defense with 12 Bxf7 named the Sevilla variation. Kasparov was the first to innovate with 15…Qb6 but the answer 17. Qd3 a home-preparation gave to Karpov enough pressure to make Kasparov into a precarious situation at the sealing time. Playing an active defense 46…a5 the champion found the only way to share the point by giving up a pawn to enter into a well-know theoretical draw.
Game 10
Game 10
Caro Kann
Defense Like during his match against A. Sokolov, Karpov used the Caro-Kan to neutralize completely White’s initiative. The game proceeded uneventfully and soon ended in a draw. Game 11
Game 11
Grünfeld Defense
After a short draw in the previous game, the players went to the game with different mood. Kasparov was celebrate the second anniversary of his title when Karpov had to remember that 2 years ago he lost game 11 by letting Kasparov to win it with a queen sacrifice. But the history repeated again not only the usual Grünfeld but the worst blunder of Karpov’s life 36.Rc6 losing immediately the exchange and the game. After this tragic day Kasparov came back to the lead 6-5.
Game 12
Game 12
Queen’s Gambit Declined
Both players proceeded with extreme caution. Unwilling to enter into a complicated debate the Champion offered a draw on move 21.
