WEBVTT 00:00.870 --> 00:01.660 Hi there. 00:01.680 --> 00:07.540 In this lecture, we see a really classic game, Anatoly Karpov, against Garry Kasparov. 00:07.560 --> 00:17.220 In the 1990, Kasparov Karpov World Championship match, round 17 D4 from Karpov we have 956c4, G six, 00:17.490 --> 00:18.630 c3d5. 00:18.630 --> 00:23.170 So the Grunfeld defense C takes d59 60 5e4. 00:23.190 --> 00:25.500 So this is just theory in the Grunfeld. 00:26.700 --> 00:27.600 Bishop E three. 00:27.630 --> 00:28.290 C five. 00:28.290 --> 00:32.220 Queen D two Black Castles, nine time three. 00:32.610 --> 00:34.140 Bishop G four. 00:35.550 --> 00:45.120 And now we have 9g5c takes the E4, C takes three, four, nine, c6h3 Bishop D seven Rook v one rook 00:45.390 --> 00:49.530 eight 9395. 00:49.920 --> 01:01.980 Bishop D three Bishop e six White Castles Bishop C four So black is strategically exchanging off Lion 01:01.980 --> 01:08.970 Square bishops to weaken C four In White's camp we have rook fd1b5 Bishop g5a6. 01:08.970 --> 01:09.600 So bear with me. 01:09.600 --> 01:17.370 I'm getting to a crucial moment of the game where we can focus in on controlling a foul aspect and the 01:17.370 --> 01:19.140 implications for winning after that. 01:19.140 --> 01:25.890 So Rook Bc1 Bishop takes the free Rook Take eight, Queen take eight, Queen takes the free. 01:26.160 --> 01:30.240 So here the discussion can really begin. 01:31.710 --> 01:35.310 So there is one shared file. 01:35.610 --> 01:40.320 So what is the importance of this shared file with white breaks in to the seven? 01:40.320 --> 01:48.840 Frank There are a lot of juicy targets statistically, so you could say it's based on statistical target 01:48.840 --> 01:49.620 probability. 01:49.620 --> 01:53.070 If we can use the file to get onto the ranks, that would be great. 01:53.760 --> 01:56.210 We have rookie eight already. 01:56.220 --> 01:57.840 This is an inaccuracy. 01:57.840 --> 01:58.530 Actually. 01:58.560 --> 02:02.040 Blacks should have tried 90 C for now. 02:02.040 --> 02:05.010 It does have a tactic as well in mind. 02:05.490 --> 02:12.750 So if Bishop takes E seven rookie, the bishop would have to stop Knight B two and Black would play 02:12.750 --> 02:12.930 here. 02:12.930 --> 02:16.020 Knight takes a free queen, takes a free rook, takes E four. 02:17.220 --> 02:21.180 So it seems as though 94 was the way to go here. 02:21.570 --> 02:22.140 Just play. 02:22.140 --> 02:27.750 94 is a perk which Black has created through exchanging the light square bishops. 02:27.750 --> 02:40.770 Why not play 94 OC And if Rook C one Queen d7d5 Rooks There's no problem in the possession. 02:41.940 --> 02:44.700 This looks like a nice outpost. 02:44.730 --> 02:50.820 It's about even so, yes, if Queen C four, that's different. 02:50.820 --> 02:54.060 We have Queen A free here hitting the unprotected piece. 02:54.060 --> 02:57.540 Now say Queen C seven. 02:57.540 --> 02:59.580 We can actually just play rook C one first. 02:59.730 --> 03:02.520 And in this position, take on a six. 03:02.940 --> 03:04.860 That's not going to be very clever. 03:04.860 --> 03:14.550 Queen C four So we have Rook E eight So the discussion here I wanted to focus on is this file if we 03:14.550 --> 03:16.050 can get on to the seven. 03:16.050 --> 03:17.820 Frank So Nimzowitsch seven. 03:17.820 --> 03:23.400 Frank Statistically a lot of targets, so it's important to try and get control of this file. 03:23.400 --> 03:29.460 We start with Rook C1 and now Queen B seven is played here. 03:32.710 --> 03:36.670 And in this position, it's important to recognize 94 can be a total pain. 03:36.670 --> 03:40.810 If we play Quincy to 94, we're not really getting anywhere here. 03:41.050 --> 03:43.600 Let's say D five, E six. 03:43.780 --> 03:48.580 If anything, Black's absolutely fine and might even be a tiny bit better. 03:48.970 --> 03:55.780 So here Karpov actually starts with D five, even though it opens up the Bishop, it kind of restricts 03:55.780 --> 04:01.270 this this bit and the potential of D six as well at some point. 04:01.450 --> 04:03.580 So C four is played. 04:05.440 --> 04:10.540 Blacks are already a bit tied down here if C eight Yeah. 04:10.540 --> 04:13.300 Then we can just take on K and take on E seven. 04:14.020 --> 04:19.060 The check here is harmless, you know there's King H two for example. 04:19.450 --> 04:29.500 So we have 9c4 being played and now Karpov wants to get rid of that knight. 04:29.500 --> 04:30.790 That's one of Black's best pieces. 04:30.790 --> 04:37.840 So 92 we have Knight takes data, and this is maybe a slight inaccuracy as well if H six instead. 04:37.900 --> 04:46.330 Bishop four If we look at this, there's Knight B two and black could cause trouble after B for this 04:46.330 --> 04:46.930 position. 04:46.930 --> 04:53.830 Queen B five White does have a small edge, but it's better than the game continuation. 04:53.830 --> 04:57.580 So Knight takes RD to losing one of the better pieces of the position. 04:57.580 --> 05:00.400 Bishop takes D to give some nice options. 05:00.400 --> 05:04.810 That of Queen takes four poking into A five or B four. 05:05.050 --> 05:06.610 So that's interesting. 05:06.610 --> 05:08.170 We have Rook C eight. 05:10.560 --> 05:13.740 If before here, we can just take the outpost square. 05:13.740 --> 05:16.020 Roxy six and we're dominating here. 05:16.050 --> 05:17.890 We're going to follow with Queen C four. 05:17.910 --> 05:21.060 If I move like Roxy eight sometimes. 05:21.060 --> 05:24.250 So Roxy eight is played immediately. 05:24.270 --> 05:31.500 But here is an absolutely crucial moment in this epic round 17 and absolutely crucial positional tactical 05:31.500 --> 05:32.160 moments. 05:32.160 --> 05:38.460 So sometimes tactics has to come at the service of positional wishes. 05:38.460 --> 05:46.860 So if we wish to leverage this file to get onto the ranks so we can start targeting and winning things, 05:46.860 --> 05:48.480 we'll checkmate in the opponent's king. 05:48.570 --> 05:50.880 We need to be resourceful about this. 05:51.390 --> 05:53.310 How can we be resourceful here? 05:54.600 --> 06:01.410 It turns out the classic back row weakness has something to do with being able to conquer the file for 06:01.410 --> 06:02.250 500 points. 06:02.250 --> 06:04.110 What would you play in this position? 06:09.710 --> 06:11.000 It's real easy sex. 06:11.390 --> 06:11.840 Yeah. 06:11.840 --> 06:15.550 If we play a move like Roxie, two black could just exchange on C two. 06:15.560 --> 06:18.800 It's going to be about even rookie sex is played. 06:18.950 --> 06:25.760 The tactical point here is well, black played Bishop five because if Rook takes c6d takes. 06:25.760 --> 06:31.160 We have access to the back row and if Queen takes, then that back row check is lethal after Bishop 06:31.160 --> 06:34.610 H six absolutely winning here with that pen. 06:35.510 --> 06:42.950 So if Queen C seven, then we have that past pawn, Queen D seven this position Bishop before we have 06:42.950 --> 06:45.410 pressure on E seven as well. 06:45.650 --> 06:51.640 And here we can move on to cause problems for the king Queenie. 06:51.650 --> 06:54.260 Eight check queen of fate. 06:54.270 --> 06:55.550 Check queen air. 06:55.550 --> 06:56.630 Bringing the king out. 06:56.750 --> 06:59.690 This is a tactical exercise. 07:00.320 --> 07:07.370 H four check and blacks getting in huge trouble here. 07:08.750 --> 07:15.290 If King takes H four, for example, Queen F six, check King G for a free check. 07:15.290 --> 07:18.820 King h5g Fair is a nice, crushing move. 07:18.830 --> 07:19.700 If Bishop takes. 07:19.700 --> 07:21.050 We have Queen G five, mate. 07:21.410 --> 07:25.970 And if Bishop takes D to Queen H for checkmate so we can break into the opponent's king position. 07:25.970 --> 07:33.500 Basically if Queen C seven, if nothing else, even if we can't make progress with the pawn here. 07:34.040 --> 07:37.430 Yeah, we're going to eventually break into the opponent's kingside. 07:37.430 --> 07:44.870 So Bishop e five was played, and now Karpov again adopts this policy. 07:44.870 --> 07:48.200 Get rid of one of the opponent's best pieces, Bishop C free. 07:50.770 --> 07:53.020 If F for Bishop D six. 07:53.020 --> 07:56.610 This is going to be harder to do anything here. 07:56.620 --> 07:56.740 Why? 07:56.740 --> 07:59.460 It does have a small edge, but it might be slightly harder. 07:59.470 --> 08:07.120 Bishop C-4 is actually the easiest way, and it looks a bit like Casablanca style simplifying, But 08:07.510 --> 08:10.750 we need to really take control of the simplification process. 08:10.750 --> 08:16.900 We want to either get rid of our worst pieces or the opponent's best pieces, or ideally, both. 08:17.500 --> 08:20.800 So we're getting rid of one of the opponent's better pieces, potentially. 08:20.800 --> 08:23.410 Bishop Bay So it refuses. 08:23.410 --> 08:30.040 If Bishop six we can actually we actually have support for E5 and Queen D for setting up a battery for 08:30.040 --> 08:31.630 E six and Queen G seven. 08:31.810 --> 08:35.740 So this position we can go with Quincy five and here D six. 08:35.740 --> 08:38.950 We're getting more and more different advantages now. 08:38.950 --> 08:40.060 Big pass pawn. 08:40.330 --> 08:46.720 So Bishop B is trying to Queen D four So mate France we have our six. 08:48.040 --> 08:50.560 So Bishop A five now is played. 08:52.090 --> 08:58.540 Queen C five is also interesting this position where Bishop b4 and Queen C free. 08:58.540 --> 09:04.630 Let's say this scenario it's going to be interesting for e seven as a target so we can see even if the 09:04.630 --> 09:10.420 rooks not on the seventh, if it's on E six here there's a juicy target E seven and it's getting a big 09:10.420 --> 09:11.230 advantage there. 09:11.590 --> 09:12.640 That's another way of playing it. 09:12.640 --> 09:14.470 But Bishop eight five is great as well. 09:14.470 --> 09:24.220 Bishop D six So here if Rook c6d takes the tactics don't work for Black Queen, the H picking up the 09:24.220 --> 09:33.070 bishop and it doesn't matter about this checking H two and the game really wants Bishop up so Bishop 09:33.070 --> 09:34.600 dd six is played. 09:34.600 --> 09:36.130 We have Queen C free. 09:36.700 --> 09:45.100 So why is putting pressure on that C far we have rookie eight if rook takes the six this past pawn potential 09:45.280 --> 09:49.510 is too much after C seven King of eight Quincy six. 09:49.750 --> 09:52.420 This position won't make progress. 09:52.420 --> 09:55.390 For example, I'll give you a concrete way of making progress. 09:56.020 --> 09:59.470 We can play for basically for an e five. 09:59.650 --> 10:07.690 So say this position e five and then we're going to crack open the kingside or win material like this. 10:07.710 --> 10:10.510 Queen five check wins material wins that bishop. 10:10.870 --> 10:21.760 So okay, Rookie eight was tried and now Karpov is taking out the opponent's threats in advance sometimes, 10:21.760 --> 10:24.070 or even now, either now or in advance. 10:24.070 --> 10:26.380 He's taking the France out. 10:26.410 --> 10:35.200 He's taking all the sources of counterplay out like a metaphorical python strangling its plague prey, 10:35.230 --> 10:40.090 getting rid of the good moves or the potential threats or even threats if you want to do active operations 10:40.090 --> 10:43.240 and there might be a glimmer of you extinguish all of that. 10:43.240 --> 10:47.770 So the things currently there's a like a B4 kind of threat. 10:47.770 --> 10:50.470 So this is kind of extinguished with a free. 10:50.470 --> 10:57.460 So the python is wrapping around the prey excuse excuse the graphic metaphor, but it is a bit like 10:57.460 --> 11:01.240 that carp from Petrosian known as the Python's of the chessboard. 11:01.360 --> 11:09.130 So a free and now let's say we wanted to indulge in an active operation with Rook B six to try and win 11:10.000 --> 11:10.870 a six. 11:10.870 --> 11:13.690 Let's say we played Rook B six as example. 11:13.690 --> 11:18.070 We've got our own back row problem because the bishop is covering an escape square. 11:18.460 --> 11:20.920 And for example, if we played this, there's a snag. 11:20.920 --> 11:25.720 Black would have not, not such a small issue of of mating us. 11:26.080 --> 11:31.150 And that means we can't take on a because we're getting mated. 11:31.150 --> 11:38.380 So basically Karpov in advance of all of this just improves his position and extinguishes these potential 11:38.380 --> 11:39.040 threats. 11:40.330 --> 11:45.820 So these are more subtle threats to do a vector of operations which we haven't played yet, but we're 11:45.820 --> 11:52.120 extinguishing basically and limiting the opponent's pieces is basically improving the position ever 11:52.120 --> 11:53.590 so slightly to play. 11:53.590 --> 11:59.620 Geoffrey We have Bishop E five, Queen C five, and now H five. 11:59.620 --> 12:04.420 This is slightly to weaken the king, giving more options on this side of the board potentially if Bishop 12:04.420 --> 12:06.550 DD six how would we break through? 12:06.550 --> 12:07.990 So this is interesting. 12:07.990 --> 12:12.850 Let's say this position, we can start to make progress here soon. 12:13.480 --> 12:17.290 For example, rookie six remains a target. 12:18.100 --> 12:23.890 Even if we don't use the seven Frank we can use the E six square and then Black's kind of overloaded. 12:23.890 --> 12:26.890 All of a sudden we're snapping off a five. 12:27.220 --> 12:30.550 Potentially things are going to drop off. 12:30.550 --> 12:40.000 So anyway, H five was tried and now Bishop C seven if rook B six here, this loses control of the C 12:40.000 --> 12:42.250 for any and for what? 12:42.250 --> 12:43.590 To win a pawn. 12:43.600 --> 12:47.170 But after Bishop D six this is just an even position. 12:48.250 --> 12:49.210 Yeah, it's going to. 12:49.500 --> 12:53.160 Essentially just be a drawn component in a phrase, an issue. 12:53.160 --> 12:56.460 So keeping control of the floor anyway. 12:57.150 --> 12:59.940 So with bishops, C-7 is much better. 12:59.940 --> 13:01.230 We have Bishop A1. 13:01.590 --> 13:08.700 If Bishop takes C7 Rook to C7 this position, we have Rook e seven and that's crashing through. 13:09.360 --> 13:12.090 So we have Queen in this variation. 13:12.090 --> 13:18.810 If Queen A, we're just crashing through and if Queen Bee eight again, we just crash through. 13:18.810 --> 13:19.000 Yeah. 13:19.020 --> 13:20.600 In both cases we take only seven. 13:20.610 --> 13:21.030 So. 13:21.030 --> 13:22.170 Bishop A one. 13:26.480 --> 13:26.840 Okay. 13:27.160 --> 13:34.280 Now, Bishop are four, and finally we're getting a rook on the seventh, which means it's a more natural 13:34.280 --> 13:38.300 to have targets, and the king is on the seventh rank, as well as a big target. 13:38.330 --> 13:40.010 Queen seven, Rook seven. 13:40.010 --> 13:41.480 So mission accomplished. 13:42.020 --> 13:43.160 So here, Queen. 13:43.190 --> 13:48.440 If Queen takes her place, Queen takes H three, rook takes E seven. 13:48.450 --> 13:52.040 Check is fairly crushing here after Bishop H six. 13:53.990 --> 13:55.220 Plants getting mated. 13:55.610 --> 14:06.150 So Queen de ain't we have now that noise pin on the E, seven point D, six, G five and now D seven. 14:06.170 --> 14:08.210 Huge big passport on D seven. 14:08.630 --> 14:09.860 There was another way to play. 14:09.890 --> 14:11.270 I mean, it's a fantastic possession. 14:11.270 --> 14:11.590 Bishop. 14:11.600 --> 14:11.870 Thanks. 14:11.870 --> 14:16.510 G five was another wise player mopping up the pawns, and then D seven is crushing there. 14:16.520 --> 14:17.840 That's another way of playing it. 14:18.230 --> 14:22.940 So this is just going to be an absolutely winning end game after taking it to an exchange up and loads 14:22.940 --> 14:23.930 of pawns over here. 14:24.110 --> 14:31.630 But D seven is also crushing Rook Kathy Bishop RD to Bishop E five and now Rokeby seven. 14:31.670 --> 14:35.810 This is actually the end of the game because more resigned here. 14:35.810 --> 14:41.450 I mean it's a huge big passport on D seven if Bishop D six queenly five. 14:41.450 --> 14:45.680 I mean let's say this possession with Queen eight. 14:48.090 --> 14:51.090 If for let's just rule out h for this position. 14:51.090 --> 14:56.250 We're getting a huge position with the tactics against the king. 14:56.700 --> 14:57.750 It's overloaded. 14:57.990 --> 15:00.060 The whole the whole position is overloaded. 15:00.270 --> 15:01.860 It's not just the passport, it's the king. 15:01.860 --> 15:03.500 It's overwhelming threats here. 15:03.540 --> 15:09.990 So, for example, Bishop E to Hare Rook takes C seven, crashes through with checks and the pawn is 15:09.990 --> 15:11.340 crashing through and stall. 15:11.430 --> 15:15.810 But if Queen eight Bishop b4 is brutal. 15:15.870 --> 15:25.350 Bishop he takes this position, we can play e five here to get protected pass pawn on D seven so here 15:25.350 --> 15:31.830 if f tanks then we can go for the king rook b six check queen takes e five check and just go for the 15:31.830 --> 15:32.460 king. 15:33.420 --> 15:34.770 This would be mating the king. 15:35.340 --> 15:43.890 And if rook g eight Queen C six, Rook, rook C seven. 15:43.890 --> 15:45.540 This is absolutely winning. 15:45.960 --> 15:48.210 Even if Queen's come off, then we get this. 15:48.240 --> 15:50.370 We've got a threat here of Rooks eight. 15:50.880 --> 15:54.600 So if rook ae6 and then rook eight. 15:54.990 --> 15:56.130 So yes. 15:56.430 --> 15:57.330 Wow. 15:57.930 --> 16:00.930 So this is the end game. 16:01.110 --> 16:02.580 Final possession at the end of the game. 16:02.580 --> 16:03.540 Final possession. 16:03.540 --> 16:10.560 So what we see in this game from this world championship match, this really super high profile world 16:10.560 --> 16:13.020 championship match, they're not meant to be this instructive. 16:13.020 --> 16:13.650 Right. 16:14.100 --> 16:23.490 But in fact, yeah, starting from D five, we get an absolute lesson in making use of a file to get 16:23.490 --> 16:25.290 entry into the opponent's position. 16:25.290 --> 16:31.740 And then once we get entry, we've got lots of juicy targets on the seven Frank So great maneuvers, 16:31.740 --> 16:37.470 so exchanging off blacks better piece to start off with giving the bishop options. 16:38.010 --> 16:43.380 And then this tactical move at the service of strategy absolutely vital here to be able to play rook 16:43.410 --> 16:47.730 C6 to be able to build pressure here, continue. 16:47.730 --> 16:52.800 So the tactics are really in service of strategy and weakening the opponent's king and here. 16:52.800 --> 16:58.860 Yeah, trying to cause more concessions and this extinguishing of threats or potential threats while 16:58.860 --> 17:05.130 maintaining absolute authority, not just going for an 86, for maintaining authority on the C file, 17:05.130 --> 17:09.150 not giving any counterplay and extinguishing threats before they even exist. 17:09.440 --> 17:12.450 You know, assuming we're going to do active operations, what would be the threats? 17:12.450 --> 17:14.010 Take them out in advance. 17:14.010 --> 17:16.530 And that has an effect of strengthening the position. 17:16.530 --> 17:22.110 So we're strengthening the position in relation to concrete examples of what might be an issue in the 17:22.110 --> 17:22.800 future. 17:22.800 --> 17:26.130 If you think about it, when we play moves like G three especially. 17:26.130 --> 17:32.430 So yeah, so now that you know, it gives the King also Alliance square away from the dark square in 17:32.430 --> 17:32.910 bishop. 17:32.910 --> 17:39.510 But this this entry into the seventh Frank creates the tactics which are now flowing as Fisher would 17:39.510 --> 17:42.030 say, tactics flow from superior positions. 17:42.030 --> 17:47.190 So once we get a rook to the seventh, that's one of the great goals of a foul to convert it into rank 17:47.190 --> 17:48.840 pressure to get juicy targets. 17:48.840 --> 17:52.730 Once we get the juicy targets, then more assets appear on the scene. 17:52.740 --> 18:00.450 A senior, a big pass pawn and just just finds the position absolutely positionally lost resigning here 18:00.450 --> 18:01.500 at move 40. 18:01.500 --> 18:06.540 So absolute masterpiece against a major tactician of the chessboard Garry Kasparov. 18:06.630 --> 18:11.610 So yeah, comparable has taken down Kasparov numerous times. 18:11.610 --> 18:18.090 Other positional grandmasters, which I admire of course are Adams haven't got such a great score against 18:18.090 --> 18:18.570 Kasparov. 18:18.960 --> 18:25.290 In fact, you know, Adams, outside of a symbol, hasn't really been spot in a real long one day game. 18:25.740 --> 18:29.550 But Karpov is taking positional play to the nth degree here. 18:29.550 --> 18:37.910 So it's amazing this transformation, just controlling a file that kind of lust to get onto the seventh 18:37.920 --> 18:45.330 rank to get juicy targets as expressed here, and converting advantages all the way through and keeping 18:45.330 --> 18:51.180 authority, not giving counterplay and trying to take away sources of counterplay, examining the concrete 18:51.180 --> 18:54.300 threats which might arise, extinguishing them in advance. 18:54.300 --> 18:55.830 So a beautiful game example. 18:55.830 --> 18:59.100 I hope you enjoyed this as much as me and so much.