Иремель (Iremel)

Anatoly Yevgenyevich Karpov – Romain Édouard
4th Trophée Anatoly Karpov; Cap d’Agde, October 30, 2015
Nimzo-Indian Defence E35

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 d5 5. cxd5 exd5 6. Bg5 h6 7. Bxf6 Qxf6 8. a3 Bxc3+ 9. Qxc3 0-0 10. e3 c6 11. Nf3 Bg4 12. Be2 Nd7 13. 0-0 Qe7 14. b4 a6 15. a4 Rac8 16. Rfc1 Rfe8 17. h3 Bh5 18. Ra2 Nf6 19. Qc5 Qd8 20. b5. The minority attack on the Queenside “is thematic”, Grandmaster Laurent Fressinet said. 20. ... Ne4 21. Qa3 cxb5 22. axb5 Rxc1+ 23. Qxc1 a5. The creation of a passed Pawn on the a-file can be considered as a “typical reaction”, says Fressinet. “The position is unbalanced and hard to evaluate, but there is plenty of play on both sides, perhaps slightly favourable to Black”. 24. Qa3 Qc8 25. Ne5 Bxe2 26. Rxe2 f6 27. Nd3 Qc4 28. b6 Rc8 29. Rb2 Kh7 30. Kh2 a4 31. Nf4? A slip by Karpov. Correct was 31. f3 Qc3 with fairly even chances. 31. ... Qc1? But Édouard misses 31. ... Qf1! with the deadly threat of ... Rc8-c1. 32. f3 Nc3

33. Qe7! When all seems lost, Anatoly Yevgenyevich launches a brilliant attack against the enemy King! 33. ... Qxb2 34. Nh5 Rg8 35. Nxf6+ Kh8 36. Nxg8 Kxg8 37. Qxb7 a3. White is now a Knight down, while the a3-Pawn quickly runs toward the promotion square. But Karpov has calculated very accurately that the only possible outcome is a draw by perpetual check. 38. Qc8+ Kh7 39. Qf5+ Kh8 40. Qc8+ Kh7 ½ : ½.

Romain Édouard congratulates Anatoly Yevgenyevich Karpov
Photo © Pierre Textoris/CapÉchecs