Time, and Time Again

Anatoly Yevgenyevich Karpov – 李超 (Lǐ Chāo)
38th Schachbundesliga; Schwäbisch Hall, November 11, 2017
Grünfeld Defence D85

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Qa4+ Nd7 8. Nf3 0-0 9. Be2 Nb6 10. Qa5!? A novelty. For 10. Qa3 Bg4 11. 0-0 e5 see Bluebaum – Bok, 54th World Junior Chess Championship, Khanty-Mansiysk 2015. 10. ... Bd7 11. Rb1 Bc6 12. e5 Be4 13. Rb2 c5 14. 0-0 cxd4 15. cxd4 Bxf3 16. Bxf3 Qxd4 17. Bxb7 Nc4 18. Qa4 Rab8 19. Ba6 Rxb2 20. Bxc4 Bxe5 21. Bxb2 Qxb2 22. Qxa7 Rc8. After all the exchanges the game is materially even, but Black enjoys a fizzy initiative, which – due to the Bishops of opposite colour – might become even more dangerous 23. Bb3 Bd4 24. Qa6. Not 24. Qxe7?? because of 24. ... Qxf2+!! and mate in three moves. 24. ... Rc5 25. Qd3 Kg7 26. g3 h5 27. Kg2 e6 28. Qb1 Qc3 29. Qe1 Qd3 30. Qb1 Qe2 31. Qd1 Qe5 32. h4 Rc3 33. Re1 Qc5 34. Qe2 e5

35. Kf1?? Karpov had succeeded so far in consolidating his position, but now he does self-destruct, maybe due to lack of time. Best was 35. f3(!) still holding everything together. 35. ... Qc6! Threatening ... Qc6-h1 mate. 36. Qe4. His Majesty cannot come back, for if 36. Kg1?? there follows 36. ... Rxg3+ and mate next move. 36. ... Qf6! 37. Qg2. Or 37. Qe2 Rf3 and the f2-Pawn falls anyway. 37. ... Bxf2! 38. Qxf2 Rf3 39. Re2 Rxf2+ 40. Rxf2 Qa6+ 41. Kg2 f5 42. Rd2 Kf6 0 : 1.