Benjamin Franklin

The game of chess is not merely an idle amusement. Several very valuable qualities of the mind, useful in the course of human life, are to be acquired or strengthened by it.

If you are reading this instead of viewing a chess puzzle or game, then you must enable JavaScript on this website.

[Event "Montreal"]
[Site "Montreal"]
[Date "1979.06.17"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Karpov, Anatoly"]
[Black "Larsen, Bent"]
[Result "0-1"]
[BlackElo "2620"]
[ECO "B01"]
[TimeControl "0"]
[WhiteElo "2705"]

{ A strong world champion falls to the Scandinavian Defense played by a
Scandinavian.  The outcome of this game is determined primarily by rook play.
Black's rooks and other pieces are wonderfully coordinated. } 1. e4 { B01:
Scandinavian Defence } 1... d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3 Qa5 4. d4 Nf6 5. Bd2 Bg4 6. Be2 Bxe2 7. Ncxe2 Qb6 8. Nf3 Nbd7 9. O-O e6 10. c4 Be7 11. b4 O-O { 11... Bxb4? is
no good 12. Rb1 pins it against black's queen. 12... a5 13. a3 and the bishop
falls. } 12. a4 c6 13. Qc2 Qc7 { 13... Bxb4? is still no good because of 14.
a5. } 14. Rfe1 b6 15. a5 { White gets more space.  However, there is a fine
line between pawns that are aggressively poised and over extended. } 15... Rfb8 16. a6 b5 17. c5 { This push gains space, but creates a wonderful post for black's
knights on d5. } 17... Nd5 { A comfortable square for the black knight. } 18. Nc1 Re8 19. Nd3 Rad8 20. g3 { Prevents intrusion on f4 and h4. } 20... Bf6 21. Re4 Nf8 22. h4 Rd7 23. Kg2 Red8 24. g4 Re8 25. g5 { White wins space now on both sides of the
board. } 25... Bd8 26. Nfe5 Rde7 27. Bf4 Qc8 28. Bg3 f6 29. Nf3 Rf7 30. Qd2 fxg5 31. Nxg5 Rf5 32. Ra3 Ng6 33. Nf3 Ref8 34. Nfe5 Nxe5 35. Rxe5 Rf3 36. Ra1 $2 { 36.
Re4 trying to hold on to h4, is a better option for white in this line. } 36... Bxh4 $1 { A surprise sacrifice tactic. } 37. Qe2 { If instead, 37. Bxh4 then Rxd3.
The rook is immune due to Nf4+ forking king and queen. } 37... Bxg3 38. fxg3 Qd7 39. Qxf3 { A tough decision -- can white coordinate his Rooks before black
activates his Queen? } 39... Rxf3 40. Kxf3 Nxb4 $1 { The knock-out blow. Now if 41.
Nxb4 then 41... Qxd4 with a triple attack and no where to hide. } 41. Rd1 Qxd4 42. Re4 Qd5 43. Nf2 Qh5+ 44. Kg2 Nd5 { 44... Nxa6 is also quite playable. } 45. Rxe6 h6 { Black attends to his King's safety. } 46. Rd3 Kh7 47. Rf3 b4 48. g4 { White pokes at the hovering queen.  White cannot play 48. Rxc6 because 48...
Ne3+ 49. Rxe3 Qd5+ 50. Ne4 Qxc6 is hopeless for white. } 48... Qg5 49. Kg3 Qc1 { White still cannot touch the pawn on c6.  50. Rxc6? b3! 51. Rxb3 Qf4+ 52.
Kg2 Qa4 picks off lots of material. } 50. Nh3 Qc4 { 50... Qxc5 is OK also. } 51. g5 $2 { White is desperate.  He plays for a swindle. } 51... h5 { The only move. } 52. Re8 h4+ 53. Kg2 b3 54. Rb8 Qe2+ 55. Nf2 Ne3+ { White resigned here. There
would follow: } 56. Rxe3 Qxe3 57. Rb7 Qxg5+ 58. Kf3 Qxc5 59. Ne4 Qc2 60. Rxa7 b2 61. Rb7 b1=Q 62. Nc5 Qf1+ 63. Kg4 Qcf5+ 64. Kxh4 Q1h3# 0-1