Karpov - Miles 

GM A. Karpov (2725) - GM A. Miles (2545)
[B00]
European (men's) Team Championships
 (Round One, # 1)
 Skara, Sweden;  1980.

 [A.J. Goldsby I]

******************************

An exciting and complex struggle.

I remember when this game was played ... at that time Karpov seemed almost unbeatable ... for something like five years, he towered over other GM's, and won most of the tourney's he played in. (I was a spectator at a simul he gave in the late 70's - most players seemed completely in awe of him.)

This game was something of a wake-up call.  (For me anyway.) 
Either as a joke, or to prove a point,  GM Tony Miles  plays  1...P-QR3;  (...a6) on his very first move. (as Black)  Had he been defeated horribly, this game would have been quickly forgotten. (I think.)

In the end, Miles won a very interesting game. Both sides may have had some chances, but Tony won out. While I am sure Karpov wants to forget this game, for Miles it was fondly remembered. (He told me this personally. He also said it was a terrific struggle,  ... ... ...  and that it was NEVER easy to beat Karpov!)

*******

According to Jeff Sonas's web site,  Karpov  - at the end of 1979 - was the Number One Player in the World ... with a  2802  rating. (Garry Kasparov had not yet made his mark in the world of chess.) 

GM Tony Miles  was  # 64  in the world, (Just behind American GM Walter Browne!);  with a rating of  2584.  (The ratings here are the ones given by FIDE, I do believe.)

******************************

1.e4 a6!?;   
Why Miles played this move will never be 100% clear. But - it was considered to be less than best ...  to say the least.

In a way, this was as good a try as any, and it at least avoids the huge bulk of Karpov's theoretical knowledge, at a time when Karpov was easily one of the most  'booked-out'  players in the entire world!! (Miles was fond of doing this. He rather liked throwing a player on his own  resources.)

Miles caused an explosion in the popularity of this opening. Before this game, there were perhaps only a handful of games with this move. After this game, it seemed everybody was playing it. (Over 950 examples in ChessBase's on-line database. And most of these occur AFTER 1980!) 

A 17th century (!) Cardinal recommended this (1...a6) as a way to avoid an opponent's opening preparation. But the first known example in the database I could find was the encounter: 
Wilhelm Steinitz - Jonathan Baker; Great Britain Simultaneous Tour London, England;  1868. 
(Steinitz LOST this game, and in a mere 33 moves!!! But to be fair,  Steinitz probably played this game blindfold.)

[ I found several more games that precede this one ... for example: 
  John Cochrane - A.L. Deschappelles;  Paris, France; 1821. 
  Black won an impressive game.) ]  

The best source for these old games is the book: 
 "The Oxford Encyclopedia Of Chess Games, Volume One (# 1.)" 
   by  D.N.L. Levy  and  K.J. O'Connell. 

     [ More normal would be:  1...c5!?;  {Diagram?} 
        with a Sicilian Defense.  ]  

2.d4,   
Grabbing the center ... this is probably the most natural reaction, and the best move in this position.

     [  Nf3 used to be considered a trifle better, but here is a game that 
        could not have helped that moves reputation:  
        2.Nf3 b5;  3.d3!? Bb7;  4.Be2 g6;  5.Bd2?! Bg7;  6.Bc3 Nf6;  7.Nbd2 0-0;  
        8.h3!? c5;  9.a3!? d5!;  10.exd5 Nxd5;  11.Bxg7 Kxg7;  12.Ne4 Nd7;  
        13.Qd2 h6!?;  14.g4 Qc7;  15.h4?!,  ('?')  A lousy waste of time.  

           (Better was: >/=  15.0-0-0,  "~")   

        15...Qf4;  16.Qxf4 Nxf4; "=/+"  17.Rg1 Rac8;  {Diagram?}  
        This is OK.  

           (Better was:  >/=  17...c4!;  "=/+")  

        18.Nfd2 Ne5!?;  19.f3 Bd5!?;  20.Rg3?! Nc6!;  21.Bf1 Nd4;  
        22.Rc1 Rfd8;  23.Kf2 Kh8!?;   {Diagram?}  
        This looks overly cautious. 
         (Black wants to play ...f5;  - - -  this is a grand strategy ...  
           but probably is not necessary.)  

           (Probably better was:  >/=  23...e5; "/+"   {Diagram?}    
             immediately.)    

        24.Ke3 e5;  25.b3? f5;  26.Nc3 Nxd3!;  27.Bxd3 f4+;  ("-/+")  {Diag?}  
        Black has an easily won game, but White played on until all he 
        had left was his King, (and a few pawns)  ...  before giving up.  

        J. Viidik - Paul Keres;  Training Game/Match Estonia, 1935.  ]  

2...b5!?;   
Black continues with his Q-side expansion.  

This was criticized by some, who said ...e6 was a better move. Suffice it to say that it is different, but not clearly better than the text.

     [  If  2...e6;  then   3.c4,  "+/="  {Diagram?}  
         with a small but solid edge for White in this position.  ]   

Karpov now chooses a very solid formation for the first player.  
3.Nf3,   
Simple and straight-forward  development - this could have been predicted by Miles.

     [ MCO  gives:  3.Bd3 Bb7;  4.Nf3 Nf6!?;  {Diagram?} 
        transposing back into this game.  ( >/=  4...e6!? ) ]  

3...Bb7;  4.Bd3 Nf6!?;    
This is a little provocative.  (To say the least!)  

Some criticized this - & labeled it as very doubtful;  (or worse); and said various other moves were better.  But I think they are overly harsh, and really miss the point. Miles isn't just playing chess here, he is daring Karpov to  ...  'come and get him.'  (Psychology.) 

{A British GM said Miles had toyed with this idea for many years, so it   was not completely unprepared.} 

     [ Maybe a little safer was:  >/=  4...e6!?;  5.0-0,  "+/="  {Diag?}   
         and White retains a solid edge. ]   

5.Qe2,   
Karpov chooses a safe move.  (Nothing wrong with that.)

But the sharper e5! would probably have guaranteed White a large and permanent edge. 

     [  It would have probably been better for White to play: 
         >/=  5.e5, ('!')  5...Nd5;  6.a4!,  {Diagram?}  
        This is probably the best and the most vigorous.  

          ( ChessBase gives:  6.Ng5!?, "/\" ... with the idea of  Nbd2, "+/=" next. )    

       6...bxa4!?;  {Diagram?}  
       This could be a little dangerous. But Black's position is far from 
       easy to play. 

          ( Or if  6...b4!?;  then  7.Ng5!, with a clear advantage.     
            [ See MCO-14, pg. # 382, column # 3, & note # (g.). ] )    

       7.c3!? Nb6!?;  8.0-0 e6;  9.Na3 h6!?; ('?!')   10.Re1 Be7;  
       11.Nc4 Nxc4;  12.Bxc4 d6!?;  13.Rxa4!? Nd7;   14.Ra1!,  "+/="  {D?} 

       White had a very clear advantage ...  and went on to win a very 
       nice game in less than 30 moves.  
       (This was from one of my own games played just a year or two after 
         this game was played. I believe it was played in a California team 
         tournament.) 

*******

       One opening manual recommends that instead of Qe2, White play 
       the following continuation: 

       5.Nbd2!? e6;  6.0-0 c5;  7.dxc5!?,   {Diagram?}  
       This is very sharp, but makes it easier, (I think); for Black to equalize. 
       (In the long run.)  

          ( White can try:  7.c3, "+/="  {Diagram?}  as a sane alternative. )    

       7...Bxc5;   8.e5! Nd5;   {Diagram?}  
       The end of the column. 

       9.Ne4 Be7;  10.Bg5!,  {Diagram?}  
       This is very sharp. It is also a try at exploiting the weak dark squares 
       in Black's position, most notably the d6-square, of course. 
       (Qe2 is very similar to the game here. 10.a4! also looks very good. 
         White could also play Re1 or even c3 here, and be guaranteed 
          at least a small edge.)  

          ( Maybe just  10.a4!?, "+/=" {Diagram?} )    

       10...0-0;  {Diagram?}  
       Naturally Black will want to castle sooner or later.  

          ( The move  10...f6!?;  ('?!/?')  is probably too weakening! )   

       11.Nd6 Bc6;  12.Bxe7 Qxe7;  13.a4!?,   {Diagram?}  
        Probing the Q-side. 

          ( Interesting is:  13.Qe1!?, "/\"  or even Qe2. )   

       13...f6;  14.Ne4!?, "~"  {Diagram?}  
        Apparently GM N. de Firmian considers White to be much 
        better here.  (At least - "+/=")  

       Tischbierek - Reefschager;  Germany, 1994.     

       [ See  MCO-14;  page # 382, column # 3, and note # (i.). ]  

       14.Ne1!? and 14.axb5 should also be carefully examined.  
       (In this last line.)  ]  

5...e6;  6.a4!,   
To me, this is the most energetic.

     [  White could also play:  6.e5, {Diagram?}  or   6.Bg5!?, {Diagram?}       
         or  6.0-0, {Diagram?}  or  6.c3!?,  {Diagram?}  or  6.Nbd2,  {Diag?}  
         with a small advantage to White ("+/=") in any of these lines.  ]  

6...c5!?;  (Maybe - '!')  {Diagram?}  
Very energetic play by Miles ...  who is in danger of being run off the chess board. 

     [  Probably safer was:  6...b4;  {Diagram?} 
         but White simply plays  7.0-0,  "+/="  {Diagram?}  
         with a small, but clear advantage in this position.  ]   

7.dxc5!?,    
I guess Karpov felt this was positionally forced, but I don't like the breaking down of White's pawn structure that has occurred. 

     [  The FIRST British GM points out: 
        7.e5!? c4!;  "~"   {Diagram?}  
        Black is OK here. - Tony Miles.  

*******

        White could play c3, but Tony showed me an idea that may 
        have worked for Black:  
         = 7.c3!? c4!?;  8.Bc2 d5!?;  9.e5, "+/="  {Diagram?}  
        White is clearly just a little better here, in this position.  

           (9.Nbd2!?)     

        9...Nfd7!?;  10.0-0!? h6!?;  11.Nbd2!? Nc6;  12.Re1!? b4;  "~"  {Diag?}  
        Black will play on the Queen-side, and White will hope for chances 
        on the other side of the board.  

*******

        White could also play:  
         >/=  7.axb5!? axb5;  8.Rxa8 Bxa8;  9.dxc5 Bxc5;  
        10.0-0! b4;  11.e5, "+/="  (Maybe - "±")  {Diagram?}  
         which looks to be a slightly improved version of the game. ]  

7...Bxc5;   
Miles continues in a very sharp manner. What many annotators have overlooked is that the strong British GM is basically offering a gambit to Karpov.    (Very brave, but kinda risky?!?)  

     [  Not very attractive for the second player is the continuation of:  
         7...bxa4!?;  8.e5! Nd5;  9.0-0!? Nc6;  10.Rxa4,  "+/="   {Diagram?}  
         and White maintains a solid edge.  ]    

8.Nbd2!?,  (Maybe - '?!')  {Diagram?}  
White says:  "pass,"  and just develops.

--->  This is a very passive and unimpressive reaction by Karpov.  

     [  Maybe just simply:  =  8.0-0,  "+/="  {Diagram?}  
         keeping more options open for the first player here. 
         (- ChessBase.)

***

        It seems to me that Karpov should call Miles's bluff and just 
        grab the pawn:  
        >/=  8.axb5! axb5;  9.Rxa8 Bxa8;  10.e5,  {Diagram?}  
        White must play this first. 
        (Before grabbing the pawn.)

          ( </= 10.Bxb5?! Nxe4; "~")   

        10...Nd5;  {Diagram?}  
         This looks to be forced or the best. 

            ( </=  10...Ng4?!;  11.0-0, "+/=" or '±' )    

        11.Bxb5 0-0;  {Diagram?}   
         At least Black gets to castle in this line!  

        12.0-0, "+/="  (Maybe - '±')  {Diagram?}  
         when I feel Black's compensation, (for his pawn gambit);  is 
         extremely nebulous ... at best! (If there is any meaningful play 
         here for Black, I fail to see it.) 

         Basically, I feel that this amounts to a  REFUTATION (!!!)  of Black's 
         entire opening.  ]   

********************************

8...b4;   
An interesting note is that this position has occurred a dozen times, according to ChessBase's on-line database.  

     [ 8...bxa4!?;  9.Rxa4, "+/=" ]  

9.e5, "+/="  {See the diagram just below.}  
I think White has to play this to maintain any edge at all.  

**********

  The position immediately following 9.e5  

**********

Although while not excessively impressive, White still has a small and persistent advantage in this position.  

     [  After the moves:  9.0-0!? d5!;  "~"  {Diagram?}  
         Black looks to be fine.  ]  

9...Nd5;   
This looks like the required square for the Knight. 
(On g4, this steed would look to be a little stranded.)  

     [ </=  9...Ng4!?;  10.0-0, "+/=" ]   

10.Ne4 Be7;   
This looks to be forced.  

     [  Of course not:  10...Ba7??;  11.Nd6+ Kf8;  12.Nxb7, "+/-"  ]  

11.0-0!?,   
White simply castles ... surely this cannot be {that} bad?  

Yet several authors have virulently condemned this move and blamed it for White's loss. 

(I don't really buy into this argument ... White's one big opportunity has already come and gone.) 

'?!' - ChessBase 

The move, Bg5! may still {yet} guarantee White an advantage.  (Maybe - !?) 

     [  Maybe the move  11.c4!?,  {Diagram?}  
         is playable here.  

***

        With the continuation:  >/= 11.Bg5! f6!?;  {Diagram?}  
        I think this is forced.  
        (ChessBase gives it a dubious mark.)  

            ( MUCH worse is:  </= 11...0-0?; 12.Nd6, "+/="  ('±')  {Diagram?}     
               and White has a very clear (and large!)  advantage. )      

        12.exf6 Nxf6;  {Diagram?}  
         This is probably forced.  

            ( After the moves:  </= 12...gxf6?;  13.Ne5!! 0-0;      
               14.Qh5!, "+/="  {Diagram?}       
                White has a strong advantage.     
                ( </= ...fxe5?;  Nd6!  "+/-") )     

        13.Bd2 0-0;  14.0-0,  "+/="  {Diagram?}  
         White gains a very small advantage ...   
         but it is nothing to write home about!  ]   

11...Nc6!?;     {See the diagram just below.}     
Normal development cannot be terrible,  ... ... ...  (he has to develop his pieces sooner or later);  ... 
but the Queen to c7 first might have been a sensible precaution.