[Event "Madrid"] [Site "?"] [Round "0"] [White "Karpov"] [Black "Uhlmann"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C07"] [Opening "French: Tarrasch, Open, 4.exd5"] 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 c5 4. exd5 exd5 5. Ngf3 Nc6 6. Bb5 Bd6 7. dxc5 Bxc5 { This is called an "isolated queen pawn" (IQP) position because the pawn at d5 cannot be protected by any other pawn. The pawn is weak and White will try to win it, but Black has counterplay on the adjacent open files.} 8. O-O Nge7 9. Nb3 Bd6 {In IQP positions like these White has two main objectives: the blockade of the isolated pawn and the elimination of Black's dark-squared bishop.} 10. Bg5 {This move directly implements White's plan by transfering the bishop to a post from which it can reach the h2-g8 diagonal (via h4 to g3). } 10... O-O 11. Bh4 Bg4 12. Be2 Bh5 {The superior 12... Re8! had already been introduced by Uhlmann, but he was probably afraid of a prepared innovation.} 13. Re1 Qb6 14. Nfd4 {Not only does White achieve half of his goal, but he also places Black in a position where he faces a difficult decision concerning the fate of the Bh5.} 14... Bg6 {If Black had exchanged bishops the isolated pawn would have less protection. Uhlmann decides that the bishop may be of use at e4, since any eventual f2-f3 will weaken the a7-g1 diagonal.} 15. c3 Rfe8 16. Bf1 Be4 17. Bg3 {Now that all of White's pieces have been properly positioned, the exchange of bishops is appropriate.} 17... Bxg3 18. hxg3 { White need not worry about the doubled g-pawns. They are actually strong from both offensive and defensive perspectives.} 18... a5 {The weakening of b5 is probably more significant than Black's mild initiative, but perhaps the move was played without taking into consideration White's potential sacrifice of the b-pawn.} 19. a4 Nxd4 20. Nxd4 {Karpov correctly maintains the blockade with the piece, since if 20...Qxb2 then 21.Nb5! threatens both 22.Nc7 and 22. Re2.} 20... Nc6 {The position remains rather closed, and the e-file is the only line which can be exploited. To do this, White must drive the Re8 away.} 21. Bb5 {The pin encourages Black's rook to leave the e-file. Probably 21... Bg6 would have been best here.} 21... Red8 22. g4 {A very clever move, the point of which is to create threats of trapping the enemy bishop should it retreat to g6 (with f2-f4-f5).} 22... Nxd4 {This is a major positional concession, since it leads to an endgame where Black has a bad bishop and White controls the e-file.} 23. Qxd4 Qxd4 24. cxd4 Rac8 25. f3 Bg6 26. Re7 { The immediate objective has now been achieved, and after the doubling of rooks on the e-file Karpov illustrates his famous endgame technique to secure the point.} 26... b6 27. Rae1 h6 28. Rb7 Rd6 29. Ree7 h5 30. gxh5 Bxh5 31. g4 Bg6 32. f4 Rc1+ 33. Kf2 Rc2+ 34. Ke3 Be4 35. Rxf7 Rg6 36. g5 Kh7 37. Rfe7 Rxb2 38. Be8 Rb3+ 39. Ke2 Rb2+ 40. Ke1 Rd6 41. Rxg7+ Kh8 42. Rge7 1-0