[Event "World Championship"] [Site "?"] [Round "1"] [White "Kasparov"] [Black "Karpov"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "E21"] [Opening "Nimzo-Indian: Three Knights"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Nf3 {Until now I had mostly played 4.e3, the most common move. But I wanted to surprise Karpov in this initial game of our match.} 4... c5 5. g3 {This system, often used by Oleg Romanishin, really caught Karpov off-guard, and he thought for a long time before responding. This may explain why he quickly deviated from the best-known variations.} 5... Ne4 6. Qd3 Qa5 {Capturing at d4 is normal.} 7. Qxe4 Bxc3+ 8. Bd2 Bxd2+ 9. Nxd2 Qb6 {A mistake. For a few years this position had been bouncing around, and I had prepared it well. But even after 9...Nc6 White stands well.} 10. dxc5 Qxb2 11. Rb1 Qc3 12. Qd3 {This forces an endgame which is clearly better for White. If the queen retreats then after 13.Bg2 Black is paralyzed.} 12... Qxd3 13. exd3 Na6 {13...Nc6 14.Bg2 b6 15.Ne4 Ke7 16.Kd2 f5 17.cxb6 axb6 18.Nc3 Black has too many weaknesses to hold out for long.} 14. d4 Rb8 {Better was 14...e5, but I still would have had a superior position. Karpov rarely parts with pawns unless it is absolutely necessary.} 15. Bg2 Ke7 16. Ke2 {I slipped up here. Usually in the endgame the king belongs in the center, but there are a few tactics lying around which should have led me to simply castle onto the kingside.} 16... Rd8 17. Ne4 b6 18. Nd6 Nc7 {Karpov's idea -- exchanging for the knight at d6 via Ne8 -- is a good one, but there was an even stronger move available. 18...bxc5 19.Nxc8+ Rdxc8 20.Bb7 Rxb7 The point! 21.Rxb7 cxd4 22. Rxa7 Nc5 Black has a strong position in the center and a well-posted knight, which provide a lot of compensation for the exchange.} 19. Rb4 { I am preparing to double rooks on the b-file.} 19... Ne8 20. Nxe8 {Not best. I should have taken the bishop instead. Perhaps I was influenced by the fact that it hadn't made a single move yet!} 20... Kxe8 {Karpov returns the favor by capturing with the wrong piece! His forces all lie powerless on the back rank -- a pretty pathetic sight that could only appeal to a player like Petrosian.} 21. Rhb1 Ba6 22. Ke3 d5 23. cxd6 { An example of an en passant capture.} 23... Rbc8 24. Kd3 {In this first game I was not a full strength and missed the simple and effective winning line. 24. Ra4 Bxc4 25.Bb7 b5 26.d7+ Kxd7 27.Bxc8+ Kxc8 28.Rxa7} 24... Rxd6 25. Ra4 b5 26. cxb5 Rb8 27. Rab4 {Breaking the pin on the b-file, but now Black can regroup.} 27... Bb7 28. Bxb7 Rxb7 29. a4 {We have reached a double-rook endgame where I have an extra pawn, but it is a rather weak one. Still, with proper technique such positions are easy to win .} 29... Ke7 30. h4 h6 31. f3 Rd5 32. Rc1 { Black's rooks are in no position to contest the only open file.} 32... Rbd7 33. a5 g5 34. hxg5 Rxg5 {34...hxg5 35.b6 axb6 36.axb6 Rb7 37.Rc5} 35. g4 h5 36. b6 axb6 37. axb6 Rb7 38. Rc5 f5 {There was nothing better. But now it is all over. } 39. gxh5 Rxh5 40. Kc4 Rh8 41. Kb5 Ra8 42. Rbc4 { The game was adjourned here, but Karpov resigned before the game was resumed.} 1-0