[Event "World Championship"] [Site "?"] [Round "4"] [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 c5 5. g3 cxd4 6. Nxd4 { This position could also be reached via transposition from the English Opening. } 6... O-O 7. Bg2 d5 8. Qb3 {The central battleground is focused on d5.} 8... Bxc3+ 9. bxc3 {This entails a weakening of the pawn structure but keeps the pressure on at d5. 9.Qxc3 e5 10.Nb3 d4 and Black has seized the initiative.} 9... Nc6 {The best move, continuing to develop pieces. 9...dxc4 10.Qa3! For the pawn White has sufficient compensation.} 10. cxd5 {10.Nxc6 bxc6 (White has the problems. He is behind in development, and Blacks Pawn center is secure.} 10... Na5 {This chases away the queen and allows Black to recapture the pawn.} 11. Qc2 Nxd5 12. Qd3 {Best, because the queen helps support the center, and the pawns at c3 and g3 keep away the annoying horses. 12.O-O Bd7 13.Ba3 Re8 14. c4 Rc8 15.c5 b6 Karpov would have a perfectly good game.} 12... Bd7 {Not the be st move. 12...Qc7 13.Nb5 Qc6 14.O-O Bd7 15.a4! a6! 16.e4 axb5 17.exd5 Qc4 This is risky, but how else do you play for a win?} 13. c4 { Opening up the h1-a8 diagonal for use by the bishop at g2.} 13... Ne7 14. O-O { The king must not spend too much time in the center.} 14... Rc8 {Although this is an obvious move, it has some drawbacks which I manage to exploit. 14...Bc6! 15.Ba3 Bxg2 16.Kxg2 White retains the initiative, although Black's position, without any obvious weaknesses, is defensible.} 15. Nb3 Nxc4 16. Bxb7 Rc7 17. Ba6 {My advantage lies in the fact that I have the bishop pair in a open position and my vulnerable c-pawn has been exchanged for the b7-Pawn.} 17... Ne5 18. Qe3 {Again the centralized queen is a powerful tool, controlling useful diagonals and the e-file.} 18... Nc4 19. Qe4 {My lady continues to dance. Taking the knight would certainly have been inferior. 19.Bxc4? Rxc4 20. Qxa7 Bc6 Black would have chances to attack the White king using the h1-a8 diagonal.} 19... Nd6 20. Qd3 Rc6 { Black's pieces are very awkwardly placed and do not cooperate with each other.} 21. Ba3 {Pressure is building on diagonals and files.} 21... Bc8 22. Bxc8 Ndxc8 23. Rfd1 {A good move, keeping control of the d-file.} 23... Qxd3 24. Rxd3 Re8 {The pin at e7 must be broken.} 25. Rad1 f6 { 25...h6 26.Rd8 Rxd8 27.Rxd8+ Kh7 28.Rd7 White wins a Pawn.} 26. Nd4 {Centralizi ng the knight, which, like most pieces, operates more effectively from the middle of the board.} 26... Rb6 27. Bc5 Ra6 {A good general rule is to put your Rook on the second or seventh rank. This position is no exception. But even more importantly, the rook at a6 is passive and rooks really do prefer active positions. 27...Rb2} 28. Nb5 Rc6 29. Bxe7 { Giving up the Bishop to reach a forcing variation that is favorable for White.} 29... Nxe7 30. Rd7 { The occupation of the seventh rank is an important achievement.} 30... Ng6 31. Rxa7 Nf8 {Black's pieces are very passive.} 32. a4 Rb8 33. e3 { I can afford to play with care. My passed pawn will not disappear!} 33... h5 34. Kg2 e5 35. Rd3 {When you have more material, in this case a pawn, it is a frequently a good idea to exchange pieces, and to avoid the exchange of pawns. I want to exchange rooks.} 35... Kh7 36. Rc3 Rbc8 37. Rxc6 Rxc6 38. Nc7 Ne6 { Karpov is hoping for a rook and pawn endgame with some drawing chances.} 39. Nd5 {Exchanging Knights by 39.Nxe6 Rxe6 would create a rook ending in which Karpov could put up more resistance than this position deserves. My centralized Knight on d5 allows me to set up tactical threats.} 39... Kh6 40. a5 e4 41. a6 1-0