Anatoly Karpov's Astounding Caro-Kann Defense

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The legendary Anatoly Karpov mastered the Caro-Kann Defense. Known for its solid structure and deceptive aggressiveness, the Caro-Kann Defense was a favourite weapon in Karpov's formidable chess arsenal. We'll look at four of Karpov's astounding games, dissecting his strategic brilliance and the nuanced maneuvers that left his opponents reeling.
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
00:22 Game 1
04:25 Game 2
08:50 Game 3
12:19 Game 4
Game 1: Ehsan Ghaem Maghami vs Anatoly Karpov, Mate of the King 2009
1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. c4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e6 6. Nf3 Bb4 7. cxd5 Nxd5 8. Qc2 Nc6 9. a3 Nxc3 10. bxc3 Ba5 11. Bd3 Nxd4 12. Nxd4 Qxd4 13. Bb5+ Bd7 14. O-O Qe5 15. Bxd7+ Kxd7 16. Qa4+ Ke7 17. Rb1 b6 18. Rb5 Qc7 19. Qg4 Kf8 20. c4 h5 21. Qf3 Rc8 22. Bb2 Kg8 23. Rd1 Rh6 24. c5 a6 25. Rb3 Qxc5 26. g3 h4 27. Rc1 Qxc1+ 28. Bxc1 Rxc1+ 29. Kg2 h3+ 0-1
Game 2: Vasily Yemelin vs Anatoly Karpov, Keres Memorial 2006
1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. c4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e6 6. c5 Be7 7. Nf3 O-O 8. Qc2 b6 9. b4 a5 10. Na4 axb4 11. Nxb6 Ra7 12. Ne5 Nfd7 13. Nbxd7 Bxd7 14. Bd3 h6 15. Bd2 Bf6 16. f4 Nc6 17. Nxc6 Bxc6 18. Qb2 Qa5 19. Ke2 Qxc5 20. Rac1 Qd6 21. Bxb4 Qxf4 22. Bxf8 Bxd4 23. Qd2 Rxa2 24. Rc2 Qf2+ 25. Kd1 Ra1+ 26. Rc1 Ba4+ 27. Bc2 Rxc1+ 28. Qxc1 Qxg2 29. Re1 Qf3+ 0-1
Game 3: De Gremont vs Anatoly Karpov, San Giorgio Simul 1995
1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. Bd3 Bxd3 5. Qxd3 e6 6. Nf3 c5 7. c3 Nc6 8. a3 c4 9. Qc2 Nge7 10. Bg5 h6 11. Bh4 g5 12. Bg3 Nf5 13. Nbd2 h5 14. h4 g4 15. Ng1 Be7 16. Ne2 Bxh4 17. Bxh4 Nxh4 18. g3 Nf5 19. O-O-O Qg5 20. Kb1 O-O-O 21. b3 b5 22. bxc4 bxc4 23. Ka1 Kc7 24. Rb1 Rb8 25. Rxb8 Rxb8 26. Rb1 h4 27. gxh4 Qxh4 28. Nf1 Qxf2 29. Rxb8 Nxb8 0-1
Game 4: Igor Alexandre Nataf vs Anatoly Karpov, Cannes 2002
1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. Nc3 a6 5. Be3 e6 6. g4 Bg6 7. Nge2 f6 8. exf6 gxf6 9. Qd2 Nd7 10. h4 Bd6 11. h5 Bf7 12. f4 Ne7 13. Nc1 Rg8 14. Be2 e5 15. Nb3 exd4 16. Bxd4 c5 17. Be3 f5 18. O-O-O Qc7 19. gxf5 O-O-O 20. Bf3 Nxf5 21. Bxd5 Nxe3 22. Bxf7 Bxf4 23. Ne2 Rg2 24. Rdg1 Nf8 25. Rxg2 Nxg2 26. Nxf4 Rxd2 27. Nxd2 Nxf4 0-1
#chess

[@diploidcabrera2741]

stop looking at my soul bro

[@OpticalWave]

Bro's looking at him instead of the video 💀

[@lemat579]

😂 (I don't know how it is funny)

[@juliusmanalo9645]

fr

[@abhayjha6709]

Karpov is heavily underrated.

[@an18yearoldmongolianguy]

I mean, he was Garry Kasparov’s rival

[@LeuErelak-wj1ki]

No way😂. Probably you just follow chess recently

[@vov.7397]

He'd sometimes get into really dense positions and it's amazing to watch how he'd just slowly improve his pieces, gaining better position, and just tightening everything up until his opponent couldn't breathe. Just stunning.

[@perkalov]

Karpov is a legend and arguably the best strategic/possitional player of all times often ranked as #4 or 5. Hardly underrated by anyone that has followed chess for a decade or two. Karpov was the second "modern" chess player, after Fisher, taking chess to a new level. He is less known by new players but he is still among the first names you would pick up, outside contemporary players. Carlsen, Fisher, Kasparov, then possibly some other contemporary like Nakamura, Caruana, etc, then Karpov. That is how "underrated" he is. He is likely to be mentioned/learned about long before Capablanca, Lasker, Botvinik, Spassky etc.

[@youtubeshypocrisy]

I would say Karpov is fairly rated.

[@bangkok_as_is]

the last game was brutal, man. those discovered checks are savage, love 'em 🤙🏻

[@rewindforward2865]

Winning the third game that way was too cool. Karpov is a true legend indeed. He was a positional player. In addition, he could attack like a beast. Plus, he could defend like a pro. Respect!

[@TelAvivShalom]

It’s an excellent video, thoughtful, well presented and easy to follow. Thank you! Karpov’s black pawn advance on the h file in game one is a true manifestation of ingenuity… What a great champion!

[@raymondlego1701]

He's Karpov ... that says it all ..

[@RomaEternaVictrix]

Karpov is my rock when I am in difficulties. Petrosian is my holy spirit, and Capablanca is my God. That is my Holy Black Trinity.

[@kentvanhoeven3946]

Actually a great intro to the Caro-Kann.

[@gavinjones8543]

Great video, getting straight into it and no messing around, well paced ! I have always learned the most by playing through top level games.. So this is ideal. Cheers and have immediately subscribed.

[@mikestubbs1708]

This is a very good presentation of quality material! Also good is the inclusion of the moves so making it much easier to follow the games! The timestamps are very helpful too -some thought has gone into all this, so...very well done sir!!

[@davidbatchelder85]

This is one of your best videos. Wonderful job.

[@crama1963]

Thank you. Great content

[@michaelfortunato1860]

I play the Caro-Kann but I don't think I've seen all four Karpov games. You did a great job reviewing them. Thanks.

[@komikmaceralar8539]

Karpov the best ever👍

[@moniqueheubel8970]

And I am told equally a kind person! Great analysis 🎉

[@Frankie_apollo1717]

Very good video !! Keep it up😊

[@ianerickson2210]

In a tournament game not that long ago, I was faced against the Botvinnik and didnt know the main moves! Sadly lost that game! Appreciate the video as it adds to my previous study of this opening, gotta make my carokann menacing! Cheers

[@robertadona641]

Interesting games by the former World Champion.. ❤

[@amosdraak3536]

Thanks for games of Karpov

[@scacchifilosofia]

Fantastic video, and fantastic Karpov! Greetings from Italy 😎

[@jasper5016]

Brilliant. Thanks

[@ignacioaraya5467]

nice games!! thank you sir

[@jamesdelb6885]

Thanks for sharing

[@user-du6lv8tg8b]

I tested lot of different defenses and now considering Caro-Kann as simply BEST opening in chess ever.

[@ShubhamSharma-ow7jn]

Your elo?

[@user-pj6gd8hd9r]

Wait till bro finds out about the talk variation

[@user-pj6gd8hd9r]

*tal*

[@dirkhebgeennaamachter9056]

Merci beaucoup, very inspiring video

[@chinnaiah.G]

Very nice play by Anatoly karpov! and your comemtery is so good!

[@levialston518]

I'm learning more and more with each video I watch

[@chessbuddies]

very informative video.... lots of best games

[@prakasavigraha6104]

Super interesting and very followable. The use of colourful language adds a little spice which I definitely appreciate. In all a great video. Cheers Sammy.

[@epicnamehere100]

Great analysis

[@dowaliby1]

Brilliant commentary.

[@blacknwhite5451]

Nice, I did actually see the finish in the first game. :)

[@isseshafeeg3899]

Very good presentation

[@arguellozelaya]

Thank you for sharing this Master Pieces of the Caro Kann and Karpov. I play it myself, and have an almost 60% winning rate playing black with it.

[@radhabinodenandi]

This is so entertaining!

[@alaakhalil498]

Thank you so much. Very simple and straightforward games. Could you please share more in the Caro kann with top games from top players?

[@thewatcher9142]

I do appreciate your style if commentary on this channel, pithy but informative.

[@jessejordache1869]

Karpov has a book on the Panov-Botvinnik Attack from the point of view of the white pieces that I study from time to time when I know I'm going to play against a CK player. It's from the late 2000s, but the P-B isn't very theoretical after you reach a certain point in the game. I highly recommend it. Using it I've gotten really great positions with a supported knight on a dark square versus a light-squared bishop and black's pawns all on light squares, plus queens. You hardly have to do anything, and black collapses.

[@good0ldtony]

You are good at this.

[@andrewjacob8087]

Anatoly Karpov will always be remembered as The final Boss.

[@chinnaiah.G]

Good! Karpov carokan defence is his weapon!!

[@billybob9961]

You present the game, so well, it’s not only informative and an exciting fast moving pace. I always thought of myself as a high-level, chess player but after watching these grandmasters play, I no longer think of myself as an amateur I think of myself as a beginner, even though I have been playing for 51 years. There’s certainly is levels to this game some of the strategies here or just amazing, especially game one check me with the pawn that was a work of art. Perhaps it can be considered a big mistake by the loser however, I think of it as a master class by the winner. that was an amazing win so simple so subtle that it was overlooked and that’s what makes it great.

[@Danumurti18]

Defensive solid and taking pawns one by one, that's actually the style of majority strong players I know, just like Karpov.

[@MarkBenito_gerard]

this game is freaking awesome man

[@Vse_radi_Gari]

Thx for material. C-c is my favourite defence

[@youaremysunshine.1]

Its actually ck

[@poopootin3652]

解説がシンプルでわかりやすいし言い回しも最高

[@eugenekoshanof7328]

Great English, enjoyable to watch

[@isaacambi1914]

You are the best

[@ali19231]

Karpov what a player

[@joelabraham6834]

That Panov Botnivik as white looks like a good opening against caro kann. I think Ill try it out.

[@gregorymorris4693]

The Levy stare 😅

[@anates8060]

Great video. In game 3 you said black resigns, just a minor mistake but I was confused for all of 5 seconds, not sure if there's a way to asterick that in post-publishing

[@anates8060]

Subscribed tho!

[@anates8060]

@@SammyChess1 I'm probably being overly critical, this was a fanvideo regardless

[@cokespy]

could you make a video on najdorf sicilian played by garry kasparov?

[@markjulienmonzon7593]

can you do one for the french defense?

[@ali19231]

Please do more analysis

[@PacmanRocks100]

Love this format! Any chance on Alekhine's Slav or Shirov's Semi-Slav?

[@BREAKocean]

Can you do one on sveshnikov or marshall attack

[@dankokozar]

You’re a great presenter!

[@Thematic2177]

Thank you for this video. Interesting games with clear explanations. But the way you stare unblinkingly into the camera in the intro is a little unnerving 😅

[@jefftaylor1186]

We play the Botvinnik variation of the advance because he did it against Tal 3 times in 1961 and only lost once. So….. it’s good.

[@royprasad]

After Black played ... h5, instead of moving the Q to f3, what happens if White takes the pawn with Rxh5?

[@jonasniederson5172]

brutal tactics, wow 🤓

[@sasakulic1136]

Karpov is the best chess player ever!

[@chessquad64]

crazy how in the game 4, he pushes his f and g pawns. This would normally lead me to lose the center completely

[@DaxperOfficial]

That Lowry jersey makes me skeptical of you 😂

[@anchalsharma]

Why does black resign in third game 12:13. Black seemed winning

[@jamescurtis2624]

Can anyone tell me why at 4:37 Karpov plays e6, and doesn’t develop the white squared bishop first, as is generally the idea with the caro kann?

[@MichaelVHart]

@9:12 Black goes to e6 (not e3).

[@kamelmemdouh2382]

Karpov is the best

[@lorenzoconti9192]

Why at 2:10 black bishops could not take the white bishops which was not protected?

[@Bentwice]

Bro looks straight into the camera like a news broadcaster

[@vicdn3]

Like your comments а lot!

[@drewbeholy9760]

Word of the day “shambolic”

[@ashutosmisraa]

last one was dank

[@synt3897]

why did black resign in game 3? or was that just a verbal mistake?

[@federicoguerrero7365]

Verbal error. Black won all 4 games

[@dylanthomas12321]

He mixes up black and white numerous times. Seems like he's reading a game summary, gets confused.

[@ernestogarcillan1977]

i didn't play Caro - Kann Defense. I feel like I'm stuck 😅

[@suqmadiq6653]

? What’s an “adverserie”??

[@brucelittleboy3594]

Running Stockfish shows that Karpov made three clear mistakes in game #1: moves 17, 18, 22.

[@mehdialigol]

Hi thanks for your nice simple teaining Only eliminate the shirts hanging on the wall!

[@youaremysunshine.1]

5:04 a5*

[@spliggerzoid]

its ok to blink

[@kevintang4340]

Big booty Lowry

[@NickCSE]

The commentary between Karpov and De Gremont should have been a big mistake. Can't understand why Karpov had to resign. However other games are definitely a big lesson for Caro-Kann players.

[@marcusgreer3868]

I’ll master my Caro-Kanan game, playing as black is not so bad like people says. I know some dudes that only know how to play as white, the game doesn’t work like that, you have to know how to play both

[@TruthSurge]

AD ver sary not ad VER sary. Just trying to help!

[@theocerigo5475]

THE THIRD ONE MAYBE YOU SAID BLACK RESIGN I THINK YOU MEAN WHITE RESIGNED?

[@gigachad3259]

You talk like you're a AI ngl

[@johnpender358]

What is the Carrol Klan defense? Never heard of it.

[@mikestubbs1708]

No it is the Caro-Kann defence!