Karpov Plays the Greatest Strategic Move in Chess History!

This is Karpov's brilliant game against Wolfgang Unzicker. He completely locks down the position in the most creative way possible. This game is a real treat!
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Lichess handle: Johnnyballgame
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[@pokemonjynx1019]

"it's over" Me: material looks even

[@jacobpope9269]

I love Karpov! More games, please!

[@geronimocarvalho6190]

I agree

[@altonbrek]

Strategic crushes are often more satisfying than tactical games. Ask Nimzowitsch and Petrosian.

[@kier1568]

I find them much more satisfying. There's nothing like having equal material and controlling all of the squares, you feel like a genius

[@denozavr8121]

@@kier1568 tactics and some crazy attacks are also fun. You just sacrifice an exchange without calculating because you just feel like it is the best move. And engine gives like +7 after this. also makes you feel like a genius

[@kier1568]

@@denozavr8121 true😂 I think I've done that too much and it's lost the novelty, it just feels like luck now

[@EricBryant]

Karpov was like a Boa Constrictor, just squeezing the life out of Unzicker, positionally. Great game!

[@Tod_oMal]

"Unforgettable in every way And forever more, that's how you'll stay" As Nat King Cole would have described the move Ba7. Purely poetry.

[@robertocollo2890]

“Unforgettable (…) that’s how he played”

[@northshores7319]

Amazing how Karpov cramps Black on the Qside instead of trying to launch a Kside attack as is the usual method in this opening. He really could play on the whole board.

[@andrewmays3988]

You did it again!!! Great game selection and fantastic commentary. Keep up your great work and we'll all become better pawn pushers!!😇

[@Beyonder-rq2gx]

I like it when youtubers say "a typical karpovian move"

[@rg7535]

Such a gorgeous game. Love the channel. Keep up the good work.

[@chessmate7368]

The famous Pythonian move from Anatoly'an Asphyxia & If you were a buddy of Unzicker you could call all this move "Smothered Mate", the move who choked out your mate, that is.

[@BillHimmel]

Very creative and original move! Thx for sharing!😊

[@Mendelim]

Yes, Dawgs, I did enjoy this & all of your videos. Thanks.

[@thomasherbst6771]

Unzicker defended himself against critics after the game with the words: "It must be allowed to lose to Karpov with Black." It should be noted, however, that he allowed Karpov to push him quite passively. And by the way: "Alekhine's Gun" is the right term. See Alekhine vs Nimzowitsch, San Remo 1930

[@Detoneato]

I love that you’re almost 11 minutes into the video before a anything more than a single pawn is taken by either side lol

[@ArminG65]

One of the most beautiful moves in chess history. I have analysed this game many times and am always amazed. Over 40 years ago, I watched Karpov play at a simultaneous event and had his book signed. Of course, this game was also included in the book.

[@sergii2396]

Thanks for sharing your passion

[@AlamoCityCello]

Good stuff John!

[@aliadigezalov4786]

Great move and great video, thanks

[@peterquinones3522]

I think Shirov' s bishop sac against Topalov wins most polls but this one is a good choice too!😊

[@andredevilleneuve9071]

Indeed impressive. Learned from this game how to work strategicly, gradually gaining space, control lines. Putting pressure on single pieces so as to neutralize their influence (the queen side bishop. A real beauty.

[@i.g.l.z.9215]

A fasscinating positional game, tying up the opponent to resignation... Thank you for your great instructive guidance!

[@kurzackd]

10:02 -- *"Threatening a Tripling"* ... ... almost sounds like something that goes on in a bedroom !! :P .

[@Mach1Airspace]

Excellent!

[@paulbloemen7256]

Quite a great game! I feel that everybody acknowledged that Karpov was strong, but that his games were unassuming, not spectacular at all so no fun. And as Karpov himself looked and behaved unassuming too, he never became popular, like Kasparov did. But he truly was exceptional, his games are worth while replaying: I join some others, pleading for more Karpov games!

[@ashoksafaya5397]

Certainly enjoyed sir,Ba7 and the game built on the same.Thanks.

[@ritawilliams8533]

Thanks ❤

[@byrdis1a1]

Hey John, if you don't have it, check out Edmar Mednis's book "How Karpov Wins" Great job on explaining the game as usual. Looking forward to you cracking 20k subs we should celebrate when you do.

[@chessdawg]

Thank you. I do have that book. It is a great source of Karpov's earlier games.

[@rafaelsegovia6127]

Wow, what a brilliant move!

[@cathya44]

Excellent and beautiful move!! in Karpov's book it is described as cutting black's blood flow, Thank you

[@soumyavinayak]

great game!

[@locngo]

The brutality of the Bishop move was shocking to say the least, it has something sadistic to it. The entire game was like a serial killer choking out the air of the victim. Karpov is a genius and yet he got not as much fanfare as others.

[@r.i.a.n.63]

It reminds me of a boa constrictor. Slow, subtle, calculated moves that barely seem like anything until the prey is completely lifeless and it's too late.

[@thomasherbst6771]

Interesting. I used the term " boa constrictor" in reference to this game a few years ago.

[@r.i.a.n.63]

@@thomasherbst6771 It has to be frustrating trying to attack someone like Karpov in a game like this.

[@christopherparsons3224]

I had a game recently where I trapped a rook with a pawn and bishop, on the a7 square. Instead of trying to force a trade and risking a mistake, I used 4 points worth of material to trap 5 points worth of material and it was inspired by this very game you are showing.

[@dusanpogacar1399]

Fantastic moove by bishop!!! I also like Laskers moove against Capablanca when he sacrifased a poun to get space for hes knight and than he destroyed Capa.I thing it was 1915.

[@Narrowcros]

I saw this game many years ago, think it was on kingscrushers channel. Never forget it but rare to get it in

[@Straight_Talk]

The greatest strategic move in history is undoubtedly Capablanca's Bd7 move against Janowski in 1916.

[@zavalajoseraul]

Incredible fr

[@FloydMaxwell]

Fantastic strategic move, and game, by the underrated Karpov

[@bring-out]

Karpov underrated? 😆

[@rg7535]

I don’t know if I could say he’s underrated. He’s universally recognized as one of the best strategic players of all time, possibly second best behind Magnus.

[@FloydMaxwell]

@@rg7535 While I agree about his strategic ability, I know I've never heard anyone but you rate him that highly.

[@skarimi3007]

Well, as much as I know, he is regarded as the most notable master of strategy in chess history by many. At least one of the top five in positional chess besides Kramnik, Petrosian, Capablanca and Nimzowitch.

[@Orion-zq8jf]

Yeah thats a tough one to find and to actually see how strong it is

[@beloglavisup2]

Karpov's 6:40 Ba7 could be refuted with simple Qc7. Sample line 1)Ba7 Qc7, Bb2 Na5, bxa5 Rxa7 2)Ba7 Qc7, Bb2 Na5, Rxa5 Rxa5 - black rook is defended. And if white does not take on a5, but plays Bd3, then Nb3, and black has couner play on queenside.

[@johnjameson6751]

Bc2, right? But white does not have to play this - there is Qe3, for example. Still, this undermines the strategic plan to pile up on the a-file

[@DexterHaven]

How about the strategy of Alpha Zero? Have you seen how it uses pieces to block pawn advances in novel ways? The advanced AI computers are finding new moves we are only starting to understand. Maybe do a video on that. They move their kings more than humans do, for example.

[@Warren_Bluffett]

I would be TERRIFIED if my OPPONENT played this move against me.

[@tonyennis1787]

Stockfish 15 running on common hardware found 1. Ba7 in about 1/3 of a second. The evaluation is .85 or so.

[@thomasherbst6771]

Yes, unfortunately that is now the case.

[@tonyennis1787]

@@thomasherbst6771 I also ran the next 15 or so moves (both sides) through Stockfish and was impressed by how both players danced on a knife-edge. It wasn't a slam-dunk. Both players were outstanding.

[@user-zz8ju3ym1t]

11 years later Kasparov would use this trick against Karpov. 27. Bh7! (Kasparov - Karpov, m21 1985).

[@michaelwhinnery164]

Almost every body that plays in casual mode on lichess will exchange all pieces and try to win by promoting, rated players are more strategic on average, but this game was unreal. Black tried to lock everything down and white understanding that the knights are the best pieces in a closed position dominated the entire board... wow.

[@fethikhalfallah8658]

I wouldn't have found that move in a Million year.

[@guiladshmaya1]

The H7 of Anand (donr rememebr against who) is for ne the greatest single strategic greatest move

[@michaeledwards2251]

The changes to the World Championship format by Fischer away from 24 games with a right to challenge in the succeeding year gives the advantage to the younger player. Had the 24 game format being in operation during the Karpov Kasperov match, Karpov would have won easily.

[@michaelwhinnery164]

😂

[@RaineriHakkarainen]

Karpov 5-0 lead after 27 games World match against Kasparov!

[@abominationdesolation8322]

For some reason I imagine you as a gym coach who teaches athletes chess.

[@Tod_oMal]

Bear in mind that Unzicker was an Elite Top 20 player at that time, if I am not mistaken. So, it was not a soft opponent.

[@rubo1964]

Karpov reminds me of watching gulf.....little burst of blood once in a while.... Totally opposite side of genius creative Tal

[@englishguy9680]

Karpov seems like such a nice guy in person, but he just bullied people on the board 😅 Awesome game

[@jeffersonthomas1269]

Unzicker must have been a complete buffoon. He could easily have put up a better defense. The game was well reviewed by ChessDawg and worth watching. I would use this to show my grandchildren what not to do if you have black. The breaks are made by you, the breaks must be taken in timely fashion or the time escapes and the game is lost. Do not eliminate your own breaking ability or you will close the window on yourself.

[@treschocos5529]

please analyse my game, it's in my video collection, there's a mystery in it - double king move brilliant

[@TruthSurge]

vid had 666 views before I viewed. WHEW! hehe I'm 667!

[@chessdawg]

Thank you, that was a close one!

[@GutGerman]

Wow 666, every Satanist is my fellow believer. Congratulations.

[@TruthSurge]

@@chessdawghaha yep.

[@jeffersonthomas1269]

This move is very similar to the standard Eric Rosen tactic that the girls use constantly. This is not anything special at this time in chess history. perhaps at one time it was, but not as of 2017 or so.

[@manojradhakrishnan5686]

The analysis was too fast for me!

[@azzteke]

UnZicker - wrong pronunciation!

[@markhughes7927]

‘Alekhine’s gun’ - ‘Karpov’s plug!’