The knight on d3

Anatoly Karpov vs Garry Kasparov

World championship · 1985 · 0-1

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A masterpiece, move by move

In game 16 of the 1985 championship, Kasparov’s knight occupies d3 and his pieces dominate the open lines.

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16... Nd3

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An outpost deep in White’s camp. The knight arrives on d3, attacking b2, c1, e1 and f2. Its presence limits White’s coordination and helps explain why White’s extra pawn is not the whole story.

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28... g4

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Gain space with tempo. The g-pawn advances, controlling f3 and h3. Black’s queen, rooks and knights are ready to use the open central files if White tries to break out.

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34... Nf2+

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A forcing reply. After White captures the knight on d3, the other knight checks from f2 and attacks the rook on d1. White’s Rxf2 is answered by ...Bxd3, winning the queen.