Judit Polgar is the highest-ever rated woman chess player and has made a mark in international chess. As a matter of principle, this gutsy lady participates only in open events and has steadfastly refused to compete in women’s tournaments. She is the only woman player to ever be ranked in the top ten in open rankings. On March 8, which is celebrated as Women’s Day, it is time to take a look at one of her games which shows her aggressive spirits in the best way possible.
In the game which follows, Polgar takes on former World champion Anatoly Karpov, who enjoyed the reputation of being one of the best defenders of the game and a player most difficult to beat. It is interesting to note the way Karpov’s King is dragged out into the open.
White: Judit Polgar (2670) vs Black: Anatoly Karpov (2735)
Budapest Rapid, 1998
Caro-Kann Defence
1. e4 c6
The Caro-Kann Defence
2. d4 d5 3. Nd2
Judit usually prefers the Exchange or the Panov Botvinnik variation. Here she decides not to exchange the central pawns
3. ..dxe4
Instead Karpov prefers to swap the central pawns. 4. Nxe4 Nd7 5. Ng5 Ngf6 6. Bd3 e6 7. N1f3 Bd6 8. Qe2 h6 9. Ne4 Nxe4 10. Qxe4 Qc7 11. Qg4 Kf8 12. Be3
Judit plays a novelty here. The usual continuation is 12. 0–0 c5 13. c3 b6 14. Re1 Bb7 15. h4 c4
12. ..c5
Black takes a risk in opening up the position before castling.It would have been better to take care of the King’s safety first. More solid would have been 12...b6 13.Nd2
13. dxc5 Bxc5
If 13. ..Nxc5 14. 0–0–0 e5 15. Bf5 Ne6 16. Nh4 Qe7 17. Bxe6 Bxe6 18. Nf5 Bxf5 19. Qxf5 b6 20. Rd5 and White won in this position in a previous game
14. 0–0–0
White had all along given ample evidence that he was interested in queen side castling
14. ..Nf6 15.Qh4
If 15 .Bxc5+ Qxc5 16. Qg3 Bd7 leads to an unclear position
15. ..Bxe3+ 16.fxe3
A crucial file( The ‘f’ file) is opened which could prove dangerous for Black as he can be subjected to an attack from here. 16. ..Bd7. If 16. ..e5 17. Qg3 Ng4 (17...Bg4 18. Nxe5) 18. h3 Nxe3 19. Nxe5 Qc5 (19. ..Qb6 20. Qf3 Be6 21. Rde1) 20. Rde1 Nf5 21. Qf3
17. Rhf1. White wastes no time in gaining control of the open file
17. ..Rc8 18. Kb1 Bc6
Worth a look was 18. ..e5
19. e4 Kg8
The King does not look good and he has wasted a bit of time an effort in a bid for artificial castling. If 19. ..e5 20. Nd2
20. c3
Vacating a square for the bishop to retreat so that the rook gets into aggressive mode
20. ..Nd7 21. Bc2 Ne5 22. Nxe5 Qxe5 23. Qf2 f6
If 23. ..Bxe4 24. Qxf7+ Kh7 25. Rfe1
24. Qxa7 Qxh2
If 24. ..Bxe4 25. Qa4 Bxc2+ and if 25. ..Bxg2 26. Rfe1 Qc7 27. Rxe6. 25. e5 Qxe5 26. Rfe1 Qc7 27. Rxe6 Kf7 28. Bb3 Kg6
Diagram 1...
Ironically the King has to leave what looks like a sheltered place and come out in search of safety
29. Qd4 Rhd8 30. Qg4+ Kh7 31. Bc2
White probably missed a better move in 31. Qf5+ Kh8 32. Rde1 Re8 33. Bc2 Kg8 34. Qh7+ Kf8 35. Bg6 which should win
31. ..Kg8 32. Rxd8+. If 32. Rxf6 Rxd1+ 33. Bxd1 Rd8 34. Bb3+ Kh8 35. Rf1
32. ..Rxd8 33. Re1
Once again missing 33. Rxf6 Qh2 34. Rf1 Qxg2 35. Qe6+ Kh8 36. Qf5
33. ..Kf8 34. Bg6 Qd6 35. Qc4 Qd5 36. Qe2 Qd7
Also could have tried 36. ..Ra8. 37. c4 Qd6 38. a3 Qd7 39. g4 Kg8 40. Bf5 Qd6 41. Qc2 Re8 42. Rd1 Qc5 43. Bg6 Ra8 44. Qd3 Qe7 45. Qd4 Be8 46. Be4 Bf7 47. c5
Can also take a look at 47. Bd5
47. ..Rc8 48. Bf5 Rxc5 49. Qd8+ Qf8
A blunder! He can offer better resistance with 49. ..Qe8 50. Rd7 (50. Be6 Kh7 51. Bf5+ g6) 50. ..Re5 51. Qxe8+ Rxe8 52. Rxb7
50. Bh7+ and Black resigned.
Diagram 2...
Black to play and win
1. ..Rxg3 2. fxg3 Rxc5 and white is lost.
