Karpov’s Positional Masterclass: The Quiet Moves That Crushed Muzychuk

In this 2015 encounter from the 4th Karpov Trophy in Cap d’Agde, chess legend Anatoly Karpov once again demonstrated why he is one of the greatest positional players of all time. Facing Mariya Muzychuk, the reigning Women’s World Champion, Karpov employed the King’s Indian Defense (D73) as White, steering the game into a strategic battle of precision and patience.

From the early stages, Karpov traded queens to enter a technical middlegame where his control over open files and weak squares became decisive. The quiet move 36.a5! marked the turning point — freezing Black’s structure and opening the b-file for his rooks. Step by step, Karpov improved his position with clinical accuracy, fixing weaknesses and advancing his pawns.

His kingside expansion with h4–h5 and the final coordination of pawns and rooks led to a textbook endgame conversion, crowned by the elegant finish 68.Qe8#.

This game is a pure masterclass in how to win without risk — a lesson in patience, control, and flawless technique.


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