About the series
Miniatures to Memorize is a series of short games (30 moves or fewer) that I highly recommend beginner- and intermediate-level players to commit to memory. Some games show how to quickly punish your opponent’s natural-looking but inaccurate moves, while others demonstrate how easily you can go wrong and completely blunder your game. Even if you’re in the world top 20.
Follow along on a physical chess set. I cannot stress this enough. Only if you don’t have one right now, go to the lichess study.
Why should you memorize this game?
As White
this game is a model of disciplined attacking play. Karpov didn’t rush sacrifices; instead, he layered threats carefully until the Black position collapsed. It teaches patience in attack: often, the quiet preparatory move (like 16. Nde2 or 19. Rd3) is more lethal than the flashy strike.
As Black
It’s a harsh lesson in restraint. Korchnoi’s decision to grab on h5 was driven by tactical optimism, but left permanent weaknesses. The Dragon demands precision — a single pawn-snatch can open the floodgates. The moral: in sharp openings, defense requires humility and accuracy, not bravado.
Game Details
White: Anatoly Karpov
Black: Viktor Korchnoi
Event: Candidates Final
Site: Moscow, USSR
Date: September 18, 1974
Round: 2
Result: 1–0
Opening: Sicilian Defence, Dragon, Yugoslav Attack (B77)
Context
This was no ordinary Candidates match. It was the prelude to one of the great Cold War rivalries. Anatoly Karpov, just 23, was the rising star of Soviet chess, methodical and precise, dubbed the “boa constrictor” for the way he squeezed opponents. Across the board was Viktor Korchnoi, 43, already a veteran fighter with a reputation for uncompromising, sharp play — and a man destined to defect from the Soviet Union only two years later.
The Dragon Sicilian, with its fire-breathing bishop on g7, was Korchnoi’s natural hunting ground. But Karpov, armed with clinical preparation and cool nerves, was more than ready to dive into the sharpest lines. What followed was a miniature of remarkable clarity: the young challenger showing he could meet aggression with precise calculation, and take down a tactical whirlwind with cold-blooded accuracy.
Pull out your chess board
Or, if you don’t have one right now, follow along on Chessgames.
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6
The Dragon is on the board. Korchnoi signals his intent: sharp, double-edged play. The g7-bishop will blaze down the long diagonal.
6. Be3 Bg7 7. f3 Nc6 8. Qd2 O-O 9. Bc4 Bd7
Classic Yugoslav Attack set-up from Karpov. White castles queenside and storms the kingside with pawns. Black relies on counterplay along the c-file.
10. h4 Rc8 11. Bb3 Ne5
The pawn storm begins. Karpov is marching his h-pawn, aiming at h5. Korchnoi, in turn, develops actively, trying to exchange pieces and blunt the attack.
12. O-O-O Nc4 13. Bxc4 Rxc4
The thematic exchange. Black gets control of the c-file. But Karpov knows what he wants: the attack is his main goal, not material.
14. h5 Nxh5?!
The first critical decision. Korchnoi accepts the challenge, grabbing the pawn. But this opens dark-square weaknesses around his king.
15. g4 Nf6 16. Nde2!
A calm retreat — but deadly. The safer course was 15. …Nf6 16. Bh6 Bxh6 17. Qxh6 Rxc3 18. bxc3 Qa5 — where Black keeps counterplay, though White remains better. Now, the knight heads to f4, and suddenly the h-file looms as a highway for White’s queen and rook. Karpov shows that precision, not speed, makes an attack work.
16… Qa5 17. Bh6!
Textbook attacking play. The bishop crashes onto h6, ripping open the dark squares. Notice how Karpov doesn’t rush with a sacrifice — he develops threats in layers.
17… Bxh6 18. Qxh6 Rfc8 19. Rd3!
A subtle, multipurpose move. The rook swings to h3 if needed, or reinforces the third rank. Korchnoi is under mounting pressure.
19… R4c5 20. g5!
Now the pawn finally advances. This is the critical moment — Karpov senses Black’s coordination is shaky.
20… Rxg5?
A fatal slip. Black tries to simplify with tactics, but this opens lines toward his king. Instead, 20… Nh5 would have clung on, though White keeps a strong attack after 21. Rxh5 gxh5 22. Nf4.
21. Rd5!
A cold dagger. The rook invades with tempo, disconnecting the queen from the rook’s defence. Suddenly Black’s counterplay is gone.
21… Rxd5 22. Nxd5!
No mercy. The knight plants itself with crushing effect. The black queen on a5 is under fire, and cutoff from the kingside. The king itself remains stuck in a net.
22… Re8 23. Nef4!
Another quiet move, but devastating. The knight prepares to leap to f6 or h5, tightening the bind.
23… Bc6 24. e5!
Karpov doesn’t just squeeze — he strikes. Now the center blows open, and the Black king is exposed.
24… Bxd5 25. exf6 exf6 26. Qxh7+ Kf8 27. Qh8+ 1–0
Mate is inevitable. Korchnoi resigns.
From my Chess Journal dated 03-January, 2025
Minakhi Misra 