The story behind the game
In game three of the 1984 championship match, early queen exchanges leave a position that still demands exact calculation. Karpov’s rooks take central squares and the bishops gain useful diagonals. Study the recorded bishop manoeuvre alongside an earlier rook improvement preferred by the saved analysis.
Take these ideas to your next game
- Queen exchanges do not remove tactical threats.
- Capture a central pawn only after checking the rook’s retreat squares.
- Compare a bishop improvement with bringing the remaining rook into play.
- A final attack can grow from earlier control of an open file.
Read the complete annotated game
Full game transcript, including the result and the answers. Original explanations by chessgames.info; game score from the sources below.
Rxd5 wins the central pawn while keeping the rook active. The recorded bishop attack sends the rook to d6 before it captures on a6. These are concrete choices, not permission to grab any pawn with a rook. Check the bishop’s attacks and the available files before comparing the saved alternatives.
The game continued with Bc5, but the saved search prefers improving the rook with Rd1 first. The bishop move has a natural purpose, yet the order of improvement matters. Compare the direct rook activation with the recorded bishop manoeuvre, then follow how White eventually uses the d-file later in the game. The exercise asks for the stronger saved choice, not a claim that the historical winner always played the best move.
Rd1 gives the remaining rook an active file. White’s bishops and knight restrict several black defensive choices. The rook later reaches d7 while the other rook is exchanged. Compare the entry squares and the bishop support before judging the resulting material balance.
Bb6 attacks the rook on c7 while White’s remaining pieces stay coordinated. A useful bishop move can be the result of earlier file control and exchanges. List Black’s legal rook replies and what the white bishops and knight control after each one. The game ends in resignation here; the saved continuation is separate from the recorded score.
Result: 1-0. The recorded score ends here; it does not imply checkmate.
Think through the turning points
Move 19: Capture and keep the rook active
Which rook capture removes Black’s pawn on d5? In the game: Rxd5. Rxd5 wins the central pawn while keeping the rook active. The recorded bishop attack sends the rook to d6 before it captures on a6. These are concrete choices, not permission to grab any pawn with a rook. Check the bishop’s attacks and the available files before comparing the saved alternatives.
Engine-supported alternatives
Rxd5 Be6 Rd6 Be7 Rxa6 Rxa6 Bxa6 Bxa2 Rc1 Be6 Rc2 Ra8 · +0.47 · depth 19
Rfe1 Be6 · +0.17 · depth 19
Bf2 Re8 · +0.21 · depth 18
Move 22: Compare the order of improvement
Before moving the e3-bishop, how could White bring the f1-rook onto an open central file? In the game: Bc5. The game continued with Bc5, but the saved search prefers improving the rook with Rd1 first. The bishop move has a natural purpose, yet the order of improvement matters. Compare the direct rook activation with the recorded bishop manoeuvre, then follow how White eventually uses the d-file later in the game. The exercise asks for the stronger saved choice, not a claim that the historical winner always played the best move.
Engine-supported alternatives
Rd1 Re8 Bf4 Ra8 Rxa8 Bb6+ Kf1 Rxa8 Ra1 Bb3 Nc4 Bxc4 · +1.90 · depth 18
Bd3 Re8 Bf4 Rb7 Rc1 g5 Bb5 Rxb5 Nxb5 gxf4 Nd6 Rf8 · +0.99 · depth 18
Bc5 Re8 Bb5 Re6 b4 Nb7 Bf2 Rxa6 Bxa6 Be7 Nc2 Nd8 · +0.93 · depth 18
Move 27: Bring in the other rook
Which move activates the f1-rook on the d-file in the recorded position? In the game: Rd1. Rd1 gives the remaining rook an active file. White’s bishops and knight restrict several black defensive choices. The rook later reaches d7 while the other rook is exchanged. Compare the entry squares and the bishop support before judging the resulting material balance.
Engine-supported alternatives
Rd1 Rxa6 Bxa6 Be6 Nd4 Bd7 Bg3 Nd6 b5 Ra8 Nc6 Bxc6 · +2.21 · depth 19
Rb1 Nd6 Bf1 Nb5 Ra5 Nc3 Rc1 g6 b5 Ne2+ Bxe2 Rxe2 · +1.53 · depth 18
Bd3 Rxa6 Bxa6 Bf8 Rb1 Nd6 Nd4 Ba2 Rb2 Bc4 Nc6 Re8 · +1.31 · depth 18
Move 31: Attack the rook with the bishop
Black’s rook is on c7. Which move by the f2-bishop attacks it? In the game: Bb6. Bb6 attacks the rook on c7 while White’s remaining pieces stay coordinated. A useful bishop move can be the result of earlier file control and exchanges. List Black’s legal rook replies and what the white bishops and knight control after each one. The game ends in resignation here; the saved continuation is separate from the recorded score.
Engine-supported alternatives
Bb6 · +4.70 · depth 18
Bg3 Nd6 Nd4 Be6 Bf1 Rc3 b5 Nc4 Nxe6 fxe6 Bf2 Nd2 · +3.03 · depth 18
Nd4 Be6 Nxe6 fxe6 Rb1 Rc2 Bf1 Kf7 h4 Rc3 b5 Bd6 · +2.74 · depth 18
Every piece has a part to play.
In game three of the 1984 championship match, early queen exchanges leave a position that still demands exact calculation. Karpov’s rooks take central squares and the bishops gain useful diagonals. Study the recorded bishop manoeuvre alongside an earlier rook improvement preferred by the saved analysis.
Look a little deeper
Play on the board or type your move. Strong engine-supported alternatives receive credit.
Future moves stay hidden until you continue.
Try a different path.
Select a key moment to explore legal continuations supported by saved Stockfish analysis.
Accessible evaluation values & provenance
Stockfish 17.1 · 75,000 nodes per position; 1,000,000 at key moments. Actual depth 13–19. Positive centipawns favour White; mate scores remain separate. Selective search is evidence, not proof.
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