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Anatoly Karpov vs Boris Spassky · 1974 · move 24.
Which knight retreat prepares a route through d2 toward f3?
Karpov’s ninth game against Spassky in their 1974 Candidates semifinal is a lesson in improving pieces before the tactical finish. A rook lift frees the queen, a knight retreats to find a useful route and the queen eventually enters e6. The final rook capture depends on the coordination created by those earlier moves.
Before reaching for a move, identify the opponent’s immediate threat and the piece you most want to improve. Then compare checks, captures and quiet moves. The complete interactive lesson will let you test your answer without revealing the historical continuation first.
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