Daily Chess Puzzle: St. Petersburg edition

Today my wife Jane and I are in Moscow (this blog is written in advance, before we fly to Russia): fulfilling a life long ambition of mine to visit Russia. We are spending 3 days in Moscow, before travelling to St. Petersburg for a further 3 nights. I hope to play at least one game of chess, likely blitz, whilst in the home of chess.

Today I will post a game from an English victory in Moscow. Today’s is a sparkling game by Anatoly Karpov from 1974, which I recall devouring at the time, age 12.  I had an interest in the Sicilian Dragon, as all boys should, and Karpov’s demolition had a big impact on me.

Since the start of 2018, I have decided to adopt the style of only saying which side is to play: and not giving an idea if the move wins or otherwise, unless on occasion I think signposting would be helpful. Instead, the problems are posed with the instruction to decide what you would play, as in a game.

Karpov v Korchnoi,  Candidates Moscow 18/9/1974

1 e5!! was the startling move- it startled me in 1974, and still impresses me now in 2018. It cuts off the Qa5 from defending the king-side.

Black resigned a few moves later, after 27 Qh8+:

4r1k1/pp2pp1p/2bp1npQ/q2N4/4PN2/5P2/PPP5/2K4R w – – 0 24