Karpov vs Kasparov, World Championship 1985: Game 16

Quick answer: Garry Kasparov, playing Black, defeated Anatoly Karpov in game 16 of their 1985 world championship match. The game is remembered for Kasparov’s active knight, which settled deep in White’s position and became a long-term source of pressure.

The opening was a Sicilian Defense. Early moves repeated a line from game 12 before Karpov varied. Kasparov’s preparation helped him take the initiative, but the game’s central lesson is not just opening preparation: it is what a well-supported outpost can do to an opponent’s coordination.

The knight that changes the position

Kasparov established a knight deep in Karpov’s territory. It was difficult to dislodge without concessions, and Karpov had to spend time addressing the piece while Black’s other forces became increasingly active. A strong outpost can restrict movement, attack important squares and force the opponent to defend passively.

The knight remained a major positional factor for many moves. Karpov eventually had to make material concessions to remove it, and Kasparov converted the advantage into a win. The game was later selected by Chess Informant readers as the best game among its first 64 issues, a sign of how highly it was regarded by strong players.

Study the maneuver, not only the result

Replay the game and note which squares the knight controls, what pieces support it and which weaknesses it creates. This helps distinguish a genuinely strong outpost from a piece that is merely far advanced.

A match game under pressure

Game 16 of the 1985 world championship came during the long match between Karpov and Kasparov, two players with sharply different styles and enormous preparation. Every game mattered to the match, so decisions carried psychological as well as chess importance. Karpov’s victory is often remembered for its positional clarity: he gradually improves the position and limits Kasparov’s counterplay. When you study the game, keep the match context in mind, but focus on the board. Strong match play often means choosing a plan that is both objectively sound and difficult for the opponent to solve.

The value of a strong outpost

Karpov’s pieces gain access to stable squares from which they can pressure weaknesses. An outpost is especially valuable when an opponent cannot challenge it with a pawn and when it supports threats in more than one direction. Rather than looking only for a direct attack, identify which squares Karpov controls and how Kasparov might undermine them. Piece activity can create long-term pressure without immediate tactics. In your own games, compare the worst-placed piece for each side and ask how it can improve. That small question often leads to a clear positional plan.

Restriction as a strategy

Karpov’s technique illustrates restriction: reducing the opponent’s useful moves before trying to win material. If a pawn break is prevented and a key piece is tied to defense, the opponent’s position can become increasingly passive. The attacker can then improve pieces without taking unnecessary risks. This is one reason Karpov’s style is so instructive. He does not need to force a combination when the opponent’s options are shrinking. Mark the moves that stop Kasparov’s counterplay and consider how each one changes the position’s freedom of movement.

When to exchange pieces

Exchanges are not automatically good or bad; their value depends on the resulting position. Karpov’s choices help show how an exchange can remove a defender, simplify a favorable endgame, or make a weakness permanent. Before trading, ask which side benefits from the piece that disappears and what squares become weaker afterward. If you are defending a cramped position, exchanging an active enemy piece can be a relief. If you are pressing an advantage, avoid trades that let the opponent escape into a comfortable ending. The game rewards evaluation of the position after the exchange.

Converting a positional edge

A small advantage is converted through a sequence of improvements: fix a weakness, place pieces on better squares, prevent counterplay, and only then create a second weakness. This process can feel slow, but it reduces the opponent’s defensive resources. Karpov’s win is a useful model for players who tend to rush. Instead of hunting for a tactic in every position, ask whether your opponent has a weakness that can be targeted and whether your pieces are ideally placed. Once the defender is tied down, tactical opportunities often arise naturally.

A study method

Annotate each move with a short purpose: improve a piece, challenge the center, restrict a break, trade a defender, or create a weakness. If you cannot explain a move, pause and compare alternatives. Then play through the game from Kasparov’s side and identify a moment where you would seek counterplay. This exercise helps distinguish passive waiting from active defense. The game is not only a portrait of Karpov’s technique; it is also a lesson in how to resist a positional squeeze and how to avoid giving the opponent a stable target.

Read our biographies of Anatoly Karpov and Garry Kasparov for the wider match context. Source and game notes: Chess.com — https://www.chess.com/blog/ThummimS/world-chess-championship-1985-game-16-karpov-vs-kasparov