Everyone makes mistakes.  I remember back in 1974 when I was the newly crown Australian Chess Champion and was about to play in the first round of the A Grade Interclub competition.  Eddy Malitis stood up and made a short speech congratulating me on my win; everyone clapped; then we sat down to play our games.  I was paired against John Hanks and I had decided to try an new opening with 1…b6.   Five minutes and 12 moves later I had blundered and resigned the game.  Such is life.  It even happens to World Champions!

Take a quick 5 second look at the position below.   What would you play as White?

This position is from the game between Larry Christiansen, the USA Grandmaster, and Anatoli Karpov, the former World Chess Champion and one of the most solid players of all time.   A win against Karpov was something rare and to be treasured.   Karpov has just played 11…Bd6 so as to be able to answer 12.Be2 with 12…Nf4.   Christiansen did not play 12.Be2.   Can you spot the move he played which resulted in Karpov’s immediate resignation?

r2qk2r/p2p1ppp/1pbbp3/7n/2P1P3/P1N1B3/1PQ2PPP/R3KB1R w KQkq – 4 12

ANSWER:

12.Qd1! attacking both the N and B was the killer move.   It’s very hard to see “backwards” moves so well done if you spotted it.