Fritz_X3D (C) - GM Garry Kasparov; 

I have taken my time annotating (& formatting) this game. 

My goal here was NOT speed, but accuracy. I guarantee I have watched the tape for this game ... 
all the way through, from start to finish ...  at least 25 times now. 

The whole point of this game - for me - was to try and preserve the flavor of the on-line commentary. If you did not get to see these games live, or did not record them on the VCR, I wanted you to at least get a small taste of the excitement and 'the buzz' of what the guys on TV actually said during this game. 

I also  DID  NOT  want to simply "steal/borrow" from what the other writers and commentators said about this game. IN FACT ... I highly disagreed with much of what has been said and written about this game! So for me, annotating this game was about TRYING to correct all the stupid and silly things that have been written about this game. (Quality!) 

(Nov. 30th, 2003.) When I am done formatting this game, it will be close to 10 diagrams, and I will also have my own JS re-play page. But please be patient with me. Formatting pages is one of my LEAST liked duties or jobs - it is the most like pure work for me. (And easily one of the least enjoyable tasks that I do.) But I will continue to do this, because I demand near perfection in a web page! 

  Fritz_X3D (2675) - Garry Kasparov (2830)  
[D27]
Human vs. Computer / Man vs. Machine W.C.M.

Match played in Virtual Reality/3D  ...  at the Athletic Club
New York, NY; {U.S.A.}  (Game # 4), 18.11.2003

[A.J. Goldsby I]

One of the most critical games of the entire match. Since the score is currently tied, to lose would be a huge disaster for either party.

Garry ... normally ... would be out for blood, especially against a human opponent. Many predicted that Kaspy (Kasparov) would do exactly this - that he would go 'all out' for a victory. However, I counseled all my friends and such - in an email sent out the day  BEFORE  the game - that Garry would indeed try very hard. But he also would come prepared with a line - that in his own estimation, and not those of the many commentators - would allow him to keep (a)  "draw in hand." 

I have tried to concentrate here on the general ideas and verbiage of this game.
If you want to see a "theoretical" discussion, (all the applicable games of the line that was played in this game); - I suggest a good book on the Q.G.A. (You can also see the many excellent links and other jobs of annotations of this game that were done on the Internet.)

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1.d4,  {Diagram?}    
Surprise number one. Seirawan said that the machine won in 2nd game with 1.e4. 
So why change?  

The simple answer was that game two was  NOT  clearly in machine's favor ...  
and the programmer's knew this.
(The program was relatively OK coming out of the opening, but I think it was clear 
 that Garry probably misplayed a very strong King-side attack!) Of course ...  
by now ... Garry had pretty thoroughly analyzed that encounter ... and may have 
come up with some ...  possibly very significant ...  improvements. 

Commentator P. Hoffman correctly noted that often times it is a very good 
strategy to keep your opponent a little in the dark - and guessing - as concerns 
the opening that you might actually choose. This also limits the enormous 
preparation that Garry is very justly famous for.  

     [ Game two saw the following continuation:  
        1.e4 e5;  2.Nf3 Nc6;  3.Bb5 Nf6!?;  4.d3 d6;  5.c3 g6!;  6.0-0 Bg7;  
        7.Nbd2 0-0;  8.Re1 Re8!?;  9.d4,  "+/="  {Diagram?}  
        and the computer had a small but fairly solid edge.  

        FRITZ_X3D - GM G. Kasparov;  "Man vs. Machine" W.C.M. (Game #2) 
        (A chess match played in VR.) / New York, NY; (USA) / Nov. 2003. ]  

1...d5;  
Surprise number two. Garry plays the classical defense to White's QP opening.  

Although I was very shocked by this move, it does fall in line with what I had 
predicted for this game. (That Garry would play intelligently aggressive chess. 
He would play a line that had a lot of preparation behind it. He would definitely 
have something specific in mind ... possibly even a few TN's. He would try very 
hard for the win ... BUT! You could almost guarantee that he would also strive 
to keep the draw well in hand.)  

   Also - Garry's favorite move, at least when going for the win, has usually been     
   1...Nf6. But the programmer's were aware of this and may have had a surprise      
    of their own in the lines that they had prepared for Garry.       
   (OVER 2.8 MILLION moves in Fritz's opening library!!! And many of these lines 
    were possibly prepared with Garry Kasparov specifically in mind!) 

Bear in mind that Garry probably had spent MOST of his preparations in 
anticipation of Fritz playing 1.e4 on the opening move.  

     [ I was expecting the move:  1...Nf6;  {Diagram?}  
        with possibly a  "King's Indian Defense." 
        (Garry Kasparov is one of the world's leading experts 
         in this opening.) ]   

2.c4,  
White immediately pressures the center and enters the main lines
of the venerable opening known as the Queen's Gambit.  

Of course any simple and/or developing move could be played by White 
at this point in the game. 2.c4 is not obligatory, just the most common move 
played at the Master Level. 

     [ I would be very interested to see how Garry would have handled a 
       more simple approach with a move like:  2.Nf3!?,   {Diagram?}    
       with possibly a Colle Opening. ]   

2...dxc4;  
Yet another surprise! Garry plays the  "Queen's Gambit Accepted."     
I have a database completely dedicated to Kasparov's games. A search 
of that collection of games showed that - as far as I can determine - Garry 
has NEVER played the "Q.G.A." ...  from the Black side!!!
(I found dozens of examples with Garry playing the White side of this 
 particular opening!) 
 {Admittedly this database is a little old ... and contains ONLY serious or 
  slow chess. It does NOT contain fast games or blitz matches!}  

---> I put out a number of inquiries to some of my friends, and one has a very 
extensive database - which he maintains religiously. He said that Garry HAD 
played the Black side of "The Queen's Gambit Accepted," ... 
but only a few times. Apparently at least one (or two) of these were BLITZ games, 
(5-min.) and another may have been RAPID chess. (Game in 30 minutes.) 
I don't count these types of games, they do NOT go into my database of Garry's 
{collected} tournament (and also match) games. 
(This would explain why they were not in my database.) 

----> Apparently Garry had played the "Q.G.A." ... and one of the games was 
versus his main protagonist ... GM Vladimir Kramnik. (But to repeat this was a 
FIVE-MINUTE or BLITZ/Rapid game.) And he did win this game. {As Black.}  

   Now the question that begs itself is: "What is Garry up to?"    
   And, "Why is Garry playing this particular defense?"    

*******

Without going into an extremely deep analysis of all the possibilities of the 
lines of the "Queen's Gambit Accepted," I will simply make the following 
statement. ----->
 I think Garry was heading or hoping for lines that feature: 

# 1.)  Wild sacrifices by White in the opening phase of the game;  
{There were a couple of lines popular about 10-15 years ago. One of these
 featured a number of sacrifices by White. It is entirely possible that Garry was   
 going to try and steer the game into one of these particular variations.}   

# 2.)  Very unclear or murky positions ... and positions that are not very 
thoroughly explored by theory;  

# 3.)  MOST Importantly! There are many lines in the Q.G.A. that feature an 
EARLY ENDGAME. Even the many commentators - like Hoffman - have 
specifically noted that the computers do NOT play endings really well. 
(The emphasis is on LONG-TERM planning, pattern recognition, ...  
  and NOT on tactics. And as Hoffman duly noted, game three showed 
  that the computer is deficient in these areas. GM Yasser Seirawan also 
  noted that some lines of the Q.G.A. feature early endgames as well.)  

*******

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Another added point is that the "opening book" of several versions of this 
program, (i.e. Fritz 7.0); featured bad or old analysis of this particular opening 
variation. I feel relatively certain that Garry  - and his team -  must have noticed 
this flaw and aimed to exploit it.
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     [  The 'main line' ...  (of The Queen's Gambit - {Declined})  
        and the continuation that is certainly played the most  frequently is:  
        2...e6;  3.Nc3 Nf6;  4.Bg5 Nbd7;  5.Nf3 c6;  6.e3 Be7;  7.Rc1 0-0;  
        8.Bd3, "+/="  {Diagram?}  
        and White maintains a small ...  but a rock-solid and time-tested edge.  

        One of the most recent examples I could find was the following game: 
        GM Giorgi Kacheishvili (2603) - T.(2) Petrosian (2259);  
        BCSA Open (Tournament) / Batumi, Georgia; (RUS) 2003.  
        (White won in 30 moves.);  

        *******************************************************************************

        By playing the moves:   2...c6!?;  3.Nf3 Nf6;  4.e3 e6;  5.Nc3 Nbd7;     
        6.Qc2,  "+/="  {Diagram?}   
        Garry could play the Black side of the same opening ... that was played 
        in Game # 1. (But with Garry playing White, not Black!)  

        So in effect, Garry would be playing himself!  

        Apparently Garry discounted this particular approach, although it was 
        enormously interesting to me and other chess fans around the world.  
        (But duly noting we are amateurs, and have little or nothing to lose!) ]     

3.Nf3,  
This is pretty much the normal move for White in this position. 

It also is good because it: 
A.)  Controls the center;  
B.)  Develops a piece towards the middle of the board; 
C.)  It is also paving the way for a later K-side castling by White. 
       (As Fritz indeed will play in just a few moves.)  

     [ Another good - and very sharp move - is the following:  
       3.e4!?, {Diagram?}  with pressure on the center of the board. 
       This leads to a completely different type of game than was 
        played in this encounter. 

       I remember annotating several games with this particular line. 
       (One example.) (A more recent GM game.)  ]  

 PLEASE NOTE:    
I watched the tape of this event very carefully. It is very clear that this 
is the exact move order of this game. (Many of the on-line sites have 
an incorrect move order.) 
3...e6!?;  
Garry now gets a little tricky with his move order ... but to be honest 
it does not really matter (that much) what move order Black uses! 

     [ Black can also play: 3...Nf6; "=" (?)  {Diagram?}   
       {Which would eventually transpose back to book.}  ]    

4.e3,  
The best move for White, although other moves are possible  
here for the first player.
(Besides the note below, White can also play a3!?, Nc3, g3, 
 and also e4 on move four.)  

     [ In the early days of this opening, the move: 4.Qa4+!?,  {Diagram?}  
        was thought to be the best reply. ]   

4...a6!?; 
Again ... Garry is being very tricky with his move order here. 

In the old days - before hash tables - the computers would spend a lot 
of time, or even lose their way after little tricks like this. But here Fritz_X3D 
hardly pauses before cranking out the correct ("book") move in this position. 

     [  It is more usual for the second player to try the move:  4...Nf6;  {Diag?}    
        at this point in this line. {Again - transposing back to book.}  ]   

5.Bxc4 ,  
This is almost guaranteed to be the best move. It hits all four of the opening 
principles. It re-establishes material equality. And this piece will be posted 
aggressively on c4 - pointing somewhat menacingly in the direction of the 
Black King.  

     [ Playable is: </=  5.a4!?,  {Diagram?}        
       (Playable perhaps, but not great.) ]      

5...c5!?;  
Garry plays with his pawns ...
perhaps hoping to throw the program off. But Fritz is not interested 
in even attempting to exploit Garry's move order - and bashes out 
its reply nearly instantly. 

     [ More normal is: 5...Nf6; first. (in this position) ]   

6.0-0,  
The program wisely castles.

This move is also good because the King is tucked safely away in the corner 
and a Rook is brought into play from out of the corner. 

     [ Also playable for the first player are the moves: 
        6.Nc3,  {Diagram?}   with a good game;  

*******

       Or even the play:  6.Qe2!?,  {Diagram?}     
       which also gives a nice edge to the first player here. ]   

6...Nf6;  
Garry finally develops this piece.  

It controls the center, gets a piece out, and prepares castling.  

It also heads back into the main line for the second player.  

     [ Garry probably considers the play of:  6...b5!?;  {Diagram?}      
        to be much too wild and too risky for Black in this position. ]    

7.Bb3,  {See the diagram ... just below.}       
The favorite move of Garry's (other) nemesis, GM Vladimir Kramnik. 

*************************

*************************

Garry was OBVIOUSLY disappointed to see this move, I am relatively certain 
he was hoping for an entirely different kind of battle and/or middlegame position. 

At this point Garry put his head in his hands, one pundit on ICC said Garry looked, 
"as if he wants to cry." I do not doubt that Garry was both surprised & shocked - 
and probably more than a little disappointed at this turn of events. But I think that 
what was really happening was that Garry was mainly trying to recall his analysis 
 ... he may have had a choice of several key lines at this particular juncture of the 
game. 

Garry is also a good actor. He gave a small and quick, wry smile, (when this move 
was first played) - that GM Yasser Seirawan was quick to note. Yaz duly noted that 
this move - Bb3 - is a favorite ... and was pioneered by maybe the only player to 
defeat Garry in a set match. (GM Vladimir Kramnik) 

Seirawan goes on to note that Garry is probably thinking something like: 
"Did Kramnik help them set the opening's book up here, or what?" 

In the final say, Garry (now) mostly had the very difficult job of trying to recall every 
game he had ever seen in this line, and then make a mental decision of which 
variation was the most suited to his needs. 

******************************************************************

     [ The most often played continuation is: 
        7.Qe2 b5;  8.Bb3!?,  {Diagram?}  
        This is probably the strongest, and has supplanted the other move, (Bd3); 
        as the main line at this particular point. 

            ( Interesting was: 8.Bd3!?, which is the older line.      

               V. Chekhover - H. Kmoch;  Masters Tournament,      
               Leningrad, (U.S.S.R.); 1934.      

               (GM Artur Yusupov - who now spells his name Jussupow - played       
                this line as recently as 2002.) )        

        8...Bb7;  9.Rd1 Nbd7;  10.Nc3,  {Diagram?}  
        Once again, the opening is about center control and getting your pieces 
        developed.  

            (After 10.dxc5!? Bxc5, "~" {Diagram?} Black looks OK.)     

        10...Qb8; ('!') {Diagram?}    
        Here Black can play his Queen to nearly any reasonable square,  
        (c7, or b6). The second player also have several other moves, 
        including moving his KB.  

            ( Playable is: 10...Be7;  {Diagram?}  and Black should {eventually}     
              equalize ... with correct play. )      

        11.d5!? Nxd5;  12.Nxd5 Bxd5;  13.Bxd5 exd5;  14.Rxd5 Be7;  {Diag?}      
        The end of the column.  

        15.e4 Qb7; 16.Bg5 Nb6;  17.Rad1!? f6;  18.Bf4 0-0!;  {Diagram?}   
         MCO says that this is better than taking on d5 ... although I imagine  
         Garry would love to have given this line a whirl!  

         ( KEY POSITION, # 1.)   (See the variation just below.)   

            ( Maybe Kasparov wanted to play the line:  
              18...Nxd5;  19.exd5 0-0;  20.d6,  "~"  {Diagram?}       
               when White supposedly has active play - but maybe Garry        
               feels he can keep the material ...  and try to win. )        

        19.R5d2 Rad8;  "="  {Diagram?}   
        Black has almost certainly managed to equalize here.  

        GM Larry Christiansen (2585) - GM Robert Huebner (2615);  
        (Bundesliga?)/Germany, 1992.  

        [ See MCO-14; page # 445, column # 1, and also note # (e.). ]  

*************************

        White can also play the move:  
        7.a4!?,  {Diagram}  in this position. The idea is obviously to prevent 
        Black from playing the freeing/space-gaining move, ...b5.  
        [See MCO-14; page # 447.]  ]  

******************************************************************

7...cxd4; ('!')   
This is one of the more provocative strategies that Garry could adopt here. 
(White is given an isolated pawn - but also many open lines and also a lead 
 in development.)  

But almost no one - that I am aware of - has pointed out that this line avoids the most  
promising line for White  ...  simply by Garry using an intelligent order of moves.    

     [ Another favorite move here for the second player is: 7...Nc6!?;  "~"  {D?}  
        and Black  also gets a good game. 

        [ See MCO-14; page # 447, columns # 7 & 8, and note # (g.).]  ]   

8.exd4,   
Practically the only good move for Fritz_X3D ... in this position. 

     [ After the moves:  8.Nxd4!? e5!;  9.Nf3 Qxd1;  10.Rxd1 Bg4;  "="  {Diag?}   
        Black has no problems in this position, and could even be a tad better. ]    

8...Nc6;  
Once again - Black needs to start developing his pieces, 
although the try ...Be7 was certainly playable.  

     [ Was the move:  8...b5!?; {Diagram?}  playable in this position? ]  

The next few plays look to be the best ... for both parties here.  
9.Nc3 Be7;  10.Re1 0-0;  11.Bf4!, 
The computer played this move very quickly - almost instantly. It is very 
probably the best move, although a fairly new book I have on this very 
tricky opening ... advises White to try a3 in this position. 

     [ Interesting was the try:  11.a3!?, "+/="  {Diagram?}     
        when White also retains a small advantage from the opening. ]  

11...Na5!; 
Garry too finds the sharpest ...  and probably the best move.  

     [ The continuation of:   </=  11...b5!?; ('?!')  12.d5! exd5;    
        13.Nxd5,  "+/="  {Diagram?}    
        yields White a very solid edge out of the opening phase. ]     

12.d5!?,  (Probably - '!')  
Absolutely one of the sharpest moves in this position ... and it could easily 
be the best. (Although this is not 100% certain.)   

The computer also whipped this move out very rapidly - it probably was 
all part of the prepared 'book' for the program. 

     [ Garry may have expected a line or continuation something like:  
       12.Bc2!? b5;  {Diagram?}    The TV commentator, GM Yasser 
       Seirawan commented on this particular position in one of his  
       "variations" during the game. He felt the computer would be quite  
       happy with this position. While this might be true, I think Garry came 
       well-prepared for this line as well.  

       13.d5 exd5;  14.Qd3 g6!;  15.Nd4!?,  "~"  {Diagram?}     
        Here the official {book} verdict is that ... "White has very good play."  

       (From a book on this opening  ...  that is less than 3 years old.)  

       This must be someone's analysis. But no source is listed, and I could 
        find NO relevant matches in ANY database.  

       KEY POSITION, # 2.)    {After 15.Nd4.} 

       After days of research, I think this must have been one of the key 
       positions that Garry had been attempting to reach! ]     

12...Nxb3;  13.Qxb3,  {See the diagram just below.}       
The correct reply. White gets his Queen out and prepares to bring his 
other Rook to the center of the board.  

     [ </= 13.axb3? exd5; "=/+"  {Diagram?}  favors Black. ]   

*************************

(The actual game position after White plays 13.Qxb3.)

*************************

   (White has a lot of pressure here.)     

        Variation # 25W2.)     

       Naturally - White could NOT play:  
       </=  25.Qxc5?? Rxg2+;   {Diagram?}      
       White can only watch what happens now, as he is unable to protect 
       the key squares, and all of Black's moves come with check.  

       26.Kh1 Rxh2+;  {Diagram?}   
       Now White only has one legal move in this position.  

       27.Kg1 Rag2#.  {Diagram?}  and White has been mated.   

       Of course the computer would have NEVER fallen for this ...   
       unless there was a short-circuit or something!! ]   

      [ After the continuation of:  27...Kh7;  28.Qd3+ Kg8!?;  {Diagram?}  
         A possible winning attempt?  

           ( The continuation of: 28...Kh8; 29.Qd8+ Kh7; 30.Qd3+,      
              30...Kh8; ("=")  {Diagram?}  is an obvious draw. )     

        29.Qd5+! Kh8;  30.Qd8+ Kh7; "="  {Diagram?}  
        ... it is very obvious that neither side can make any progress. 
        After the same position has been repeated three times, either 
        party can claim the draw. ]     

*************************

  (The final position after 27...Kh7.)  

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