In his matches with Deep Blue, Garry Kasparov was quite cagey with the White pieces. In order to avoid certain defensive lines he would play 1.Nf3 in order to steer the computer into the type of (closed) game that he was aiming for. In contrast, Vladimir just gets on with business.
1.d4
Nf6
2.c4
e6
3.g3
Repeating the Catalan Opening which he used to good effect in his recent match with Veselin Topalov. In principle, an excellent choice against the computer as the strategic positions that arise are extremely subtle, without making an obvious error the Black side can be put under pressure long into the endgame.
3...d5
4.Bg2
dxc4!
While there is nothing wrong with moves like: 4...Bb4+ 5.Bd2 Be7 and an eventual ...c7-c6 playing the Closed Catalan, there are dangers present in these lines. White might get a QS clamp and the computer might not realize that a central break is required. By the text, the computer insures at least a semi-open game and the danger of being dominated in a Closed position passes by at an early stage.
5.Qa4+
In general, most Catalan players are not afraid of losing the c4-pawn and often prefer not to recapture it at once. However, sacrificing material against a human is one thing, against a computer, Vladimir might never get the pawn back.
5...Nbd7
6.Qxc4
a6
7.Qd3
Up to this point, Vladimir could see the computer's monitor as the players were still in "book" or rather opening theory. After the text, Deep Fritz or Fritz 10 was out of book and the monitor was turned away from Vladimir. However, a few moves later, the game had transposed back into opening theory and Vladimir could again observe the computer's monitor. The text sidesteps a quick ...c7-c5 and ...b7-b5 which would come with tempo.
White's early Queen moves aren't particularly effective in terms of playing for an opening advantage.
7...c5
Annoying. Okay, the text is a perfectly normal move but Vladimir could hope that his opening novelty could induce the computer to take another approach such as playing 7...Bd6 aiming for ....e6-e5 which is not a particularly good idea.
8.dxc5
Bxc5
9.Nf3
0-0
10.0-0
Qe7
11.Nc3
b6
Thus far the game has followed along what could be described as normal channels but the first real question has been laid before Deep Fritz. Would it play 11...b6 or 11...b5 and why? I'm not sure which of the two is best. On the one hand an argument for 11...b5 can be made that Black takes control of the c4-square and keeps the b6-square open. Also, after 11...b5 a future ...b5-b4 might be a useful tempo. On the othter hand, a future a2-a4 might undermine the Queenside. A difficult choice and an intriguing moment into the insight of how Deep Fritz plays. [11...b5
12.Nd4
Ne5
]
12.Ne4!
An excellent moment to clear the board of some pieces. White cannot become complacent. It is clear that after ...Bc8-b7, Black will bring a rook to the d-file and suddenly White could find his queen harrassed. The text preempts the potential for such problems.
12...Nxe4
Further insight into how Fritz 10 plays. The text shows a prejudice for Bishops. A reasonable alternative was 12...Bb7 13.Nxc5 Nxc5 14.Qa3, when White's Queen is safe from further harrassment. White has won the two Bishops but Black's harmonious development gives a comfortable game as well. [12...Bb7
13.Nxc5
Nxc5
14.Qa3
]
13.Qxe4
Nf6
14.Qh4!
Keeping the game simple. Against a human player the line: 14.Qxa8 Bb7 15.Qxf8+ Kxf8, with two rooks for the Queen deserves consideration. After all the c and d-files are both open and offer good avenues for the rooks. However, if we continue the line several ply further for example: 16.b3 e5! 17.Bb2 e4 18.Ne5 e3!, the human player starts to feel uncomfortable already. There are some dynamic factors at work in Black's favor and the rooks have hardly had a chance to exert themselves. [14.Qxa8
Bb7
15.Qxf8+
Kxf8
16.b3
e5
17.Bb2
e4
18.Ne5
e3
19.f3
]
14...Bb7
15.Bg5
Rfd8
16.Bxf6
[16.Bxf6
Qxf6
17.Ng5
(17.Qxf6
gxf6
18.Rfd1
Rac8
19.Ne1
Bxg2
20.Kxg2
) ; 16.Ne5
Bxg2
17.Kxg2
Qb7+
18.f3
Be7
]
16...Qxf6
17.Qxf6
gxf6
18.Rfd1
On the one hand, Vladimir can be pleased, he has managed to channel the game into the quiet waters of an ending. Best of all Black has doubled f-pawns which give a certain optimism. Vladimir is "gambling" that Deep Fritz will not play the correct move...
18...Kf8?
The gamble is successful. Most human players would have played 18...Bxf3! and offered the world champion a halving of the point. Vladimir had correctly understood that the computer would look at the wonderful open-range b7-Bishop, saw the puny f3-Knight and refused such a trade. While Deep Fritz can see 18 ply deep and even more in certain positions, it is unable to deduce that the f3-Knight has the potential of being a superior piece to the c5-Bishop.
19.Ne1!
After this move, White has a serious endgame advantage. Of course from this moment to the end of the game Deep Fritz was showing that the game was always equal or perhaps at most a 0.18 advantage for White. In actuality, of course, White's winning chances are excellent.
19...Bxg2
20.Kxg2
f5
21.Rxd8+
[21.f4
Bd4
22.Rd2
]
21...Rxd8
22.Nd3
Bd4
23.Rc1
In my day, players like Ulf Andersson (Sweden) and Zoltan Ribli (Hungary) made an excellent living from such endgame positions as White. Time and again they would demonstrate that White's control of the c-file was more important then Black's d-file control. That Black's KS structure was a serious liability and that given time, White's King could play a more active role in the endgame then its counterpart.
23...e5!
More annoyance. The computer refuses to go quietly into that good night. White just wanted to play moves like f2-f4 and Kg2-f3 to really get his positional grippers latched on to the position.
The text interferes with this delightful dream by creating counter-play based on ...e5-e4 and also keeps White's King at bay.
24.Rc2!
Simple chess. Vladimir covers the b2-pawn as well as protecting the d2-square against any invasion. He now awaits developments, perhaps Deep Fritz, with a wide range of pawn moves would weaken its position? [24.b3
]
24...Rd5?
Whoa, this hyper-active move was certainly a surprise. I was having some doubts about White's winning chances after 24...a5, preventing a possible Nd3-b4-c6 idea. In that case, 25.e3 e4 26.exd4 exd3 27.Rd2 Rxd4 28.f4! (28.Kf3 f4! 29.gxf4 f5) leads to a likely drawn rook endgame but White after a subsequent Kg2-f3-e3 and vacuuming up the d3-pawn might have something to enjoy. After all the doubled f-pawns have to have some kind of disadvantage.
After the text, I got really excited about Vladimir's winning chances. Now he can force a classic good knight versus bad bishop minor piece endgame. [24...Rd5
25.Nb4
(25.a4
a5
) 25...Rb5
; 24...a5
25.e3
(25.f3
e4
) 25...e4
26.exd4
exd3
27.Rd2
Rxd4
28.f4
(28.Kf3
) ]
25.Nb4!
[25.Nb4
Rb5
26.Nc6
(26.Nxa6
Rxb2
27.Rxb2
Bxb2
28.Nc7
Bd4
29.Nd5
b5
30.f3
) 26...Bxb2
27.Na7
Rb4
28.Nc6
Rb5
; 25.a4
]
25...Rb5
In passing, I should note that my Fritz 9 engine rated the text as well as 25...Rc5 as about even. Needless to say, after 25...Rc5 26.Rxc5 bxc5 27.Nxa6 c4 28.b3 c3 29.Nb4 and White , a pawn to the good wins easily.
26.Nxa6
Rxb2
Suddenly, there are many pitfalls in the position for Black. For example: 26...Bxb2 27.Nc7 Rb4 28.Nd5 Rb5 29.Ne3 f4 30.Nf5, with both the threat of a back-rank checkmate as well as a plan of Kg2-f3, when we see an example of how White's King can become far more active then its counter-part.
Another nice trapping line could be seen after 26...Bxb2 27.Nc7 Rc5 28.Rxc5!? bxc5 29.Nd5 c4 30.Ne3 c3 31.Kf1, when White's King races to blockade the passed c-pawn. [26...Bxb2
27.Nc7
Rc5
28.Rxb2
(28.Rxc5
bxc5
29.Nd5
c4
30.Ne3
c3
31.Kf1
) 28...Rxc7
29.Rxb6
Rc2
30.Kf3
Rxa2
31.Rf6
]
27.Rxb2
Bxb2
28.Nb4
This is one of those moves that I find difficult to explain. At the time, I was convinced that Vladimir should win by 28.Nc7!, in order to "freeze" the Black King and to quickly bring the knight to the wonderful d5-square. My arguments were quite convincing, at least to myself. Then Vladimir played the text and I was left wondering what the difference was? Now, I'm unable to recall. [28.Nc7
Bd4
29.Nd5
b5
30.f3
Kg7
31.e4
fxe4
32.fxe4
Kg6
33.Kf3
]
28...Kg7
[28...b5
29.Nd5
]
29.Nd5
[29.a4
Kg6
30.Nd5
Bd4
31.e3
Bc5
32.f3
e4
33.Kf2
Kg5
34.h3
h5
35.f4+
Kg6
36.Ke2
]
29...Bd4
Thus far we can only express our admiration for Vladimir's play. He is literally at the precipice of victory while Deep Fritz 10 is happily producing 0.00 evaluations. If the game is won, it is as this point.
At the time of play, I thought the win was simple: White should play a2-a4, e2-e3, march the King to the b5-square and make sure that Black had insufficient opportunity to penetrate on the KS with his King.
Now of course, I realize that the move a2-a4 is not critical to this line of play and that it might even be helpful if Black can be coaxed into playing ...b6-b5 brining the pawn closer to its own execution.
30.a4?
Missing the direct path to victory. After 30.e3 Bc5 31.Kf3 the win is as clear as a sunny sky. White's King is making a beeline to the b5-square, where the b6-pawn is captured and the a-pawn is escorted to coronation. I see no defense: 31...f6 (Black is welcome to march his King to the g5-square when h2-h3 shuts the door to further progress.) 32.Ke2 now Black has a choice. He can play 32...e4, delaying White's King march by a move or not. Keeping in mind that 32...e4 gives up the f4-square, let us assume 32...Kf7 as the main line. White continues his march: 33.Kd3 Ke6 34.Kc4 and White has achieved his ideal. Black is in zugzwang. His Bishop cannot leave the protection of the b6-pawn and Black's King is fastened to the protection of the f6-pawn. White's win is simple, he just plays a2-a4 with the threat of a4-a5 when the Bishop is undermined. White wins.
Because this main line is so convincing, Black would likely have to try a line combining ...e5-e4 and ...b6-b5 but I view the ending has hopeless. Let us check: 30.e3 Bc5 31.Kf3 f6 32.Ke2 e4 33.Kd2 b5 34.Kc3 Kf7 35.Nc7 Bb6 36.Nxb5 (Let us pause to give thanks. White has achieved our favorite living condition, he is ahead in material.) 36...Ba5+ 37.Kd4 Be1 (This counterplay is far to late.) 38.a4 and Black can give it a rest. [30.f3
; 30.e3
Bc5
31.a4
; 30.e3
Bc5
31.Kf3
f6
32.Ke2
Kf7
33.Kd3
Ke6
34.Kc4
]
30...Bc5
[30...e4
31.f3
Kg6
32.e3
Bc5
33.Kf2
Kg5
34.Ke2
]
31.h3?
This is a real groaner. I think the text throws away any winning chances that were left. I was still optimistic about White's chances after 31.Kf3! One point is to trick the computer into playing an innocuous move like 31...Kg6? When after 32.e3!, White is back in business and simply goes to the b5-square as we have seen. If Black plays 31...e4+? 32.Kf4 Kg6 33.Ke5 gives White the active King and a simple win. The main question is: 31.Kf3 f6 and can White still win? Black is now prepared for ...Kg7-f7-e6 booting away the overpowering d5-Knight. My attention had been focused on 32.e4 inviting the line 32...fxe4+ 33.Kxe4 Bxf2 34.Kf5 playing for the simple recapture of the f6-pawn. White appears dominant. Therefore, 31.Kf3 f6 32.e4 Kg6, when we come to the major difference between this line and the game continuation, White can provoke Black into playing ...f5xe4 under favorable circumstances: 33.Ne3! Now after 33...fxe4+ 34.Kxe4, White has achieved what he wants, an active King. While after 33...Bxe3 34.Kxe3, White has achieved a tricky but winning King and pawn ending. [31.e3
e4
32.f3
Kg6
33.Kf2
Kg5
34.h3
; 31.f3
Kg6
32.e4
h5
33.h3
f6
34.Nc7
; 31.Kf3
f6
32.e4
Kg6
33.Ne3
fxe4+
(33...Bxe3
34.Kxe3
) 34.Kxe4
]
31...f6
32.f3
[32.g4
Kg6
]
32...Kg6
33.e4??
The final unbearable mauling of this favorable ending. Although my optimism was seeping away I still felt that Vladimir had not tossed away all of his chances. Now was the time for 33.e3! awaiting developments. If Black falls asleep, then the plan of Kf1-e2-d3-c4 will force a rude awakening.
White's dream is revealed after 33.e3! h5 34.Kf1! Kf7 35.Ke2 Ke6 36.e4, now the difference in the game is crystal clear, Black's King on e6 is not offered any KS counterplay: 36...fxe4 37.fxe4 f5 38.Kf3 Bd4 39.Ne3! fxe4+ 40.Kxe4 and White's King has reached the square of milk and honey. [33.e3
h5
34.Kf1
(34.Kf2
h4
) 34...Kf7
35.Ke2
Ke6
36.e4
fxe4
37.fxe4
f5
38.Kf3
Bd4
39.Ne3
fxe4+
40.Kxe4
]
33...h5!
Whoops. Now White finds himself in zugzwang. If his King was on e2, then Ke2-d3 and just wins. Unfortunately, White's King has to stay close to the e4-square as 34.Kf1 fxe4 35.fxe4 f5 and White can't maintain his White square dominance. Vladimir now went into a long pause and was horrified to realize that he had done the one thing that he was trying to avoid: Leaving a KS pawn weakness.
34.g4
[34.Nc7
Bb4
35.Kf2
Bc5+
36.Ke2
fxe4
37.fxe4
f5
38.Kf3
fxe4+
39.Kxe4
Bf2
]
34...hxg4
35.hxg4
fxe4
36.fxe4
Kg5
37.Kf3
[37.Kg3
Kg6
38.Kh4
(38.Nc3
Bb4
39.Ne2
Be1+
40.Kf3
Kg5
41.Nc1
Kh4
) 38...Bf2+
39.Kh3
Kg5
40.Kg2
Bc5
41.Kf3
Kg6
42.Kg3
Kg5
43.Nc7
Bd6
44.Ne6+
Kg6
45.Kf3
Kf7
46.Nd8+
Ke7
47.Nc6+
Kd7
48.Na7
Ba3
49.Ke2
Bb2
50.Kd3
Kc7
51.Kc4
Kb7
52.Nb5
Kc6
53.Kb3
Ba1
54.Na3
Bd4
55.Kc4
Bf2
56.Nc2
Bc5
57.Ne1
Be3
58.Nf3
(58.Nd3
) 58...Bg5
59.Kb4
Kc7
60.Kb5
Kb7
61.Ng1
Bh4
62.Ne2
Be1
63.Nc1
Kc7
64.Nb3
Bf2
65.Na1
Be1
66.Nc2
Bd2
67.Na3
Be3
68.Nc4
Bd4
69.Nd2
Kd6
70.Nf3
Be3
71.Nh4
Bf2
72.Nf5+
Kd7
73.Ng7
]
37...Kg6
38.Ke2
[38.Nc7
; 38.Ke2
Kg5
39.Kd3
Kxg4
40.Nxf6+
Kf3
41.Kc4
Be7
42.Nd7
Kxe4
43.Nxb6
Kf5
; 38.Nc7
Bd6
39.Nb5
Bb4
40.Ke2
Kg5
41.Kf3
Kg6
]
38...Kg5
39.Kd3
Bg1!?
A bit of a surprise. Most of us would have played 39...Kxg4 40.Nxf6+ Kf3 41.Nd7 Bd4 and awaited a draw offer. [39...Kxg4
40.Nxf6+
(40.Kc4
f5
) 40...Kf3
41.Kc4
Be7
42.Nd5
Bc5
]
40.Kc4
Bf2
41.Kb5
Kxg4
42.Nxf6+
[42.Nxb6
Bxb6
43.Kxb6
f5
44.exf5
Kxf5
45.Kc5
e4
46.Kd4
Kf4
47.a5
e3
48.Kd3
Kf3
49.a6
e2
50.a7
e1Q
51.a8Q+
]
42...Kf3
[42...Kf4
43.Kc6
Bh4
]
43.Kc6
Bh4
[43...Bg1
44.Kd5
Bd4
45.Nd7
Kf4
]
44.Nd7
Kxe4
45.Kxb6
Be1
[45...Kd5
46.Nxe5
Kxe5
47.a5
Bd8+
48.Kb5
Bxa5
]
46.Kc6
Kf5
47.Nxe5
Kxe5
1/2-1/2