1.d4
Already a bit of a surprise from X3D Fritz. Computers almost always play 1.e4 against humans because it leads to open positions with sharper, more concrete play, at least speaking very broadly. Of course any chess opening can lead to a sharp position, as we see here. The X3D Fritz team had a specific opening line in mind when they went for 1.d4 in this critical game four.
1...d5
For a long time Kasparov played 1...Nf6 exclusively against 1.d4. That move usually led to the aggressive Grunfeld or King's Indian Defenses. Lately, however, he has been playing the more solid move here, staking out space in the center right from the start. After the game Kasparov said that he wasn't completely surprised by 1.d4 and had done some preparation with his seconds for the match, Grandmasters Yuri Dokhoian and Mikhail Kobalia. (Dokhoian is his long-time trainer.)
2.c4
The Queen's Gambit, offering a pawn to deflect Black's central d-pawn from its solid post. This has been one of the most common opening systems at every level of the game.
2...dxc4
The Queen's Gambit Accepted, as Black accepts the offer of the pawn. Unlike other gambits Black only rarely attempts to hold on to his extra pawn in this variant. Doing so subjects him to too much attacking pressure. Instead he develops his pieces. Kasparov has played this before but the commentators weren't sure he would enter such an open, double-edged opening against X3D Fritz.
3.Nf3
e6
4.e3
Nf6
5.Bxc4
Reestablishing material equality.
5...c5
Black counterattacks the white center immediately.
6.0-0
a6
Threatening to play 7...b5 and 8...c4 with a pawn advantage on the queenside.
7.Bb3
[ 7.dxc5
This is a common line, but of course the X3D Fritz team wouldn't want to see the queens come off the board like this. They want as much activity and piece power on the board as possible to press the computer's advantage in tactics and calculation. 7...Qxd1
8.Rxd1
Bxc5
; 7.a4
Nc6
8.Qe2
cxd4
9.Rd1
Be7
10.exd4
]
7...cxd4
Kasparov heads into a line he has played before. You can see why the X3D Fritz team liked this line. All the pieces are still on the board and there are open lines for attack and piece play. There are no lines of blocked pawns to inhibit the computer's calculating ability. The downside is unrelated to the objective characteristics of the position. It's that Kasparov knows this position very well and is likely to have studied it deeply. This turns out to have been exactly the case. [ 7...b5
This move, quickly developing the bishop to b7, is the most popular here. 8.a4
b4
9.Nbd2
Bb7
]
8.exd4
Now White has what we call an isolated queen's pawn, a very common structure. The pawn on d4 has no pawns alongside it to defend it and it can be a target for Black's forces. In compensation White has excellent open lines for developing his pieces and the pawn controls important center squares. It is also possible to advance the pawn to start an attack.
8...Nc6
9.Nc3
Be7
10.Re1
0-0
11.Bf4
This move made it clear to Kasparov that the X3D Fritz team was headed into a line that was played in several very high-profile games a few years ago. Kasparov played in two of them, one with white in 1999 and one with Black in 2001! That 2001 game was against no lesser an opponent than world #2 Vladimir Kramnik on the stage in Moscow. Kasparov had won that game and no one had dared to play that line for White since then. Kasparov now started to play slower, warily looking ahead for what X3D Fritz had in mind. More precisely, what the X3D opening book team had in mind. The machine was still playing out of its opening library, not thinking on its own at all. There is a dead giveaway by the way the machine plays its moves instantaneously when it is still in its database book. When that's going on Kasparov knows that he is still following the programmers' preparation.
11...Na5
Attacking the bishop. Exchanges are usually to the defender's benefit, especially in a cramped position. [ 11...b5
12.d5
exd5
13.Nxd5+/-
Nxd5
14.Qxd5
Bb7
15.Qh5
Bf6
16.Rad1
Qc8
17.Bd6
g6
18.Qh6+-
1-0 Epishin,V-Jonkman,H/Amsterdam NED 2000/(30)]
12.d5
Wantonly giving up the weak pawn in order to open lines and create complications. Kasparov himself played 12.Bc2 against world #3 Anand in 1999. [ 12.Bc2
b5
'Illescas C ordoba: Este resulta ser el mejor metodo para desarrollar el alfil de b7; el peon en b5 tambien puede ser util en un futuro para hostigar al caballo blanco de c3 mediante el avance b5-b4' 13.d5
1/2-1/2 Kasparov,G-Anand,V/Wijk aan Zee 1999/CBM 69/[Huzman] (22) 'Illescas Cordoba: Un interesante sacrificio de peon cuyas consecuencias no quedan claras tras esta partida aunque promete una indudable compensacion a las blancas. Lo cierto es que a estas alturas del encuentro yo habia comprendido que en esta variante, tras la jugada 7.Bb3, las negras obtienen una comoda posicion si consiguen desarrollar a tiempo el flanco de dama. Por ello habia preparado esta entrega; las blancas abren el juego en un momento muy oportuno, con el alfil negro todavia en c8 y el caballo algo descolocado en a5' ( 13.Qd3
Bb7
14.Be5
g6
15.Qe3
Nc4
16.Qh6
Bxf3
17.gxf3
Nh5
18.Ne4
f5-+
0-1 Akesson,R-Degerman,L/Ronneby 1998/EXT 99 (23)) ]
12...Nxb3
13.Qxb3
After this Kasparov went into a very long think. He had faced this exact position two years ago in Moscow against his arch-rival, world #2 Kramnik. They were playing a match of blitz, games with just five minutes per player instead of the two hours plus of classical chess. Kasparov's was wondering if he should continue to follow the line from that game. He beat Kramnik spectacularly in that 2001 blitz game by sacrificing his queen and winning a wild tactical melee. But surely trying that against X3D Fritz would be close to suicide. It was just that sort of position the computer team dreamed of when they told X3D Fritz to play this line if given the chance. So Kasparov sat there for a while looking at the alternatives. He was mentally thumbing through his years of memorized analysis and looking to see what dangerous improvements the X3D Fritz team might have found.
13...exd5
Kasparov avo ids the wild queen sacrifice line and recaptures with the pawn. Grandmaster Yasser Seirawan, one of the ESPN commentators, didn't like this line at all against a computer because of the many open lines. The alternatives were worse, however, at least according to Kasparov. This move has also been played before in top level games and this is a factor in Kasparov's favor. He would definitely have analyzed those games. [ 13...Nxd5
A remarkable queen sacrifice originating with Alexei Shirov. 14.Rad1
Nxf4
15.Rxd8
Rxd8
16.Rd1
Nd5
17.Ne5
( 17.Nxd5
exd5
18.h3
b5
19.Rxd5
Be6
20.Rxd8+
Rxd8
21.Qc2
1/2-1/2 Gelfand,B-Shirov,A/New Delhi/2000/CBM 80 (21)') 17...Bf6
18.Nc4
Rb8!
( 18...Nxc3
19.Rxd8+
Bxd8
20.Nb6!
) 19.Na5?!
( 19.Nxd5
exd5
20.Ne3
Be6
( 20...d4
21.Nd5
Be5
22.Re1
Bd6=
) 21.Nxd5
Bxb2
22.Qxb2
Rxd5
23.Rxd5
Bxd5=
; 19.Nb6
Nxb6
20.Qxb6
Bd7
21.Ne4
Be7=
/=/+) 19...Bd7
20.Ne4
( 20.Nxd5
exd5
21.Rxd5
b6
22.Nc4
Be6-/+
) 20...Be7
21.Nc4
Bb5-/+
22.Ne5
Be8
23.h3
b5
24.Qg3
Rbc8
25.Kh1
a5
26.h4
a4
27.Ng5
h6
28.Ngf3
Nf6
29.Rxd8
Rxd8
30.Qf4
Rd1+
31.Kh2
Bd6-+
32.g3
Bc6!
33.g4
Rd3!
34.Kg1
Bxf3
0-1 Kramnik,V-Kasparov,G/Moscow 2001/CBM 87/[Huzman] (34)]
14.Rad1
Played instantly, showing that X3D Fritz was still in its opening library. Black is unable to hold on to the extra pawn.
14...Be6
15.Qxb7
Getting the pawn back, but now the queen is exposed on b7.
15...Bd6
Kasparov offer s exchanges to weaken White's attacking forces. Another move played here is the much more complicated 15...Bc5. Anand played that move against Kramnik in 2001 and a few months later his Indian compatriot, Sasikiran, tried it against Bacrot. The extreme complications arising from that move are exactly what any human would want to avoid against a computer beast like X3D Fritz. [ 15...Bc5
16.Be5
Qa5
( 16...a5
17.Nd4
Nd7
18.Bg3
Re8
19.Ndb5
h5
20.Nxd5
h4
21.Bf4
Bg4
22.Nbc7
Rxe1+
23.Rxe1
Rb8
24.Qxb8
Nxb8
25.Re8+
Qxe8
26.Nxe8
Nc6
27.Nef6+
gxf6
28.Nxf6+
Kf8
29.Nxg4
1-0 Bacrot,E-Sasikiran,K/Lausanne 2001/CBM 82 ext (42)) 17.Nd4
Bxd4
18.Rxd4
Nd7
19.Bd6
Nc5
20.Qc7
Qxc7
21.Bxc7
Rfc8
22.Bg3
Ne4
23.Nxd5
Bxd5
24.Rxd5
Nxg3
25.hxg3
1/2-1/2 Kramnik,V-Anand,V/Monte Carlo 2001/CBM 81 ext (76)]
16.Bg5
Keeping the bishop on the board and pinning the knight on f6 against the queen.
16...Rb8
17.Qxa6
Kasparov was relieved when the computer actually thought for a while before playing this obvious move. That meant it was finally out of its opening library and he wasn't out of his! Now he didn't have to worry about a nasty prepared surprise. Kasparov had analyzed this position extensively in the past and didn't think Black had anything to fear.
17...Rxb2
18.Bxf6
Making things easier for Kasparov. The world #1 had already seen through to the completely equal endgame that is now coming. X3D Fritz could have kept more material on the board instead of exchanging, but it doesn't know how to do anything other than play the best move. If a move that simplifies is rated as 0.01 points better than an incredibly complicated move it will play the simplifying move even though it would have much better winning chances against a human by playing the complicating move. One thing the X3D Fritz team might not have been aware of is that the previous game to reach this position was played by GM Andrei Kharlov, a Russian who has been part of Kasparov's analysis team several times. This would significantly increase the chance that Kasparov would know this line inside and out. [ 18.Re2
Rxe2
19.Qxe2
Be7
20.Qd3
Qa5
21.Bxf6
Bxf6
22.Nxd5
Qxa2
23.Nxf6+
gxf6
24.h3
Qa5
25.Qd4
Kg7
26.Qe3
Re8
27.Rc1
Rc8
28.Rxc8
1/2-1/2 Dorfman,J-Kharlov,A/France 2001/EXT 2002 (28)]
18...Qxf6
Kasparov wa s now playing his moves quickly and with a peaceful look on his face. He knew the danger was past. Black has absolutely no winning chances in these lines as there is no way X3D Fritz is going to make a huge blunder. In simple, open positions computers are all but invincible. The draw was now becoming apparent.
19.Qxd6
Qxc3
20.Nd4
If White tries to save the a-pawn it can come out on the worse end of the position. X3D Fritz is content to play a line in which it eliminates Black's central passed pawn. [ 20.a4
Ra2
]
20...Rxa2
21.Nxe6
fxe6
22.Qxe6+
Kh8
It's White to play, but Black's double attack on the f2 pawn forces X3D Fritz to defend instead of grabbing the d5 pawn. It's completely equal with no winning chances for either side.
23.Rf1
[ 23.Qf7
Qc8
24.Qxd5
Raxf2
25.Rf1
Qc2
26.h3
h6
]
23...Qc5
Continued precise play from Kasparov. The triple attack on f2 leads to further exchanges. [ 23...Rd2
24.Qe1
Rd3
25.Qxc3
Rxc3
26.Rxd5
]
24.Qxd5
Rfxf2
The point! Black isn't losing his queen here because he is threatening checkmate in two moves. Of course X3D Fritz had seen all this coming too. Still, it's a pretty way to end a rather technical final game. Both sides have serious back-rank problems; their kings have no way to escape a check on the rank. With all the heavy pieces on the board this creates various tricks, but both Kasparov and X3D Fritz were up to the task.
25.Rxf2
[ 25.Qxc5??
Rxg2+
26.Kh1
Rxh2+
27.Kg1
Rag2#
Checkmate!; 25.Qd8+
Rf8+
Blocking check with check, a rare and attractive tactical theme that saves the day. Kasparov had foreseen all of this as early as a dozen moves ago. 26.Kh1
Raf2
( 26...Rxd8??
27.Rxd8+
Qf8
28.Rdxf8#
) 27.Rxf2
Qxf2
28.h3
]
25...Qxf2+
26.Kh1
h6
Eliminating the back-rank weakness by giving the king some air (usually called the German "luft"). 10 moves earlier online commentator Mig Greengard has predicted the game would finish drawn in this position. But X3D Fritz ruins that prediction by playing one more useless move first.
27.Qd8+
[ 27.Rc1
Any human would have played this move just to see if Black might blunder. It isn't immediately obvious how Black can deal with the threat of Rc8+ with a winning attack. The black rook can't go to a8 and if it blocks with ..Rc2 then Qd8+ Kh7 Qd3+ wins the rook with a fork. Three-time US Champion Joel Benjamin was momentarily alarmed, thinking that perhaps Kasparov had missed this trick in what looked like a safe position at last. 27...Qc2!
This is the way! Black offers the queen to block the check and White cannot capture without being checkmated! A nice trick that Kasparov had to have seen long ago or this line could have meant trouble. It turns out there is another way to save Black, but it's not nearly so clear or pretty. ( 27...Ra6?!
Unnecessarily complicated. 28.Rc8+
Kh7
29.Qe4+
Rg6
30.h4
Qf1+
31.Kh2
Qf6
32.h5?
Qd6+
33.Kh1
Qd1+
34.Kh2
Qxh5+
) 28.Rxc2??
( 28.Rf1
Kh7
) 28...Ra1+
29.Rc1
Rxc1+
30.Qd1
Rxd1#
; 27.Rb1
Rb2
28.Ra1
Rb8
]
27...Kh7
White cannot make progress and has to worry about its own king and the attack on g2. 1/2-1/2