(1) Kasparov,G (2830) - X3D Fritz (2807) [D45]
Man vs. Machine (3), 16.11.2003
[Karsten Mueller]

Garry Kasparov has overcome his desasterous blunder in the second game. In a fine anti-computer chess game he fought back, giving Fritz absolutely no chance.

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 d5 4.d4 c6 5.e3 a6?!
This very principled (but highly dubious) move is the novelty compared to the 2nd game.

6.c5!?
Kasparov closes the position immediately and emphasises the weakness of b6 and the dark squares on the queenside.

6...Nbd7 7.b4 a5?
A strategical mistake. May be even the losing move in a higher sense as the position is now closed and Fritz does not understand it at all.

8.b5!
Black's pawn a5 is now very weak.

8...e5 9.Qa4
[ 9.dxe5? Ne4 gets tactical and plays into Fritz' hands.]

9...Qc7
[ 9...Ne4 10.bxc6 Nxc3 11.cxd7+ Bxd7 12.Qb3 exd4 13.exd4 Na4 14.Qxb7 Bxc5 15.dxc5 0-0 16.Be3 Qf6 17.Bd4 Qe6+ 18.Ne5 Nxc5 19.Qb2 Rab8 20.Qe2 Rfc8 21.Qe3 Rb4 22.Be2 f6 23.Bg4 Qa6 24.Nxd7 Loyer,A-Ricroque,J/FRA 2002/EXT 2003/1/2-1/2 (35)]

10.Ba3!
is aimed against sacrifices on c5 or b6. Furthermore the bishop can go to b4 after Nxa5 to free the queen.

10...e4?
Fritz closes the centre. Not a good idea for a computer.

11.Nd2 Be7 12.b6!N
what a pawn chain. Ideal against Fritz! [ 12.Be2 h5 13.b6 Qd8 14.h3 Nf8 15.0-0-0 Ne6 16.Ndxe4 Nxe4 17.Nxe4 h4 18.Nd2 0-0 19.Rhg1 Re8 20.Bd3 Bf8 21.Bb2 Ng5 22.Qc2 a4 23.a3 Qe7 24.Rde1 Ne4 25.Nf1 Qg5 26.f3 Nf6 Reshevsky,S-Keres,P/NLD/URS 1948/MainBase/0-1 (63)]

12...Qd8 13.h3
A dream position! Completely closed and a safe prey on a5.

13...0-0 14.Nb3 Bd6?!
A little trick – the bishop can't be taken. But the trap is much too obvious for Kasparov and only valueable time is lost. [ 14...Nb8 with the idea Nf6-d7 followed by f5 was better.]

15.Rb1!?
protects prophylactically b6. [ 15.cxd6?? Nxb6 loses the queen.; 15.Nxa5? is too early: 15...Nxb6! 16.cxb6? Bxa3 17.Qxa3 Qxb6-/+ ]

15...Be7?!
[ 15...Bb8 is consequent. But a similar constallion was Deep Blue's doom in its first match against Kasparov.]

16.Nxa5!
take courage! This pawn has to be taken at some moment. It is very surprising that Fritz does not give a big disadvantage for itself. Every human playing Black would be shaking in his shoes.

16...Nb8
Probably to protect c6 and to blockade on a6.

17.Bb4
Kasparov frees his pieces on the queenside with the following manovers.

17...Qd7
[ After 17...Ne8? Fritz calculated: 18.Nxc6 Rxa4 19.Nxd8 Ra8 20.c6 Bxd8 21.c7 Bxc7 22.bxc7 Nxc7 23.Bxf8+- ]

18.Rb2
Prophylaxis

18...Qe6?!
Fritz plays like a fish without water [ 18...Ne8 19.Qd1 f5 is the right plan now or later. But Fritz does not move its f-pawn until the end of the game. Have the programmers not allowed to "weaken" the king position?; 18...Qf5? is refuted by 19.Nxc6!! (Reeh).]

19.Qd1 Nfd7 20.a3
slowly, slow ly! Secure everything! Allow no tactic! Very well done. Fritz shall be alone at sea.

20...Qh6 21.Nb3 Bh4
[ 21...f5 is better again.]

22.Qd2
Qxe3+ is threatened.

22...Nf6 23.Kd1
this castling by hand is very fine and reminds me of the great Tigran Petrosian. Very nice!

23...Be6 24.Kc1 Rd8
Fritz has no plan and plays completely random moves. It is very hard to believe that such a powerful program does not know nothing about this position. ..

25.Rc2 Nbd7 26.Kb2
the king is very secure here. This is a well known concept: the king is better placed behing its own advanced pawn wall than crushed by the enemy pawn front. True Fritz has not even begun advancing his kingside pawns.

26...Nf8 27.a4 Ng6
Black's moves make no real sense.

28.a5 Ne7 29.a6!
Very strong. Black will be completely dominated soon and his queenside is in ruins.

29...bxa6
[ 29...Rd7 30.axb7 Rxb7 31.g3 Bg5 32.Bg2 and White wins analogously to the game.]

30.Na5
What a knight! A real monster!

30...Rdb8 31.g3 Bg5 32.Bg2
[ 32.h4? Ng4 gives Black counterplay, which he does not deserve.]

32...Qg6 33.Ka1!?
slowly, slowly! Secure everything. Do not allow any tactics.

33...Kh8
Fritz is completely at sea. In the meantime Kasparov prepares the decisive strike on the queenside slowly and calmly but steadily.

34.Na2
heading for b4

34...Bd7 35.Bc3 Ne8 36.Nb4+- Kg8 37.Rb1 Bc8 38.Ra2 Bh6 39.Bf1 Qe6 40.Qd1
the queen heads for a4 to increase the pressure on a6 and c6. The time trouble is over and so it is over in a higher sense.

40...Nf6 41.Qa4 Bb7 42.Nxb7 Rxb7 43.Nxa6!?
[ An adventure like 43.Bxa6 Rbb8 44.Nxc6 is of course not neccessary.]

43...Qd7 44.Qc2 Kh8 45.Rb3
[ A possible finish would have been 45.Rb3 Kg8 46.Rba3 g6 47.Nb4 Rxa3 48.Rxa3 Kg7 49.Ra8 Nc8 50.Qa2 Nxb6 51.cxb6 Rxb6 52.Qa7 Rb7 53.Qc5+- A superb performance by Kasparov. Fritz had absolutely no chance. Let us wait and see, if he can repeat it in the last gamo on Tuesday.] 1-0