"Ask me anything": Garry Kasparov at Reddit

by ChessBase
5/20/2021 – "Ask me anything" (AMA) is a "Question & Answer" format on the Reddit platform in which readers are invitid to ask a famous guest, well, anything. On 19 May, the Reddit readers asked Garry Kasparov about chess, Magnus Carlsen, Deep Blue, Artificial Intelligence, and much more. Kasparov's answer were open, frank, clear, and are a pleasure to read. | Photo: kasparov.com

On this DVD a team of experts gets to the bottom of Kasparov's play. In over 8 hours of video running time the authors Rogozenko, Marin, Reeh and Müller cast light on four important aspects of Kasparov's play: opening, strategy, tactics and endgame.

Q&A with Garry Kasparov

Garry Kasparov: Apart from being the youngest world chess champion in history in 1985, and the world’s top-rated player for 20 years, many also know me from my matches against the IBM supercomputer Deep Blue, which put AI (and chess) on front pages around the world. I was a sore loser then, but decided that if you can’t beat’em, join’em. So I’ve been speaking about AI and future tech at public events and conferences such as Vivatech worldwide. In 2016, I became a Security Ambassador for Avast Software, where I discuss cybersecurity, AI, machine learning, freedom online and the digital future. You can find my blogposts for Avast here.

I am also chairman of the Human Rights Foundation and the Renew Democracy Initiative. I have written two acclaimed series of chess books and three mainstream books: How Life Imitates Chess, Winter Is Coming and Deep Thinking: Where Machine Intelligence Ends and Human Creativity Begins. A fourth book is in progress right now.

Ask me anything about the intersection of rights and social media in the age of increasingly intelligent machines, privacy, and how AI is affecting our digital lives.

About this AMA: This AMA has been organized with Viva Technology, The 2021 edition will take place on June 16-19, both in-person in beautiful Paris and online worldwide. To keep you waiting until June, several past and future VivaTech speakers, game-changers from the tech, innovation and science sectors will take part in an AMA to answer your questions about how innovation will impact our future. You can also follow VivaTech on Twitter or Instagram.

BerimboloMaster: What do you think of the evolution of chess from 2000 to today? How do you think it’ll evolve in the future?

Players get better, we understand more, it goes on forever. The game isn't going anywhere, it's more popular than ever, and people will always want to know who is the strongest human so machines aren't going to "kill" it or whatever. People still hold their breath when the 100m dash is run, or even the marathon. It's about human competition and spirit.

Thebunin: Hi Gary ! What would you say are the most common misapplications and misunderstandings of AI by humans, both in chess as well as outside of it?

To pick the biggest one, it's that AI is a threat instead of a powerful technology like any other that is agnostic, and good or bad depending how we use it. It's a very harmful outlook, because we need to be more ambitious and more optimistic so we invest more, learn more, and get the benefits, not just suffer the slow-moving consequences of disruption and automation.

ballthyrm: While you are well known for your fight against Deep Blue, I found "Kasparov versus the World" a lot more interesting. Do you think there is a lot of research and systems to be developed to allow humans to collaborate that way just as they did in this match against you?

Great question, and while the "wisdom of the crowds" isn't really so effective in expert systems like chess, it was a pioneering experiment in real life for crowdsourcing and combining human and machine thinking and coordination in real time.

Lukenzz: Hi Mr.Garry. I want to recall your match against Topalov in 1999. With all due respect, have you really predicted all the moves before capturing the rook on h8 ?

Yes, I had to see the rook was hanging on h8 to play it. The moment I played 24.Rxd4 I visualized the position after 37.Rd7. Not every single move or variation between, of course, but that final key moment came to me like lightning.

 
New ...
Open...
Share...
Layout...
Flip Board
Settings
MoveNResultEloPlayers
Replay and check the LiveBook here
1.e4 My comments to this fantastic game will be limited to some moments of interest, which I haven't seen highlighted before in the earlier published sources (Internet, various magazines etc.) d6 Topalov is a Sicilian player, but against Kasparov he prefers to spring a slight surprise on his well prepared opponent as soon as possible. 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 Pirc is a somewhat rare opening in Gary's practice and he often used to react with 3.f3!? e.g. e5 4.d5 c6 5.c4 Qb6 6.Nc3 Be7 7.Nge2 0-0 8.Ng3 cxd5 9.Na4! Qc7 10.cxd5 Bd7 11.Be3 Rc8 12.Nc3 Na6 13.Be2 Bd8 14.0-0 Qa5 15.Kh1 Nc5 16.Bd2 Ne8 17.f4 exf4 18.Bxf4 Bf6 19.Bg4 Qd8 20.Bxd7 Qxd7 21.Qf3 Rc7 22.Nf5 Bxc3 23.bxc3 Na4 24.Qg3 Nxc3 25.Rae1 f6 26.Bxd6 Nxd6 27.Nxd6 Kasparov,G-Wahls,M/GER-Kasparov/1992/ But the Bulgarian was probably well prepared for a fight in the Saemisch, after all he is King's Indian expert. 3...g6 4.Be3 Bg7?! A major exponent of the 4.Be3 line GM Vlastimil Jansa would be dissatisfied with this move, as later Black will have to lose a tempo capturing on h6. 4...Ng4?! 5.Bg5 is also not ideal, as it rather loses than gains time. 4...c6!? has the best reputation. 5.h3! Black's most reasonable alternative is Less dangerous is ≤5.Qd2 Nbd7 6.Bd3 b5 7.Nf3 e5!? 5...Nbd7 ≤5...b5?! 6.e5! dxe5 6...Nfd7 7.exd6 exd6 8.d5 b4 9.dxc6 bxc3 10.cxd7+ Nxd7 11.b3 Be7 12.Bh6 Bb7 13.Nf3 Qa5 14.Be2 g5 15.Bg7 Rg8 16.Bd4 h5 17.Qd3 g4 18.hxg4 hxg4 19.Bxc3 Qd5 20.Qxd5 Bxd5 21.Nd4 Rc8 22.Bb4 Bxg2 23.Rg1 Ba8 24.Rxg4 Rh8 25.0-0-0+- Sokolov,A-Zakharevich,I/ Elista/1995/ 7.dxe5 Qxd1+ 8.Rxd1 Nfd7 9.f4 Bg7 10.Nf3 f6 11.e6 Nf8 12.Nxb5 Nxe6 13.Nxa7 Bb7 14.Bc4 Nc7 15.Kf2 Nd5 16.Nxc6 Bxc6 17.Bxd5 Bxd5 18.Rxd5 Rxa2 19.Rb5 0-0 20.Rd1 Nc6 21.Nd4 Nxd4 22.Bxd4 Rc8 23.Rd2+- Jansa,V-Schlosser,M/Muenster/1992/ ≤5...Bg7?! 6.f4! [+]() 0-0 7.Nf3 Nbd7 8.e5 Nh5 9.Ne2 Bh8 10.g4 Ng7 11.Bg2 dxe5 12.fxe5 Nb6 13.Bh6 Be6 14.0-0 Qd7 15.Nf4 Bd5 16.Nxd5 Nxd5 17.Qe2 Rad8 18.Rae1 Nc7 19.c3 Nce6 20.Nd2 Qc7 21.Ne4 a5 22.Rf2 b5 23.Ref1 Qb6 24.Kh1 Jansa,V-Hoi,C/Gausdal/ 1991/ 6.f4 e5 7.Qf3!? Black's main problem is to break up effectively the strong pawn cahin e4,f5, so deserving attention is b5!? 7...Qa5 8.Bd3 Bg7 9.dxe5 dxe5 10.f5 b5 10...gxf5?! 11.Qxf5! b5 12.Nge2 b4 13.Nb1 Nb6 14.Qf2 Na4 15.0-0 Be6 16.b3 Nb2 17.Ng3 Nxd3 18.cxd3 Qb5 19.Nd2 Rd8 20.Bg5 Movsesian, S-Ftacnik,L/Hamburg op/1997/ 11.Nge2 ≤11.g4?! b4 12.Nd1 gxf5! 13.gxf5 b3+ 14.Nc3 bxc2 15.Nge2 Rb8 16.Bc1 Rg8 17.Bxc2 Bf8 18.b3 Ba6 19.Bd2 Bb4 20.a3 Nh5 21.Qxh5 Bxe2 22.Nxe2 Bxd2+ Kharlov,A-Labok,V/Podolsk/ 1992/ 8.0-0-0 8.Bd3 Bb7 8...b4 9.Nce2 Qe7 10.dxe5 dxe5 11.f5 gxf5 12.Qxf5 12.exf5?! Bb7 13.g4 Nd5 14.Bf2 e4 15.Qg3 e3 16.Be1 Bg7 17.g5 Be5 18.Qg4 h5 19.Qg2 0-0-0 20.Nf3 Nf4 21.Nxf4 Bxf4 22.Be2 c5 23.h4 Ne5 24.Rxd8+ Rxd8 25.Kb1 Nxf3 0-1,Wagener,C-Andersen,J/Szeged/1994/ 12...Qe6!?∞ <=> 5.Qd2 c6 6.f3 More consistent and preferred by Jansa is 6.Bh6!? as White can sometimes effectively play f4 later on. Bxh6 7.Qxh6 Qa5 7...b5 8.e5! b4 9.exf6 bxc3 10.bxc3 exf6 11.Bd3 Qe7+ 12.Ne2 Qf8 13.Qd2 Qe7 14.0-0 0-0 15.Rfe1 f5 16.c4 Nd7 17.Rab1 Nb6 18.Qa5 Be6 19.Nf4 Qf6 20.c5 dxc5 21.Nxe6 fxe6 22.Qxc5± Jansa,V-Gazik,I/CSR-chT/1992/ 8.Bd3 c5!? 8...b5 9.Nf3 b4 10.Ne2 Ba6 11.0-0 Nbd7 12.Ng3 Bxd3 13.cxd3 Rg8 14.Qd2 Rb8 15.a3 Qb5 16.axb4 Qxb4 17.Qxb4 Rxb4 18.Rfc1 Nb8 19.Rxa7 Rxb2 20.e5! עe8,Van der Wiel,J-Azmaiparashvili,Z/Wijk aan Zee/1993/ Rather passive is 8...Nbd7 9.Nf3 e5 10.0-0 exd4 11.Nxd4 Qh5 12.Qd2 0-0 13.Be2 Qe5 14.f4 Qe7 15.Bf3 Nb6 16.Rae1 Rd8 17.b3 c5 18.Nde2 Bd7 19.Ng3 Bc6 20.a4± (),[+]Adams,M-Nogueiras,J/Buenos Aires/1991/ 9.Nge2 ≤9.Nf3 Bg4!∞ 9...cxd4 10.Nxd4 Nc6!? Unplayable is 10...Qb6? 11.0-0-0 Nc6 12.Nxc6 bxc6 13.e5! dxe5 14.Ne4 Be6 15.Qg7 0-0-0 16.Nxf6 exf6 17.Qxf6 Rhe8 18.Rhe1 Bg4 19.f3 e4 20.Rxe4 Rxe4 21.Ba6+ Qxa6 22.Rxd8+ Kb7 23.Qxf7+ Kb6 24.fxe4 1-0,Jansa,V-Hoffmann,H/BL2-O 9697/ 1997/ 11.Nb3 Qb6 12.Nd5 12.0-0-0 Be6 13.f3 0-0-0 14.Rhe1 Kb8 15.Bf1 Rc8 16.Qe3 Qxe3+ 17.Rxe3 g5 18.g3 h5 19.f4 h4 20.Bb5 Ng4 21.Re2 hxg3 22.hxg3 Rh3 Kroeze,F-Beim,V/Leeuwarden/1994/ 12...Nxd5 13.exd5 Nb4!? 13...Ne5 14.0-0 Bd7 15.Be2 0-0-0 16.a4 Kb8 17.a5 Qc7 18.c4 Bg4 19.Bxg4 Nxg4 20.Qf4 Ne5 21.Ra4 g5 22.Qd4 h5 23.Rc1 h4 24.Qe3 h3 25.g3 e6 26.Nd4 Qc5 27.Rc3 Ng4 28.Qd2 e5 29.Nb3 Qc8 30.c5 Hamdouchi,H-Chabanon,J/ FRA-chT/1998/ 6...b5 7.Nge2 White has various possibilities here. Not too promising is the old line 7.0-0-0 Qa5 8.Kb1 Nbd7 9.Bh6 Bxh6 10.Qxh6 Nb6 11.Nh3 Bxh3! 12.Qxh3 Na4! Ultra-sharp is 7.g4 h5!? 7...Nbd7 8.g5 Nfd7 9.f4 Nb6∞ 7...Nbd7 8.Bh6 Bxh6 9.Qxh6 Bb7 Black should strive for immediate counterplay. 9...e5!? 10.a3 and forcing a central exchange costs Black precious time, e.g. Too soft is ≤10.dxe5?! dxe5 11.Nc1 Bb7 12.Nd3 Qe7 13.g3 0-0-0 14.b4 a5 15.a3 Kc7 16.Be2 axb4 17.axb4 Ra8= Kristensen,B-Hansen,C/Vejle/1994/ 10...Qa5 11.dxe5 dxe5 12.Nc1 Bb7 13.b4! Qb6 14.Nb3 9...Qa5 10.Nc1 b4 10...Qb6 11.Nb3 a5 12.a4 b4 13.Nd1 Ba6 14.Ne3 Bxf1 15.Rxf1 Qa6 15...c5!? 16.Nc4 Qa6 17.Nbxa5 cxd4 18.Qd2 16.Kf2 Rc8 17.Kg1 c5 18.dxc5 Nxc5 19.Nd4 Qb6 20.Nc4 Qa6 21.b3 Ncd7 22.Nb5 Ne5 23.Ne3 Qb6 24.Kh1 Rc5 25.Rad1 Rg8 26.Rd2 g5 27.Nxd6+ Qxd6 28.Rxd6 Rg6 29.Rxf6 1-0,Moroz-Janda/ Decin/1998/ 11.Nb3 Qh5 12.Qxh5 Nxh5 13.Nd1 a5 14.a3 Bb7 15.axb4 axb4 16.Rxa8+ Bxa8 17.Nf2 0-0 18.Nd3 c5 19.dxc5 dxc5 20.Nbxc5 Nxc5 21.Nxc5 Rc8 22.Nd3 Rxc2 23.Kd1 b3 24.Be2 Bb7 25.Re1 f5 26.exf5 gxf5 27.Nb4! Rantanen,Y-Jamieson,R/Haifa olm/1976/ 10.a3! The right moment for prophylaxis ≤10.0-0-0?! Qa5 Gary tries to achieve a better version of 10.Nc1 e5 11.dxe5 dxe5 12.Nb3 a6 13.0-0-0 Qc7!? 14.Qg7 Rf8 14...Rg8? 15.Rxd7+- 15.g3 0-0-0 16.Bh3 Kb8 17.Bxd7 Nxd7 18.Qxh7 a5 19.Kb1 a4 20.Nc1 a3 21.b3 b4 22.N3e2 c5 23.Qh6 f5!? Moroz,A-Yurasov, A/Simferopol/1991/ 10...e5 10...a5 11.Nd1 b4 12.Ng3!? As Black's K will have to castle <<, he doesn't want to weaken his position here any further. 11.0-0-0 Qe7 Black wants to get his K to safety as soon as possible. But interesting was 11...a6!? 12.Kb1 12.f4 Ng4 13.Qg7 Qf6= nikam nevedie a po 12...Qc7 /\ (Covers a5.) 13.dxe5 dxe5 14.Qg7 Ke7!? 12.Kb1 a6 13.Nc1! 0-0-0 14.Nb3 exd4!? Topalov realizes the danger, connected with Na5 followed by a timely d5-> and decides to open up the position and fight. 14...c5?! 15.d5± 15.Rxd4 15.Nxd4 c5 16.Nb3 -15.Rd4 15...c5 16.Rd1 Nb6 /\d5 16...Ne5 17.Be2 d5? 18.f4 /\e5+/- 17.g3 Kb8 17...d5!? 18.Bh3+ 18.Qf4 d4 19.Bh3+ Nfd7∞ 18...Kb8 19.exd5 19.Qf4+ Ka7! /\ 20.Nxc5? Nh5 21.Qe3 d4! 19...Nbxd5 20.Nxd5 Nxd5 20...Rxd5 21.Qf4+!? Qe5 22.Qxe5+ Rxe5 23.Rd6 21.Na5 18.Na5?! Kasparov already envisages the rich combinational possibilities, but this very natural move is probably objectively not the best. 18.Bh3!? /\Rhe1 d5 19.exd5 -17...d5!? Deserving attention is also 18.Qf4 Ka7 18...Ka8 19.Na5 19.g4!? /\Bb5 and Black can't play 19.Bxb5 Nh5 20.Qh4!? Qxh4 21.gxh4 axb5 22.Nxb5+ Kb8 23.Nxd6 f5 24.Nxc5 Bd5!?∞ 19...d5? 20.Nxc5!± 18...Ba8 19.Bh3 d5 20.Qf4+ Ka7 21.Rhe1 d4 Ftacnik: 'Black has achieved impressive success, but his position is a bit dangerous. Kasparov unleashes phantastic combination.' Opening the position is suicide, after 21...dxe4 22.fxe4 /\Nd5 Nxe4 22...Rxd1+ 23.Rxd1 Nxe4 24.Rd7+!+- 23.Nxe4 Rxd1+ 24.Rxd1 Bxe4 25.Re1 Re8 26.Rxe4! Qxe4 27.Qc7+ Ka8 28.Nc6+- 22.Nd5 '!' Ftacnik. Nbxd5 22...Nfxd5? 23.exd5 Qd6 24.Qxf7++- 23.exd5 Qd6 24.Rxd4! 24.Qxd6? Rxd6 25.b4 cxb4 26.axb4 Nxd5 24.Nc6+ Bxc6 25.dxc6 Qxf4 26.Re7+ 26.gxf4 Nd5!? 26...Kb6 27.gxf4 Nd5 28.Rxf7 Rdf8 24...cxd4? Ftacnik: 'It should be noted, that 24...Kb6! would most certainly save the game for black, but we would be robbed of some fascinating lines. ' 24...Kb6!= 24...Bxd5!? 25.Rxd5! Nxd5 25...Qxf4 26.Rxd8 Qh6 26...Qc7 27.Rxh8 Qxa5 28.Re7++- 27.Re7+ Kb6 28.b4!+- 26.Qxf7+ Nc7 27.Re6 Rd7 27...Qd1+ 28.Ka2 Rd7 29.Re7± 28.Rxd6 Rxf7 29.Nc6+ Ka8 30.f4 25.Re7+‼ The real point of the combination. 25.Qxd4+? Qb6! 26.Re7+ Nd7 27.Rxd7+ 27.Qc3 Qg1+ 27...Rxd7 28.Qxh8 Rxd5-+ 25...Kb6 25...Qxe7? 26.Qxd4++- 25...Kb8 26.Qxd4 Nd7 27.Bxd7 Bxd5 28.c4!+- 26.Qxd4+ Kxa5 26...Qc5 27.Qxf6+ Qd6 28.Be6‼ Bxd5 29.b4+- 27.b4+ Ka4 28.Qc3!? This shows Kasparov's combination was more intuitive, than arithmetically exact. Ftacnik: 'It seems, that white could have won more easily with the help of a fine move 28.Ra7!!' A simpler and even more beautiful win was found by (I think) Kavalek: 28.Ra7! /\ Bb7 28...Nxd5 Ftacnik 29.Rxa6+‼ Qxa6 30.Qb2 Nc3+ 31.Qxc3 Bd5 32.Kb2 Qe6 33.Bxe6 fxe6 34.Qb3+! Bxb3 35.cxb3# 29.Rxb7 Qxd5 29...Nxd5 30.Bd7‼ Ra8 30...Rxd7 31.Qb2 Nc3+ 32.Qxc3 Qd1+ 33.Kb2 Rd3 34.Ra7!+- 31.Bxb5+ axb5 32.Ra7+ Qa6 33.Qxd5 Qxa7 34.Qb3# 30.Rb6!+- 30.Rb6 Ra8 30...a5 31.Ra6 Ra8 32.Qe3‼ Rxa6 32...Rhe8 33.Rxa8 Rxa8 34.Kb2+- 33.Kb2 axb4 34.axb4 Kxb4 35.Qc3+ Ka4 36.Qa3# 31.Qxf6 a5 32.Bf1+- 28...Qxd5 29.Ra7 Bb7 30.Rxb7 30.Qc7? Qd1+= 30...Qc4 30...Rhe8 31.Rb6 31.Ra7? Rd6 32.Kb2 Qe5-+ 31...Ra8 32.Bf1‼+- /\Rd6 31.Qxf6 Kxa3 Now White wins by force. 31...Rd1+ 32.Kb2 Ra8 32...Qd4+ 33.Qxd4 Rxd4 34.Rxf7 Rd6 35.Re7 /\Be6 33.Qb6 Qd4+ 33...a5 34.Bd7! Rd5 35.Qe3 axb4 36.Ra7++- 34.Qxd4 Rxd4 35.Rxf7 a5 36.Be6 axb4 37.Bb3+ Ka5 38.axb4+ Rxb4 38...Kb6 39.Rxh7 and with 3 pawns for the exchange White gradually wins. 39.c3± _|_R 32.Qxa6+ Kxb4 33.c3+! Kxc3 33...Kb3 34.Qa2+ Kxc3 35.Qb2+ Kd3 36.Re7!+- 34.Qa1+ Kd2 34...Kb4 35.Qb2+ Ka5 35...Qb3 36.Rxb5+ 36.Qa3+ Qa4 37.Ra7++- 35.Qb2+ Kd1 35...Ke3? 36.Re7+ 35...Ke1 36.Re7+ Kd1 37.Bf1!+- is the same as in the game. 36.Bf1! Rd2 37.Rd7! Ftacnik: 'The final trick, but white is completely right, the game is finally over.' Rxd7 38.Bxc4 bxc4 39.Qxh8 Rd3 39...Rb7+ 40.Ka2 Kc2 41.Qd4+- 40.Qa8 c3 41.Qa4+ Ke1 41...Kd2 42.Qc2+ 42.f4 f5 43.Kc1 Rd2 44.Qa7 1–0
  • Start an analysis engine:
  • Try maximizing the board:
  • Use the four cursor keys to replay the game. Make moves to analyse yourself.
  • Press Ctrl-B to rotate the board.
  • Drag the split bars between window panes.
  • Download&Clip PGN/GIF/FEN/QR Codes. Share the game.
  • Games viewed here will automatically be stored in your cloud clipboard (if you are logged in). Use the cloud clipboard also in ChessBase.
  • Create an account to access the games cloud.
WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Kasparov,G2812Topalov,V27001–01999Hoogovens4

vaperboy1337: Hey Gary! What is your greatest passion besides chess? Greetings from Austria :)

Chess is a jealous mistress! No insult to my wife and family, who are of course my top passion, but no I don't have any other big objects of attention other than consuming information.

herpDerpSlerpaWerp: Do you think current era chess champions like Magnus have the staying power to match or exceed your time as champion for 20+ years?

Highly unlikely, although Magnus clearly has the requisite talents of creativity and discipline. But elite chess keeps getting more competitive, with more players from more places, more events, as well as more distractions and opportunities. I was 42 and still ranked number one when I retired in 2005, feeling like I had no more to achieve in the chess world. 10 more years is a long time, but if Magnus stays hungry, and it is still making him happy, perhaps with the rise of a top challenger to keep him interested, he might. But the pace of change is his enemy so I'm skeptical.

The complete AMA with Garry Kasparov at Reddit...

Links


Reports about chess: tournaments, championships, portraits, interviews, World Championships, product launches and more.

Discuss

Rules for reader comments

 
 

Not registered yet? Register

We use cookies and comparable technologies to provide certain functions, to improve the user experience and to offer interest-oriented content. Depending on their intended use, analysis cookies and marketing cookies may be used in addition to technically required cookies. Here you can make detailed settings or revoke your consent (if necessary partially) with effect for the future. Further information can be found in our data protection declaration.