How the AI Revolution Impacted Chess (2/2)

by Joshua Doknjas
1/14/2022 – In the second part of the series, Joshua Doknjas examines opening system influenced by the neural network engines and discusses the modern battle between two well-prepared players. | Graphic: Europe Echecs
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See Part 1 of the series

Dubov’s Tarrasch

In 2019, Dubov introduced many new ideas in a rare variation of the Tarrasch Defense, which quickly attracted attention at the top level. Several of the world’s best players have tried it, including Carlsen who employed it successfully in the 2019 World Rapid and Blitz Championships. Dubov’s double-edged opening system is based around concepts that are suggested by the newer engines, including early h-pawn advances and pawn sacrifices for the initiative.

Note that both game annotations are based on work I did for my book, The AI Revolution in Chess.

 
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1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 c5 3.g3 e6 4.Nf3 d5 5.cxd5 exd5 6.d4 Nc6 7.Bg2 cxd4!? 7...Be7 is the classical main line. 8.Nxd4 Bc5! Dubov has brought many exciting new ideas into this rare variation of the Tarrasch. 9.Nxc6 The main line 9.Nb3 Bb6 10.0-0 d4 11.Na4 leads to more concrete variations where Black often sacrifices the d4-pawn in return for piece activity. 9...bxc6 10.Qc2 10.0-0 0-0 11.Na4 Bb6 12.Qc2 transposes to the game. 10...0-0 11.0-0 Bb6 12.Na4 Bd7 In these hanging pawn positions, White should seize space on the queenside and target Black's queenside weaknesses. Meanwhile, Black should occupy the e-file and create play on the kingside with ...h5-h4, as shown in the analysis below. 13.b3 13.Nxb6 axb6 14.b4 14.a4! is the most challenging plan. Re8 15.b4 Ne4 16.Bb2 Qe7 17.Qb3 h5! reaches a double-edged middlegame. The older engines suggest that White has a comfortable advantage. Indeed, the bishop pair and ideas of playing b5 pose some positional problems for Black. However, the e4-knight is very well-placed and the h-pawn advance can be effective on the kingside. For example, 18.Rfd1 h4 19.b5 Qg5 14...b5! is a seemingly poor positional move, but it is actually quite strong. The weak c5-square can't be exploited by White and it is now impossible to play b5 and undermine Black's central d5-pawn. 15.Bb2 Re8 16.e3 h5 17.Qc3 Qc8 18.Rfd1 Bh3 19.Bh1 Qf5 and Carlsen created a lot of pressure on the kingside light squares. ½-½ (39) Melkumyan,H (2668)-Carlsen, M (2872) Moscow (rapid) 2019. 13...Re8 14.Bb2 h5 The h-pawn advance is a key idea for Black to create counterplay, taking advantage of the fact that White is missing a knight on f3. 15.e3 Considering the issues that arise in the game, stronger was 15.h4 as tried by Aronian against Carlsen. The game continued Ne4 16.e3 Rc8 17.Nxb6 axb6 18.Qd1 Bf5! (sacrificing the h5-pawn and focussing on active piece play) 19.Qxh5 Qd7 20.Qd1 Objectively stronger was 20.Bxe4 but this greatly weakens the kingside light-squares. 20...c5 21.Re1 Rcd8 22.Rc1 Bh3 and Carlsen had developed a strong initiative in return for the pawn. 0-1 (59) Aronian,L (2775) -Carlsen,M (2872) Moscow (rapid) 2019. 15...h4 16.Nxb6 axb6 17.Qc3 Rc8 The strength of the typical idea 17...h3! is highlighted by the neural network engines. 18.Bf3 is well met by Qc8 intending ...Bg4 and ...Qf5 to weaken White's control over the kingside light squares. 18.Rad1 hxg3?! Perhaps Dubov was hoping to create an attack along the open h-file, but it shouldn't work out after 19.hxg3. Again, 18...h3! was very strong. 19.Bf3 Bf5 followed by ...Be4 and it is not clear how White will deal with his weaknesses on the kingside. 19.fxg3?! Intending to target the f6-knight by doubling rooks on the f-file. However, White's pawn structure has weakened significantly. 19.hxg3 Bf5 20.Rd4! creates unpleasant problems for Black. Be4 20...Qe7 21.Rh4 preparing Bf3, Kg2, and Rfh1. 21.Bxe4 Rxe4 22.Rxe4 dxe4 23.Qb4 and Bxf6 next. 19...Re6! A nice regrouping of the major pieces begins. 20.e4 Qf8 Protecting g7 and freeing the e8-square for the other rook. 21.Rf4 21.exd5 Nxd5 22.Qc1 Qe7 23.Rfe1= simplifying to equality should have been preferred. 21...Rce8 22.exd5?! Exchanging the light-squared bishop weakens squares around the White king. Nxd5 23.Bxd5 cxd5 24.Rdf1 f6 The middlegame has calmed down and Black is left with a clear advantage because of his safer king and control over the e-file. 25.Qd3 Qf7 26.Bd4 b5 27.g4 Re4 28.h3 Qe6 29.R4f2 b4 30.Rd1 Qd6 31.Kg2 Bc8 32.Qg3 Qe6 33.Kh2 Re2 34.Rg1 Qe4 35.Rxe2 Qxe2+ 36.Qg2? After this, Dubov quickly launches a decisive kingside attack with his major pieces. 36.Rg2 Qd1 37.Bf2 promised better defensive chances. 36...Qd3 37.Qxd5+ Be6 38.Qc6 Bf7 39.Bf2 Re2 40.Qc5 Rc2 41.Qb6 Qf3 42.Rf1 Kh7 0–1
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Rodshtein,M2685Dubov,D27000–12019D33Netanya Masters5

Battle of Neural Networks

At the top level these days, everyone uses neural network (or hybrid) engines. It is much less common to see the clash of styles between a classical and neural network engine, as occurred frequently in 2019 and 2020 (such as the first game of the previous article, Grischuk – Nakamura).

Instead, we see a battle of AI-approved ideas in many games at the highest levels. This clash of preparation can rapidly drive opening theory forward. An example of how theory has advanced in a fashionable line of the Rossolimo is analysed below.

 
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1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 g6 4.0-0 Prior to this game, the Caruana-Carlsen debates in the Rossolimo centered around the pawn structures arising after 4.Bxc6 dxc6 4...Bg7 5.c3 An old system in the Rossolimo, which received a burst of popularity in 2019, when the newer engines showed some ideas for White. e5! Due to an idea of the newer engines in the main 5...Nf6 lines, Black has been under some positional pressure there. Carlsen decides to sidestep these lines and chooses the concrete 5…e5. Carlsen and Caruana head down one of the most critical lines, where White sacrifices a pawn in return for a lead in development and kingside initiative. 5...Nf6 6.Re1 0-0 7.d4 d5 8.e5 Ne4 9.Bxc6 bxc6 10.Be3! puts Black under some positional pressure. The neural network approved approach is far more challenging than the old main line 10.Nbd2 10...cxd4 10...Rb8 11.Qc1 Qb6 12.b3 cxd4 13.cxd4 Qa5 14.Nbd2 Bf5 15.Nxe4 Bxe4 16.Nd2± 1-0 (39) Smeets,J (2585) -Mamedov,R (2659) Wijk aan Zee 2020 11.cxd4 Qb6 12.Qc1 a5 13.Nc3 Nxc3 14.Qxc3 Bf5 15.b3 1-0 (57) So,W (2770)-Radjabov,T (2765) chess24.com INT 2021 6.d4 The pawn sacrifice is by far the most critical test of 5...e5. cxd4 7.cxd4 exd4 8.Bf4 a6 Black should not wait to kick back the b5-bishop with ...a6 and ...b5. Otherwise, 8...Nge7?! 9.Bd6 0-0 10.Nbd2 a6 11.Qa4!? exploits Black's undeveloped queenside. Ra7 11...b6 12.Qa3! Bb7 13.Bxc6 is one of White's points behind 11.Qa4, picking up the exchange after Nxc6 14.Bxf8 12.Bd3 b5 13.Qc2 Bb7 14.a4 1-0 (44) Caruana, F (2812)-Fedoseev,V (2664) Douglas 2019 9.Ba4 Nge7 10.Bd6 b5 11.Bb3 Bb7 The d6-bishop blocks the d7-pawn and prevents most of Black's active ideas. Clearly, detailed preparation and defensive resilience are demanded from Black. 12.Re1 Nc8! The bishop on d6 should be removed immediately. 12...0-0?! 13.Nbd2 Na5 14.Rc1 Bc6 15.e5 and Nxd4 next followed by a strong kingside attack once the major pieces develop. 13.e5 Nxd6 14.exd6+ Kf8 15.h4! Not giving Black time to set up a solid kingside defence. 15.Nbd2 f5! is rather safe for Black. 15...Bf6 Carlsen chooses the most logical approach, preparing to bring his king to safety on g7. 15...Qf6?! is a flawed idea because 16.Nbd2 Qxd6? 17.Ne4 develops a crushing initiative. One sample line is Qc7 18.Bxf7! Kxf7 19.Qb3+ Kf8 20.Nfg5 Ne5 21.Rac1 Qd8 22.Nc5 and Black's defences fall apart. 16.Nbd2 16.h5?! is much less challenging. Black keeps everything under control after Kg7 17.Qd2 h6 18.Qf4 Rf8 16...Kg7 Following through with the plan set out on the previous move. 16...Bxh4? is too risky, considering White's initiative. One sample line is 17.Re4! Bg5 18.Nxg5 Qxg5 19.Nf3 Qc5 20.Qd2 Kg7 21.Rc1 Qxd6 22.Nxd4 Kg8 23.Qe3 and the holes on the kingside along with the threat of 24.Re8+ put Black in a very dangerous position. 17.Bd5 Na5?! Exchanging White's dangerous bishop, but the Black knight will be shut out completely on the queenside. 17...Bxh4! was the only way to avoid getting into a worse position. 18.Ne4 18.Re4!? also deserves consideration, but Black should be okay. 18...Bf6 19.Qd2 Rb8! 19...Na5?! 20.Bxb7 Nxb7 21.Nh2! is extremely dangerous. 20.Qf4 Nb4 21.Bxb7 Rxb7 and Black creates enough counterplay to compensate for White's initiative. 18.Bxb7 Nxb7 19.Ne4 Re8 20.h5 Rc8 21.Rc1 Rxc1 22.Qxc1 h6 23.hxg6 fxg6 24.Qd2 Black's position is extremely unpleasant due to his poor piece coordination and the misplaced b7-knight. Despite this, Carlsen plays excellently and finds many strong defensive moves in a row. d3! Giving up the d-pawn to free the knight on b7. 24...Na5? loses to 25.Nxf6 Rxe1+ 26.Qxe1 Kxf6 27.Qe5+ Kf7 28.Qd5+ Kg7 29.Ne5 and the queen and knight form a crushing attacking pair. 25.b4 Trying to dominate the b7-knight, but now Black's pieces pile up on the d6-pawn. 25.Qxd3! Na5 25...Bxb2? 26.Re2 Ba1 27.Qd1 Bf6 28.Nh2! h5 29.g4 and Black's kingside falls apart. 26.Rc1 Nc6 26...Nc4 27.b3 Ne5 28.Qd5 Nxf3+ 29.gxf3 and Rc7 next. 27.Rxc6! dxc6 28.Nc5 The active knights and passed d-pawn make Black's position extremely difficult to defend. 25...Re6 26.Qxd3 Qb6 27.Rd1 Qc6 Kicking back the strong e4-knight. 28.Nxf6 Rxf6 29.Ne5 Qc8 Caruana spent a fair bit of time here, but didn't manage to put any more pressure on Carlsen. 30.Qd5 Re6 31.Ng4 Kh7 32.Qd4 Qf8 33.Qa7?! 33.Qb6 Rxd6 34.Rxd6 Qxd6 35.Nf6+ Kh8 36.Qxd6 Nxd6 37.Nxd7 leads to an equal endgame. 33...Rxd6 34.Re1 Nd8 35.Ne5 Qe7 36.Nf3 Re6 Instead of repeating moves, 36...Qg7 would have kept some small chances but considering how Carlsen was under pressure for most of the game, his decision to finish the game is very understandable. 37.Rd1 Rd6 38.Re1 Re6 39.Rd1 Rd6 ½–½
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Caruana,F2828Carlsen,M2863½–½2020B31Norway Chess 8th7

Final Remarks

There are two final points regarding modern engines that I want to mention briefly: (1) practical use of these engines, and (2) the extent of their impact on chess.

The themes discussed in these two articles can be useful for the practical player. Besides providing creative and fresh opening ideas, modern engines can give insight into many types of positions that the classical ones struggled to play well in. Among others, strategic/closed middlegames and material imbalances have shown to be difficult for older engines to handle. 
Lastly, the originality of the newer engines’ play is an interesting discussion point. Have they invented new ideas or simply reintroduced old ones?

From my work on the topic, I saw that modern engines have done both: they found new ideas and drew attention to older ideas in every popular opening system. For example, advancing the h-pawn to h6 in the Grunfeld (e.g., Paravyan – Wagner from the previous article) has been known for many years, long before Stockfish and AlphaZero. However, the point is that newer engines have a greater appreciation for such concepts, attracting the attention of top players during opening preparation, and thus increasing its popularity. This process of developing ideas applies to many other opening and middlegame concepts, several of which were examined in these two articles.

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Joshua Doknjas is a FIDE Master from Canada and the author of two books on the Sicilian Najdorf and Ruy Lopez. He enjoys teaching, following, and writing about chess. Joshua is especially interested in the role of engines during opening preparation and understanding how AI has influenced modern chess.

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