1.Nf3
d5
2.g3
Bg4
3.b3
Kasparov adopts a very quiet opening called the Barcza Opening - not a bad policy against a computer.
3...Nd7
4.Bb2
e6
5.Bg2
Ngf6
6.0-0
c6
7.d3
Bd6
8.Nbd2
0-0
9.h3
Bh5
By a slightly riundabout route we have reached a position which has occurred many times in master and grandmaster chess. White's basic plan is to gain space in the ecntre with e4. Black will sooner or later have to deal with the threat of e5, either by moving his minor pieces out of the way, or by playing ...e5 himself. In the latter case, there will be a slight weakness on f5 which might be able to exploit by Nh4-f5. At the moment this last manoeuvre is impossible, because the f3-knight is pinned, but this explains why one often sees the odd-looking move Qe1 in this system: White wants to support the push of his e-pawn, while at the same time freeing his knight from the pin.
10.e3
A very unusual move, indeed I can find no examples of it from practical play. The normal moves here are 10 e4 and 10 Qe1. Of the two, I would judge 10 e4 to be the more flexible. In this way White can reserve the option of either Qe1 or Qe2, depending on Black's reply. The merits of 10 e3 are rather hard to find; Kasparov soon adopts the Qe1 and e4 plan, but having lost a tempo in the process. Perhaps his idea was simply to take DB out of its opening book.
10...h6
Kasparov's deviation at once earns its reward. Instead of putting the extra tempo to use by developing queenside counterplay, for example by 10...a5, the computer makes a pawn move which is worse than useless, because it weakens the kingisde slightly. In a few moves we will see the importance of this. Now that the extra tempo has been handed back, the balance again slightly favours White and now the computer is on its own.
11.Qe1
Qa5
The play of DB in the phase of the game leaves much to be desired. It quite reasonably plans ...Ba3 to exchange off the active bishop on b2, but this plan is easily countered and then the queen is doing little on a5.
12.a3
Bc7?!
And this is very odd. There are two possible reasons behind this move. First of all, it may simply be anticipating e4-e5 by White; secondly, DB may want to have its queen defended in case of a line such as [12...Rad8
13.Bxf6
Nxf6
14.Ne4
Qxe1
15.Nxf6+
gxf6
16.Rfxe1
although this is nothing to fear as Black's active bishops easily compensate for the insignificant weakeneing of the kingside pawn structure.; I would prefer 12...Bg6
which prepares to answer e4 by ...e5. The prophylactic ...Bg6 is necessary in this case because otherwise ...e5 can be met by Nh4. This is particularly strong because of the poor move ...h6, which means that after a possible exchnage of knight for bishop on g6, Black cannot make the natural recapture with the h-pawn. Thus Black has to play ...Bg6 in advance, ready to meet Nh4 by ...Bh7. In this phase of the game DB just responds to each momentary problem on a move-by-move, without creating any coherent plan for developing counterplay. In this respect Kasparov's choice of opening appears very intelligent. ]
13.Nh4
A rather awkward move to meet. The threat is 14 g4 Bg6 15 Nxg6, and Black has to make the ugly capture ...fxg6. Nevertheless, I think that this would have been less serious than the further kingisde weakening resulting from Black's next move.
13...g5?
14.Nhf3
e5
All this looks absolutely horrible to the human eye. Having pushed both e- and g-pawns, the f5-square has become a serious weakness. If White could plant a knight there, then the game would be decided. However, DB isn't as stupid as that; there is no straightforward route by which a knight can reach the key square. Nevertheless, this long-term weakness remains a lasting burden for Black.
15.e4
Kasparov at once takes steps to fix the weakness on f5.
15...Rfe8
16.Nh2
Kasparov proceeds cautiously. His plan is Qc1, Re1 and then Nf1-e3-f5. This is rather slow, but as White's position is solid if will be hard for Black to develop ny real counterplay. [So far as I can see, he could have started this plan immediately with 16.Qc1
, since 16...g4
is not a worry because of 17.Nh4
and the knight takes a short cut to f5.]
16...Qb6
17.Qc1
a5
At last DB hits upon a plan for developing counterplay, although in this prticular position it is not very effective. The natural follow-up is ...a4 to induce b4, and then ...c5. However, ...c5 is hard to arrange because of the pressure on d5, and if Black exchanges first on e4, then the route Nc4-e3-f5 is opened up for the knight on d2. We can see how, time and time again, Black's naturalplans are frstrated because they would seriously expose the weakness on f5.
18.Re1
Bd6
19.Ndf1
dxe4
Now that the knight has moved away from d2, the possibility of Nc4 disappears and so this exchnage becomes feasible. However, the kniught is already on its way to f5 by a different route.
20.dxe4
Bc5
21.Ne3
Rad8
22.Nhf1
Black has hit upon a good method of keeping the knight out of f5 , temporarily at any rate. The f2-pawn is quite hard to defend, and until White nullfifies the pressure against it along the b6-f2 diagonal, the knight cannot hop into f5. Kasparov's idea is Nd2-c4; then, if Black wants to mainatin the pressure against f2 he must play ...Qa7, but White continues with b4, exploiting the line-up of a1-rook with the enemy queen, and Black is in trouble.
22...g4
The computer desperately seeks to disturb White's plan. Although this move creates further kingisde weaknesses, it enable Black to develop some piece activity. This is the critical phase. Everybody who has played a computer knows the scenario: you get a strategically winning position, the computer makes some desperate tactical lunge, you make a couple of inaccuracies and suddenly the machine is all over you.
23.hxg4
Nxg4
24.f3?
In this desire to achieve his straegic ends without making the slightest concession, Kasparov commits an inaccuracy which allows the machine to develop significant counterplay. [The most obvious plan is 24.Nxg4
Bxg4
25.Ne3
.
Kasparov probably realised that after 25...Be6
, it is not so easy to make progress, because Black has manoeuvred his light-squared bishop to a reasonable active square. For example 26 Qd1, heading for h5, is met by 26...Bd4. However, I think that this was his best option; after 26.Re2
Kh7
27.Qe1
White's remaining pieces come into play, and Black's kingisde weaknesses are not going to run away. Here, for example 27...Bd4
runs into 28.Bxd4
exd4
29.Nd5!
cxd5
30.exd5
with a large advantage for White.]
24...Nxe3
25.Nxe3
Be7!
An excellent defensive move. A human would find it hard to abandon the pressure on the b6-g1 diagonal, but the computer ispots that the bishop has an even better square on g5, both shielding the kingside weaknesses and pinning the e3-knight from a different sirection.
26.Kh1
Bg5
27.Re2
Kasparov recovers well. He intends Qg1 followed by Nf5, and the damage is repaired, but the computer strikes first.
27...a4
A good introductory move. As we shall see, having c4 avilable helps Black.
28.b4
f5
Correct. Black must make use of his temporary piece activity to make some inroads. Passive play would allow White to get back on track exploiting his strategic advantages.
29.exf5!?
[If White tries 29.Qe1
fxe4
30.Nc4
Qa6
Now we see why one reason why Black prepared this line with ...a4; the attack against the c4-knight is awkward. 31.Rxe4
Nf6
and White must jettison some material. He will always get some compensation, for example here 32 Nxe5 is unclear, but at least DB has randomised the game. The move Kasparov plays alsoinvolves an exchnage sacrifice.]
29...e4
30.f4
Bxe2
[30...Bxf4
31.gxf4
Bxe2
32.Qd2
Bh5
Forced, or else White also has the possibility of Ng4 33.Qc3
Re7
34.Nc4
Qc7
35.Qh8+
Kf7
36.Qxh6
and wins.]
31.fxg5
Ne5
Black must block the long diagonal. [31...hxg5
32.Nd5
wins at once.]
32.g6
[32.gxh6
Kh7
is a more reasonable reply, when Black has much better chances than in the game. (32...Rd6?
The Chess Monthly web site comments that 32 gxh6 Rd6 gives Black a decisive attack, although White can win in one move by 33 Nc4!. 33.Nc4!
) ]
32...Bf3
33.Bc3
A good prophylactic move. In many lines the queens are exchanged or White would like to send his queen away to the kingside. In these cases it is important not to allow ...Rd2.
33...Qb5?
A serious error. DB sees that this will probably lead to the exchange of queens, and has no objection in view of Black's material advantage. However, in the ending White's advanced pawns and general grip on the poisition count for more than the small material plus of rook for bishop and pawn. Instead, Black should have kept the queens on the board. [33...h5
is one possibility. In many line Black gains a tempo because White acnnot now play his queen to f1 in one move. One line runs 34.Qe1
Qb5
35.Qf1
Ng4
36.Nxg4
(36.Qxb5
cxb5
37.f6
Nxe3
38.f7+
Kf8
39.fxe8Q+
Rxe8
40.Bxf3
exf3
41.Kg1
is probably a draw) 36...hxg4
37.Qxb5
cxb5
38.f6
Re6
and Black can defend.; Another idea is 33...Qc7
intending to move the queen over to the kingside. Either of these options would have left the position unclear, whereas now Deep Blue slides downhill.]
34.Qf1
Qxf1+
[Now 34...Ng4
is impossible because of 35.Qxb5
cxb5
36.Nxg4
Bxg4
37.f6
]
35.Rxf1
h5
36.Kg1!
At first sight this position shouldn't be too bad for Black, since the e5-knight's attack on the g6-pawn means that the pawns cannot advance for the moment. However, Kasparov's move makes it all clear; he can afford to take his time, because Black has no constructive moves. The f3-bishop cannot move because of f6 and f7+, the knight must stay on e5 to cover g6, and this ties down the e8-rook too. The rook on d8 cannot achieve anything by itself, since the d-file penetration squares are under control, which leaves only Black's king.
36...Kf8
37.Bh3
b5
38.Kf2
Kg7?!
Making life easy for White by allowing g4 under favourable circumstances.
39.g4
Kh6
40.Rg1
hxg4
41.Bxg4
Bxg4
42.Nxg4+
Nxg4+
43.Rxg4
Rd5
44.f6
Rd1
See Frederic's piece for an analysis of 44...Rf5+. [44...Rf5+
45.Kg3
(45.Ke2
Rg8
46.g7
Kh5
47.Rg2
Rf3
48.Bd4
Kh6
49.c3
Kh5
50.Rg1
Kh6
51.Rg4
Kh5
52.Rxe4
Rf5
53.Re6
Kg6
54.Rxc6
Re8+
55.Kd2
Rh5
56.Re6
Rh2+
57.Kd3
Rh3+
58.Be3
Rd8+
59.Ke4
Kf7
60.Rc6
; 45.Ke3!
Rf3+
46.Ke2
Rxc3
47.f7
Rd8
48.g7
Rxc2+
49.Ke1
Rc1+
50.Kf2
Rc2+
(50...e3+
51.Kg2
e2
52.g8Q
Rxg8
53.fxg8Q
Rg1+
54.Kf3
Rxg4
55.Qh8+
Kg6
56.Qe8+
Kf5
57.Qf7+
Ke5
58.Kxg4
) 51.Kg3
Rc3+
52.Kh4
Rc1
(52...Rd1
53.g8N+
) 53.g8Q
Rh1+
54.Kg3
Rg1+
55.Kf4
Rf1+
56.Ke5
Rd5+
57.Ke6
Rf6+
58.Kxf6
Rd6+
) 45...Rf3+
46.Kh4
Rd8
47.f7
Rd5
]
45.g7
A well-played game by Kasparov, from both the chess and the psychological point of view.
1-0