Annotated chess game: GM Larry Christiansen - Chessmaster 9000 game one (#1)

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ANNOTATED GAME

GM Larry Christiansen - Chessmaster 9000 game one (#1)
Chessmaster 9000 vs. Larry Christiansen
Annotated by: cash1981 (1200)
Chess opening: Caro-Kann (B14), Panov-Botvinnik attack, 5...e6

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GM Larry Christiansen versus Chessmaster 9000, annotaded by Larry Christiansen himself. This is game 1#. Christansen is black and Chessmaster 9k is White.

1. e4 c6

Not long after winning the 2002 US Championship, I was approached by the good people at Ubisoft to try my luck against their famous chess program Chessmaster 9000. I have a healthy respect playing against computers and I knew that CM9k would be a very worthy opponent. After some discussion with the CM9k team, it was decided to play the match online at the Internet "chessclub.com". The time control would be brisk, but manageable. I was not likely to face severe panic inducing time scrambles that inevitably lead to gross errors. A large crowd of online kibitzers and spectators were drawn to the bout. I was probably a slight favorite going into the match, but with humans there is the, well … human factor! Just one stupid little move could cost me the game and match. Fatigue, eye strain, psychology etc. all play a prominent role in human chess and I had to steel myself to try and play like a machine. I went into the match with guarded optimism. Playing against a program like Chessmaster 9000 is not a walk in the park. CM9k is absolutely merciless punishing errors, is annoyingly patient and has a perfect memory for openings and endgames. Computers almost never blunder tactically, although they can make major strategic errors. It was this strategic deficiency that I wanted to exploit vs CM9k. I hoped to steer our battles to quiet maneuvering trench warfare that requires judgment and foresight rather than brute calculating ability. 1.e4 c6 This defense prepared before-hand is known as the Caro-Kann Defense - a very solid system that has a reputation for being effective against attacking maniacs and computers.

2. d4 d5 3. exd5

A very wise choice by CM9k - this move tends to opens the game up and creates more tactical possibilities than lines like 3 Nc3.

3... cxd5 4. c4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e6 6. Nf3 Be7

A slightly more adventurous is 6…Bb4 but I decided to stay within myself and keep things calm and conservative.

7. cxd5 Nxd5 8. Bb5+

I was happy to see this move, even though I had never encountered it before in a serious game. The alternative developing moves 8 Bd3 and 8 Bc4 pose more problems for Black. The problem with this checking move is that it leads to early simplification. White, with his superior control of territory, should avoid exchanges. That's chess 1 on 1. Black, with the slightly more cramped position, benefits from them.

8... Nc6

I thought about playing 8…Bd7 here but I was a little nervous about White playing 9 Bxd7 Qxd7 10 Ne5. But really, that line's nothing for white. Black simply answeres 10…Nxc3 11 bxc3 Qd5 with a good game.

9. Ne5

9.Ne5? ... There is a basic principle in the opening that a player should not move the same piece twice unless he has a very good reason. CM’s move does come with a threat, 10 Nxc6, but that can be easily parried. There is no long-term positive benefit that result from this violation of principle, so 9 Ne5 must be classified a mistake.

9... Bd7 10. Bxc6 Bxc6 11. Nxc6 bxc6 12. Nxd5 cxd5

9. ... Bd7 10.Bxc6 Bxc6 11.Nxc6 bxc6 12.Nxd5? cxd5 This is a very agreable move from Black’s point of view. Black’s pawn structure is strengthened markedly. He once had two weak queenside pawns and now only has one. Further, Black’s control of the center has been increased - squares like e4 and c4 have come under Black’s possesion. I was feeling confident now that I could squeeze a win out of this position, no matter how strong or resourceful my opponent might be.

13. O-O O-O 14. Bf4 Qb6

12. ... cxd5 13.0-0 0-0 14.Bf4 Qb6 Black is clearly better now for the following reasons. First, his pawn structure is iron-clad. White cannot dent that compact chain of pawns. Second, Black can attack two weaknesses on Whites’s side of the board. The d4 pawn is isolated and weak and White’s queenside survivors are also vulnerable. Black's plan is to use his a-pawn as a battering-ram to soften up the white queenside and create a new weakness. Generally speaking, one can defend with only one weakness. However, two weaknesses are usually fatal.

15. Qd2 Bf6 16. Be3 a5

15.Qd2 Bf6 16.Be3 a5! Black plays according to the plan. The a-pawn will advance to inflict yet another weak isolated pawn on White's queenside.

17. Rac1 Qb4

17.Rac1 Qb4! 18 Qxb4 axb4 suddenly opens up the a-file to Black’s benefit. White is unable to shake off the pressure now because its pawns are just too weak.

18. Rfd1 Rfb8 19. Rc3

18.Rfd1 Rfb8 19.Rc3 ... CM has set a trap that might have worked against a less experience opponent. If Black mindlessly grabs the pawn with 19…Qxb2?? White wins with 20 Rc8 Rxc8 20 Qxb2. A strong program like Chessmaster never blunders a pawn for nothing.

19... Qa4

19. ... Qa4 Here I decided to give a little tickle to the a-pawn with the intent of provoking the answer 20 b3.

20. Rdc1 h6

20.Rdc1 h6 It is very important for Black to remove the threat of back-rank mate. This eliminates the constant worry about sudden cheap tricks. Speaking of cheap tricks, Black must resist 20…Qxa2?? 21 Ra3 Qxb2 22 Rc8 !! Rxc8 23 Qxb2 and White wins.

21. b3

White should have avoided this move until absolutely forced. A better continuation was to improve his king position, starting with 21 g3, followed by Kg2.

21... Qb4

Black is finally in position to play the long desired … a4 to create a lasting weakness on White's queenside.

22. Rc1c2 Rbe8

A terrible blunder would be 22…a4?? 23 Rc8 Kh7 24 Qxb4 Rxb4 25 Rxa8 and White wins.

23. h3 a4 24. Rc3c8

I can safely say that after this move White is lost as the coming endgame is hopeless. White should have tried the active defense 24 Bxh6! Qxd4 25 Rd3 Qe4. Black has an edge, but White may gain some counter-play later on because of the noticeable weakening of Black’s king position.

24... Qxd2 25. Rxe8+ Rxe8 26. Rxd2 axb3 27. axb3 Rb8 28. Rb2 Rb4

White’s defenses are over-stretched. He cannot defend both the d-pawn and the b-pawn.

29. Kf1 Kf8 30. Ke2 Bxd4 31. Bxd4 Rxd4 32. b4

White’s last hope rests with this passed b-pawn, but Black’s king easily intercepts it.

32... Ke7 33. b5 Rc4 34. b6 Rc8

Now White’s proud b-pawn has become a target. Black will soon devour the pawn and then turn his attention to mobilizing his large kingside majority.

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