The most significant change in the world chess scene in recent decades has been the introduction of computers into active competition. Public interest in man-versus-machine matches is demonstrably greater than in man versus man. Whatever the reason for that preference may be, it was used to good effect by the organizers of a conference devoted to the problems of artificial intelligence in Firenze, Italy. They staged a demonstration game between one of the best young grandmasters in the world, Timur Radjabov of Azerbaijan, and one of the most powerful chess programs, Deep Junior, which is the brainchild of the Israeli programmer, Shay Bushinsky. The ordinary strategy of a human player when facing a computer is to avoid complications, which demand the kind of deep calculations at which a computer excels. Radjabov chose to tackle Deep Junior on its home turf, and plunged into an intricate struggle. For much of the game, Radjabov had a good position, but then, seemingly, he became tired and lost focus. Deep Junior did not exhibit any weariness at all. Experts in artificial intelligence are still attempting to explain the concept of “fatigue” to computers. Thus far, they have been unsuccessful.

RADJABOV VS. DEEP JUNIOR (white) (black) Slav Defense

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 c6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 dxc4 7.e4 g5 8. Bg3 b5 9. Be2 Bb7 10.0-0 Nbd7 11. Ne5 h5!? This was first introduced in early 2006 in Topalov-Vallejo Pons and soon found to be dubious. In a recent rapid match with Radjabov, Anand defended the position three times after 11…Bg7 12. Nxd7 Nxd7 13. Bd6 and won all three games, but this unbalanced result was hardly a consequences of an opening advantage. 12. Nxd7 Qxd7 13. Be5 Rh6 14. Qc1 In the above-mentioned game, Topalov played 14.f3 Qe7 15.a4 a6 16. Qc2 Rd8 17. Rad1?! Nd7. 14… Nh7!? An interesting novelty from the computer. Filippov-Evseev proceeded 14…Rg6 15. Rd1 g4 16.b3! and white obtained an advantage. 15.f4! Be7 16. Qe3 0-0-0 17. Rad1

(See Diagram)

17… f6! White has obtained strong pressure, but Deep Junior unveils a complicated combination to avoid getting crushed in variations like 17…h4 18.d5! cxd5 19. Qxa7. 18. fxg5 fxe5! White would retain pressure after 18…Nxg5 19. Bf4 19. gxh6 exd4 20. Qg3!? With this maneuver, white continue a struggle for the initiative. Black’s prospects would be excellent in case of 20. Qh3 h4. 20… Qe8 21. Qg7! Rd7 22. Rf7! This is stronger than 22. Qf7 Qxf7 23. Rxf7 Bf6 24. Rxd7 Kxd7 25. Bxh5 Ke7 and black’s chances are superior. 22… Ng5! Wisely rejecting a queen sacrifice 22…Bf6 23. Rxd7 Bxg7 24. Rxg7 dxc3 25. bxc3 with an advantage for white. 23. Rxe7 Qxe7 24. Qxe7 Rxe7 25. Rxd4 Rh7 26.h4 Nf7 27. Bxh5 Ne5 28. Be2 c5 29. Rd1?! Until this moment Radjabov played excellently, and after 29. Rd6! A) 29…Rxh6 30. Nxb5 a6 31. Nc3 Kc7 32. Rd2 Rxh4 33.g3 and white would have a better endgame. B) this is better than 29…b4? 30. Rxe6 bxc3 31. bxc3! (Only not 31. Rxe5? c2 32. Rxc5+ Rc7 and black wins.) 31…Nd3 (black is paralyzed after 31…Nf7 32. Re7) 32. Bg4! Kc7 33. Bf5 with a winning position for white. In the latter half of this game, we can sense white slowing down, almost move by move. Deep Junior, oblivious to the mind-breaking nature of the complications of this middlegame, plays every move as if fresh and rested. 29… Bc6 30.g4 b4! 31. Nb1 Rxh6 32.h5 Rh8 33. Kf2 An approximately equal position would also arise after 33. Nd2 Rg8 34. Rc1 Nxg4 35. Bxc4 Kd7 36. Be2. 33… Bxe4 34.g5 Bd3 35.h6 Bh7! Better than 35…Nf7 36. Bxd3 cxd3 37. Rg1! and white’s passed pawns are more dangerous then black’s. 36. Rg1 Rd8 37. Bh5?! White overestimates the power of his pawns. He had to tend to his crippled knight on b1 – 37. Ke3! Rd4 38. Nd2 c3 39. bxc3 bxc3 40. Nb3 Re4+ 41. Kf2 Rf4+ 42. Ke3 Re4+ and a draw via perpetual check arises. 37… Ng6 38. Bxg6? A decisive mistake. The black bishop was much stronger than the white knight. In complications after 38. Bg4 Kc7 39. Bxe6 Nf4 40.g6! (40. Bxc4 Nh3+) 40…Nxg6 41. Bxc4 Kc6 42. Ke3 Re8+ 43. Kf2 Ne5 44. Be2 Nd3+ 45. Bxd3 Bxd3 46. Rd1 c4 black is clearly better. White had to admit his mistake on his previous move and return his bishop–38. Be2! Nf4 39. Ke3 Rd4 40. Nd2 Nd5+ 41. Kf3 and white manages to escape. 38… Bxg6 39. Rh1 Kd7! An inhuman or even anti-human move. Black permits the white knight to join the fray. Deep Junior correctly calculated that it would not suffice to save white. Worse was 39…Rd7 40. Ke3 and white is ready to play 41. Nd2 anyway. 40. Nd2 c3 41. bxc3 bxc3 42. Nc4 c2 43. Ne3 No better was 43. Ne5+ Kc7 44. Nxg6 Rd1 and black wins. 43… Ke7 44.h7 White is also doomed after 44. Rc1 Rd2+ 45. Kf3 Kf7. 44… Rh8 45. Ke2 Be4 0-1