Silicon Implants

This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.

The New York Sun

Computers have altered the way chess is played in many different ways, not least in the analysis of opening variations. The ability of the high-powered machines to sort through trillions of variations in a flash makes them an invaluable tool in the search for innovations that overturn established lines of play.


The Indian wizard Viswanathan Anand is particularly adept at using computers at home to prepare lethally sharp lines of attack, which he then unveils against unwary opponents. Here we see a demonstration of the technique against Alexei Shirov (who plays under the Spanish flag) from the Mainz Chess Classic festival in early August.


ANAND VS. SHIROV


(white) (black)


Ruy Lopez


1.e4 e5


2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 0-0 8.h3 The brilliant idea 8.c3 d5!!, first introduced by Frank Marshall in his game with Capablanca in 1918, was so successful that in recent tournaments white is now seeking new alternatives for his eighth move. 8… Bb7 9.d3 d6 10.a3 Qd7


In a recent game in Dortmund, Kramnik tried 10…Nb8 11.Nbd2 Nbd7 against Anand, but after 12.Nf1 Re8 13.Ne3 Nc5


14.Ba2 Ne6 15.Nf5 white


obtained an advantage. 11.Nc3 Nd8 12.d4 exd4 13.Nxd4 Re8 14.Nf5! In the fourth game of this match, Anand chose 14.f3 g6 15.Nde2 but after 15…Ne6! 16.Nf4 Nxf4 17.Bxf4 Bf8 black equalized. The improvement in this game was certainly prepared and checked by Anand at home on a computer. 14… Bf8?


(See diagram)


In the eighth game of this match, it was Shirov’s turn to demonstrate an improvement. He played here 14…Ne6! 15.! Nxe7+ Rxe7 16.f3 Rd8 and equalized. 15.Bg5! If black takes the pawn he loses the exchange. Alas, not taking the pawn also is bad. 15… Bxe4 It was not satisfactory to return the bishop by means of 15…Be7 16.Qd2 when black’s position is bad. For example 16…Ne6 17.Nxe7+ Rxe7 18.Bxf6 gxf6 19.Qh6 winning the pawn; 15…Nxe4 16.Qg4 would lose immediately. 16.Nxe4 Rxe4 17.Rxe4 17.Qf3 would yield the strongest attack. Anand prefers instead a technical solution. 17… Qxf5 18.Bxf6 Qxe4 19.Bd5 All this also had to be checked with the aid of a computer. 19… Qf4 20.Bxa8 Qxf6 21.c3 c6 22.Qd4 Qe6 23.Qb6 Qc8 24.Re1! Qd7 24…Qxa8 25.Re8 would lose in a flash. 25.Qxa6 d5 26.a4! bxa4 27.Qxa4 g6 28.Rd1 Bc5 29.b4 Bb6 30.c4 1-0


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