WIXLIB

The Chicago Chess PlayerOn Computers and ChessFebruary 2003(All rights to the following article belong to the New York Times, as copied from their Internet website).Are chess players now pawns of computers?Amy Harmon/NYTThe New York Times-- Saturday, February 1, 2003way it had been for centuries. But asadvances in computing speed haveenabled software on a standard PC torival the supercomputers of an earlierera, a generation of human playershave since been seduced intodependence on silicon assistance.Experts disagree on pros and consAs Garry Kasparov, the world's leadingchess player, stands tied with apowerful computer program in a chessmatch in New York, public imaginationhas again been captured by thespectacle of humankind battling toassert its supremacy over machines.A version of Deep Junior, the chessprogram that beat Kasparov in onegame this week and played him to adraw in a second, can be purchased for 50, as can several rival programs withnames like Fritz and Shredder. Playersuse such software to analyze thestrength of any particular move, and tosimulate an opponent's possibleresponses.But chess players say a more profoundconcern is centered on how computersare changing the way people play thegame with one another. As players ofevery level increasingly rely oncomputer assistance to plan theirmoves, some fear the intellectual rigorof the game long valued as a levelplaying field for the mind is beingwatered down.Online databases of 2 million or moregames let players examine andmemorize the favorite moves of anopponent they know they will be facingin a tournament. As the Internetreplaces clubs as the main venue forgames, some estimate that computerhuman tag teams are playing half of thehundreds of thousands of games playedonline each day. The most seriousplayers feel compelled to download andstudy the 1,000 or so games playedaround the world each week that areimmediately annotated and made"We don't work at chess anymore,"Evgeni Bareev, the eighth-rankedplayer in the world, told ChessBaseMagazine recently. "We just look at thestupid computer, we follow the latestgames and find small improvements.We have lost depth."When Kasparov famously lost hisspecies' chess crown to a huge IBMcomputer called Deep Blue in 1997,chess was still played very much the14

The Chicago Chess PlayerOn Computers and Chessavailable on the Internet. Absorbingsuch huge amounts of information,some say, detracts from an ability toconcentrate intensely on developing apersonal style or strategy.February 2003software during the game, and he hasparticipated in such matches.But others say chess is becoming morelike checkers, a game where so much isknown or memorized that it often endsin a draw. They complain that playershave become slaves to their software,so fascinated with the myriadpossibilities it presents that they forgetthe strategies they have worked out ontheir own. "What's happening withchess is it's gradually losing its place asthe par excellence intellectual activity,"said Hans Berliner, a former worldcorrespondence chess champion."Chess is winding down.""People don't experiment as muchanymore," said Maurice Ashley, agrandmaster from New York who isproviding commentary for the KasparovDeep Junior match. "That's a loss."Even Kasparov, the most passionatedefender of human superiority, nowpays a team of chess grandmasters toscour the Internet daily for new moves.His brain trust spends long hourschurning through simulations ofthousands of moves that he and anyother player memorize before going intotournaments, because his opponentshave the same computer program.Some aficionados see the increasinguse of technology in chess as a positivedevelopment for the game.The Telegraph (London)Garry draws with machineby Malcolm Pein(Filed: 02/10/2003)The availability of online informationdemocratizes the game, many chessfans say. They argue that the ability toquickly simulate moves on computershas emboldened people to try moredaring strategies, with their software'sblessing. "The combination of man andcomputer is much more powerful thaneither on its own," said FredericFreidel, the founder of Chessbase, theleading developer of chess software.Kasparov has promoted the idea of"advanced chess," where humanscompete by openly using computerGarry Kasparov was happy to settle for adraw against the computer program DeepJunior in the sixth and final game of theFide Man v Machine World Championshipheld at the New York Athletic Club and thamatch ended 3-3with one win for each side and four draws.Kasparov had hoped to erase the memoryof his defeat against Deep Blue, also atNew York five years ago but after apromising start - he won the first game - hefound the computer increasingly difficult tohandle. The world number one missed awin in game two and an advantage in game15

The Chicago Chess PlayerOn Computers and ChessFebruary 2003three turned into a disastrous loss.Kasparov then tried curling up in aHedgehog type position in game four andtempting the machine forward but thatstrategy nearly ended in disaster.which was accepted. The Programmerstook home 250,000, half of the prize fundand Kasparovreceived the same amount plus his 500,000 start fee.Game five was perhaps the most galling forthe former world champion as Deep Juniorproved itself ready to sacrifice material forunclear complications, something normallymaterialistic programs are not supposed todo. There was so much confusion on theboard that Kasparovheaded for the draw again.The Israeli's claimed their program, whichruns on a simple PC is better than DeepBlue which was backed up by hundreds ofparallel processors and needed its ownroom. We will never know because afterDeep Blue's victory its creators mothballedit and it will likely neverplay again.To add to the psychological pressure onthe world number one the historical omenswere not good for him. Against Deep BlueKasparov also won the first game, lost oneand then there were draws before heplayed disastrously and lost the sixth andfinal game.The match created enormous interest inNew York and was held under thepatronage of Mayor Bloomberg and hostedby X3D a new technology company whocreate three dimensional media and gamesproducts. For thefirst time the major sports network ESPNcovered the final game live and disruptedthe normal diet of American Football, Golfand Basketball with a three and half hourprogram. It was the first coverage of a livegame on UStelevision since the epic cold war encounterbetween Bobby Fischer and Boris Spasskyin 1972.After the final game Kasparov said: "Ofcourse I wanted to win, but the top priorityon my agenda today was not to lose."Kasparov was black and played hisfavourite Sicilian Najdorf. The computer didnot really know what to do but played fairlysensibly. Kasparov offered a draw on movetwenty three after making a bold sacrifice ofrook for knight that gave him the edge.However computers tend to feel they havethe advantage if they have more piecesand the programmers declined the offerbecause the program told them through itsevaluation - a number in which plus one isequivalent to an extra pawn - that it liked itsposition.This was the second Man v Machinecontest in the last four months, the worldchampion Vladimir Kramnik battled theprogram Deep Fritz to a 4-4 draw inBahrain last October and also found thestrain of playing a silicon opponent thatplays some elements of the game perfectlyand some abjectly, a considerable strain.Five moves later Kasparov had won acouple of pawns and the programmers AmirBan and Shay Bushinsky offered a draw,16

The Chicago Chess PlayerGAMES as reviewed by Tom FriskeFranek,M (1740) Ward,C [E82]Aces Getco, 06.11.20021.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4d6 5.f3 0-0 6.Be3XIIIIIIIIY9rsnlwq-trk 09zppzp-zppvlp09- -zp-snp 09 - - - -09- PzPP - 09 -sN-vLP -09PzP- - PzP09tR- QmKLsNR0xiiiiiiiiy6.b6An unusual move in this position, asit weakens c6. White can clamp itwith Nge2, d5,Nd4. If Black tradesat d5, White has more pressure yetwith cxd, and an eventual Rc1.9.Bd7 10.h3 Probably with the idea ofkicking c6 Knight with d5. 10.e610.Re8 11.d5 Nb411.Ne5? 12.f4XIIIIIIIIY9r -wqr k 09 -zplzppvlp09-zp-zp-snp 09zp- Psn- -09- P PzP- 09 PsN-vL- P09P -wQN P 09tR- -mKL R0xiiiiiiiiyDemonstrating the purpose of 10. h3, thee5 Knight has no safe move.12.a3 Na67.Qd2 Nc6 8.Nge2 a5XIIIIIIIIY9r lwq-trk 09 -zp-zppvlp09-zpnzp-snp 09zp- - - -09- PzPP - 09 -sN-vLP -09PzP-wQN PzP09tR- -mKL R0xiiiiiiiiy9.b3Not necessary, maybe White wasworried about an eventual Ba6,hitting c4.A couple standard ideas are9.Rc1 begins pressure down c file.Or maybe9.Nc1 with idea of Nd3 and c5XIIIIIIIIY9r -wqr k 09 -zplzppvlp09nzp-zp-snp 09zp- P - -09- P P - 09zPPsN-vLP P09- -wQN P 09tR- -mKL R0xiiiiiiiiyBlack tries for ideal placement of Knight atc5.13.Rb1 Nc5 14.b4 axb4 15.axb4 Na411.g3XIIIIIIIIY9r -wq-trk 09 -zpl pvlp09-zpnzppsnp 09zp- - - -09- PzPP - 09 PsN-vLPzPP09P -wQN - 09tR- -mKL R0xiiiiiiiiy17February 2003To develop f1-Bishop, but normal isNc1-d3, allowing the Bishop out.The downside to 10. h3 is theweakness of g3.11.Re8 12.Bg5 Qe7 13.Bg2 Qf814.0-0 Rab8 15.Kh1XIIIIIIIIY9-tr- rwqk 09 -zpl pvlp09-zpnzppsnp 09zp- - -vL-09- PzPP - 09 PsN- PzPP09P -wQN L 09tR- - R K0xiiiiiiiiy15.Nh5 16.g4XIIIIIIIIY9-tr- rwqk 09 -zpl pvlp09-zpnzpp p 09zp- - -vLn09- PzPP P 09 PsN- P P09P -wQN L 09tR- - R K0xiiiiiiiiy16.Nxd4 17.gxh517.Nxd4 Ng3 18.Kg1 Nxf1 19.Rxf1XIIIIIIIIY9-tr- rwqk 09 -zpl pvlp09-zp-zpp p 09zp- - -vL-09- PsNP P 09 PsN- P P09P -wQ- L 09 - - RmK-0xiiiiiiiiy

The Chicago Chess PlayerFebruary 2003GAMES as reviewed by Tom FriskeIn the previous analysis line,material is even, but White will needto be patient to properly place his(extra) Knights.19.Qg7 20.Rg1 e5 21.Bf121.f4 exf4XIIIIIIIIY9-tr- r k 09 -zpl pwqp09-zp-zp- p 09zp- - -vLP09- P Pzp- 09 P - - P09P -wQN L 09 - - -tRK0xiiiiiiiiy17.Nxe2XIIIIIIIIY9-tr- rwqk 09 -zpl pvlp09-zp-zpp p 09zp- - -vLP09- P P - 09 PsN- P P09P -wQn L 09tR- - R K0xiiiiiiiiyBlack seems to win material byattacking Knight and threateningNg3 fork.XIIIIIIIIY9-tr- - k 09 -zp- pwqp09-zplzpr p 09zp- Nzp-vLP09- P P - 09 P - P P09P -wQ- - 09 - - LtRK0xiiiiiiiiy22.Bxf4 with idea of Nc3 d5, White'sminors start causing trouble aroundBlack's King23.Bxd5 24.cxd5!XIIIIIIIIY9-tr- - k 09 -zp- pwqp09-zp-zpr p 09zp- Pzp-vLP09- - P - 09 P - P P09P -wQ- - 09 - - LtRK0xiiiiiiiiyBut not 22.Nxf4? heading for d5 22.f623.Bh4 g521.Re618.Nxe218.Qxe2 Bxc3 19.Rad1 White canplay on, but Black has the betterposition and a Pawn18.Bxa1 19.Rxa1XIIIIIIIIY9-tr- rwqk 09 -zpl p p09-zp-zpp p 09zp- - -vLP09- P P - 09 P - P P09P -wQN L 09tR- - - K0xiiiiiiiiy21.f6 22.Bh6 Qf7 23.hxg6 hxg6XIIIIIIIIY9-tr- r k 09 -zpl q -09-zp-zp-zppvL09zp- -zp- -09- P P - 09 P - P P09P -wQN - 09 - - LtRK0xiiiiiiiiyBlack can get counterplay down h filewith a rearrangement like Qh7,Kf7,Rh822.Nc3 Bc6 23.Nd5Excellent! White hits Rook, finallyopens c file, opens formerly badBishop, and takes over immediately.24.Ree8 25.Bb5White will trap the Rook in twomoves: Be7 and Bd7.1-0Sagalovsky (1970) Senset(1724) [B41]Getco Citadel, 20.11.20021.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4a6 5.c4White needs to open position for hisBishops to start working.18

The Chicago Chess PlayerGAMES as reviewed by Tom FriskeXIIIIIIIIY9r l r k 09vlp psnpzpp09p nvLpwq- 09 - - - -09- P P - 09 NsNL - -09PzP-wQ-zPPzP09tR- -mK- R0xiiiiiiiiyXIIIIIIIIY9rsnlwqkvlntr09 p p pzpp09p - p - 09 - - - -09- PsNP - 09 - - - -09PzP- -zPPzP09tRNvLQmKL R0xiiiiiiiiy5.Bc5 6.Nb3Kicks Bishop, but the Knight willtake a long time to get back intoplay6.Ba7 7.Bf47.Qg4 trying to take advantage ofBishop's absence 7.Qf6 8.Qg3building with Nc3, Bg5. An eventuale5 may cause trouble to d6. MaybeBlack could go Nc6 and Bb8!8.Nc3? (idea of Bg5) 8.Nh6(8.Bxf2 ) 9.Qg37.Nc6 8.Bd6 Qf6XIIIIIIIIY9r l k ntr09vlp p pzpp09p nvLpwq- 09 - - - -09- P P - 09 N - - -09PzP- -zPPzP09tRN QmKL R0xiiiiiiiiy9.Qd2 Nge7 10.Nc3 0-0 11.Bd3Re812.0-012.f4 and 0-0-0 get the attack rolling.12.e5Discovering on loose Bishop13.c513.Be2 Nd413.Bxe7 Nxe713.b6 14.Nd5 Nxd5 15.exd5 Nd416.Nxd4 exd4 17.b4XIIIIIIIIY9r l r k 09vl- p pzpp09pzp-vL-wq- 09 -zPP - -09-zP-zp- - 09 - L - -09P -wQ-zPPzP09tR- - RmK-0xiiiiiiiiyThe trading sequence has increasedWhite's position. Black's formerly proudKing's Bishop is suddenly quite useless.17.Bb8 18.Bxb8 Rxb8 19.Rac1 Bb719February 2003XIIIIIIIIY9-tr- r k 09 l p pzpp09pzp- -wq- 09 -zPP - -09-zP-zp- - 09 - L - -09P -wQ-zPPzP09 -tR- RmK-0xiiiiiiiiy20.d6Oddly, Black has no way of gettinghis Queen to hit g2.Trying to make a 2-1 Queensidemajority is a mistake:20.c6 dxc6 21.dxc6 Bxc6 22.Bxa6b5XIIIIIIIIY9-tr- r k 09 - - pzpp09L l -wq- 09 p - - -09-zP-zp- - 09 - - - -09P -wQ-zPPzP09 -tR- RmK-0xiiiiiiiiyThe White Bishop is in trouble23.Qc2 Rb6Maybe better, from game diagramtop of column, however, is:20.Bc4 Qe5 (20.Re5 21.Qxd4)21.Rfe1XIIIIIIIIY9-tr- r k 09 l p pzpp09pzp- - - 09 -zPPwq- -09-zPLzp- - 09 - - - -09P -wQ-zPPzP09 -tR-tR-mK-0xiiiiiiiiy

The Chicago Chess PlayerGAMES as reviewed by Tom Friske21.Qh5 22.Qxd420.Rbc8 21.Rfe1 Re5 22.Rxe5Qxe5 23.Re1 Qf6 24.Re7XIIIIIIIIY9- r - k 09 l ptRpzpp09pzp-zP-wq- 09 -zP- - -09-zP-zp- - 09 - L - -09P -wQ-zPPzP09 - - -mK-0xiiiiiiiiy24.bxc5 25.bxc5 g625.Rxc5?

The Chicago Chess Player February 2003 Proud Member of : CICL OFFICERS President Irwin Gaines [Fermi] Wayne.ellice@grace.com Gaines@fnal.gov Secretary Wayne Ellice (Pawns) Fermilab MS 120 W: (630) 840-4022 Grace Division W: (773) 838-3215 P.O. Box 500 H: (630) 420-1452 4099 W. 71st Street Fax (773) 838-3243