Deep Blue–Kasparov, 1996, Game 1 is a famous chess game in which a computer played against a human being. It was the first game played in the 1996 Deep Blue versus Garry Kasparov match, and the first time that a chess-playing computer defeated a reigning world champion under normal chess tournament conditions (in particular, standard time control; in this case 40 moves in two hours).
Overview
Deep Blue was a computer developed by IBM to beat grandmaster Garry Kasparov, the top chess player in the world at the time according to Elo ratings. Playing White, Deep Blue won this first game in the match on February 10, 1996, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Kasparov rebounded over the next five games, winning three and drawing two, to soundly beat the machine in the 1996 match.
It is more common to play 2.Nf3, but Kasparov has deep experience with that line, so White's opening book goes in a different direction. The IBM team determined the opening moves played by Deep Blue.
A more common move here is Be7. This was a new approach by Kasparov, developing the bishop in an unusual way. If 11.Nc3 Qa5 12.Qb3 then the game transposes into a game Kasparov previously played against Kramnik. The merit of the new move is debated. After this move, the computer left its opening book and began calculating its moves.
Black now has a problem with the pinnedknight on f6.
17... Bb6 18. Bxf6 gxf6
Kasparov avoids ...Qxf6? because White would gain material with 19.Nd7 by forking the Queen and Rook. Note that Kasparov's king is now far more exposed.
Two questionable moves by Deep Blue. 21.Qg4+ Kh8 22.Rcd1 was better, bringing White's queen and queen rook to attack Black's kingside.
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Position after 22...Qf6
22... Qf6 (diagram) 23. d5!
This type of pawnsacrifice is typical of Kasparov's style of play. Kasparov commented that he might have played 23.d5 himself in this position, since it hurts Black's pawn structure and opens up the board, and Black's exposed king suggests that there is probably a way to exploit the result.[1] Kasparov has been attacking White's d-pawn, and the computer wisely decides to advance it for an attack instead of trying to defend it.
Kasparov attempts to prepare a counterattack by preparing to move his rook to the g-file, but it will not work. Burgess suggests that 25...Ne7 26.Rxc8+ would have been better, though White would still have some advantage.[2]Keene suggests that 25...Rd8! 26.Qxb6 Rd7 was Black's best try, strengthening his passed d-pawn and queenside.[3]
26. Qxb6 Rg8 27. Qc5
Black was threatening 27...Qg5 forking g2 and the white rook.
27... d4? 28. Nd6 f4 29. Nxb7
This is a very materialistic move, typical of computers at the time; White grabs a pawn for a small gain in material. Deep Blue has not identified any threat of checkmate from Black, however, so it simply acquires the material.
29... Ne5 30. Qd5
30.Qxd4?? would lose to 30...Nf3+. If White tries 30.Nd6 with the idea of 31.Qxe5 winning the knight, Black gets decisive pressure on the g-file after 30...Nf3+ 31.Kh1 Qg6. Kasparov later commented on his opponent: "My late game attack would intimidate many players into making a mistake or two, but not this one."
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Position after 31.g3. The seemingly crushing move 31...Qf4 doesn't work, so Kasparov plays 31...Nd3 instead.
30... f3? 31. g3 (see diagram) Nd3
It seems as though Black could annihilate White with 31...Qf4, threatening both ...Qxc1+ and 32.Kh2 Rxg3!! winning. But instead White could play 32.Rc8!! and turn the tables on Black. Kasparov may have seen this and planned 32...Qg5 33.h4 Rxc8!! 34.hxg5 Rc1+ 35.Kh2 Ng4+ 36.Kh3 Nxf2+ and mate next move, however Deep Blue could then spoil everything with 33.Rc5.[4]
32. Rc7 Re8??
Kasparov makes a huge blunder, thinking he can muster an attack on White's king. Deep Blue realizes this is not a real threat and continues to gobble material.
