Feb '00 Update
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This month I have adopted a radical course of action, with all the games being taken from the Computer Chess Match Tournament, Cadaqu 2000. I was especially curious to watch this event, since these days computers have very deep opening knowledge. Of course computers are particularly powerful in complications and some games proved to be not only quite instructive, but also important for theory. |
Mainslav
RS157 In a sideline which was thought to be losing for Black, Rebel Century introduces a novelty and quickly achieves excellent play! A theoretically important game.
Botvinnik
RS155 In my comments on the fantastic game Aseev - S.Ivanov, where Black drew the endgame despite being two Rooks down, I suggested it might be a feasible task for a Pentium III to prove White's advantage. Here is Pentium's attempt...
RS156 In a well-known and important position White here tried a new move which seems to be incorrect.
Meran
RS158 The line Black chooses in this game is a rare guest in tournament practice, mainly because it is a sideline that both sides can avoid. Black eliminates the counterpart of his powerful light-squared Bishop, but his pawn goes deep into the White camp where it is in danger. Nevertheless Black is usually not afraid to lose it as he obtains other pluses instead, mainly due to this powerful light-squared Bishop...
RS159 In the critical position of the line with 11...cxd3 White comes up with an interesting and unexpected idea. The game soon reached an endgame where White had an extra pawn, which he converted to a win with some rather unusual technique...
QGA
RS162 Black starts to have problems in one of the principal lines of the QGA. In a position where two GMs agreed a draw White was not so peacefully minded here, and quickly achieved a big advantage thanks to his opponent's impatient play...
In this complex and well analysed line of the QGA, White does not show anything that will change the assessment of this position as favourable for Black. Nevertheless you will be surprised to see such excellent humanlike technique from a machine.
Anti-Moscow
RS154 The era of White success with 10 h4!? seems to have passed away. Black has found some interesting options which give him good counterchances. White tried a new continuation in reply to 10...Bb4, but Black achieved excellent prospects with very energetic play.
Moscow
RS160 The line White chooses is known not to be dangerous for Black. In the endgame which frequently arises, he has no real problems with his Q-side pawn weaknesses as White also has to be careful due to his compromised structure on the Kingside. In this game White was able to pick up an extra pawn but his winning chances were still zero. Not understanding this fact the Machine tried to get more which led to disaster and a very spectacular finish...
RS161 A line that leads to a very solid but passive position for Black is illustrated here. Major experts with this system such as Alexey Dreev and Mikhail Gurevich play these kinds of position very skilfully, defending with great care and waiting for a good opportunity to open the game for the Bishop pair. But the Machine did not have similar patience - an early central breakthrough leads to quick disaster...