Deep Blue – Kasparov, Garry

The Caro-Kann Defense. Kasparov used to play this right at the start of his career

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Date: May 7, 1997
Location: New York, NY USA
Tournament: IBM Kasparov vs. Deep Blue Rematch
Round:
Opening: B07 Pirc Defence
Submitted by: Daniel King
Published on: February 20, 2020

[Event "IBM Kasparov vs. Deep Blue Rematch"] [Site "New York, NY USA"] [Date "1997.05.07"] [Round "4"] [White "Deep Blue"] [Black "Kasparov, Garry"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [Opening "Pirc: Pribyl variation"] [ECO "B07"] [Annotator "Daniel King"] 1. e4 c6 {The Caro-Kann Defense. Kasparov used to play this right at the start of his career} 2. d4 d6 {This was the idea. Instead of a Caro proper, Kasparov is continuing his anti-computer strategy, attempting to take it out of its opening database. With this rare move, he might have succeeded.} 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 Bg4 {Now we have returned to something 'known', though rather unusual, the Prybl opening} 5. h3 Bh5 6. Bd3 e6 7. Qe2 d5 8. Bg5 Be7 9. e5 Nfd7 10. Bxe7 Qxe7 11. g4 { this advance is probably rather strong } 11...Bg6 12. Bxg6 hxg6 13. h4 Na6 14. O-O-O O-O-O 15. Rdg1 {Both kings have been brought to safety and all pieces developed, so the middlegame begins.} 15...Nc7 {If he attempts it immediately, 15...c5, then 16 Nb5! is embarrassing, heading for d6. } 16. Kb1 f6 {It is a risky move as it compromises his pawn structure, but it also gives him a chance to counter-attack.} 17. exf6 Qxf6 18. Rg3 Rde8 19. Re1 Rhf8 20. Nd1 e5! {From a position where his pieces were cramped, blocked behind their own pawns, this long-term pawn sacrifice liberates his entire army.} 21. dxe5 Qf4 22. a3? {No one could quite work out the point of this modest pawn move. } 22...Ne6! {Black's position has been transformed. Every single one of his pieces is working} 23. Nc3 Ndc5 24. b4 Nd7 25. Qd3 Qf7 26. b5 {Kasparov expected b4 and b5. This is a brilliant positional decision. } 26...Ndc5 27. Qe3 Qf4 28. bxc6 bxc6 29. Rd1 Kc7 30. Ka1 Qxe3 {'Here I just lost my nerve. I exchanged queens because my king was exposed and I was running short of time. If I play 30...Rf7 instead then it will have difficulty playing another move.' - Kasparov.} 31. fxe3 Rf7 32. Rh3 Ref8 33. Nd4 Rf2 34. Rb1 Rg2 {Kasparov will say that 34...Nxd4 35.exd4 Ne6 was his original intention. Although Black is still a pawn down, it looks as though he is about to clean up. The d4 pawn is attacked. c2 is attacked, the two kingside pawns are vulnerable...but then comes the shock: 36.Nxd5+ cxd5 37.Rc3+ with a vicious counter-attack. For those of you interested: 37...Kd8 38.Rb8+ Kd7 39.Rb7+ when Black would do best to repeat moves as 39...Ke8 40.Rc8+ Nd8 41.e6 41...Rxc2 42.Rxd8+ Kxd8 43.e7+ Ke8 44.exf8Q+ Kxf8 45.Rd7 is a bit better for White. } 35. Nce2 Rxg4 36. Nxe6+ Nxe6 37. Nd4 {Exchanging knights is the only hope for a draw, even if it means ditching a pawn. The exchanges open up the position allowing White's rooks to grab a piece of the action. It's not that simple though.} 37...Nxd4 38. exd4 Rxd4 39. Rg1 Rc4 40. Rxg6 Rxc2 41. Rxg7+ Kb6 42. Rb3+ Kc5 43. Rxa7 {White scoops as many pawns as possible - and his king just survives.} 43...Rf1+ 44. Rb1 Rff2 {Threatening mate in one 45...Ra2, but Deep Blue has it under control.} 45. Rb4 Rc1+ 46. Rb1 Rcc2 47. Rb4 Rc1+ 48. Rb1 Rxb1+ 49. Kxb1 {Even though White is a pawn up it is Black who has the winning chances.} 49...Re2 50. Re7 Rh2? {Black could have tried 50...d4 though if White plays accurately, then the game should also end as a draw. For instance, 51 e6 Kc4 52 h5 d3 53 h6 Re1+ 54 Kb2 d2 55 Rd7 d1(Q) 56 Rxd1 Rxd1 57 e7 winning for White, is the nicest variation.} 51. Rh7 Kc4 52. Rc7! {Good move. This prevents Black from using his king very actively as he will always have to watch the c-pawn.} 52...c5 53. e6 Rxh4 54. e7 Re4 55. a4 Kb3 56. Kc1 1/2-1/2