 Kramnik vs. Machine: The last chance saloon for humans?
  From November 25th to December 5th 2006, World Champion Vladimir Kramnik (Russia) and Deep Fritz (Germany) are playing a six-game match, in what has been defined as the Man vs. Machine duel. The competition is being held in the Art and Exhibition Hall of the Federal Republic of Germany in Bonn. The exclusive sponsor of WCC 2006 is Essen-based energy and chemicals company RAG.
There will be six games in the duel. If Kramnik finally recovers and wins the match, he will receive a cash prize of one million euros. Otherwise, the World Champion will walk away with only half that amount. |
After four games, Deep Fritz is leading by 2.5-1.5. Kramnik has been unable to win any of his two white games, while Deep Fritz pulled off a win with White in the second game when the World Champion missed a mate in one, the “Blunder of the Century” (See Learning corner section).
| KRAMNIK vs. MACHINE Match after Game 4 |
| NAME |
FED |
ELO |
TOT |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
| Vladimir Kramnik |
RUS |
2750 |
1.5 |
0.5 |
0 |
0.5 |
0.5 |
- |
- |
| Deep Fritz |
GER |
- |
2.5 |
0.5 |
1 |
0.5 |
0.5 |
- |
- |
|
 ICC WEBCAST Schedule
(All times are US eastern. Add 5 hours for GMT. Add 6 hours for CET)
- Game 5: Sunday, December, 3rd at 9 a.m.
NM Brian Wall and GM Gregory Kaidanov
- Game 6: Tuesday, December, 5th at 9 a.m.
NM Dan Heismann, GM John Fedorowicz and IM Vasik Rajlich
![Nice view of the Paying Hall [Photo: A. Schwartmann]](http://www.chessclub.com/xid/$mling$/$id/mailing/2006/12a/playhall_400x300.jpg)
An overview of the Playing Hall [Photo: A. Schwartmann]
Other Match information
Time Control of the games
The players shall each have to make 40 moves in two hours followed by 16 moves per hour thereafter provided that in the event that a game has not been completed within six hours it may be adjourned to the following day at Kramnik's discretion when play will continue at the rate of 16 moves/hour for a further six hours.
The Winner
The winner of the match will be the first Player to score more than 3 points. It is intended to award the winner the World Chess Challenge Trophy. If the match is decided before the six games set out in paragraph “Dates” have been played, Mr Kramnik will continue to play until the conclusion of the sixth game or offer his services in any way agreeable to both Parties.
Related information
Annotated games by IM Michael Rahal
Kramnik,V (2750) - Deep Fritz [E03]
Man vs. Machine Duel, Bonn (1) 2006.11.25
In the first game of the match against the computer Deep Fritz, World Champion Vladimir Kramnik played with the white pieces, and decided on a Catalan Opening, a good strategic choice against a calculating machine.
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Position after 13... Nf6!? |
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 Topalov also had to face the Catalan in the recent World Championship match. 3...d5 4.Bg2 dxc4 5.Qa4+ Nbd7 6.Qxc4 a6 7.Qd3 c5 8.dxc5 Bxc5 9.Nf3 0-0 10.0-0 Qe7 11.Nc3 b6 12.Ne4 This move is a novelty in my database. [12.Ng5 Ne5 13.Qb1 Bb7 14.Nce4 Nxe4 15.Bxe4 Ng6 16.Bxb7 Qxb7 17.Qe4 was equal in the game Szekely-Salov, Leningrad 1984.] 12...Nxe4 13.Qxe4 Nf6!? |
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Position after 22.Cd3 |
Fritz leaves his rook "en prise", but Kramnik declines the offer. 14.Qh4 [14.Qxa8 Bb7 15.Qxf8+ ( 15.Qa7 b5) 15...Kxf8 and Black has a good initiative with his two strong bishops.] 14...Bb7 15.Bg5 Rfd8 16.Bxf6 Qxf6 17.Qxf6 gxf6 18.Rfd1 Kf8 19.Ne1 A good move, the idea of which is to exchange the strong b7-bishop. 19...Bxg2 20.Kxg2 f5 The computer understands perfectly that his pawns must be placed on the light squares to compensate his dark square bishop. 21.Rxd8+ Rxd8 22.Nd3 |
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Final position |
White has a very small advantage, basically due to his superior pawn structure, although with correct play Black should hold the position. 22...Bd4 23.Rc1 e5 24.Rc2 Rd5 25.Nb4 Rb5 26.Nxa6 Rxb2 27.Rxb2 Bxb2 28.Nb4 Kg7 29.Nd5 Bd4 30.a4 Perhaps this move was unnecessary and 30.Kf3 or 30.e3 followed by 31.Kf1-e2 heading for b5 was better. Around here White misses his wining opportunity. 30...Bc5 31.h3 f6 32.f3 Kg6 33.e4 h5 Fritz tries to exchange as many pawns as possible and doesn't allow White to fix them on dark squares. 34.g4 hxg4 35.hxg4 fxe4 36.fxe4 Kg5 37.Kf3 Kg6 38.Ke2 Kg5 39.Kd3 Bg1 40.Kc4 Bf2 41.Kb5 Kxg4 42.Nxf6+ Kf3 43.Kc6 Bh4 44.Nd7 Kxe4 45.Kxb6 Bf2+ 46.Kc6 Be1 47.Nxe5 1/2-1/2 |
Kramnik,V (2750) - Deep Fritz [E03]
Man vs. Machine Duel, Bonn (3) 2006.11.29
The third game of the match finished in a draw after 44 moves. Kramnik again opened with the Catalan Opening, but on this occasion the machine played more aggressively and Kramnik, avoiding any risks, had to defend a difficult ending. Fortunately for the World Champion, Fritz wasn't able to understand the ending well enough, allowing an exchange sacrifice that guaranteed a draw for the World Champion.
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Position after 19... 0-0 |
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 d5 4.Bg2 dxc4 5.Qa4+ Nbd7 6.Qxc4 a6 7.Qc2 [7.Qd3 was played in the first game.] 7...c5 8.Nf3 b6 9.Ne5 Nd5 10.Nc3 Bb7 11.Nxd5 Bxd5 A new move. [11...exd5 12.0-0 Be7 13.Nxd7 Qxd7 14.Qb3 Qe6 15.dxc5 Bxc5 16.e3 0-0 17.Bd2 Rfd8 18.Bc3 Rd7 19.Rfd1 h6 20.Bd4 1-0 Akopov,R-Frumson,Y/Smolensk 1991/EXT 2000 (59) with a small advantage for White due to the grip on the d4 square. Akopov,R-Frumson,Y/Smolensk 1991] 12.Bxd5 exd5 13.0-0 [13.Nxd7!? Qxd7 14.0-0] 13...Nxe5 14.dxe5 Qc8 15.Rd1 Qe6 It doesn't seem that Black has any problems in this position. 16.Qd3 [Another idea is 16.b3!? Qxe5 17.Bb2] 16...Be7! 17.Qxd5 Rd8 18.Qb3 [18.Qxe6?? Rxd1+] 18...Rxd1+ 19.Qxd1 0-0 |
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Final position |
Black has good compensation for the pawn apart from the fact that he can recover it whenever he wants. 20.Qb3 c4 21.Qc3 f6! Playing for the initiative. Kramnik is under pressure. 22.b3 Rc8 23.Bb2 b5 24.Qe3 fxe5 25.bxc4 [25.Qxe5 Qxe5 26.Bxe5 c3] 25...Rxc4 26.Bxe5 h6 [26...Bc5 27.Qg5 Bf8 28.Qe3] 27.Rd1 Rc2 28.Qb3 Qxb3 29.axb3 Rxe2 Fritz has recovered the pawn, and has a two vs one queenside pawn majority. Only Kramnik's excellent endgame technique enables him to hold the draw. 30.Bd6 Bf6 31.Bc5 [31.b4 Bc3 32.Rd3 Rc2 33.Bc5] 31...a5 32.Bd4 Be7 33.Bc3 a4 34.bxa4 bxa4 35.Rd7 Bf8 36.Rd8 Kf7 37.Ra8 a3 38.Rxf8+! Kramnil quickly understands that this is the best way to get the draw. The machine still doesn't grasp these subtleties. 38...Kxf8 39.Bb4+ Kf7 40.Bxa3 Ra2 41.Bc5 g6 [41...g5!?] 42.h4! Kf6 43.Be3 h5 44.Kg2 1/2-1/2 |
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Deep Junior vs. GM Teimour Radjabov
  Reigning world computer champion, Deep Junior, will be in the center of a creativity festival - Festival della Creativitá - battle of wits against Azrei ace GM Teimour Radjabov, as both meet this Sunday in Florence, Italy.
This festival includes many international showcases and is a grand event spanning over the first week of December. The exhibition game will take place during the day dedicated to Artificial Intelligence and creativity where robots will play soccer (Holland vs. Italy) and machines will solve crossword puzzles and compose music.
The game will be held with live audio and video commentary as well as distinguished lectures concerning Artificial Intelligence and advances of computers in games of thought.
Play starts on Sunday, December 3rd 04:30 AM EST. You can get more information in the ICC LIVE COVERAGE page and the dedicated website of the event.- see also the dedicated website for the event.
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Join the December Standard Tournament - Win Prizes!
  Registration for the 121st Standard Tournament is now open! This is a 4-Round Swiss Tourney with a 60.0 time control game each Tuesday. You play in one of six sections: "Open" or "U1500" at 2pm, 8pm, or 11pm (ICC Time) with prizes for each section.
Numerous Players at every level are winning ICC membership extensions every month ... Join the Fun!
The entry deadline for Round 1 is 10 pm ICC time Sunday, December 3rd. Round 1 begins Tuesday, December 5th.
Please read the help STtourney file on ICC for the schedule of dates and tourney rules. Also see: help STtourneyFAQ and the crosstable for the November tournament, after prizes are awarded.
Players may enter only one section per month. Fill the secure registration form to play!
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Game annotated by IM Michael
Rahal
  Michael Anthony Rahal is an English International
Master, currently living in Spain. He works for
the CET Spanish Chess company and his tasks include
being Assistant Manager of the Chess Magazines "Peón
de Rey" (King's Pawn) "Todo
Teoría" (All on Theory).
Kramnik blunders a mate in one!
Deep Fritz - Kramnik,V (2750) [D20]
Man vs. Machine Duel, Bonn (2) 2006.11.27
The second game between the World Champion Vladimir Kramnik and the computer program Deep Fritz, which is being played in Bonn (Germany) finished unexpectedly when Kramnik missed a very simple mate in one.
Up to that moment, the human was playing very well and the game was even. Kramnik had neutralized Fritz's opening advantage, and the middle game was a classic strategic fight, in which move calculation wasn't so important. Kramnik achieved a slightly better position, and after some simplifications he retained superior chances, even rejecting a move repetition. But then he had a terrible lapse, which started two moves before when he allowed Fritz to capture a pawn, losing part of the advantage. This would not have been so bad if he had seen the computer's threat, but the Russian continued playing with the line that he had analysed beforehand, probably thinking that he had the advantage. The problem was that he missed a mate in one, making arguably one of the biggest mistakes in the history of chess by a world champion.
1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.e4 b5 4.a4 c6 5.Nc3 By move transposition we have arrived at a Slav position that normally arises after 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c3 3.Nc3 dxc4 4.e4 b5 5.a4 5...b4 6.Na2 Nf6 7.e5 Nd5 8.Bxc4 e6 9.Nf3 a5 10.Bg5 Qb6 11.Nc1 Ba6 [A new move. Previously 11...h6 had been played 12.Bd2 Ba6 13.Qe2 Bxc4 14.Qxc4 Nd7 15.Nb3 c5 Van Wely-Lautier. World Cup 2005] 12.Qe2 h6 13.Be3 Bxc4 14.Qxc4 Nd7 15.Nb3 Be7 16.Rc1 0-0!
17.0-0 [17.Qxc6 Qxc6 18.Rxc6 N7b6 and Black recuperates the pawn with good play due to his pawn majority on the queenside.] 17...Rfc8 18.Qe2 [18.Nfd2 c5 19.dxc5 Qc7 is good for Black.] 18...c5 [18...Qa6 19.Qxa6 Rxa6 20.Rc2 and it's difficult for Black to get rid of the weak pawn on c6.]
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19.Nfd2 [19.dxc5!? Nxc5 ( 19...Bxc5 20.Nxc5 Nxc5 21.Bd4 Qa6) 20.Bd4] 19...Qc6 [19...Qa6 Looked safer 20.Qxa6 ( 20.Qg4 cxd4 21.Bxh6 Bf8) 20...Rxa6 21.Rc2 N7b6 22.dxc5 ( 22.Ra1 c4) 22...Nxe3 23.fxe3 Nd7 24.Nc4 Bxc5; 19...cxd4 20.Bxd4]
20.Qh5 [20.Qg4!? looked very interesting 20...Nxe3 (if 20...Kf8 21.Qh5 with a similar position to the game, although in better conditions, as the king on f8 prevents the exchange that Kramnik played later on.) 21.fxe3 Qxa4 22.Qf4] 20...Qxa4 21.Nxc5 [21.dxc5 Qb5] 21...Nxc5 22.dxc5
22...Nxe3! [22...Qc6 23.Bxh6 ( 23.Rc4 Nxe3) 23...gxh6 24.Qxh6 Bf8 25.Qg5+ Bg7 26.Ne4 gives White a strong attack, but with a guaranteed draw.] 23.fxe3 Bxc5 24.Qxf7+ Kh8 25.Qf3 [25.Nc4 Qb3 26.Qxe6? Bxe3+] 25...Rf8 26.Qe4 Qd7 [26...Rxf1+!? 27.Rxf1 Rd8 28.Nc4 Qb3] 27.Nb3 Bb6 28.Rfd1 Qf7 29.Rf1 Qa7 30.Rxf8+ [30.Nd4 Bxd4 31.exd4 a4] 30...Rxf8 31.Nd4 a4?! [31...Qf7!] 32.Nxe6 Bxe3+ 33.Kh1 Bxc1 [33...Re8] 34.Nxf8 Qe3??
And in this position Kramnik made the blunder of the century. [34...Kg8 35.Ng6 Bxb2 36.Qc4+ Qf7 37.Qc8+ Kh7 38.Nf8+ Kg8 39.Ng6+=] 35.Qh7# 1-0 |
ICC
Quiz #1685
submitted by JennaJameson
White mates in 3
To play this puzzle on the ICC type:
tell trainingbot number 1685
Then type: play trainingbot
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| ICC
Quiz #1741
submitted by plambeck
White mates in 2
To play this puzzle on the ICC type:
tell trainingbot number 1741
Then type: play trainingbot
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Solution to
ICC Quiz #1685
submitted by JennaJameson
1. Kf6! Kg8 (1...Kh6; 2. Kf7!) 2. Rh5! Kf8 3. Rh8#
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Solution to
ICC Quiz #1741
submitted by plambeck
1. Bc7+ Ke8; 2. Nd6#
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