A.I. Artificial Intelligence

The Baron – Jonny
21st ICGA World Computer Chess Championship; Leiden, June 30, 2015
Queen’s Indian Defence E15

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. Qb3 Nc6 6. Nbd2 d5 7. Bg2 Qd7 8. Ne5? Possibly a novelty, but the usual 8. 0-0, 8. cxd5, and 8. Qa4 look much sounder. 8. ... Nxe5 9. dxe5 Ng4 10. cxd5 exd5 11. Bh3? If 11. Bxd5 then 11. ... 0-0-0! 12. Bxf7 Kb8 may give ample scope for Black’s initiative. But the text move is even worse. 11. ... h5! 12. f3 0-0-0! 13. fxg4 hxg4 14. Bf1. If 14. Bg2 might follow 24. ... Rh5 and Black keeps its firm grip on The Baron’s position. 14. ... Re8 15. e3 Bxf1 16. Nxf1 Rxe5. White is almost completely paralyzed. 17. Qd3. Quite a mysterious move. But also after 17. Rg1 d4 18. Rg2 (18. Qd3 Qd5 transposes to the text) 18. ... Rh6 Black dominates the board. 17. ... d4 18. Rg1 Qd5 19. a3 a5! 20. Qd2 Rh6! Jonny is playing in the style of Florentine Grandmaster Sergio Mariotti. 21. Qe2 Rhe6 22. Bd2. On 22. Qxg4 dxe3 Black easily wins. 22. ... Qb3 23. Rg2 Qxb2 24. Rd1 Bxa3 25. Kf2 Qb3 26. Kg1 Kb7 27. Bc1 Bxc1 28. Rxc1 dxe3 29. Rd1 f5 30. Rd3 Qc4 31. Rd7 Qc5 32. Rd1. After 32. Rxg7 Rd5 White is in a state of absolute Zugzwang.

32. ... g5! 33. h3 gxh3 34. Qf3+ Re4 35. Re2 g4 0 : 1.

Artwork: agsandrew