Lost in the Shuffle

Stockfish – Leela Chess Zero

Top Chess Engine Championship Season 21 — FRC4 Final; match game 6; tcec-chess.com, January 5, 2022

bbrqknrn/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/BBRQKNRN w GCgc - 0 1

Position #784

1. c4 Nfg6 2. c5 b6 3. b4 a5 4. Qa4 e6 5. g4 Qh4

6. Nhg3 Qxg4 7. Qb5 Bb7 8. bxa5 Bc6 9. Qa6 Rd8 10. cxb6 Qb4 11. Bd3 cxb6 12. Qxb6 Qxb6 13. axb6 f5

14. Bc4 Ne7 15. Nh5 Nhg6 16. Bxg7 Kf7 17. Bd4 Rc8 18. d3 Nh4 19. Rxg8 Rxg8 20. Bf6 Ng2+ 21. Kd2 Bd6 22. Bd4 Kg6 23. Nfg3 Bb4+ 24. Kc2 d5 25. Bb3 f4

26. Nf6 Rc8 27. Kb2 fxg3 28. hxg3 Bd6 29. e4 Rd8 30. e5 Bb4 31. Bc3 Bc5

32. d4 Bxb6 33. Rg1 Rb8 34. Bc2+ Kg7 35. Kc1 Rc8 36. Kd2 Nf5 37. Nh5+ Kh8 38. Bxf5 exf5 39. Rxg2 Ra8 40. Rg1 Rxa2+ 41. Ke3 Bd8 42. Bb4 Be8 43. Nf4 Bg5 44. Rc1 Bxf4+ 45. Kxf4 Rxf2+ 46. Ke3 Rb2

47. Rc8 Kg7 48. Rxe8 Rb3+ 49. Kf4 Rxb4 50. Kxf5 Rxd4 51. Re7+ Kf8 52. Rxh7 Rd3 53. g4 d4 54. Rd7 Rf3+ 55. Ke4 Re3+ 56. Kf4 Rd3 57. g5 Rd1 58. Ke4 Re1+ 59. Kf5 Rd1

60. Ke6 Ke8 61. g6 Kf8 62. Rf7+ Kg8 63. Kd7 Re1 64. e6 d3 65. Rf2 Kg7 66. e7 Kh6 67. e8=Q Rg1 68. Qh8+ Kg5 69. g7 Kg4 70. g8=Q# 1 : 0.

The Binding

Leela Chess Zero – Stockfish

Top Chess Engine Championship Season 21 — FRC4 Final; match game 24; tcec-chess.com, January 5, 2022

rqnbkrbn/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/RQNBKRBN w FAfa - 0 1

Position #605

1. Ng3 c5 2. Nh5 Qe5 3. g4 e6 4. Nd3 Qg5 5. e4 c4 6. f4 Qg6 7. f5 exf5 8. exf5 Bh4+ 9. Bf2 Qg5

10. 0-0 cxd3 11. Bxh4 Qxh4 12. f6 g6 13. Ng7+ Kd8 14. cxd3 Nd6 15. b4 Qg5 16. Qb2 Rc8 17. a4 Ne8

18. h4 Qd5 19. g5 Nd6 20. Bf3 Qxd3 21. Ra3 Nc4 22. Rxd3 Nxb2 23. Rd5 Rc4 24. a5 Kc8 25. b5 Rd8 26. Re1 Rf4 27. Kg2 h6 28. Kg3 Ra4 29. Ne8 Nc4 30. Re4 hxg5 31. hxg5 b6

32. Rxc4+ Rxc4 33. Nd6+ Kb8 34. Nxc4 bxa5 35. Kf4 a4 36. Ke5 Rc8 37. Rxd7 Rc7

38. Kd6 Rxc4 39. Rb7+ Kc8 40. Rxa7 Rd4+ 41. Bd5 Rxd5+ 42. Kxd5 a3 43. Kc6 Kb8 44. Rxa3 Bh7 45. b6 Bg8 46. b7 Bh7 47. Ra8# 1–0.

Beckett’s Theatre

Stockfish – Leela Chess Zero

Top Chess Engine Championship Season 21 — FRC4 Final; match game 38; tcec-chess.com, January 6, 2022

nrkbrnbq/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/NRKBRNBQ w EBeb - 0 1

Position #902

1. e4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. f4 d6 4. Qxd4 e5 5. Qd3 exf4 6. Bxf4 Ng6 7. Bg3 Nf6 8. Nf3 Nh5 9. Bf2 Nf6 10. Ng3 Qa5 11. Bd4 Ne5 12. Qc3 Qxc3 13. Bxc3 Nfd7 14. Nf5 Nc5 15. Bb5 Nc6

16. 0-0-0 Nxe4 17. Ng3 f5 18. Ng5 a6 19. Bc4 Ne5 20. N3xe4 Nxc4 21. Nd2 Ne3 22. Nxh7 f4 23. Nc4 Be7 24. Nxd6 Bxd6 25. Rxd6 Bf5 26. Ng5 0-0-0 27. Rd2 Bg6 28. Rxd8+ Rxd8 29. g4 Nxg4 30. Ne6 Re8 31. Nxf4 Rxe1+ 32. Bxe1 Bf5 33. Bg3 Nf6

34. Ne2 Ne4 35. Nd4 Bh3 36. Be5 g6 37. a4 Kd8 38. a5 Ke7 39. c4 Bf1 40. b3 g5 41. Kd1 Kd7 42. Ke1 Bd3 43. Ne2 Bc2 44. Nc1 Ke6 45. Bb8 Kf5 46. Ne2 Kf6 47. Nd4 Bd3 48. Kd1 Bf1 49. Ke1 Bd3 50. Kd1 Bf1 51. Ba7 Ke5 52. Ne2 Kf6 53. Nc1 Nd6 54. Ke1 Bg2 55. Kf2 Be4 56. Ke3 Bg2 57. Kd4 Nf5+ 58. Kc3 Ke7 59. Nd3 Ke6 60. Bc5 Kd7 61. Bd4 Ke7 62. Nc5 Kf7 63. Be5 Bf3 64. b4 Bc6 65. Kc2 Ne3+ 66. Kd3 Nf5 67. Ne4 Kg6 68. Bg3 Kh5 69. Bc7 Kg6 70. Be5 Nh6 71. Bg3 Nf5 72. Be1 g4 73. Bg3 Kf7 74. Nf2 Bf3

75. b5 Ke7 76. Bf4 Kd7 77. Ne4 Kc8 78. Nc5 axb5 79. cxb5 Kd8 80. Be5 Bg2 81. Kc3 Bh1 82. Na4 Bf3 83. Nb6 Be2 84. Kb4 Ke7 85. Kc5 Ke6 86. Bg3 Ne3 87. Bf4 Nf5 88. Nc4 Ne7 89. Nd6 Bf3 90. Bg3 Kd7 91. Nc4 Be2 92. Ne5+ Kc8 93. Bf4 Nf5 94. Nc4 Kd7

95. a6 bxa6 96. bxa6 Ke6 97. a7 Bf3 98. Nb6 Ne7 99. Bg3 Bh1 100. a8=Q Bxa8 101. Nxa8 Kf5 102. Nb6 Ng6 103. Nd5 Kg5 104. Bd6 Nh8 105. Ne3 Ng6 106. Kd4 Kh5 107. Ke4 Kg5 108. Nd5 Nh8 109. Nf4 Kh6 110. Kf5 Nf7 111. Be7 Kh7 112. Kxg4 1 : 0.

Motif Notation

Leela Chess Zero – Stockfish

Top Chess Engine Championship Season 19 — FRC2 Final; match game 44; tcec-chess.com, November 25, 2020

rknqbrnb/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/RKNQBRNB w FAfa - 0 1

Position #827

1. a4. Human theory contemplates 1. d4 d5 2. Nd3 Nf6 3. e3 Nd6 4. g4 h6 5. h3 Bb5 6. Ne2 e6 7. a4 Bxd3 8. Qxd3 Qd7 9. f3 Re8 10. e4 (“Actually with Kasimdzhanov it all happened straight out of the opening when I played 10. e4. He almost could not avoid the loss of a piece and that was quite unexpected”, Anand said afterwards) 10. ... fxe4 11. fxe4 e5 12. Bg3 Nc8 13. dxe5 Qxd3 14. cxd3 Nh7 15. Rxf7 Ng5 16. Rf1 Nxh3 17. d4 Nb6 18. Rc1 a5 19. e6 Rxe6 20. Rxc7 Ka7 21. e5 1 : 0 Anand – Kasimdzhanov, 7th unofficial Chess960 World Championship, Mainz 2007. 1. ... d5 2. a5 e5 3. a6 b6 4. g4 Nge7 5. f4 e4 6. d3 Bc6 7. Na2 Nd6 8. Bh4 Re8 9. Nb4 Qd7 10. c4? After this, White’s position will swiftly fall apart. Perhaps 10. f5 ought to have been preferred.

10. ... g5! 11. Bxg5 dxc4 12. dxc4 f6 13. Bh4 Nxc4 14. Qxd7 Bxd7 15. Rc1 Bb5 16. f5 0-0-0 17. Ka2 Rd2 18. Rab1 Rd4! 19. Nc2 Rd7 20. Bxe4 Nd5 21. Bd3 Nf4 22. Nf3 Nxd3 23. exd3 Rxd3 24. Nfd4 Bxa6 25. Ne6 Rd7 26. Ra1 Ne5 27. Ne3 c5 28. b4 Rd2+ 29. Kb3 c4+ 30. Ka4 b5+! 31. Ka5

31. ... Rxe6! 32. fxe6 Kb7! Threat: ... Ne5-c6#. 33. Rxc4 Nxc4+ 34. Nxc4

34. ... f5!! An astonishing, problem-like refutation. After 34. ... bxc4? 35. b5 White would probably have saved the game. 35. e7. If 35. Nxd2 then 35. ... Bd4!! 36. Bd8 Bb6+ 37. Bxb6 axb6#. 35. ... Bxa1 36. Nd6+. Not 36. e8=Q on account of 36. ... Ra2+ followed by mate. 36. ... Kc7 37. Kxa6 Rxd6+ 38. Kxb5 Kd7 39. gxf5 a6+ 40. Ka5 Bf6 41. Bxf6 Rxf6 42. Ka4 Rxf5 43. Kb3 Kxe7 44. h4 Kd6 45. Kc4 Rd5 46. b5 axb5+ 0 : 1.

Backwards and Forwards

Stockfish – Leela Chess Zero

Top Chess Engine Championship Season 19 — Superfinal; match game 18; tcec-chess.com, October 3, 2020

Sicilian Defence B45

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 d6 6. g4 h6 (6. ... a6 7. Be3 Nge7! 8. Nb3 b5 9. f4 Bb7 10. Qf3 g5! 11. fxg5 Ne5 12. Qg2 b4 13. Ne2 h5! 14. gxh5 Nf5 15. Bf2 Qxg5! 16. Na5 Ne3!! 17. Qg3 Qxg3 18. Nxg3 Nxc2+ 19. Kd1 Nxa1 20. Nxb7 b3 21. axb3 Nxb3 22. Kc2 Nc5 23. Nxc5 dxc5 24. Be1 Nf3 25. Bc3 Nd4+ 26. Kd3 Bd6 27. Bg2 Be5 28. Kc4 Ke7! 29. Ra1 Nc6 0 : 1 Shirov – J. Polgár, Lev Abramovich Polugaevsky Chess Tournament, Buenos Aires 1994) 7. h4 a6 8. Nxc6!?TN (8. Bg2 Be7 9. Be3 Nxd4 10. Qxd4 e5 11. Qd1 Be6 12. Nd5 Rc8 13. c3 Nf6= 14. Nxe7 Qxe7 15. g5 hxg5 16. hxg5 Rxh1+ 17. Bxh1 Ng4 18. Bd2 Qf8 19. Qf3 Qh8 20. Bg2 Qh4 21. b3 d5 22. Qg3 Qxg3 23. fxg3 Rd8 24. Ke2 Ke7 25. Bc1 d4 26. Ba3+ Ke8 27. cxd4 exd4 28. Rh1 Ne5 29. Rh8+ Kd7 30. Rxd8+ Kxd8 31. Bb2 Bg4+ 32. Kd2 Nf3+ ½ : ½ Karpov – Kasparov, Moscow 1985, World Chess Championship match game 14) 8. ... bxc6 9. Qd3 Nf6 10. g5 hxg5 11. Bxg5 Qb6 12. 0-0-0 a5 13. Qf3 Bd7. 13. ... Rb8 14. b3 Bd7 might have been considered here, in order not to allow White’s Bishop to claim the diagonal a2-g8. 14. Bc4 Rb8 (14. ... a4 15. e5!+−) 15. Bb3 c5 16. h5! a4 (16. ... c4 17. h6!+−) 17. Nxa4 Qa5 18. Bxf6 gxf6 19. Nc3 (19. Qxf6?? Rh6 20. Qc3 Qa7∓) 19. ... Qb6 20. Qd3 Ke7 21. a3 Bh6+ 22. Kb1 Rhc8 23. Qc4 Rc6 24. Rhe1 Rc7 25. Rd3 Bf4

26. Nd5+! exd5 27. exd5+ Be5

28. Qh4! Kd8. 28. ... c4 is also met by 29. Rxe5+! Be6 (neither 29. ... dxe5 30. d6++− nor 29. ... Kd8 30. Qxf6+ Kc8 31. Rg3+− are of any help to Black) 30. Rxe6+! fxe6 31. Qg4! with an irresistible attack. 29. Rxe5! dxe5 30. Rf3! White is down a whole Rook, but the passed h-Pawn will cost Black much more than that. 30. ... Kc8 31. h6 Kb7 (31. ... c4 32. h7+−) 32. Bc4 Ba4 33. Rxf6 Qa5 34. Qe4 Bb5 35. d6+ Bc6 36. Qxe5 Re8 37. Qf5 Rd7 38. Rxf7 Qd8 39. Rg7 Kb6 40. b4 cxb4 41. axb4 Rxg7 42. Qc5+ Kb7 43. hxg7 Re1+ 44. Kb2 Qf6+ 45. c3 Qxg7 46. b5 Be4 47. Bd5+ Bxd5 48. Qxd5+ Ka7 1 : 0. The curtain falls without waiting for 49. d7.

A to B

Stockfish – Leela Chess Zero

Top Chess Engine Championship Season 18 — Superfinal; match game 72; tcec-chess.com, June 28, 2020

Philidor Defence C41

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 f5 3. Nc3 d6 4. d4 fxe4 5. Nxe4 Nf6. One of Morphy’s most famous games went instead 5. ... d5 6. Ng3 (Zukertort rightly prefers 6. Nxe5 dxe4 7. Qh5+ g6 8. Nxg6 Nf6 9. Qe5+) 6. ... e4 7. Ne5 Nf6 8. Bg5 (8. f3! is Keres’ recommendation) 8. ... Bd6 9. Nh5? (9. c4) 9. ... 0-0 10. Qd2 Qe8 11. g4? Nxg4 12. Nxg4 Qxh5 13. Ne5 Nc6 14. Be2 Qh3 15. Nxc6 bxc6 16. Be3 Rb8 17. 0-0-0 Rxf2!! 18. Bxf2 Qa3!! 19. c3 Qxa2 20. b4 Qa1+ 21. Kc2 Qa4+ 22. Kb2? (22. Kc1 Bf5! 23. Be1! e3! 24. Qb2 a5!→) 22. ... Bxb4! 23. cxb4 Rxb4+ 24. Qxb4 Qxb4+ 25. Kc2 (25. Ka2 c5!−+) 25. ... e3! 26. Bxe3 Bf5+ 27. Rd3 Qc4+ 28. Kd2 Qa2+ 29. Kd1 Qb1+ 0 : 1 Bird – P. C. Morphy, London 1858. 6. Bg5 Be7 7. Bxf6 gxf6 8. Ng3!? A novelty, and probably a good one. Quite dubious is 8. Nxe5?! as after 8. ... dxe5 9. Qh5+ Kf8! White has no clear compensation for the Bishop. On the other hand, the good old theory was also fine enough for an edge: 8. dxe5 dxe5 9. Bd3!⩲ Ondozi – Kett, 22nd ECU Club Cup, Feugen 2006. 8. ... Be6 9. Be2! 0-0 10. Bd3! Qc8 11. 0-0 Nc6?! (11. ... Kh8!? 12. c3±)

12. d5! Bxd5 13. Nh4! 13. Bxh7+ Kxh7 14. Qxd5 f5 restores material equality, but with no advantage. 13. ... Be6?! 13. ... e4 14. Ngf5 Kh8 15. c4! is anything but pleasant for Black, but at least it does not lose by force. Maybe.

14. Bxh7+!+− Kxh7 15. Qh5+ Kg8 16. Qg6+ Kh8 17. Qh6+ Kg8 18. Nh5 Rf7 19. Ng6 Rh7 20. Nxe7+ Rxe7

21. f4! e4 22. Qg6+ Kf8 23. f5 Bc4 24. Qh6+ Kg8 25. b3! Rf7. If 25. ... Bxf1 then 26. Nxf6+ Kf7 27. Qg6+ Kf8 28. Qg8#. 26. Rf4 Be2 27. Nxf6+ Rxf6 28. Qxf6 Qf8 29. Qh4 Qg7 30. f6 Qg6 31. f7+ Kg7 32. Kh1 Ne5 33. Qf2 Bb5 34. f8=Q+ Rxf8 35. Rxf8 e3 36. Qf5 Bc6 37. Qxg6+ Nxg6 38. Rc8 Nf4 39. Rxc7+ Kg6 40. Re1 Nxg2 41. Rg1 e2 42. Rxc6 e1=Q 43. Rxd6+ Kf5 44. Rxe1 Nxe1 45. Rd7 Ke6 46. Rxb7 Nd3 1 : 0.

The AI robot Erica cast in the upcoming sci-fi film b. Courtesy of Life Productions Inc./The Hollywood Reporter.

Leela and the Golden Star

Leela Chess Zero – Stockfish

Top Chess Engine Championship Season 17 — Superfinal; match game 92; tcec-chess.com, April 20, 2020

Two Knights Defence C57

With an imperious crescendo, Leela Chess Zero put an end to Stockfish’s claim. After 95 games, it (she) leads by 49½ – 45½, virtually winning the match with still 5 games to go. 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 Bc5!? A desperate Stockfish goes for the crazy Traxler Variation, maybe because AI imitates humans. 5. Bxf7+ Ke7 6. Bc4. 6. Bb3 and 6. Bd5 are the usual continuations here, but probably Stockfish’s “theoretical licence” is not new either. 6. ... Qe8 7. Nc3 Nd4 8. d3 d6 9. Nd5+ Nxd5 10. Bxd5 Qg6 11. c3 h6 12. cxd4 Bxd4

13. f4! exf4 14. Nf3 Qxg2 15. Rf1 Bh3 16. Qe2 Qxe2+ 17. Kxe2 Bxf1+ 18. Kxf1 Bf6 19. d4! Rhd8. 19. ... g5 20. e5 does not look more inviting. 20. Bxf4 c6 21. Bb3 Rf8 22. Ke2 Bxd4 23. Bxd6+ Kxd6 24. Nxd4 Rf4 25. Bc2 Re8

26. Rg1. Now, after 26. ... g5 27. Ke3 White would enjoy a clear, safe and healthy advantage. Then Stockfish — as humanely as possible — tried its luck in an endgame a Knight down for two Pawns: 26. ... Rexe4+ 27. Bxe4 Rxe4+ 28. Kd3. Machines, however, do not believe in miracles, and Leela Chess Zero mercilessly capitalised on its material advantage by winning in other 102 moves (!). 28. ... Ke5 29. Nf3+ Kf4 30. Ne1 Re7 31. Ng2+ Kg5 32. Ne3+ Kh5 33. Rg3 Rd7+ 34. Ke2 Re7 35. Rh3+ Kg6 36. Rf3 c5 37. Rf4 b5 38. Kf3 Rd7 39. Ke2 Re7 40. b3 Re6 41. Rg4+ Kf6 42. Rf4+ Kg6 43. Rf2 h5 44. Kd3 Rd6+ 45. Ke4 Re6+ 46. Kf3 Rf6+ 47. Kg2 Re6 48. Nd5 Kh6 49. Nc7 Rg6+ 50. Kf3 a6 51. Rc2 Rc6 52. Nd5 Kg5 53. Kg3. Now, White is threatening to win a Pawn by Nd5-b4. Black can only delay the inevitable. 53. ... c4 54. bxc4 bxc4 55. Ne3 c3 56. Nd1. The run is over, and, with it, the game. 56. ... Rd6 57. Nf2 Rd4 58. Rxc3 Ra4 59. a3 Kf6 60. Rf3+ Ke6 61. Nd3 Rg4+ 62. Kf2 Rc4 63. Nf4+ Kd6 64. Kg3 Rc5 65. Re3 Rg5+ 66. Kf3 Kc6 67. Ne6 Rg6 68. Nf4 Rg5 69. h3 Ra5 70. Ke4 Kd7 71. Rc3 Ke7 72. Nd3 Kf6 73. Nc5 Rb5 74. Nxa6 Re5+ 75. Kf3 Re1 76. Nb4 Rf1+ 77. Kg2 Re1 78. Kf2 Re4 79. Kf3 Rh4 80. Kg3 Rd4 81. Rd3 Rc4 82. Kf2 Kg5 83. Nd5 Re4 84. Nc3 Re8 85. a4 Ra8 86. Rd4 Kg6 87. Kg3 Ra6 88. Rc4 Kh6 89. Kf4 Rf6+ 90. Kg3 Rg6+ 91. Kh2 Ra6 92. h4 Kg6 93. Kg3 Ra5 94. Kf4 Rf5+ 95. Ke4 Ra5 96. Rd4 Rc5 97. Kd3 Rf5 98. Ke3 Re5+ 99. Re4 Rc5 100. Kd4 Rf5 101. Nd5 Rf1 102. Ke5 Kh7 103. Ne3 Rf8 104. Rc4 Ra8 105. Kf4 Kg6 106. Nd5 Ra5 107. Nb6 Kh6 108. Rd4 Ra7 109. Rb4 Rf7+ 110. Kg3 Rf5 111. Rb5 Rf1 112. a5 Rg1+ 113. Kh2 Ra1 114. Kg2 Ra2+ 115. Kg3 Kg6 116. Nc4 Ra1 117. Rc5 Kf6 118. Rxh5 Kg6 119. Rc5 Rg1+ 120. Kf2 Ra1 121. Rc7 Kh6 122. h5 Ra4 123. Rc5 Ra2+ 124. Kf3 Ra1 125. Ke2 Kh7 126. h6 Kxh6 127. Kf2 Kg6 128. Rc7 Kh7 129. Rc5 Ra2+ 130. Kf3 1 : 0.

The Meg

Leela Chess Zero – Stockfish

Top Chess Engine Championship Season 17 — Superfinal; match game 88; tcec-chess.com, April 20, 2020

King’s Indian Defence E91

Naw, Leela Chess Zero didn’t fall in love, and mercilessly re-established distances immediately. 1. e4 g6 2. d4 c6 3. c4 d6 4. Nc3 Nd7 5. Be2 Ngf6 6. Nf3 Bg7 7. 0-0 0-0 8. Be3 a6 9. h3 b5 10. Qc2 Qc7 11. cxb5. Leela Chess Zero brings its own brand of charm to a line which was already very favourable to White: 11. Rac1 Bb7 12. Nd2 Rac8 13. f4 bxc4 14. Nxc4 d5 15. Ne5 dxe4 16. Nxe4 Nxe4 17. Qxe4 Nf6 18. Qd3 Nd5 19. f5 f6 20. Ng4 g5 21. Nf2 e6 22. fxe6 Qe7 23. Nd1 Rcd8 24. Bg4 f5 25. Bxf5 Nxe3 26. Nxe3 Bxd4 27. Rce1 c5 28. Kh1 Kh8 29. Qc2 Bc6 30. a4 Bxe3 31. Rxe3 Rd4 32. Re5 Bxa4 33. Qxc5 Rd6 34. Rd5 Rxe6 35. Qd4+ Qg7 36. Qxa4 Qxb2 37. Qd7 Rh6 38. Rd6 Qe2 39. Rfd1 Rh4 40. R6d2 Qe5 41. Rd5 Qf6 42. Qc7 Qf7 43. Qxf7 Rxf7 44. Be6 1 : 0 谭中怡 (Tán Zhōngyí) – 黄茜 (Huáng Qiàn), 4th China Women Masters Tournament, 无锡 (Wúxī) 2014. 11. ... cxb5 12. Rfc1 Qd8. Maybe b8 was a better place. 13. Nd2 Nb6 14. Bf3 Ne8 15. b3 Bb7 16. a4 b4 17. Ne2 a5 18. Qd1 e6 19. Rc2 Nf6 20. Rac1 Rb8 21. Qf1 Ba6 22. Qd1 Rc8 23. Nf4 Rxc2 24. Rxc2 Nfd7 25. Be2 Bb7 26. Bb5 Nf6 27. f3 Nc8 28. Qc1 Na7 29. Bd3 Qb8 30. Nc4 Nc6 31. Nb6 Ne7 32. Bb5 g5 33. Ne2 h6 34. Kh1

34. ... Ng6. Now, since after this Stockfish goes into a desperate ending without even a shadow of hope, it may come natural to suggest something like 34. ... Nc8 35. Nc4 Na7 36. Nxa5 Nxb5 37. axb5 Ba8 38. h4 Bxe4!? 39. fxe4 Nxe4 with two Pawns for the Knight and a little air — but, of course, what is tricky for humans is hardly a worry for machines. 35. Rc7 Ne8 36. Bxe8 Rxe8 37. Nd7 Qa8 38. Ng3 Re7

39. d5! Qe8 40. Rxb7 Rxd7 41. Qc6 Rd8 42. Ne2 Rc8 43. Qxe8+ Rxe8 44. dxe6 fxe6 45. Bb6 Rc8 46. Rc7 Ra8 47. Kg1 Ra6 48. Bd4 Be5 49. Kf2 h5 50. g3 Ra8 51. Be3 d5 52. Ra7 Rxa7 53. Bxa7 dxe4 54. Bb6 exf3 55. Kxf3 Kf7 56. g4 Ba1 57. gxh5 Ne5+ 58. Ke3 Nc6 59. Kd3 Ne5+ 60. Kc2 Nc6 61. Be3 Bf6 62. Ng3 Bd4 63. Bxg5 Be5 64. Ne2 Bd6 65. Kd3 Ne5+ 66. Ke4 Nd7 67. Kd4 Nc5 68. Kc4 Ne4 69. Be3 Bf8 70. Kd3 Nf6 71. Bb6 Nd5 72. Bxa5 Ke7 73. Kc4 Kd7 74. Nd4 Bg7 75. h6 Bxh6 76. Bxb4 Ne3+ 77. Kd3 e5 78. Ne2 Nd1 79. Be1 Bf8 80. Nc3 Nb2+ 81. Kc2 Nxa4 82. bxa4 Kc8 83. Kd3 Kb7 84. Ke4 Ka8 85. Kxe5 Kb7 86. Ne4 Bg7+ 87. Kf5 Ka6 88. Bc3 1 : 0.

The Fish Who Found the Sea

Stockfish – Leela Chess Zero

Top Chess Engine Championship Season 17 — Superfinal; match game 87; tcec-chess.com, April 19, 2020

King’s Indian Defence E94

Thanks to a powerful win in the 87th game of its match with Leela Chess Zero, Stockfish reduced the gap to a single point. 1. e4 g6 2. d4 c6 3. c4 Bg7 4. Nc3 d6 5. Be2 Nf6 6. Nf3 0-0 7. 0-0 e5 8. d5 Na6 9. Be3 Ng4 10. Bg5 f6 11. Bh4 c5 12. a3 Nh6 13. h3!? Stockfish’s una tantum code, in alternative to the manoeuvre Nf3-e1-d3, with which Vladimir Borisovich Kramink won a model game against Loek van Wely in the 72nd Corus Chess Tournament at Wijk aan Zee in 2010. 13. ... b6 14. Qd3 Nf7 15. Rfb1 h5 16. Bd1 Rb8 17. b4 Bh6 18. Rb3 Rb7 19. Qe2 Ng5 20. Nh2 Rh7 21. Rab1 Nf7 22. Nb5 Qe7 23. f3 Kh8 24. Bc2 Rg8 25. Nf1 Bf4 26. Qf2 g5 27. Bg3 Nh6 28. Ne3 Qf8 29. Bd3 Bd7 30. Rf1 Qg7 31. Qe1 Nf7 32. Be2 Qh6 33. Nf5 Bxf5 34. exf5 g4 35. Bxf4 exf4 36. h4 Rhg7 37. Kh1 Re8 38. Qd2 Re7 39. Bd1 Rg8 40. Re1 Re5 41. Nxa7 Rge8 42. Rf1 Re3 43. Rc3 Rxc3 44. Qxc3 Re3 45. Qd2 g3. Black has a Pawn less and its Queenside is on the verge of ruin, but, in true King’s Indian style, nothing is lost yet — even if by a hair. 46. Nc6

46. ... Qf8? This might be the losing move. 46. ... Ne5! 47. Nd8 (47. b5 Nc7 48. a4 Qf8! 49. a5 Qe8! seems to hold as well) 47. ... Qh7! 48. Ne6 Nxc4 49. Qc1 b5∞ was unclear but probably balanced. 47. Re1! Ne5

48. Rxe3! Nxc4 49. Qe2! Nxe3 50. Qxa6 Nxd1 (50. ... Nxd5 51. Qb7!+−) 51. Qxb6 Ne3. 51. ... cxb4 is even worse, if possible, than the text: 52. axb4 Ne3 (52. ... Nc3 53. Qd4+−) 53. b5 Nxd5 54. Qa5+− winning handily. 52. b5 Nxd5 53. Qd8 Qxd8 54. Nxd8 c4 55. Ne6 c3 56. Nd4 Nb6 57. Kg1. The endgame is won by force. 57. ... Kg7 58. Kf1 Kf7 59. Ke2 Nd5 60. Kd3 Ke7 61. a4 Kd7 62. a5 Kc7 63. b6+ Kc8 64. Kc4 Ne3+ 65. Kxc3 Nxg2 66. a6 Ne3 67. b7+ Kc7 68. Nc6 Kxc6 69. b8=Q g2 70. a7 Nd5+ 71. Kd3 Nc7 72. a8=Q+ Nxa8 73. Qxa8+ Kb6 74. Qg8 Kc5 75. Qxg2 d5 76. Qc2+ Kb6 77. Kd4 Kb7 78. Kxd5 Kb6 79. Qc6+ Ka5 80. Qb7 Ka4 81. Kc4 Ka5 82. Qb5 mate.

Thought Outdanced

Stockfish – Leela Chess Zero

Top Chess Engine Championship Season 17 — Superfinal; match game 83; tcec-chess.com, April 19, 2020

Sicilian Defence B40

Leela Chess Zero is still leading by two points, but, beyond mere numbers, today Stockfish exhibited itself in all its splendour. 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Qb6 5. Nb3 a6 6. Nc3 d6 7. Bf4 Nf6 8. Qd2 Be7 9. 0-0-0 0-0 10. f3. Perhaps for pride, Stockfish just adds its own byte to a game which is featured in Natasha Regan’s and Matthew Sadler’s book “Game Changer” (New In Chess, Alkmaar, 2019) as an example of AlphaZero’s attacking style: 10. g4 Nxg4 11. Rg1 Ne5 12. Qe2 Qc7 13. Be3 b5 14. f4 Nc4 15. Bd4 g6 16. Qh5 Nd7 17. Qh6 Bf6 18. Rd3 Bxd4 19. Nxd4 Re8 20. Rh3 Nf8 21. e5 d5 22. Bd3 Nxe5 23. fxe5 Qxe5 24. Qh4 Bb7 25. Rf3 Rac8 26. Nce2 Rc7 27. Rf6 Ree7 28. Kd2 Red7 29. a3 Kg7 30. Nf4 Rc8 31. Rg5 Qc7 32. Nfxe6+ Nxe6 33. Rxe6 Qa5+ 34. b4 Qxa3 35. Nf5+ Kg8 36. Ne7+ Rxe7 37. Rxe7 Qc3+ 38. Ke2 d4 39. Qf4 1 : 0 J. Polgár – Short, 25th Sparkassen Chess Meeting, Dortmund 1997. 10. ... Rd8. In the following, reverse game there followed 10. ... Ne8 11. h4 Qc7 12. Bg5 b5 13. Bxe7 Qxe7 14. h5 Nc6 15. h6 g6 16. Nd4 Bb7 17. a3 Na5 18. Bd3 Qc7 19. Rhe1 Rc8 20. Nb3 Nc4 21. Bxc4 bxc4 22. Nd4 e5 23. Nde2 Rb8 24. Qe3 f6 25. Rd2 Rf7 26. Nd1 Qc6 27. Nec3 Nc7 28. Qe2 Rc8 29. Ne3 Ne6 30. Red1 Qc5 31. Kb1 Nd4 32. Qf1 Ne6 33. Qf2 Bc6 34. Qe2 Bb7 35. Ka2 a5 36. Ned5 Nd4 37. Qe3 Rb8 38. Na4 Qa7 39. Nab6 Bxd5 40. Nxd5 Kf8 41. c3 Nb3 42. Qxa7 Rxa7 43. Rc2 Kf7 44. Ne3 with White winning a Pawn and finally forcing Black to resign after other 143 moves (!), Leela Chess Zero – Stockfish, Top Chess Engine Championship Season 17 — Superfinal, April 19, 2020, match game 84. 11. g4! Qc7 12. g5 Ne8 13. h4 b5 14. Be3 Nd7

15. g6! hxg6 16. h5 b4 17. Ne2 Ne5 18. Ned4 a5 19. hxg6 Nxg6 20. Qh2 Bf6 21. Bd3 a4

22. e5! axb3 23. exf6 Nxf6 24. Nxb3 Bb7

25. Bh6! Bxf3 26. Bxg7! Nh5 27. Bf6! Qa7 28. Bg5 Rdc8 29. Rdf1 Bg4 30. Rfg1 Bf3 31. Qh3! Qb7 32. Nd4 b3 33. a3 Rxa3 34. bxa3 bxc2 35. Qxf3 Qb1+ 36. Kd2 Qb2 37. Nxc2 Qc3+ 38. Kd1 Qb3 39. Rxh5 Rxc2

40. Rh8+! Nxh8 41. Bh7+ Kxh7 42. Qxb3 Rg2 43. Rxg2 Ng6 44. Bf6 d5 45. Qh3+ Kg8 46. Qh8 mate.

Drawing the Human Figure

Stockfish – Leela Chess Zero

Top Chess Engine Championship Season 17 — Superfinal; match game 77; tcec-chess.com, April 18, 2020

Chigorin Defence D07

Stockfish has finally won a game. 1. d4 d5 2. c4 Nc6 3. Nf3 Bg4 4. cxd5 Bxf3 5. gxf3 Qxd5 6. e3 e5 7. Nc3 Bb4 8. Bd2 Bxc3 9. bxc3 Qd6 10. Qb3. This is also (but not only!) an inversion of moves with 10. Rb1. 10. ... Nge7?! Leela Chess Zero pursues a very dubious opening policy, by sacrificing a Pawn for no objective compensation. Probably best is 10. ... 0-0-0 (in order to transpose into known theoretical lines with 11. Rb1 b6) against which Grandmaster Alexander Sergeyevich Morozevich recommends 11. Be2 f5 (11. ... Nge7?! 12. Qxf7±) 12. 0-0 Nge7 13. Rfb1 b6 14. a4↑ with White’s initiative going unchallenged. 11. Qxb7 0-0. A rapid chess game between Sergei Yuryevich Shipov (White) and Morozevich (Black) at Moscow in 1992 continued: 11. ... Rb8 12. Qa6 0-0 (12. ... Qg6!? 13. Qd3 f5 14. d5 e4) 13. Bd3! Rb2 and now, instead of 14. Bc1?, White should play 14. Rd1! f5 (14. ... Qd5 15. Be4 Qxa2 16. Qxa2 Rxa2 17. Ke2 Rb8 18. Rb1 is even worse) 15. Bc1 Rb6 16. Ba3± with a clear advantage (Morozevich’s analysis). 12. Rd1!? This “mysterious” Rook move is also a novelty in place of 12. Qb3 as in Orság – Pisk, 18th Czech Chess Championship, Ostrava 2010. 12. ... Rab8 13. Qa6 Rb6 14. Qc4 Rfb8 15. Bd3 exd4 16. cxd4 Nb4 17. Be4 Nbd5 18. Rc1 Qe6 19. Bxd5 Nxd5 20. e4 c6 21. Be3 Nxe3 22. Qxe6 fxe6 23. fxe3 c5 24. dxc5 Rb2

25. 0-0 Rxa2 26. Rf2 Ra6. Exchanging a pair of Rooks with 26. ... Rxf2 27. Kxf2 a5 should not make any difference for the better, since once the a-Pawn and the c-Pawn have disappeared, there arises the same ending as after White’s 42th move. 27. c6 Rc8 28. c7 Kf7 29. h4 Rb6 30. h5 Rb7 31. Rfc2 a5 32. Kf2 a4 33. f4 h6 34. Ke2 a3 35. e5 Ke7 36. Kf3 Rb2 37. Rc4 a2 38. Ra1 Rh2 39. Ke4

39. ... Rb2? Of course, 39. ... Rxh5?? 40. Rxa2+− is totally hopeless. However, Black’s best option was 39. ... Kf7 — here is a sample variation (though anything but forced): 40. Kd4 g6! 41. hxg6+ Kxg6 42. e4 h5 43. Rc6 Kf7 44. f5 Re2 45. Kd3! Rh2! (45. ... Rg2? 46. Rxe6 Rxc7 47. Rh6 Kg7 48. Rxh5 Rcc2 49. Rg5+!+−) 46. Rxe6 Rxc7 47. Ra6 Rh3+ 48. Kd4 Rd7+ 49. Kc5 Rc3+ 50. Kb4 Rdc7 with a draw. 40. Ra4+− Rxc7 41. R1xa2 Rxa2 42. Rxa2 Rc4+. 42. ... Kf7 43. Ra6! also leaves Black no way but resignation. 43. Kd3 Rc7 44. Ra6 Rd7+ 45. Kc4 Rc7+ 46. Kd4 Rd7+ 47. Kc5 Rd5+ 48. Kc6 Kf8. Or 48. ... Rd3 49. Ra7+ Kf8 50. f5 winning as in the game. 49. e4 Rd4 50. f5 Kf7 51. Kc5 Rxe4 52. Ra7+ Kf8 53. Ra8+ Ke7 54. Ra7+ Kf8 55. fxe6 Re1 56. Rf7+ Ke8 57. Rxg7 Rc1+ 58. Kd5 Rd1+ 59. Kc5 Rc1+ 60. Kd5 Rd1+ 61. Ke4 Rf1 62. Ra7 Rf2 63. Rh7 Re2+ 64. Kf5 Rf2+ 65. Kg6 Re2 66. Rb7 Ra2 67. Kxh6 Ra6 68. Kg7 Ra1 69. h6 Rh1 70. h7 Rg1+ 71. Kh8 Rg2 1 : 0.

Heartbyte

Leela Chess Zero – Stockfish

Top Chess Engine Championship Season 17 — Superfinal; match game 66; tcec-chess.com, April 17, 2020

King’s Indian Defence E94

Leela Chess Zero lengthened its pace as it (she) won the 66th game, thus taking a 3-point lead over Stockfish. 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Be2 0-0 6. Nf3 e5 7. 0-0 exd4 8. Nxd4 Re8 9. f3 Nc6 10. Nc2 Nd7 11. Be3 Bxc3. Stockfish ventures itself into a controversial line of theory. 12. bxc3 b6!? That’s the new move — but not much of an improvement on 12. ... Nc5 13. Qd2 Be6 14. Nb4⩲/± Miladinović – Gelashvili, 1st International Chess Open, Korinthos 1997. 13. Nb4 Na5 14. Bh6 Nc5 15. Qd4 Ne6 16. Qf2 c6

17. Rae1! Now Leela Chess Zero takes off into a sequence of “mysterious” Rook moves, in spite of its having access to two open files! 17. ... Nc5 18. h4! Qf6 19. Rc1 Bd7 20. Rfe1 Nab7 21. Nd3 Nxd3 22. Bxd3 Qe5 23. Rcd1 f6. If 23. ... Qxc3 then 24. Bc1! taking over the long diagonal a1–h8. 24. Bc2 Nd8 (24. ... Qxc3 25. Be3!)

25. c5! A powerful breakthrough at the cost of a Pawn. 25. ... Nf7. 25. ... bxc5 26. f4 is a worse version of the game. 26. Bc1 bxc5 27. f4 Qe6 28. c4 Rab8 29. h5! gxh5 30. Qh4 Qg4 31. Qxf6 Re6 32. Qc3 Rg6 33. Rd2 Qg3

34. Re3! Qxf4 35. e5! Nxe5 36. Bxg6 hxg6 37. Rxe5 Qxe5 38. Qxe5 dxe5 39. Rxd7. An asymmetrical endgame has arisen, in which White has an extra Bishop for three Pawns. Formally, Black’s compensation is sufficient, but its Pawns are too weak and shattered not to fall. 39. ... Rb1 40. Rd1 Rb4 41. Bg5 Rxc4 42. Rd6 Rg4 43. Bf6 Re4 44. a3. 44. Rxc6 Kf7 may eventually transpose into the game. 44. ... c4. 44. ... Ra4 45. Bxe5 Rxa3 46. Rxg6+ Kf7 47. Rxc6 echoes the game’s mainstream. 45. Rxc6 Kf7 46. Bg5 Re1+ 47. Kh2 Ra1 48. Rxc4 Rxa3 49. Rc7+ Ke6 50. Rc6+ Kf7. If 50. ... Kf5 then 51. Be7 followed by Rc6-f6+xg6. 51. Rf6+ Kg7 52. Re6 Ra5 53. Re7+ Kf8 54. Rc7 Ra4 55. Bh6+ Ke8 56. Rg7. Now either the a-Pawn or the g-Pawn must fall. 56. ... Rh4+ 57. Kg1 a5 58. Rxg6 Kf7 59. Ra6 a4 60. Bg5 Rg4 61. Bd8 Rc4 62. Bf6 Rc5 63. Bh8 Kg8 64. Ra8+ Kh7 65. Kh2 Rd5 66. Kg3 a3 67. Bf6 Rd3+ 68. Kh4 Kg6 69. Be7 Rd2 70. Bxa3 Kf7. Unluckily for Black, the g2-Pawn is taboo. Now Leela Chess Zero pursues its last dance with exemplary technique. 71. Kh3 Rd1 72. Kh2 Kg6 73. Bc5 Rd2 74. Re8 Re2 75. Bd6 Kf6 76. Rh8 Rd2 77. Bb8 Rb2 78. Ba7 Kg6 79. Rb8 Ra2 80. Bc5 Kf5 81. Rh8 Kg4 82. Rg8+ Kf4 83. Bd6 Rd2 84. Be7 Rd7 85. Bh4 e4 86. Bg5+ Kf5 87. Be3 h4 88. Bf2 Rd3. Or 88. ... Rh7 89. Kh3 then capturing the Pawn anyway. 89. Bxh4+− Rd7 90. Rd8 Rb7 91. Bf2 Ke6 92. Re8+ Kd5 93. Be3 Kc4 94. Rxe4+ 1 : 0.

Lemniscate

Stockfish – Leela Chess Zero

Top Chess Engine Championship Season 17 — Superfinal; match game 35; tcec-chess.com, April 13, 2020

Sicilian Defence B79

And finally — so far — Leela Chess Zero took the lead over Stockfish, even though the best game of the day was a pyrotechnic draw: 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Be3 Bg7 7. f3 0-0 8. Qd2 Nc6 9. Bc4 Qa5 10. 0-0-0 Bd7 11. Bb3 Ne5 12. Kb1 Rfc8 13. h4 h5 14. Bg5 Kf8. In the following, reverse game Stockfish opted instead for 14. ... b5 which yielded White a lasting edge in the endgame after 15. Nd5 Qxd2 16. Rxd2 Kf8 17. Nxf6 exf6 18. Bf4 a5 19. a3 Kg8 20. Rhd1 Bf8 21. Ne2 Kg7 22. Rd4 Ra7 23. Bd2 Nc6 24. Rd3 Rb8 25. Bd5 b4 26. Rb3 Ra6 27. Be1 bxa3 28. Rxb8 Nxb8 29. b3 Nc6 30. Nd4 Ne7 31. Bf2 Kg8 32. Ka2 f5 33. c4 fxe4 34. fxe4 Nxd5 35. exd5 Be7 36. Kxa3 Kf8 37. g3 Bd8 38. Nb5 f6 39. Rf1 Kf7 40. Kb2 Kg8 41. Bd4 g5 42. Rh1 gxh4 43. Rxh4 Bg4 44. Rh1 Kg7 45. Na7 Kf7 46. Nc6 Ra8 47. Re1 Bd7 48. Nxd8+ Rxd8 49. Bb6 Rg8 50. Bxa5 Rxg3 51. Bc7 Rg2+ 52. Kc3 Rg3+ 53. Kb4 Rd3 54. Bxd6 Bg4 55. Rg1 f5 56. Rg3 Rd4 57. Kc5 Re4 58. Rd3 h4 59. Rd4 Re8 60. b4 Rc8+ 61. Kb6 Re8 62. b5 Be2 63. Rxh4 Kf6 64. c5 Rd8 65. Kc7 Rg8 66. b6 Rg7+ 67. Kb8 Bf3 68. Rd4 Rg8+ 69. Ka7 Rg1 70. b7 Ra1+ 71. Kb6 Rb1+ 72. Kc6 Bg2 73. b8=Q Rxb8 74. Bxb8 f4 75. Rxf4+ Kg5 76. Rg4+ Kxg4 1 : 0 Leela Chess Zero – Stockfish, Top Chess Engine Championship Season 17 — Superfinal, April 13, 2020, match game 36. 15. g4!? hxg4 16. h5 Rxc3! 17. h6! Bh8 18. h7! Rc5 19. Bh6+ Ke8 20. Qxa5 Rxa5

21. Bg7! Nxh7 22. Bxh8 Nf8 23. Bg7 g5 24. Bxf8 (24. Rh8 Ng6=) 24. ... Kxf8 25. Rh8+ Kg7 26. Rxa8 gxf3. A fantastically unbalanced position has arisen on the board — Black has three Pawns (of which two are Kingside passers) for a Rook.

27. Kc1 Bh3! 28. Rd2 e6 29. Rf2 g4 30. Kd2 Bg2 31. Ke3 Nd7! 32. Rd8 Nf6 33. Rxd6 Re5

34. Nxe6+! fxe6 35. Rxe6 Rxe6 36. Bxe6 g3 37. Rxf3 Bxf3 38. Kxf3 g2 39. Kxg2 Nxe4 40. Bd5. The most White’s got is a drawish Bishop vs. Knight endgame a Pawn up. 40. ... Nd6 41. Kf3 Kf6 42. Kf4 a5 43. Bf3 Ke6 44. Ke3 b6 45. Kd3 Ne8 46. a3 Kd6 47. Kc4 Nc7 48. a4 Ke6 49. b3 Kd6 50. c3 Kd7 51. Be4 Kd6 52. Bb7 Kd7 53. b4. And, finally, this Pawn exchange produces a book draw! 53. ... axb4 54. cxb4 Kd6 55. Kd4 Ne8 56. Bf3 Nc7 57. Be4 Na6 58. Kc4 Nc7 59. Kc3 Ne8 60. Kc4 Nc7 61. Bb7 Kd7 62. Kd3 Ne8 63. Bf3 Kd6 64. Kd4 Nc7 65. Kc3 Ne8 66. Kc4 Nc7 67. Kc3 Ne8 68. Kc4 Nc7 69. Bb7 Kd7 70. Kd3 Kd6 71. Kc3 Ne8 72. Bf3 Kc7 73. Kd4 Kd6 74. Bg2 Nc7 75. Bf3 Na6 76. Kc3 Nc7 77. Kc2 Ne8 78. Bb7 Kc7 79. Bd5 Nd6 80. Kc3 Ne8 81. Be4 Kd6 82. Bg6 Nf6 83. Bf7 Ke7 84. Bb3 Kd6 85. Bc2 Nd5+ 86. Kb3 Nf6 87. Bf5 Kd5 88. Bd3 Kd6 89. Kc4 Kc6 90. Kd4 Kd6 91. Bc4 Ng4 92. Bd5 Nf6 93. Ba8 Ne8 94. Bg2 Nc7 95. Bh1 Ne8 96. b5 Ng7 97. Kc4 Ne6 98. Bf3 Nc5 99. Bd1 Nb7 100. Kb4 Na5 101. Bf3 ½ : ½. A game of theoretical importance.

Critique of Pure Reason

Leela Chess Zero – Stockfish

Top Chess Engine Championship Season 17 — Superfinal; match game 34; tcec-chess.com, April 12, 2020

King’s Indian Defence E69

Surprisingly, or not so surprisingly, after 34 games Leela Chess Zero’s and Stockfish’s scores are still even. 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nf3 Bg7 4. g3 d6 5. Bg2 0-0 6. Nc3 Nbd7 7. 0-0 e5 8. e4 c6 9. h3 Qb6 10. c5 dxc5 11. dxe5 Ne8 12. e6. In the previous, reverse game there followed 12. Na4 Qa5 13. Qc2 Nc7 14. Bd2 Qb5 15. Rfd1 c4 16. Nc3 Qa6 17. Be3 Nxe5 18. Nxe5 Bxe5 19. f4 Bg7 20. g4 Re8 21. Qf2 Nb5 22. Nxb5 Qxb5 23. Bd4 Bxd4 24. Rxd4 Qc5 25. f5 b5 26. Rad1 Ba6 27. a3 Rab8 28. h4!↑/→ Stockfish – Leela Chess Zero, Top Chess Engine Championship Season 17 — Superfinal, April 12, 2020, match game 33. 12. ... fxe6 13. Ng5 Ne5 14. f4 Nf7 15. Nxf7 Bd4+ 16. Kh2 Rxf7 17. e5 Rd7!? The machine’s novelty doesn’t add much to the man’s resourceful defence: 17. ... Nc7 18. Ne4 Nd5 19. a4 a5 20. Ra3 Qc7 21. Nd6 Rf8 22. h4 b6 23. h5 Qg7 24. hxg6 hxg6 25. Be4 Ba6 26. Re1 Ne7 27. Kg2 Rad8 28. Rb3 Bxe5 29. fxe5 Qxe5 30. Qg4 Rxd6 31. Bf4 Rxf4 32. gxf4 Rd2+ 33. Kg3 Qf6 34. Rxb6 Bd3 35. Rb8+ Kf7 36. Qh3 Bxe4 37. Qh7+ Qg7 38. Qxg7+ Kxg7 39. Rxe4 Nf5+ 40. Kf3 Kf6 41. Rc4 Rd5 42. Rf8+ Ke7 43. Ra8 Nd6 44. Rc3 c4 45. Ra6 Rc5 46. b3 Kf6 47. bxc4 ½ : ½ Shirov – Kasparov, 11th Torneo Internacional de Ajedrez Ciudad de Linares, Linares 1993. 18. Qf3 Nc7 19. Ne4 Nd5 20. Rb1 Kh8 21. Bd2 Qa6 22. a3 Qa4 23. h4 b6 24. Bc3 Bxc3 25. bxc3 Ba6 26. Rf2

26. ... Rg7? Clearly not 26. ... Qxa3? 27. Qd1! (Δ Rb1-a1) and Black’s Queen is in danger. The text, however, is rather a strange mistake — and also a strange loss of time. Probably better was 26. ... Re7 27. Nd6 leaving White with excellent compensation for the Pawn. 27. Bh3 Bc8. If 27. ... Nc7 then 28. Nd6 Rf8 29. Rbb2! with consequences very similar to those of the game. 28. Rbb2! c4. If 28. ... Qxa3 there might follow 29. Ra2 Qc1 (after 29. ... Qb3 30. Rfb2 Qc4 31. Bf1 Black’s Queen gets trapped) 30. Rfc2 Qe3 31. Qh1! with great advantage to White. 29. Ra2 b5

30. h5! Qa5 31. h6! Re7 32. Qg4 Qd8 33. Qg5 a5 34. Nd6 Bd7 35. Rac2 Rb8 36. Rc1 Kg8 37. Bg2 Re8. Black’s resolution to give up the Exchange in order to get rid of the monstrous d6-Knight is very human-hearted and emotionally justified, even though the resulting endgame is indefensible and ultimately lost. 38. Nxe8 Bxe8 39. a4 bxa4 40. Ra1 Nxc3 41. Qxd8 Rxd8 42. Rc2 Nd1 43. Rxc4 Ne3 44. Rcxa4 Rd2 45. R1a2 Rxa2 46. Rxa2 Ng4+ 47. Kh3 Nxh6 48. Rxa5 Nf5 49. Ra8 Kf7 50. Ra7+ Ne7 51. Kh4 h6 52. Be4 Kf8 53. Ra8 c5 54. Ra5 c4 55. Rc5 c3 56. Rxc3 Bb5 57. Rb3 Be8 58. Rb8 Kf7 59. Rb7 Kf8 60. Rc7 Bf7 61. Kg4 Ke8 62. Ra7 Kf8 63. Rb7 Be8 64. Rb8 Kf7 65. Kh4 Kf8 66. Ra8 Kf7 67. Ra7 Kf8 68. Ra6 Bf7 69. Kh3 Bg8 70. Kg4 Bf7 71. Kf3 h5 72. Kg2 Be8 73. Rxe6 Kf7 74. Rb6 Bd7 75. Rd6 Bc8 76. Kh2 Kg7 77. Rb6 Kf7 78. Bb7 Bf5 79. Bg2 Kg7 80. Rb7 Kf8 81. Rb2 Ke8 82. Bh3 Be4 83. Bg2 Bf5 84. g4 hxg4 85. Kg3 Be6 86. Be4 Bf5 87. Bxf5 gxf5 88. Kh4 Kd7 89. Kg5 g3 90. Rg2 Nc6 91. Kxf5 Ne7+ 92. Ke4 Nc8 93. Rxg3 1 : 0.

Think tank

Stockfish – Leela Chess Zero

Top Chess Engine Championship Season 17 — Superfinal; match game 33; tcec-chess.com, April 12, 2020

King’s Indian Defence E69

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nf3 Bg7 4. g3 d6 5. Bg2 0-0 6. Nc3 Nbd7 7. 0-0 e5 8. e4 c6 9. h3 Qb6 10. c5 dxc5 11. dxe5 Ne8 12. Na4 Qa5. Back in the90s, the alternative 12. ... Qa6 gained a certain notoriety after a sensational loss by Garry Kimovich Kasparov to Robert Hübner: 13. Bg5 b5 14. Nc3 Nc7 15. Be7 Re8 16. Bd6 Ne6 17. a4 b4 18. Ne2 Qa5 19. Nd2 Ba6 20. f4 c4 21. Kh2 Rad8 22. Qc2 Nb6 23. Rfd1 Bf8 24. Nf3 c3 25. Ned4 Nxd4 26. Nxd4 cxb2 27. Qxb2 Nc4 28. Qb3 Qb6 29. a5 Qb7 30. Bxf8 Kxf8 31. e6 c5 32. e5 Qc7 33. exf7 Qxf7 34. Nc6 Rxd1 35. Rxd1 Nxe5 36. Bd5 Bc4 37. Qc2 Ng4+ 38. hxg4 Re2+ 39. Qxe2 Bxe2 40. Bxf7 Bxd1 41. Bc4 b3 42. Nxa7 b2 43. Ba2 Be2 44. Kg2 Bd3 45. Kf3 Ke7 46. Ke3 b1=Q 47. Bxb1 Bxb1 48. Nb5 Kd7 49. a6 Kc6 50. f5 1 : 0 Hübner – Kasparov, 20th Sparkassen Chess Meeting, Dortmund 1992. 13. Qc2. A novelty, although after 13. Bd2 Qb5 (Kononenko – Kozak, Dnepropetrovsk 2005) White has probably nothing better than to transpose into the actual game with 14. Qc2. 13. ... Nc7 14. Bd2 Qb5 15. Rfd1 c4 16. Nc3 Qa6 17. Be3 Nxe5 18. Nxe5 Bxe5 19. f4 Bg7 20. g4 Re8 21. Qf2 Nb5 22. Nxb5 Qxb5 23. Bd4 Bxd4 24. Rxd4 Qc5 25. f5 b5 26. Rad1 Ba6 27. a3 Rab8

28. h4!↑/→ Bb7 29. h5 gxh5 30. gxh5 Qe5 31. Qh4 c5. Probably a lesser evil is 31. ... h6!? 32. Rd7 Bc8 33. R7d6 Rf8, though after 34. Qh2! Qxh2+ 35. Kxh2 b4 36. axb4 Rxb4 37. R1d2± White will soon regain its Pawn with interest.

32. Rd7 b4. Not 32. ... Bxe4? on account of 33. f6! (threatening Rd1-d5) 33. ... Kh8 34. Re7! winning easily. Instead 32. ... Bc6 33. f6! Kh8 (33. ... Bxd7? 34. Rd5!+−) 34. Rxf7 b4 transposes into the game. 33. f6 Kh8 34. Rxf7 Bc6. Of course, 34. ... Bxe4?? 35. Bxe4 Qxe4 36. Rf8+! is a cheap trick.

35. Rg7!! The winning move (and a most elegant one!), placing Black in a deadly zugzwang. Instead 35. Rxa7 Red8 36. Rf1 Rg8 was still rather unclear. 35. ... c3. There’s no way of avoiding the inevitable: 35. ... bxa3 36. Rg5!+− or 35. ... Qxb2 36. Qg5! Rg8 37. Qh6!+− or 35. ... Rg8 36. h6!+− — Black is inexorably zugzwanged. 36. bxc3 Rf8 37. Rf1 bxc3 38. h6! Threatening Qh4-g4 followed by Rg7xh7+. 38. ... Be8 39. f7! Bxf7 40. Rfxf7 Rxf7 41. Rxf7 c2 42. Rf1 Rg8 43. Rc1 Qd4+ 44. Qf2 Qd1+ 45. Qf1 Qd4+ 46. Kh1 Qd6 47. Rxc2 Qxh6+ 48. Kg1 Qe3+ 49. Qf2 Qxa3 50. Qf6+ Rg7 51. Rb2 Qe3+ 52. Kh1 Qe1+ 53. Bf1 Qxe4+ 54. Kh2 Qe8 55. Bh3 h5 56. Be6 Kh7 57. Qe5 Kh6 58. Rb8 Qxb8 59. Qxb8 h4 60. Qf8 c4 61. Bxc4 h3 62. Bd3 Kh5 63. Qxg7 1 : 0.