Author: Ingo Althofer
Date: 00:47:51 02/08/03
The second match half in New York saw two completely different acteurs. Deep Junior often did not understand the positions and played strange sequences of moves without strategic plans: The highlight being in round 6 with Bf3 (without f4 first), Qd3, h3, Kh1, ... in the opening. Steinitz, Nimzovitch, Tarrasch, and Botvinnik probably all four rotated in their graves. Is it really possible to play top level chess with such moves? A more positive highlight was the sacrifice of a bishop at move 10 in round 5 (not from the opening book!). This is unprecedented in play of a computer against a super grandmaster. On the darker side of the board Kasparov seemed to be mentally unable to punish the program for all the unrespectful actions: Many many waiting moves in rounds 4 and 6 (Rfd8 followed by Rde8...), no real plans, only anti-computer chess; no 16.g3 in round 5, and as a negative highlight a drawing offer in a superior position. Thanks to the DJ team for declining! At least for five long moves they showed Kasparov what a rake is. If there should be another high-calibre match between human and machine in the near future, I would like to see a more courageous carbon player: perhaps Shirov or Ponomariov!? Ingo Althofer. PS: The main reason for my anger is that the events in NY raised a crisis with my wife. Round 6 of DJ-K was the first time that she joined me in front of the computer screen to watch the duel life - and then such an anti-climax. Today we will have to go shopping to make her forget... By the way, did the general US-TV audience like the "showdown"?
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