A slew of end of summer obligations have kept me away from the keyboard for the week just passed. I have in hand a couple of bad games I played at the recent NYS Championship, and today’s game; a casual contest between a version of the famous strong computer program Rybka and Tim Wright.
Wright has been making good progress this last couple years improving his results. Recently he obtained a demo copy of Rybka and has been sparring with program. Even stripped down, Rybka is not an easy opponent. The usual formula for winning against these electronic beasts is to avoid tactics. In this case, Tim out-combines the machine.
(35) Wright,Tim - Rybka Demo Version [C19]
Casual Game September 2010
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5 c5 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.bxc3 Qc7
I don’t know the official name of this variation. I call it the Botvinnik line because the World Champion of my youth, M.M. Botvinnik favored it when winning and defending his title from 1948 through 1961
7.Nf3,..
Sharper is 7.Qg4, and at the top level that has been successful as a winning attempt for White. Some very good players have used the text; Karpov, Shirov, Svidler, Spassky and Nunn, apparently as an alternative to 7.Qg4.
7...Ne7 8.Be2,..
This is maybe too restrained. The Grandmasters preferred moves such as 8.Bb5+; 8.h4; and even 8.a4; over this rather quiet continuation.
8..., Nbc6 9.0–0 0–0 10.Be3 Nf5
The game is now away from the positions that masters have explored. My Deep Rybka electronic helper sees things as dead level. Black has his usual possibility in the Winawer variation of the French Defense; trade pawns on d4 and create pressure down the c-file. White has his forces aimed at the Black King, again as usual in this line. So, the exact position has not come up at the higher level of play, but it is typical of the Winawer.
11.Qd2 Nxe3
I think most human players would not do this. Why give up a perfectly good Knight for a Bishop that is not doing much right now? Deep Rybka recommends the text. The notion behind it is the elimination of a potential attacking piece.
12.fxe3 Qa5
Another move that most people would not play. I expect human players would be thinking of putting the Bishop on d7 and trading pawns on d4, then building up on the c-file by bringing a Rook there. Rybka says that method is OK, but White gets a small edge. After the text, Rybka marks the game as even.
13.Bd3 h6 14.Qe1 c4 15.Be2 b5 16.h3 Bb7 17.Nh2 Ne7
Black is slightly better. The White Queen and the Ra1 are occupied with guarding weak pawns at a3 and c3 threatened by the Black Queen standing on a5. That is good for Black, but I don’t see what Black can do with his free Rook other than playing .., f7-f6; and trading on e5. White has no intention of going along with that idea.
18.Ng4 Nf5 19.Bf3 h5 20.Nf6+?!..,
A bold decision. Making combinations with computers is not to be recommended, they do not lose their composure and calculate accurately. The obvious safe alternative 20 Nh2, and Black is just a bit better than White with tension continuing. Now Black is winning.
20..., gxf6 21.exf6 Qc7 22.Bxh5 Qg3 23.Qd1 Nxe3 24.Qe2 Nxf1
This is the first material cost of the flawed combination White has undertaken.
25.Rxf1 Rad8?
Most uncharacteristic of a computer program. Black needs to take some actions to guard the weaknesses the sacrifices have created around the Black King. Best is 25.., Kh7; and a reasonable alternative is 25.., Qg5. White now has a chance to make some progress.
26.Rf3 Qg5 27.Bg4?..,
Missing the opportunity to test the program with 27 Qf2, which seems to force a draw after 27..., Qxh5 28 Rg2+ Kh8 29 Rg4. One has to admire Tim’s spirit of adventure. He must have believed there was a way to make his attack stronger.
27..., Bc6 28.Qf2 Kh7 29.Rg3 Rg8 30.h4 Qc1+ 31.Kh2 Qxa3?
Computer sees hanging pawn, computer grabs pawn?? This is not the way the more sophisticated versions of the Rybka play. Safe and sound keeping a winning advantage is 31..., Qh6. White now has a shot that turns the tables.
32.Bf5+!,..
The only way to stay in the game. The move is strong, so strong it wins outright.
32..., exf5 33.Qxf5+ Kh6 34.Rg5 Qd6+ 35.Kg1 Qxf6
Computers don’t resign and the game goes on for a few moves.
36.Qxf6+ Rg6 37.Qxd8 Be8 38.Qxe8 Rxg5 39.hxg5+ Kxg5 40.Qxf7 Kh6 41.g4 b4 42.Qf6+ Kh7 43.g5 b3 44.Qf7+ Kh8 45.g6 bxc2 46.Qh7, Checkmate!
A very nice demonstration of Mr. Wright’s chess imagination.
More soon.
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