Frustration for Kasparov

The champion finds it difficult to pinpoint
the real Deep Blue.

The first draw of the match leaves it tied at the halfway stage. Garry Kasparov was visibly frustrated by his lack of success, an emotion that surfaced at the press conference in what diplomats might call a "frank exchange of views" with Deep Blue chess consultant Joel Benjamin.

After Deep Blue's sublime performance in Game 2 it was back to normal computer-vs.-human chess. Deep Blue played rather as it did in Game 1 and mixed some bad positional moves that betrayed a lack of appreciation of strategy with some superb tactical ideas.

The world champion produced a real surprise as early as move one and we were treated to an opening move obviously prepared for the computer, something that Kasparov would never play against a human.

The idea was to avoid tactics at which Deep Blue excels and make strategic factors paramount. It seemed to work as Deep Blue got its pieces in a muddle. But to compensate for that, the machine did what all machines like to do during a game of chess: It grabbed a pawn and refused to give it back.

Kasparov does not hide his feelings during the game, and we were treated to the full range of facial expressions: a smile when Deep Blue weakened its position and then a huge grimace when the consequences of one of Deep Blue's neat ideas dawned.

Kasparov's position became better and better. Deep Blue "did everything to lose the game but not enough," Kasparov said after the match. With imminent defeat predicted in the press room and on the Internet, Deep Blue played a marvelous, if inconspicuous looking, bishop move that visibly shocked Kasparov and convinced him to part with his most powerful piece, a knight lodged on a great central square.

With the position blocked, Deep Blue was content to mark time with its king as Kasparov strained to find a winning plan. But after just six more moves he gave up and offered a draw.

-- IM Malcolm Pein, London Chess Centre