Champ plays white but can't prevail

Deep Blue backed itself into a corner then successfully staved off a Garry Kasparov offensive to force a draw in Game 3.

"Deep Blue was definitely deeper on Sunday," said Kasparov, referring to the computer's winning effort in Game 2. "Today I didn't play well, but the computer was the computer -- it played its usual strong game."

The match remains even at 1.5-1.5, with three games left in the series. Game 4 is Wednesday.

Kasparov, playing white, began his effort with a move almost unheard of at the grandmaster level of play, pawn to D3. It clearly was designed to throw off the computer. "What do we call it?" asked commentator Yasser Seirawan of Kasparov's opening. "I have never seen such a move in the past."

Kasparov's innovative first move evolved into a normal English opening, an innocuous beginning that also came as a surprise. "This is about as passive a strategy as I've ever seen Garry Kasparov take," said Seirawan.

But it also was a strategy that took Deep Blue out of book -- that is, out of its library of pre-planned moves -- early in the game, a development that favored Kasparov.

Unlike in Sunday's game, where the first 16 moves were made in rapid succession, Game 3 was played much more deliberately by both Kasparov and Deep Blue. Kasparov held a slight advantage throughout the game, but Deep Blue made it very difficult for him to advance his position. "It has very much been a cat-and-mouse game for some time," said Seirawan midway through the game.

As the game progressed, Deep Blue developed a material advantage over Kasparov. But the computer's edge was canceled by its poor positioning on the board. After the 36th move, it was apparent Deep Blue had backed its pieces into a corner. Apparently sensing that it had no chance for an outright victory, Deep Blue went on the defense and began bracing for a draw. But after completing his 48th move without improving his position, a clearly frustrated Kasparov offered a draw to Deep Blue's Feng-hsiung Hsu. Hsu conferred briefly with other members of the team, then accepted. The game lasted four hours and 28 minutes, the longest of the series, so far.

Although Kasparov settled for a draw after holding a slight advantage for the majority of the game, the world champion said he still likes his chances for victory in the match. "I know what I'm dealing with. I know the power of Deep Blue. I know how strong it is," he said. "Game 3 restored my confidence."

But Deep Blue team leader C.J. Tan assured Kasparov the computer still might have some tricks up its sleeve. "There will be many other surprises in the upcoming three games," he said.