The world champion Vladimir Kramnik kept the computer program Deep Fritz at bay in the first game of a 1 million dollar six game match sponsored by the energy company RAG Aktiengesellschaft at Bonn. This is Kramnik’s first challenge over the board since he defeated Veselin Topalov in the Unification World Championship match and he stands to double his start money of $500,000 if he wins. At the drawing of lots Kramnik secured white in the first game and employed the Catalan Opening to secure a simplified and symmetrical position where he had some chances for a long-term edge. It was the ideal position to have against a machine that calculates up to 10 million positions and is seeing nine moves ahead for both sides. However today’s generation of computer programs do not make elementary mistakes and Deep Fritz made light of its pawn weaknesses on the kingside to defend comfortably with some active play.

Annotated game in PGN

Kramnik,V (2750) - DEEP FRITZ [E03]
The Duel Bonne GER (1), 25.11.2006
[IM Malcolm Pein]

1.d4 It was quite important for Kramnik to draw white in the first game I feel 1...Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 Lets see if Fritz can do better than Topalov did against the Catalan and equalise 3...d5 4.Bg2 dxc4 5.Qa4+ Nbd7 6.Qxc4 a6 7.Qd3 Anticipating b5 [7.a4 b5 (Or 7...e5 would unnecessarily allow Deep Fritz to complicate at an early stage) 8.Qc2 Rb8] 7...c5 8.dxc5 Bxc5 9.Nf3 [9.Nc3 Qb6!] 9...0-0 10.0-0 Qe7 [10...b5 11.Nd4 Ne5 12.Qc2!; 10...b5 11.Nd4 Nd5 12.Nc3 Bb7 13.Nxd5+/=] 11.Nc3 b6 Still theory but rare. Deep Fritz avoids any possible weakening of the queenside with the more ambitious 11...b5 [11...b5 12.Ng5 Bb7 Was Dkachkov - Korotylev Russian Team Ch and now my Junior Fritz - if you will forgive the pun - wants to play Nxh7 13.Nxh7 Bxg2 14.Nxf6+ Qxf6 15.Kxg2 Ne5 16.Qe4 Nc4 When Black has some compensation; 11...b5 12.Ng5 Ne5 Looks better 13.Qc2 Bb7 and Black is comfortably placed; 11...b5 12.Ne4 looks more natural 12...Nxe4 13.Qxe4 with similar play to the game] 12.Ne4 [12.Ng5 Ne5 13.Qb1 Bb7 14.Nce4 Nxe4 15.Bxe4 Ng6 16.Bxb7 Qxb7 17.Qe4 Yielded White less than nothing in Szekely - Salov Kotov Mem Leningrad1984] 12...Nxe4 13.Qxe4 Nf6!

14.Qh4 When you face a machine that sees nine moves ahead its best to keep it simple [14.Qxa8 wins two rooks for a queen but Black gets lots of activity for example 14...Bb7 15.Qxf8+ Kxf8 and the natural 16.Bf4 runs into a) 16.Bd2 e5 17.Bc3 (17.Rad1 e4 18.Ne1 e3) 17...Ne4 18.Rac1 Nxc3 19.Rxc3 e4; b) 16.a3!? e5 17.b4 Bd4 18.Ra2 Ne4; 16...e5! 17.Nxe5 (After 17.Bxe5 Bxf3 18.Bxf6 Qxe2 19.Bxf3 Qxf3 20.Bc3 h5 Threatening g5 and h4-h3 and if 21.h4 Qxg3+) 17...Bxg2 18.Kxg2 g5 wins a piece] 14...Bb7 15.Bg5 Rfd8! 16.Bxf6 Qxf6 17.Qxf6 [Not 17.Ng5 Bxg2 18.Qxh7+ Kf8 19.Qh5 g6 20.Qh4 Qd4 21.Qxd4 Bxd4 22.Kxg2 Bxb2 23.Rab1 Rd2 Black is better. Kramnik naturally prefers the endgame] 17...gxf6 18.Rfd1 Kf8 19.Ne1! Black must be deprived of the bishop pair 19...Bxg2 20.Kxg2

20...f5! Fitting in with a dark squared bishop. At some point White might consider g3-g4 fixing f6 21.Rxd8+ Rxd8 22.Nd3 Bd4 with the idea of e5-e4 or Rc8-c2 23.Rc1 e5 24.Rc2 [24.e3? Bxe3 25.fxe3 Rxd3] 24...Rd5 25.Nb4 Rb5 26.Nxa6 The position becomes further simplified. Kramnik has a faint hope that he can exploit the weakened kingside pawns but they are easily defended 26...Rxb2 [26...Bxb2 27.Nc7 Rc5 28.Rxc5 bxc5 Would give White some chances because of the a pawn; Also 26...Bxb2 27.Nc7 Rc5 28.Rxb2 Rxc7 29.Rxb6 Rc2 30.e3 Rxa2 31.Rf6 would be perfect for Kramnik a pawn up in a rook and pawn ending] 27.Rxb2 Bxb2 28.Nb4 Kg7 [28...Ke8 29.Nd5+/= x h7] 29.Nd5 Bd4 30.a4 Bc5 31.h3 Deep Fritz cannot really improve its position Kramnik may want to play g4 at some point but this is something of a waiting move to see if Deep Fritz will play some injudicious moves 31...f6 I think most players would consider Kg6 32.f3 If allowed Kramnik would like to play e4 and g4 and fix the black pawns but Deep Fritz sees this coming 32...Kg6 [for example 32...Kf7 33.e4 fxe4 34.fxe4 Ke6? 35.g4! followed by a king march to the queenside would give Kramnik good chances to win] 33.e4 [33.Kf1!?] 33...h5 [33...fxe4 34.fxe4 f5 35.Kf3 Should also lead to a draw] 34.g4 [The king march to the queenside is comfortably met by 34.Kf1 fxe4 35.fxe4 f5 36.exf5+ Kxf5] 34...hxg4 35.hxg4 fxe4 36.fxe4 Kg5 37.Kf3 Kg6 Kramnik has been in control throughout but never threatened to win although I would wager even a strong human player would have to sweat as Black here. 38.Ke2 Kg5 39.Kd3 [39.Kf3 Kg6=] 39...Bg1 40.Kc4 Bf2! Accurate play is still required [40...Kxg4? 41.Nxf6+ Kf4 42.Kd5 Bf2 43.Nd7 Bd4 44.Nf8!] 41.Kb5 Kxg4

42.Nxf6+ [42.Nxb6 Bxb6 43.Kxb6 f5 44.exf5 Kxf5 45.a5 e4 46.a6 e3 47.a7 e2 48.a8Q e1Q 49.Qf8+ Kg6=] 42...Kf3 43.Kc6 Bh4 The point of Bf2 44.Nd7 Kxe4 45.Kxb6 Bf2+ 46.Kc6 Be1 47.Nxe5 1/2-1/2