Utzinger vs EXchess311; rapid 60 (0-1 in 21 moves)

[Kurt Utzinger]

Geschrieben von:/Posted by: Kurt Utzinger at 06 February 2000 13:45:23:
One should never underestimate an amateur program. I had demonstrated in many games against the best chess computer programs that it is still possible to occasionally reach draws. But today, against EXchess I played a rather poor game. Nevertheless the way Dan Homan's program won is nice to see. Game played on AMD_K6_III_450/128 with 32 MB hash tables, no tablebases.
[Event "Rapid 60"]
[Site "Wetzikon"]
[Date "2000.02.06"]
[Round "01"]
[White "Kurt Utzinger"]
[Black "EXchess311 AMD K6_III 450/128"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A15"]
[PlyCount "42"]
[EventDate "2000.02.06"]
1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. b3 Bg7 4. Bb2 O-O {
Last book move.} 5. e3 d6 6. d4 Nc6 7. h3 {An unnecessary move with the
intention to avoid Black's Bc8-g4. Much better was to develop a piece with 7.
Be2.} 7... Bf5 8. Bd3 Bxd3 9. Qxd3 e5 {EXchess plays very sound by occupying
the centre. Has the program already seen here that White will not be able to
win the e5-pawn? If yes, then congratulations..} 10. dxe5 dxe5 11. Qxd8 Rfxd8
12. a3 {Again a pawn move that looses time. White should go ahed with
development, i.e. with 12.Nbd2. If White tries to win the e5-pawn by 12.Bxe5
Nxe5 13.Nxe5 Black replies 13...Nd7 and after 14.f4 Nxe5 15.fxe5 Bxe5 White
can resign. Not much better is the line 12.Nxe5 Nd7 13.f4 Ndxe5 14.fxe5 Nb4
15.Ke2 forced Nc2 16.Nd2 Nxa1+-.} 12... Nd7 {
A very fine manoeuvre which threatens Nd7-c5.} 13. b4 {I was angry about
myself. It seldom happens that I have to play such passively after only a few
moves. Therefore I thought little about my 12th move and just wanted to
prevent Black from playing Nd7-c5.} 13... e4 {
This logical reply is the beginning of the end.} 14. Bxg7 {
After 14.Nd4 Nce5 White looses the c4-pawn.} 14... exf3 15. Bc3 fxg2 16. Rg1
Nde5 17. Nd2 {Why should I give up my c4-pawn?} 17... Rd3 {
Increasing the pressure on White's position.} 18. Rc1 Rad8 19. Ke2 {A terrible
mistake in an already bad positon however. Only with 19.Rxg2 Rxd2 20.Bxd2 Nf3
21.Ke2 Nxd2 was it possible to continue the game, but Black should win anyway.}
19... Rxc3 20. Rxc3 Rxd2+ 21. Kxd2 Nf3+ {A nice game on the part of EXchess.} *