CHESS

Col Polhill detects signs of artificial intelligence.

Next February, we are told, Garry Kasparov, champion of the PCA and the human race, will take on "Deep Blue", a machine being bol-ted together by IBM boffins. This game gives an idea of what he will be up against.

White: Deep Blue

Black: Star Socrates

World Computer Champ-ionships; Hong Kong 1995.

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 d5 3.e3 e6 4.Bd3 Nc6 5.Nbd2 Bd6 6.e4 e5

Both machines go their own way, disregarding man-made theory with all its fashionable errors and misprints.

7.0-0 0-0 8.exd5 Nxd4 9.c4 Bg4 10.Re1 Nd7 11.h3 Bh5 12.g4

Less through any aggressive intention than a simple desire to prevent Black's f5.

12...Bg6 13.Bxg6 fxg6!? 14.Kg2 Kh8 15.Nxd4 exd4 16.Ne4 Ne5 17.Bg5! Qd7 18.f4 Nxc4 19.Qxd4 Nb6 20.Nxd6 Qxd6 21.Re5

In cutting off his bishop with Bg5 and f4, the machine doubtless realised that 21...h6 could now be met by 22.Bxh6! gxh6 23.Re6+.

21...Rae8 22.Rae1 Rae5 23.Rxe5 Nc8

Preventing Be7, but taking the pressure off d5.

24.Re6 Qd7 25.Kh2 Kg8 26.Qe5 Qa4 27.Qxc7 Qxa2 28.Qe5 Qa4 29.d6 Qc2+ 30.Kg3 Qd1 (see diagram) 31.Kh4!!

What man would dare display such bravado? We have heard of artifical intelligence and artificial stupidity. This is the first recorded case of artificial chutzpah. The threat of Qg1+ is cheekily dealt with.

31...Qd2 32.f5! Qf2+ 33.Qg3 Qd4 34.Qe3! Qd5 35.Qd2!

The manoeuvre is complete and Black must submit to an exchange of queens .

35...Qxd2 36.Bxd2 Nb6 37.fxg6 hxg6 38.Kg5!

Total justification of 31.Kh4! White wins the ending because his king is so aggressively placed.

38...Rd8 39.Bc3 Rd7 40.Kxg6 Kf8 41.Bd4 Nd5 42.Kf5 b6 43.h4 Nb4 44.h5 Nc6 45.Be3 Nd8 46.h6!!

Well played, sir! 46...Nxe6 now loses to 47.Kxe6 with h7 to follow.

46...Rf7+ 47.Ke4! g5

Or 47...Nxe6 48.h7!

48.Rg6 Rh7 49.Bxg5 Nb7 50.Kd5 Kf7 51.Rf6+resigns.

Lest we forget, Deep Blue will be thinking a thousand times faster - a billion moves a second - in 1996.