Commentary for white move 22:

YASSER SEIRAWAN: Okay, again we'll go to the game position and we'll say, why did Kasparov not play c5-c4? Well, after the move c5-c4, the problem for black is he maintains his cramped position. This bishop on e3, its diagonal of influence has been extended. And what white would do would be play the move Ra1-a2, preparing the move Re1-a1, so that he could play on the a-file. Black wouldn't have an adequate counter after that. And so the move Qc7, Kasparov's choice, was actually superior. I think the idea is that if white says, okay, let me do what Yaz says and establishs a protected passed pawn with the move Bxc5 -- if white plays Bxc5, establishing a passed pawn, dxc5, in the long-term we can rate this exchange as a real plus for white. That is to say, once we get into an endgame, white's going to have a real big advantage. But as Michael -- Mikhail Tal said, before the endgame, there's the middle game. "Before the endgame, the God's have placed the middle game, and I bless those gods." What black would now have is the opportunity of bringing this septic bishop, this f8 beneficiary, to the d6 square, where it would be blockading the position in the center and at the same time have a far more active role in the game. So it might not be the best decision to immediately capture on c5. Still, what else could white do? White could potentially play Bd3 -- Bc2-d3, trying to pressure the b5 pawn. There are crazy tactical variations that may occur after the move c3-c4. White may also try for the move f2-f4, trying to break open the center. Still a lot of plans for Deep Blue here.

MIKE VALVO: Or Ra3, too.

YASSER SEIRAWAN: Or Ra3, as we saw before, just trying to play for the open a-file, Ra3.

MAURICE ASHLEY: We would like to mention that joining us today we are honored to have some national chess champions, the Hunter elementary school, some national champions are in the audience, and we would like to give them a hand. And maybe some future champions in the audience, that is, world champions in this group that might want to challenge Deep Blue today. Maybe we could get a microphone here. Maybe one of them might want ask -- want to ask a question. Before we get to that, a move has been played. Deep Blue has played the rook from e1 to C 1980 Re1-c1, putting the room on the same line as the queen. And that's another interesting strategy which really, Yaz, that move is what Nims kitchen used to call that "mysterious rook move," which is the deep prophylactic positional concept, that is, putting a rook on a line that may be closed but has a potential to be open and then and only then will it have influence, and that's a really deep positional idea, that's an idea you learn when you're at least a master to play such a strong move.

YASSER SEIRAWAN: I guess that's why they call it "Deep Blue." Indeed,

MAURICE is right. This is a deep move, and it shows a lot of understanding. Re1-c1, putting the rook, vis-a-vis the queen, but at the same time since the pawns are on the board, the file is blockaded. So this isn't a normal kind of move. I'm anxious to see what the young champions in the audience think. Do we have a roving mike? Any of you guys want to tell us what's happening?

MIKE VALVO: Just talk.

YASSER SEIRAWAN: Just talk.

AUDIENCE MEMBER: I think that --

MAURICE ASHLEY: First tell us your name.

AUDIENCE MEMBER: I'm Samson Bennett.

MAURICE ASHLEY: You're in what great?

AUDIENCE MEMBER: Sixth grade. I think that in this position, it's very clear to me that black has to keep this position closed or else he might get into big trouble. So I really recommend the move c5-c4 because, as

YASSER recommended, Ra2 might not be so effective because the queen can shift over to b7, defending the a8 square, and, you know, protecting the potentially b5 square. So I think c4 would be the best move.

YASSER SEIRAWAN: Talking like a real champion! (Audience aclause.)

MAURICE ASHLEY: I guess now we know why they're national champions.

YASSER SEIRAWAN: I was going to say, looking for a job? Come up! He's right.

MAURICE ASHLEY: Good stuff coming from the youngster. But at this point, though, Yaz, I really want to get back to, to me it's quite shocking that last move. To me it's not just your old average move, the Re1-c1. I'm wondering -- I don't want to jump the gun, but this is not the normal computer type move. It's so deep -- it's the kind of move, you know, you really start to appreciate when you are a truly strong player, it's not active, per se. It is potentially active. The rook may not have been doing anything on e1, so it's improved the position of the rook, but you'd think it would want to improve it in a place where it's going to open up a line, maybe doubling the rooks on the A line. But instead it puts it on a square that says watch your queen, don't open up lines or else I'll get the rook on the file before you. Now, there is the potential of the move c4, but there's so much, that move looks like it's seeing so much, looks like a deep positional move that has this effect. It reminds me of a move that Kasparov himself once played in the final game of his second match against Karpov, that is the match after the aborted match where he played this great move Re7 and then doubled the rooks on the E line even though the file was completely closed and then when everything opened up the rooks turned out to be well placed. So this kind of move has got to make Kasparov, in my opinion, think a little bit, say, "Wait a minute, am I playing a tactician, which is what we thought it was, a super tactician, or a computer that can actually play those positional moves?"

YASSER SEIRAWAN: I agree with you. I think this is a very sophisticated move. It's the type of move I would have played. (Laughter.) And really, I add vire this move, because it is one of those moves that just loads the gun. You're not going to do anything immediately. It's the right place for the rook. Things are clearly happening on the queen-side. If, like Sam says, Kasparov doesn't close down the position on the queen-side, that's where the rook belongs, and he's just preparing for the opening of the position, if you don't see the move c4.

MAURICE ASHLEY: And Kasparov is showing a little bit of concern there, and he's aware that this is that kind of move also. He knows more than any of us what kind of move it is. It is interesting because psychologically Kasparov played the move Qc7 to knock you down the position with c4. But going back to Sam's plan, c4, it's sort of like playing I didn't want to close the position down but you're playing such good moves, I think I'm going to have to. That's a bit of a concession on Kasparov's part. I'm not sure he's going to want to do that. And as I speak we have joining us on stage, Grandmaster Joel Benjamin. Remember, he's the one we'll say responsible for the opening book of the computer, so we get to blame him if anything goes wrong in the opening, but he also gets to take all the credit when everything goes right. So we welcome you to the stage. And I'll take my leave of you now, Yaz.

MAURICE ASHLEY: Sure. Tell me how the game is doing.

MAURICE ASHLEY: So I'll see you soon.

MAURICE ASHLEY:

MAURICE Ashley.

YASSER SEIRAWAN:

MAURICE Ashley. Satisfied with the position? Benjamin well, I was following your commentary from upstairs, and you were talking about how closed the position was for so long, I was wondering when you guys were going to get around to the fact that the position is better for white. And you eventually did. (Laughter.) Now it is a somewhat closed position. But can you look at Deep Blue's moves and say, "It's not playing the position well?"

YASSER SEIRAWAN: On the contrary, I think that Deep Blue has followed the accept, orthodox opening library and has gotten an advantage. And we do have a move by black. Sam! (Audience applause.) c5-c4 was Garry's last move, trying to keep the queen-side closed. Go ahead, Joel, you're on a roll. JOEL BENJAMIN: Of course in a closed position is potentially a problem for --

YASSER SEIRAWAN: We have another move. Ra1-a3, preparing -- I like this move, too -- preparing to open up operations on the queen-side by preparing a4xb5.

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