Commentary for black move 22:

MAURICE ASHLEY: I'm surprised, certainly.

YASSER SEIRAWAN: Butic that Deep Blue's idea --

DB MOVE: 22...Nge5

YASSER SEIRAWAN: I thought what Deep Blue has intended was the move --

MAURICE ASHLEY: First, the move Ng6-e5, ignoring the assault on the h-pawn has been played. In this position Kasparov could capture that h-pawn with Rxh5. Before we get to the analysis of that, Yaz, you thought that c5 was its immediate intention.

YASSER SEIRAWAN: Well, the reason I thought that c5 was its intention was that Deep Blue doesn't want to go back and defend the pawn with Re8-h8 -- Re8-h8, and I thought that with the move Rd8xd1 would distract the rook from h1. The same idea as the game as it was played, going back to the game position. Deep Blue has played Ng6-e5, with the same intention. If now we see the move Rxh5, there's this problem that after c5 -- for example, Nb3. Then we can -- then Deep Blue can exchange rooks on d1 and then recapture the f2 pawn. Societies not a pawn sacrifice. Deep Blue does not like Gig up material. And I'm on my break. Thanks.

MAURICE ASHLEY: Thanks lot, Yasser Seirawan.

MAURICE ASHLEY: So a particular lish little /KWEPBS there by Deep Blue ignoring the threat to its pawn, in addition to which it centralizes this knight on e5 and it also prepares to play the cementing move g7-g6, and considering the variation we just looked at, the way that worked out so nicely, I'd have to say that Kasparov really doesn't have any advantage in this position, and --

MIKE VALVO: Maybe -- maybe --

MAURICE ASHLEY: Well, I'm not sure Deep Blue has an edge.

MIKE VALVO: Maybe.

MAURICE ASHLEY: This is a pretty strong "maybe," Mike. But certainly this is the kind of position that Deep Blue plays very, very well. Open board, tactical shots, tactical ideas, unique situations like we just saw, and with Deep Blue handling its pieces so well, with such confidence, if you will, I don't think Kasparov has any advantage here as an understanding, from an understanding point of view, and I think he has to be very concerned, because he can easily miss nuances like this one and suddenly end up lost. And it won't be like it's a close game lost, it's going to be "Your dead lost." And he has to be careful now with every single move. And I think he's aware of that now that the computer is starting to play the kind of position it likes. It is programmed to play extremely well, and now he's got to be thinking "Oh, my God, my white is going out the window," it's like that serve in tennis and he has the big serve and the guy just swats it back into your side of the court, and you say man, I thought I served it 125 miles an hour, he makes it like I just tapped it over the net.

MIKE VALVO: And this brings up that same controversy we've been following all along. Who is playing in that skin of Kasparov? Is he really there? Who is showing up? Is Garry playing? What's going on? Because all of the games seem strange. He's playing reactive style. He's not playing himself. Why aren't we seeing this wildly creative, energetic world champion that we've known. He seems to be playing all these computerlike moves, almost.

MAURICE ASHLEY: I've heard the opinion expressed by many that Kasparov should play all the main lines. In fact, Yasser Seirawan has suggested that on many occasions. Why is Garry playing these weird openings? Play book, go right into book, and come up with a novelty. After all the computer's been programmed with the book that you yourself, Garry, have written. Garry is responsible -- Garry Kasparov is responsible for these moves.

MIKE VALVO: On the other hand David Levy pointed out that Garry has gotten something out of every one of these weird lines that he's played. I mean he really had the edge in today's game, he had the edge in those other games, but he's not cashing in.

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