The 4th Harvard Cup Human Versus Computer Chess Challenge Danny Kopec (Department of Computer Science, U.S. Coast Guard Academy, New London, CT, USA)
The fourth edition in the series of Harvard Cup tournaments was held on Saturday, 6 November 1993 at The Computer Museum in Boston, MA. As in previous years, it was a Scheveningen-format match between a team of American grandmasters and a team of computers, with all games played at the G/25 time control. This year, six grandmasters and six computers competed for six rounds, a total of 36 games. The grandmasters were Michael Rohde, Patrick Wolff, Boris Gulko, Joel Benjamin, Ilya Gurevich, and Alexander Ivanov. The computers included two commerciallyavailable dedicated units and four PC programs. The dedicated units were ChessSystem R30 by TASC B.V. (operated by Chris Avery) and Renaissance SPARC by Saitek Industries Ltd. (operated by Andrew Metrick), and the PC programs were Kasparov's Gambit by Electronic Arts (operated by Marc Leski), BattleChess 4000 SVGA by Interplay Productions (operated by Mark Glickman), M-Chess Professional 3.42 by M Chess (operated by Roger LaFlair), and Socrates Exp by Heuristic Software (operated by Larry Kaufman and Don Dailey). The first two programs listed were commercially available, and the last two were prototypes of future versions of commercial products. The four PC programs ran on systems provided by Intel Corporation, the title sponsor of the event, which were based on Pentium processors running at 60 MHz with 16 megabytes of RAM. The event began with remarks by Bruce Mazlish, an MIT professor and author of the book "The Fourth Discontinuity: The Co-evolution of Humans and Machines," and Paul Sullivan of Intel. Chief Arbiter Joel Salman conducted the drawing of lots using numbered, colored diskettes. International Masters Maurice Ashley and Danny Kopec provided commentary during and between the rounds. Play proceeded throughout the morning and afternoon with no significant incidents. There was considerable media coverage of the event, including a segment on an ABC News Nightline episode devoted entirely to chess. Several hundred spectators watched the games on demonstration boards (often looking at the clocks as well), tried two of the programs (Kasparov's Gambit and BattleChess 4000 SVGA) on demonstration machines provided by the IBM PC Company, and toured The Computer Museum, the only museum of its kind in the world. Overall, the event was organized by Daniel Edelman and Christopher Chabris, with help from Louis Mercuri and the staff of The Computer Museum, all of whom thought it was a great success. For the computers, however, it was a mild disappointment. Last year they scored 7 points in 25 games, or 28%, but this year they managed only 9 points in 36 games, or 25%. An insignificant setback, surely, but hardly the leap forward that was expected from the much better hardware and additional year of improvements in software. Playing conditions were better this year, but perhaps the grandmasters are gaining experience in playing
computers, and this is helping them to keep pace somewhat with technological improvements. And of course, a sample of 36 games played in one day is not the best for drawing farreaching conclusions. Joel Benjamin certainly had few problems in scoring a perfect 6-0 victory and earning $1000. Alexander Ivanov at 5-1 received $500. Bunched at 4.5-1.5 were Wolff, Gurevich, and an undefeated Gulko. Rohde, thought to be a specialist in playing computers, appeared fatigued and only managed 2.5-3.5. On the computer side the winner was Socrates Exp, developed by Larry Kaufman and Don Dailey for Heuristic Software. Their Alpha and Socrates programs had won the previous two Harvard Cups (Deep Thought won the first) among computers, and the three programs now have a combined score of 8/15 against strong grandmasters, including several wins in previous years on what would now be considered obsolete hardware. Following close behind was ChessSystem R30 with 2.5. M-Chess Professional 3.42 quickly beat Wolff in the first round but wound up tied with the surprising BattleChess 4000 SVGA for third place at 1.5. Renaissance SPARC and Kasparov's Gambit rounded out the field. Benjamin and Socrates will have their names engraved on the permanent Malcolm H. Wiener Trophy and will be invited to defend their titles in the 5th Harvard Cup in 1994. RESULTS: PLAYER (FIDE) SocExp KGambit TOTAL Benjamin (2620) b 1-0 b 1-0 Ivanov (2535) b 0-1 5.0 Gulko (2635) b 1/2 4.5 Wolff (2585) w 1-0 4.5 Gurevich (2575) w 1/2 w 0-1 Rohde (2575) w 0-1 2.5 TOTAL 3.0 27-9 TPR* 2588 SE* 142 CSR30 w 1-0 w 1-0 w 1-0 b 1/2 b 1-0 b 0-1 2.144 MCPro b 1-0 b 1-0 b 1/2 w 0-1 w 1-0 w 1-0 1.164 BC400 w 1-0 b 1-0 w 1/2 b 1-0 RenSPARC w 1-0 6.0 w 1-0 w 1-0 b 1-0 w 1-0 w 1-0 b 1-0

b 1-0 b 1-0 4.5 w 0-1 b 1/2 b 1-0 1.164 0.257 0.0 ------
(*Tournament performance ratings and their standard errors were computed by Mark Glickman. FIDE ratings are from the July 1993 list. In results, color and score are from the human player's point of view.) Before and after the main event, a special series of games was played between KChess, a PC program under development by David Kittinger, and some of the Harvard Cup grandmasters and staff. Against Wolff, Ivanov, Kopec, and International Master Elliott
Winslow, KChess made an even score of 4/8, good for a performance rating of FIDE 2495 (standard error 128) on Pentium hardware (one game was played on a 486/66). ROUND 1 (Humans 4, Computers 2 / Cumulative score: Humans 4, Computers 2) The first round portended danger for the Grandmasters. Rohde (last year's winner and an experienced computer player) was upset by ChessSystem R30 when his attack failed while it simply promoted its c-pawn. Gulko was more successful in his attack with the Black pieces; a vicious exchange sacrifice led to great kingside chances for him. After Black ceded his strong point at e5 in a Spanish Game Ivanov was able to get strong kingside attacking chances against Kasparov's Gambit. The pressure was only relieved when Black converted into a lost ending an exchange down. Benjamin played beautifully to win a rook ending from a c3-Sicilian. Patrick Wolff obtained a winning attack against MChess but due to a hallucination gave up too much material and lost the endgame. Alexander Ivanov -- Kasparov's Gambit Spanish Game 1 e4 eNf3 NcBb5 aBa4 Nf0-0 BeRe1 bBb3 dc3 0-h3 Nbd4 NbdNbd2 BbBc2 ReNf1 BfNg3 ga4 BgBd3 cBg5 hBd2 Khh4 exdcxd4 KgQc1 Khh5 chxg6+ fxge5 dxedxe5 NgBxg6+ KxgQc2+ KfQf5+ KgQxg4 BxfQxf3 NxeQd1 NcRxe8+ QxeBc3 RdQg4 NeBxe5 Qxeaxb5 axbNf5 KhRa6 QxbRg6 RdNxd4 Qa1+ 41 Kh2 QxdQxd4 BxdRxh6+ KgRb6 BxfRxb5 BdKg3 KfKf4 Be5+ 48 Ke4 BdRb8 KgRc8 Kfg4 KfRd8 KgKf4 BgRd6+ KfKf5 KeRe6+ Kdg5 BdRe4 Kdg6 BgRe6+ KdRa6 KeRa7+ KfRa8+ KeRc8 BdKg5 KdKh6 KdRxc5 KdRc8 1-0 Ilya Gurevich -- BattleChess 4000 SVGA Philidor Defense 1 e4 eNf3 dd4 NfNc3 NbdBc4 Bea4 exdNxd4 NeBa2 0-0-0 Bdf4 BgQe1 Ngh3 BdQf2 QeBd2 BxaNxa4 NxeQe3 BhNc3 NgRf3 Qxe3+ 19 Bxe3 aBf2 NhBxh4 NxhRf2 Raeg4 NfKh2 ReRe2 Rxe2+ 26 Ndxe2 ReKg3 NgKf3 Nh4+ 29 Kf2 hg5 Ne4+ 31 Nxe4 RxeBd5 Rbb3 KfBc4 cRa4 Rxabxa4 NgBd3 baxb5 cxbBxg6 fxgKe3 KfNd4 dKd3 bNc6 KeNxb4 aNc6 aNd4+ KfKc3 aKb3 aKxa2 KeKb3 KdKb4 1-0 Socrates Exp -- Joel Benjamin Sicilian Defense 1 e4 cc3 dexd5 Qxdd4 NfNf3 NcNa3 BgBe2 cxdcxd4 edxe5 Qxd1+ 10 Bxd1 Bb4+ 11 Bd2 Bxd2+ 12 Kxd2 0-0-0+ 13 Kc1 NeRf1 RdNd2 NxdBxg4+ KbRe1 Rhdf4 Rc5+ 19 Nc2 NbBd1 NxcBxc2 RdcKxd2 Rxc2+ 23 Ke3 RxbRe2 Rc3+ 25 Kf2 Rxe2+ 26 Kxe2 RaKd2 gg3 hKe2 bKd2 KbKc2 KbKb2 ReRc1 Re2+ 34 Rc2 Rxc2+ 35
Kxc2 KcKd3 KdKe3 aKd3 bKe3 aKd3 Kch3 Kdg4 hf5 gxfgxf5 Kxef6 KxfKc4 baxb3 axbKxb3 KeKc3 KfKd4 KgKe4 Kxh3 0-1 Patrick Wolff -- M-Chess Professional 3.42 Sicilian Defense 1 e4 cNf3 dd4 cxdNxd4 NfNc3 aBc4 eBb3 b0-0 BeQf3 QcQg3 bNce2 0-Bh6 Nec3 bxcNxc3 NdBxe6 fxeNxe6 QcBxg7 QxeBxf8+ Kxff4 Rbb3 NefRae1 QgQxg4 Nxgh3 Ngfe5 NeNd5 BhRe3 dxefxe5+ KgRe4 BgRg4 KhRf5 NdfRgxg5 BxfRxf5 Nxdg4 NgRf7 NeKg2 RcKg3 NgRa7 Rc3+ 38 Kf2 Nxh3+ 39 Ke1 Re3+ 40 Kd2 NhfRxa6+ KgRa7 Re2+ 43 Kc1 Nd3+ 0-1 Renaissance SPARC -- Boris Gulko English Opening 1 c4 eNf3 eNd4 NcNxc6 dxcNc3 Nfg3 BcQb3 0-Bg2 Re0-0 hNa4 Bde3 BeNc5 hNxb7 Qed4 exdNa5 hxgNxc6 gxf2+ 17 Kh1 Qdc5 QxcNxe5 QxeRxf2 BfBxa8 Rxaa4 NgRf4 Be4+ 24 Kg1 QhQxf7+ QxfRxf7 KxfBd2 KeRc1 RhRc4 KdRd4+ KeBa5 cBc7+ KfRd7 NfRd6 NeRd8 NxcRxh8 dRf8+ KeRf1 Bca5 d1/Q 0-1 ChessSystem R30 -- Michael Rohde Bogo-Indian Defense 1 d4 Nfc4 eNf3 Bb4+ 4 Bd2 cBxb4 cxbg3 0-Nbd2 NcBg2 d0-0 eQc2 Bge3 adxe5 dxeRfd1 QeNe4 Radh3 BfNfd2 Khg4 BgRac1 Rdg5 NgNf1 RfdNfg3 hh4 fRxd7 Rxdh5 fxehxg6 QxgBxe4 NfBf5 RdKf1 NhNxh5 QxhBe4 NeBxb7 Nxgc5 Nhc6 Qgc7 Qh3+ 35 Ke1 RcRd1 1-0 ROUND 2 (Humans 5, Computers 1 / Cumulative Score: Humans 9, Computers 2) The humans took more risks this round with their pawn structures. The grandmasters made many more pawn advances, which, with one exception, did not turn out badly. This time Wolff's long attack with an exchange sacrifice in the Yugoslav Attack of the Dragon Variation of the Sicilian Defense did finally work. Socrates's defense against Rohde's two bishops proved what a solid program it is. Ivanov played very riskiliy with his pawns across the board, but eventually M-Chess's queenside greed left a knight offside while Ivanov concocted a devastating attack. Benjamin played a dynamic and instructive gamealso stemming from an opening where his queenside pawns were slightly weakened for activity. Gulko used the slow buildup approach for White against computers (to which he could add his signature). Ilya Gurevich played a very impressive attacking game against Kasparov's Gambit. He repeated Fischer's opening choice as Black in the Gruenfeld against Petrosian in 1971 in the Candidates Matches. With White's king caught in the center, sacrificing three pawns against a computer proved an excellent idea.

Kasparov's Gambit -- Ilya Gurevich Gruenfeld Defense 1 d4 Nfc4 gNc3 dBf4 Bge3 cdxc5 QaRc1 Necxd5 NxcQd2 Qxabxc3 QaNf3 Ndc6 bxcdxc6 NcQb2 NaQa3 0-Nd4 eNb3 QdBxe5 BxeQxa4 RbNd4 RbQxa7 BhQa3 Rfbc4 Qef3 Qh4+ 25 g3 QhNb5 Bxfc7 ReRxf1 QxhQd3 BxcKd1 RedNd4 QgRa1 BeKc1 Bxdexd4 Re8 0-1 BattleChess 4000 SVGA -- Joel Benjamin Sicilian Defense 1 e4 cNc3 Ncf4 eNf3 Nged4 cxdNxd4 dNxc6 bxcBe3 RbRb1 QcQd2 dxeNxe4 NdBc4 fBxd5 cxdNc3 BaBd4 BdQe3 Kfg3 Rba3 Rcb4 RcKd2 QdRhe1 BeRb3 Rxd4+ 23 Qxd4 BfQf2 BcRbb1 dNd1 dc3 QaRc1 Qxah4 Bbc4 Qxb4+ 31 Nc3 BcQxa7+ KgRe5 Bxefxe5 QxcQa3 QdRf1 QxeRf4 hQb4 RxcQxc3 Qe2+ 40 Kc1 Qd1+ 41 Kb2 Qb1+ 42 Ka3 dRd4 d1/Q 44 Rxd1 BxdQc8+ KhQxe6 Qb3+ 47 Qxb3 BxbKxb3 KgKc4 KhKd3 KgKe2 Kxgh5 KgKd3 KxhKc4 f4 0-1 Michael Rohde -- Socrates Exp Queen's Indian Defense 1 Nf3 Nfc4 bNc3 Bbd4 dcxd5 NxdQc2 ee4 Nxcbxc3 NdBd3 Be0-0 0-Bf4 cd5 exdexd5 BxdBxh7+ KhBf5 Bxfgxf3 BgBd6 BeBg3 NfRfe1 RgRad1 QfQe2 ReBc2 BdQf1 RxeQxe1 Bxghxg3 QaQe7 QxfRe1 QxcBb1 RaRd1 ReRd8 Qc1+ 31 Kg2 RxdQxd8+ NgBe4 QhBd5 QhQd7 NfQc8+ KhBf3 QeQb7 QeQxa7 ca4 cQc7 QbQc8 cQh3+ KgQc8 QbBe2 c1/Q 46 Bd3+ KgQf5+ KhQh3 NhQf5 Qf6 0-1 M-Chess Professional 3.42 -- Alexander Ivanov Modern Defense 1 e4 gd4 BgNc3 cBc4 bBb3 aa4 bNce2 de5 NaBg5 fexf6 exfBf4 Neh3 0-Nf3 gBg3 Ngh4 gNd2 hc3 Bf0-0 BhBc2 BxcQxc2 fNb3 KgBe5+ KhNg3 QxhNxf5 QgNxh6 KxhNxa5 RacBd6 RfBxb4 Nxbcxb4 NhKh1 Nfg3 NxdQc3 NfRfd1 KgNb3 hNd4 KfKg2 Rhgxh4 Nxh4+ 38 Kf1 gf3 Ngb5 NfNe2 Rh1+ 42 Ng1 Rxg1+ 43 Kxg1 Ne2+ 44 Kg2 NxcRd3 NeRb3 Nf4+ 47 Kf1 g2+ 48 Kf2 ReRe3 Nh3+ 50 Ke2 Qxe3+ 51 Kd1 Qd3+ 52 Kc1 g1/R mate 0-1 Patrick Wolff -- Renaissance SPARC Sicilian Defense 1 e4 cNf3 dd4 NfNc3 cxdNxd4 gBe3 Bgf3 0-Qd2 NcBc4 Qa0-0-0 BdBb3 Rfch4 NeKb1 NcBxc4 RxcNb3 Qch5 gxhBh6 KhBxg7+ KxgNd5 NxdQg5+ Kfexd5 RcQh6+ KeQxh7 KdRd2 BeRe1 aNd4 RbQe4 QdRde2 Rca3 RbKc1 QaNf5 QbQxe7+ Rxecxb3 RxeRxe2 BdNd4 hKd2 BcRe1 hg4 ab4 BdRh1 RaRxh3 RbRh7 Beg5
Kcf4 Raf5 Rbf6 Kdg6 fxgNe6+ KcRe7 BfRxf7 KbRd7 Kaf7 1-0 Boris Gulko -- ChessSystem R30 Queen's Pawn Opening 1 d4 cNf3 NfBf4 de3 NdBg3 QbQc1 gc4 NfNc3 BfBe2 Bg0-0 0-c5 dxcNa4 QbNxc5 Nbda3 QbNa4 QbNc3 NbNd2 QeRe1 Nfde4 Nxcbxc3 Bgf3 BhRb1 RfcQc2 cd5 Qfe5 Qgf4 Qhc4 BxeRxe2 QhNf3 Rch3 QfQxf5 gxfRc2 BhNe1 BgNd3 fBf2 fxefxe5 NaRe1 RacNf4 RdBh4 bcxb5 ce6 RbBxe7 BcRd1 Rxed6 RgNd5 RbNxc3 NcRe2 KfRd5 RgRxc5 Rxcd7 KeRc8 RdRxb8 1-0 ROUND 3 (Humans 3.5, Computers 2.5 / Cumulative score: Humans 12.5, Computers 5.5) Benjamin continued his strong technical approach. Socrates upset Ivanov mainly by hanging in tough with two rooks against a queen. Gurevich made it look easy by winning a piece in and ending. Wolff tried to steer ChessSystem into an ending that he thought he could win from a c3 Sicilian, but ChessSystem managed to hold on. Gulko exhibited another beautiful slow buildup of his center, and once again Rhode simply played too sharply. Boris Gulko -- Kasparov's Gambit Queen's Pawn Opening 1 d4 NfBf4 NcNf3 ec4 Bb4+ 5 Nbd2 da3 Bxd2+ 7 Qxd2 0-e3 QeBe2 eBg3 eNg1 BfBh4 QeBd1 aNe2 hNc3 gBg3 Radh4 gh5 dcxd5 NxdNxd5 RxdBb3 RdRc1 BeBxe6 QxeRc5 f0-0 QfQc2 RfdRc1 ReQc4 QxcR1xc4 Rfb4 Rffa4 NeBxc7 NdBe5 NbRc1 NxaRc8+ RfRxf8+ KxfRc8+ KeRh8 NbRxh6 NdRh7+ KeRxd7 1-0 Michael Rohde -- BattleChess 4000 SVGA English Opening 1 Nf3 Nfc4 gNc3 dcxd5 NxdQa4+ NcNxd5 Qxde4 QeBb5 Bd0-0 Bgd3 QdBe3 BxbRab1 Bgd4 ae5 Qed5 QxdRfd1 QeBc4 NxeBxe6 Nxf3+ 19 gxf3 BxaBb3 BcBd5 BxdRxd5 eRd2 bRc2 Bef4 BdKg2 0-Rc6 RfdKf3 KfKe2 Keh3 KfRd1 RabKf3 KfRg1 hh4 RdRcc1 BeRh1 hRc6 RbRh2 RdRh1 BdRg1 Bxf4 [time] 0-1 Socrates Exp -- Alexander Ivanov Modern Defense 1 e4 gd4 BgNf3 dBe2 b0-0 BbNc3 ed5 eBe3 Nda4 Nea5 aaxb6 cxbQd2 0-Bh6 bBxg7 KxgRfe1 hRad1 RcBd3 QcNh4 gNf3 NcRc1 NgQe3 QdBf1 bNa2 aNd2 fexf5 RxfNc4 QcQh3 RcfNe3 R5fQh5 BcQe2 RxfQxf2 RxfKxf2 Ne4+ 33 Kg1 QfBd3 Qf2+ 35 Kh1 NcRe2 QhBf5 Bag3

Qdc3 bxcbxc3 Qac4 NeRcc2 QeRf2 BcBxc8 QxcNc3 NdRfd2 NbRb2 QcRe2 QdNb5 Qe4+ 50 Kg1 QgNc7 KgNe6 QdRe1 NgRbb1 hNxg5 hRbd1 QbNe4 NdRb1 QaRb8+ KfRf1+ KeNf5+ KdRb7+ KdNxd6 hRf8+ NxfNf7+ 1-0 Joel Benjamin -- M-Chess Professional Tarrasch Defense 1 d4 NfNf3 dc4 eNc3 ccxd5 exdBg5 Bee3 Ncdxc5 0-Rc1 hBh4 BeBe2 BxcNxd5 Qa5+ 13 Qd2 Qxd2+ 14 Nxd2 BxdRxc5 gBg3 BxgRg1 Bhf4 NhNf3 Rfcfxg5 bRc3 hxgBa6 BgBxc8 RxcNe5 NxeBxe5 RxcBxc3 BeKf2 fBd4 aa3 bRc1 BcRc3 Kfb3 BdRc7+ Kgb4 NfRa7 NeRxa6 Nxdexd4 KfKe3 KgRd6 BbRb6 BcRc6 BbRc3 BeRc5 Bdd5 fRc7 f4+ 46 Kd4 Bfd6 Kfd7 Ked8/Q+ KxdRc5 BdRxg5 fKe3 fKxf2 Keh4 KfKe3 BeKf4 Bch5 1-0 Renaissance SPARC -- Ilya Gurevich Gruenfeld Defense 1 Nf3 Nfd4 gc4 BgNc3 dQa4+ BdQb3 dxcQxc4 aBf4 bQc5 0-Bxc7 QcBe5 Qxcdxc5 Nce3 NxeNxe5 RfcNd3 Bfa4 BxdBxd3 bNa2 Ndc6 NcNxb4 aRc1 NbRc4 axbRxb4 NaBe4 NxcBxc6 Rxc0-0 Rcb3 BfRd1 RaRb7 Rcg3 RccRf1 BgKg2 BxeRxe7 BxfKh3 hKh4 KgKh3 KhRxf7 Bgg4 Rxh2+ 39 Kg3 h4+ 40 Kf4 Rhf2+ 41 Ke4 RxfRxf7 hRf8 hRh8+ KgKd3 KxgRh6 gRh7 KgRh5 ga5 KgKe4 h1/Q 0-1 ChessSystem R30 -- Patrick Wolff Sicilian Defense 1 e4 cc3 Nfe5 Ndd4 cxdcxd4 dNf3 NcNc3 dxedxe5 NxcQxd8+ Nxdbxc3 BdBd3 e0-0 RcBd2 hRfe1 BcNd4 0-Nb3 BeRad1 Ncf4 RfdBe3 BeBf2 KfRe3 bRh3 NbBd4 Baf5 exfBxf5 BdRf3 KgBxd7 RxdRe1 NcRxf7 NxdNxd4 Kxfe6+ Keexd7+ KxdRd1 BfNb5+ KeNxa7 RxcNb5 RcRe1+ KdRd1+ KcRc1+ KdRd1+ Kea4 KeRe1+ KdKf2 KcKf3 KbRe4 RcRxc4 KxcNc7 KbNd5+ KaKe4 BdNc3 KbKd3 Kbg3 BeNd5 BcNc3 BbNd5 BaNe7 hNd5 KxaNf4 bNxh5 KaNxg7 bNf5 bNe3 BcNd5 bKc2 KaNc3+ Ka1 1/2-1/2 ROUND 4 (Humans 4.5, Computers 1.5 / Cumulative score: Humans 17, Computers 7) In the Modern Defense played by Gulko against M-Chess it appeared that White had strong kingside attacking possibilities; in the ensuing ending White wins a pawn but the game simplifies into a draw. Gurevich vs. Socrates was truly a drawn game from the opening. Wolff defended well to win a Richter-Rauzer Sicilian against BattleChess. Rhode's draw against Renaissance, stemming his unprecedented losing streak, was actually a wonderful creative effort on his part. Ivanov's game against ChessSystem took
a very delicate course. In many ways his play was like a computer's -- he stole a pawn and hung onto it for dear life until he could to transform it into a winning ending. Benjamin -- Kasparov's Gambit was probably the only game where Benjamin did not really deserve to win. In this game of "wild rooks" either side could have come out a winner and a draw would have been fair, but Benjamin won on time. After this round the computers, with 7/24, were slightly ahead of last year's total of 7/25, but far from fatigue for the humans, the last two rounds saw their results improve. Joel Benjamin -- Kasparov's Gambit Queen's Gambit Declined 1 d4 NfNf3 dc4 eNc3 BeBg5 0-e3 hBh4 NeBxe7 QxeRc1 NxcRxc3 cBd3 dxcRxc4 Nd0-0 edxe5 NxeRe4 Nxf3+ 16 Qxf3 BeBc4 RadBxe6 fxeQe2 Rdh3 Rfdb4 RdQc4 R8da4 Khb5 ca5 ba6 eRg4 QdRg6 RbRc6 RbQe2 RdQf3 KgQg3 RxbRxh6 QdRe1 RbbRg6 QdQxe5 RxfKh2 Rae4 RadRe3 RfReg3 ReQb8+ QdQf4 RdQg5 Qde5 RdQh4 RexeRh6 QeRh8+ KfRf3+ KeQg4+ KdQc8 QcQa8 KeRg3 RgRe8+ KdRge3 cQd8+ QxdRxd8+ KcRc8+ KbRc7 RdRg3 RxgKxg3 KxaRxc4 Kbh4 aRf4 [time] 1-0 BattleChess 4000 SVGA -- Patrick Wolff Sicilian Defense 1 e4 cNf3 dd4 cxdNxd4 NfNc3 NcBg5 eQd2 Be0-0-0 0-Nb3 Qbf3 RdBe3 QcQf2 dKb1 dxeRxd8+ BxdNxe4 Nxefxe4 bBf4 eBe3 BeBb5 BeRd1 NdQg3 NbBh6 BfRf1 QdBe3 NdRd1 QcBd3 QcNd2 RcRf1 Khh4 NcNxc4 BxcBf2 BxhQh3 BxdQxd3 RdQe2 BxfQxf2 QxeQxf7 Qfa3 Rd1+ 38 Rxd1 QxfRd8+ QgRxg8+ Kxgb4 hc4 hc5 bxcbxc5 KfKc2 gKd3 gc6 KeKe3 KdKe2 KxcKf1 hgxh3 gxhKf2 e4 0-1 Ilya Gurevich -- Socrates Exp Petroff Defense 1 e4 eNf3 NfNxe5 dNf3 Nxed3 Nfd4 gBd3 BgQe2+ BeNg5 Qe0-0 Ncc3 BfQxe7+ NxeBxf5 NxfRe1+ KfNa3 hNf3 ReBf4 gBg3 NdNc2 NdeRe4 Nxghxg3 fRe2 NdRae1 RxeRxe2 KfKf1 BfNd2 hNc4 hN4e3 hxgfxg3 NeKf2 RhNb4 RhNbd5 NxdNxd5 BdNe3 Kgg4 fNf5 BfRe8 RhRxh8 BxhKf3 KfKe4 Ked5+ Kfg3 fxgNxg3 BeNe2 KgNc1 KfNd3 Bhc4 aa3 aKd4 Bg1+ 50 Kc3 Bcb4 axbKxb3 BdKb4 KeKb5 Kda4 c6+ 56 Kb4 BeKc3 cNe1 BfNf3 bNg1 KeNe2 Be5+ 62 Kd3 KfKe4 BbNg3 BcNh1 BfNf2 BeKf3 KeNe4 BfKe2 KdKd3 KeKc2 KeKb3 Kea5 bxaKa4 KdKxa5 KdKb6 KdKb7 BeNc3 BdNa4 BaNb6+ KeKc6 KdNd7 KeNb8 BcKc7 Ba5+ 85 Kc8 KfKd7 BeKxd6 Bg3+ 88 Kxc5 BxbKc6 Bed6 Kec5 BfKb7 Bxdcxd6 KxdKb6 KeKc5 KfKd4 KxgKe4 KgKf5 gKe4 KfKf4 g3 [time] 1/2-1/2

M-Chess Professional 3.42 -- Boris Gulko Modern Defense 1 e4 gd4 BgNc3 Ncd5 NbNf3 dBd3 Nf0-0 0-h3 NbdBe3 cBd4 QcBe2 ReQd2 aQg5 cBe3 bQh4 bNa4 edxe6 RxeNg5 ReBc4 BbRad1 NeBd5 Bxdexd5 RaeNxc5 hNge4 NxeNxe4 NdNg3 QxcQxb4 QxbQxb2 BxbBxh6 Baf3 fBg5 ReBf4 R5eKh2 Nbh4 Kfh5 Kfh6 RhRd3 BcBc1 gBb2+ KgBd4 Rxh6+ 41 Kg1 Bxd4+ 42 Rxd4 RhRd2 ReRb1 RxdRxd5 NxdRd1 NeRxd6+ KfRxa6 RcRa3 Rc1+ 50 Kh2 ReRb3 Kga4 fRb6+ KgNh5+ Kfg3 Nf1+ 56 Kg2 NxgNxg3 fxga5 Raa6 RaKxg3 KgKf2 RaKe2 KhRc6 KgRd6 KhRb6 KgRe6 KhRd6 KgRd7+ Kga7 KfRf7+ KgRb7 KfRc7 KfRh7 KfRb7 KfRf7+ KeKf2 KeRg7 KfRc7 KgRe7 KfRh7 KgRd7 KfRb7 KgKe1 KfKd2 KfRf7+ KeRd7 KfKc2 RaRf7+ KeKc3 RaKc4 RaKc5 RaKb6 Rb1+ 93 Kc7 Rc1+ 94 Kb8 Rb1+ 95 Rb7 RaRb3+ Kfa8/Q Rxa8+ 98 Kxa8 1/2-1/2 Renaissance SPARC -- Michael Rohde Nimzoindian Defense 1 Nf3 Nfd4 ec4 bNc3 BbBg5 hBd2 Bbe3 0-Bd3 d0-0 NbdQa4 ca3 BxcBxc3 NeBe1 Rcd5 Ndfdxe6 fxeNh4 NgNg6 QgNxf8 Nxefxe3 NdBh7+ KhBg3 NxfNxe6 Qxe3+ 23 Kxf1 QxeQc2 QeBxd6 ReBg6 ReBg3 RxgRe1 QgRe5 Qf6+ 30 Kg1 BcQe2 KhQd3 Qfb4 cxbaxb4 QdQxd7 BxdRe7 BfRxa7 ReRc7 ReBf2 Beg4 KgBxb6 Rg2+ 42 Kf1 RxgRd7 BfRd8+ KfBd4 Bd3+ 46 Kf2 BxcKf3 RgRd7+ KfRc7 BbKf4 Rgh3 BdKf3 Rg5 1/2-1/2 Alexander Ivanov -- ChessSystem R30 Sicilian Defense 1 e4 cNf3 Ncd4 cxdNxd4 NfNc3 gNxc6 bxce5 NgBc4 BgBf4 Qa0-0 BxeBxe5 QxeRe1 QfRe4 QfRe3 dBxd5 BfNe4 BxeBxe4 Rcc3 NhQa4 KfQxa7 NgRg3 QeQd4 NfBd3 cQe3 QxeRxe3 cBf1 ea4 Kea5 RcRa4 NdRe2 RaRd2 RaxaRxa5 RxaBxc4 Ra1+ 34 Bf1 RaRe2 hg3 gRc2 gBc4 Ra1+ 39 Kg2 KdRd2 KcBxd5 exdRd4 Rab4+ Kcc4 dxcRxc4+ KbRc5+ KxbRxh5 KcRf5 RcRf4 KdRxg4 fRf4 Rfh4 Rfg4 RgKf3 Rgh5 RhRf5 KdKf4 Kdf3 KdRa5 KdRa3+ KcKf5 KbRe3 KcRe6 KdRxf6 1-0 ROUND 5 (Humans 5.5, Computers 0.5 / Cumulative score: Humans 22.5, Computers 7.5) M-Chess against Gurevich was a straightforward, nice technical achievement for Gurevich on the Black side of the Sicilian Defense. Wolff's battle with Socrates was really a tragedy for Black. The program played an excellent game until on move 25 it deferred Qe2+, which would have transposed into an easily won ending. Gulko versus
BattleChess was one game which slipped away from Gulko after his usual methodical buildup. Perhaps fatigue played a role here. Ivanov vs. Renaissance was a Caro-Kann Advance Variation and one of the few games where a program was beaten straight out of the opening. Perhaps opposite color square complex exploitation as in this game is not a bad idea against computers. Kasparov's Gambit versus Rohde was another Bogo-Indian Defense where Rhode again attacked. But this time while the program was busy winning an offside piece his attack was successful. Kasparov's Gambit -- Michael Rohde Nimzoindian Defense 1 d4 Nfc4 eNc3 BbNf3 bBg5 hBd2 Bbe3 0-Bd3 d0-0 Nbda3 BxcBxc3 NeBe1 fNd2 Ndff3 NgBg3 Qeb4 RadQa4 aKh1 RbRae1 BaQxa6 Bcc5 dBc2 Qdcxb6 Bbbxc7 Bxacxb8/Q RxbBxb8 Bxfh4 NfRxf1 QcBxf5 exfBf4 QcNb1 QbBg3 NhKh2 NxgKxg3 NdRe1 NcKh3 Qf2 0-1 Boris Gulko -- BattleChess 4000 SVGA Queen's Pawn Opening 1 d4 NfBf4 de3 Bfc4 NcNc3 eNf3 Bba3 Bxc3+ 8 bxc3 0-Bg5 QeBd3 BxdQxd3 dxcQxc4 hBh4 Qd0-0 QdQd3 NeRab1 NdNd2 NeQe2 NgBg3 Qcc4 NfRb4 Nxghxg3 bQh5 RadRc1 RdQb5 eQxc6 Rxcd5 Rde4 Rec5 RdRa4 Racxb6 cxbRc6 ReRac4 fa4 RaKf1 KfNf3 NeRc7 KeRc2 KdR7c3 RcRxc8+ NxcKe2 NdKd3 fNxe5 fxe4+ 44 Kd4 RcNc6+ Keg4 KdRe2 KcKe5 KdRc2 RcKd4 RcRc3 KeKe5 KdKd4 KeRe3 Kff3 exfgxf3 hRe6 Rxcdxc6 Kxegxh5 NeKc4 KdKd4 Nfc7 KxcKe5 NhKf5 Ng3+ 65 Kg6 NeKxg7 Ndf4 Ne6+ 68 Kf6 NxfKe5 NeKd5 Nc3+ 71 Kc4 NxaKb5 NcKb4 KdKb5 KdKb4 aKc3 aKb2 bKc3 b4+ 79 Kb2 KcKc2 NdKd2 bKe3 bKe4 aKf5 aKe6 Nb4 [time] 1/2-1/2 Patrick Wolff -- Socrates Exp Three Knights Game 1 e4 eNf3 NfNc3 BbNxe5 0-Be2 ReNd3 Bxcdxc3 Nxec4 d0-0 NcNf4 Nef3 NcRe1 BfBe3 NgQd2 BxcNh5 Bfg4 Bdb4 Nef4 Neff5 NeBh6 QhQf4 BcBxg7 Nf3+ 23 Bxf3 Rxe1+ 24 Rxe1 Qxe1+ 25 Kg2 Bxf3+ 26 Qxf3 QxbBc3 QxcNf6+ KhQe3 Qxa2+ 30 Kh3 QbNd5+ fNxf6 Qf1+ 33 Kh4 QcNxh7+ QxcQxc3+ KxhQxc7+ Kgf6 NeQe7 KhQxe6 Rfg5 ag6 RgQf7 RxgQxg6 aQg7 mate 1-0 M-Chess Professional 3.42 -- Ilya Gurevich Sicilian Defense 1 e4 cNf3 ed4 cxdNxd4 aBd3 Qc0-0 NfBe3 BeNc3 dQf3 NbdQg3 0-Be2 ReBh6 BfBd2 ba3 Bbf3 RacKh1 dQxc7 Rxcexd5 NxdBd3 NcNxd5 BxdBe2 gBg5 RccRfd1 NaRab1 BaRa1 NxbRxa2 NxdBxd1 RedBxd8 Rxdc3 eRd2 exdRxd4 Rxdcxd4 BxaKg1 Bbd5 KfKf2 KeKe3 Kd6 37

Kd3 aBe2 BeKc2 bKb3 BxhKa4 KxdBd1 KdKxa5 BdBb3 KeBxf7 KfBd5 KxgBe4 KgKb5 KfKc6 hKxd6 hBxg6 hKc5 hKxb4 h1/Q 54 Be4 Qc1 0-1 Alexander Ivanov -- Renaissance SPARC Caro-Kann Defense 1 e4 cd4 de5 Bfh4 hc4 eNc3 Ndcxd5 cxdBg5 BeQd2 Bxghxg5 RcBe2 BgNb5 RcQb4 QxgNf3 QxgRg1 QhNd6+ KdNxb7+ KcQd6+ KcBa6 RcNc5+ KdNg5 QfNgxe6+ fxeNxe6+ QxeQxe6 NeRxg6 RcQxc6 NxcRxc6 1-0 ChessSystem R30 -- Joel Benjamin Sicilian Defense 1 e4 cc3 dexd5 Qxdd4 NfNf3 Ncdxc5 Qxd1+ 7 Kxd1 eb4 BfNbd2 0-0-b5 NaNxe5 BxcNxf7 NeKe1 NxfBe2 NxhNxh8 Rxhg4 Bga4 NfBa3 ReBxc5 Nd3+ 20 Kf1 NxcRa3 Rf8+ 22 Kg1 RdNf3 Nabc4 NdNxd4 Rxda5 BdBxd3 RxdRxd3 Nxdh3 KcKg2 KdKf3 Ne5+ 32 Ke4 NxcKd4 Nxa5 0-1 ROUND 6 (Humans 4.5, Computers 1.5 / Final score: Humans 27, Computers 9) Finally Rohde won a smooth technical game. He ground down M-Chess by converting an isolated pawn to an pawn advantage and then a winning queen ending. Socrates versus Gulko was the program's second consecutive mishap. It should have won either in the middlegame or the ending. However there were so many exchanges that it stumbled into a drawn rook and pawn ending. BattleChess against Ivanov involved some risky maneuvers by the latter before he won a pawn, and later sacrificed the exchange in an ending to force victory. Benjamin was given a nice final round gift when Renaissance got its queen trapped. Gurevich never quite recovered the pawn he sacrificed in the opening against ChessSystem. Finally Wolff won a relatively short game which demonstrated how difficult positional pawn sacrifices like the Benko Gambit can be for computers to fathom. Kasparov's Gambit -- Patrick Wolff Benko Gambit 1 d4 Nfc4 cd5 bcxb5 abxa6 ge4 NxeQa4 Nfa7 NaNf3 BgBxa6 RxaNc3 0-Qc4 BxaQxc5 Qba4 RcQa3 Rba5 RbQa2 Ngh3 NeNxe5 Bxef4 Bxc3+ 21 bxc3 RbxcBd2 RcQb1 RxdQxb8 Re2+ 0-1 BattleChess 4000 SVGA -- Alexander Ivanov Pirc Defense 1 d4 gNf3 Bgc3 de4 NfBd3 Nbd0-0 eBg5 hBd2 0-Na3 bRe1 BbNb5 aNa3 ReQc2 exdcxd4 de5 Neb4 cbxc5 bxcRab1 QcBf4 gBe3 cxdBxd4 ge6 RxeBxg7 gxfQxc8+ BxcBd4 NdcBxe4 Nxeg3 NdRbd1 ReNc2 NeNb4 Bea3 RcRc1 RcRed1 RxdRxd4 RxfKh1 RgRf1 Nf2+ 37 Rxf2 Rxfh4 ReRf4 dNd3 BdKg1 Rg2+ 42 Kf1 RdNe5 d3 44
Rg4+ KfRd4 BeNxf3 RaKe1 RxaKd2 KeRxd3 Rxd3+ 50 Kxd3 KdKe4 Bd5+ 52 Kf4 BxfKxf3 KeKe3 aKd3 KfKc4 KgKd4 Kxgh5 KgKd3 fKc4 fKd3 aKc3 fKb4 fKxa4 f1/Q 65 Kb4 KxhKc5 KgKd5 KfKd4 Qd1+ 69 Kc5 KeKb5 KdKb6 KdKb7 Qb3+ 73 Ka8 Kc7 0-1 Socrates Exp -- Boris Gulko Pirc Defense 1 e4 gd4 BgNf3 dBe2 NfNc3 0-0-0 Ncd5 NbBf4 NhBe3 edxe6 fxeQd2 NcRad1 QeNg5 BdNb5 RacBxh5 gxhf4 hNf3 RfKh1 aNc3 Rcfg3 QfNh4 ba3 NaQe1 NcBc1 BcRf3 Rdb3 NbRfd3 QfNf3 ReBe3 NdBf2 NfBd4 NgBxg7 Qxgh3 NfKh2 NdNd4 BbRe3 hf5 Negxh4 KhRg3 QfNxe6 Rxefxe6 Nf3+ 42 Rxf3 QxfNd5 RgQc3+ QxcNxc3 ReNd5 RxeNxc7 RxeRxd6 Re2+ 49 Kg3 RxcNxa6 Rc3+ 51 Kg4 BxaRxh6+ KgRxa6 Rxbh5 bh6+ Kha4 RcRb6 Rc4+ 58 Kf3 ba5 Raa6 bRxb2 RxaRb4 KxhKg4 Rch4 Rah5 RcRe4 RaRc4 RbRa4 RcRd4 RbRc4 RaRe4 RbRf4 RcRb4 RdRh4 RcRd4 RbRc4 RaRe4 RbRa4 RcKg4 RbRd4 RcRf4 1/2-1/2 Michael Rohde -- M-Chess Professional 3.42 Tarrasch Defense 1 Nf3 dc4 ed4 NfNc3 ccxd5 exdg3 NcBg2 Be0-0 0-Bg5 cxdNxd4 ReRc1 Bgh3 BdNb3 Bee3 RcQd2 NeNxe4 BxgNxg5 QxgRfd1 QhKh2 BgRe1 BfNd4 BxgKxg2 fRc5 NxdQxd4 RxcQxc5 bQd4 ReQd3 RaRc1 RxaRc8+ KfRc7+ KfQb3 RaQb4+ RcRxc5 bxcQxc5+ KgQxa7 QeQd4 Qbb4 KfQa7+ KfQa5 QbQc5+ KeKf1 Qdh4 Qh3+ 43 Ke1 Qh1+ 44 Ke2 Qeb5 Qg4+ 46 Ke1 Qdb6 hKd2 gKc3 hKb4 QbQd6 QcQxd5 KeQc5+ KdQxc8+ Kxce4 1-0 Joel Benjamin -- Renaissance SPARC Slav Defense 1 d4 dc4 cNc3 Nfe3 eNf3 NbdBd3 Bde4 dxeNxe4 NxeBxe4 0-0-0 cBc2 QbQd3 gBe3 BeRad1 QxbRb1 QxaRa1 QxaRxa1 Rddxc5 NxcQc3 BdNe5 fBxc5 BxcNxd7 RxdQe5 BdQxe6+ RfRd1 Rdc5 RddRxd4 RdeBb3 RxeBxeIlya Gurevich -- ChessSystem R30 Spanish Game 1 e4 eNf3 NcBb5 aBa4 Nf0-0 BeRe1 bBb3 0-d4 NxdNxd4 exde5 Nec3 dxcNxc3 BbNd5 de6 fBf4 NfNxe7+ QxeRc1 RaeQd4 NeQa7 cRxe4 fxeBxd6 Qxde7+ cexf8/Q+ RxfRd1 QfBc2 QxbBb1 cQc5 QeRf1 QdQe5 cQe6+ KhBxc2 QxcQe7 Qch3 Bda3 QfQa7 BcRd1 BdRc1 QfQe3 aRc7 baxb4 axbRb7 QcQb6 Qa1+ 43 Kh2 Qe5+ 44 Kg1

QcKh2 hh4 Qe5+ 47 Kg1 Rcg3 Qa1+ 49 Kh2 RcKh3 Rh1+ 51 Kg4 Qe5 0-1 CONCLUSIONS The grandmasters still proved dominant. However the program's play may still be improving despite their slightly reduced percentage (25) versus last year's (28).It can safely be stated that Socrates and possibly ChessSystem R30 played on a par with the Grandmasters. Joel Benjamin proved to be the Grandmaster capable of playing most "didactically" in this event. He regularly resorted to and highlighted themes which illustrated the genuine weaknesses of computer chess programs. One could say that Michael Rohde was playing "experimentally" -- and for this he should be commended. That is, he was willing to take on compromised pawn structures for dynamic possibilities. This time his approach did not work out, but Michael's aggressive and unique style always makes his games interesting. Boris Gulko played more like a machine (especially as White) against the programs, than machines do. That is, from a very modest opening he systematically built up his center to a steamroller. It was a marvel to watch this transformation as it took place. Ilya Gurevich, a first time Harvard Cup participant, was the player who seemed to enjoy himself most. He was undefeated until his last round loss. Ilya's approach, on the board and off, was cheerful and refreshing. Patrick Wolff did not have a smooth road to 4.5. His play did exhibit versatile style in switching from attack to defense, but he was a bit lucky to win his 5th round game against Socrates. Alexander Ivanov played six games in six different styles, varying from aggressive attacks to delicate endings with minuscule advantages. In a sense the outcomes of Socrates' last two games were tragic. In each case after excellent build-ups out of the opening and early middlegame the program went astray. That is, its "mop up" routines could use some refinement. It's even score could easily have been a point or two better! ChessSystem scored a few impressive points and one would have expected M-Chess to do a little better. However a score of 25% (for BattleChess and M-Chess) and an overall composite score of 25% for all the programs is not bad. For "exemplary play against computers" the games of Benjamin and Gulko are particularly recommended. Based on the results and games where should most work go? Clearly situations which in general involve programs concentrating on extreme, far-away board sectors to gain material need further attention. That is, the tuning of material gain vs. positional factors must be refined. Of course, this is not an easy problem; in some games programs were able to win for this very reason. In addition, the development of algorithms particular to facilitating transformation of endgame advantages to easier (better) board states needs further attention. One of us (Danny Kopec) is working on such conceptualization of endgames into phases and is available for consultation. FURTHER INFORMATION

Other detailed articles on the 4th Harvard Cup may be found in Chess Life (February 1994 issue) and American Chess Journal (issue #3). The latter will also include a "forum" on how computers are changing chess. The 5th Harvard Cup is now being planned for late 1994. For more information on the Harvard Cup series or American Chess Journal, or to receive the scores above by electronic mail (with the extra games played by KChess), please contact Christopher Chabris.