Deep Blue–Kasparov 1996: the first computer game win

In Philadelphia in 1996, IBM’s Deep Blue defeated Garry Kasparov in the first game of their match. It was the first time a computer beat a reigning world champion in a game under standard tournament conditions.

Lesson

White to move. Main line: 1. e4 c5 2. c3 d5 3. exd5 Qxd5 4. d4 Nf6 5. Nf3 Bg4 6. Be2 e6 7. h3 Bh5 8. O-O Nc6 9. Be3 cxd4 10. cxd4 Bb4 11. a3 Ba5 12. Nc3 Qd6 13. Nb5 Qe7 14. Ne5 Bxe2 15. Qxe2 O-O 16. Rac1 Rac8 17. Bg5 Bb6 18. Bxf6 gxf6 19. Nc4 Rfd8 20. Nxb6 axb6 21. Rfd1 f5 22. Qe3 Qf6 23. d5 Rxd5 24. Rxd5 exd5 25. b3 Kh8 26. Qxb6 Rg8 27. Qc5 d4 28. Nd6 f4 29. Nxb7 Ne5 30. Qd5 f3 31. g3 Nd3 32. Rc7 Re8 33. Nd6 Re1+ 34. Kh2 Nxf2 35. Nxf7+ Kg7 36. Ng5+ Kh6 37. Rxh7+

Deep Blue chooses the Alapin Sicilian and reaches an isolated-queen’s-pawn structure. The computer exchanges Black’s f6-knight and then occupies c4, using concrete calculation to maintain pressure against the queenside and center.

The tactical sequence 23.d5 Rxd5 24.Rxd5 exd5 leaves Black with active-looking pieces but exposed dark squares. White’s queen enters on b6 and c5 while the knight reaches d6 and b7.

Kasparov creates threats with ...f4, ...f3 and ...Nd3, but 32.Rc7 and the later knight checks keep control. The final 37.Rxh7+ is decisive. The result was historic, though Kasparov recovered to win the six-game match.