Krajenbrink,J. - Flits 1-1 (23-07-2002)

In the fourth round of the match Krajenbrink is looking for revenge for his defeat in the previous game. Due to a clever openings choice he seduces the computer into a complicated half classical game.

1.31-27 19-23 2.33-28 17-21 3.28x19 14x23 4.38-33 21-26 5.34-30 10-14 6.30-25 14-19 7.25x14 9x20 8.35-30 11-17 9.30-25 20-24 10.40-34 5-10 11.44-40 4-9 12.43-38 10-14 13.49-43 14-20 14.25x14 9x20 15.40-35 6-11 16.34-30 3-9 17.45-40 9-14 18.39-34

diagram 1

With the very agressive 18.39-34 Krajenbrink keeps the pressure on the black position.

20-25 19.33-29 24x33 20.38x29 14-20 21.43-39 20-24 22.29x20

diagram 2

Flits wisely decides not to capture the piece in forward direction. That would certainly have helped the white player.

25x14 23.39-33 17-21 24.50-44

diagram 3

Probably Flits started to realize here that the black position is dangerous, because white threatens to undermine the black center with 33-29. Using a temporary sacrifice the pressure on the black position is relieved somewhat.

23-28 25.33x22 18-23 26.44-39 23-29 27.34x23 19x17 28.40-34 12-18 29.42-38 17-22

diagram 4

Most likely Krajenbrink has thought about playing 30.36-31 in this position. It's a very tough decision against a computer. In such a complicated position the computer can calculate a tremendous amount of variants. On the other hand, it is very hard for the computer to evaluate this type of position correctly. And that is why I think that Krajenbrink should have gone for it. Some examples of the possibilities for white are 13-19 31.38-33 7-12 32.30-24 19x30 33.34x25 8-13 34.33-29 13-19 35.39-33 followed by 29-24, and 7-12 31.38-33 11-17 32.33-29 13-19 33.30-24 19x30 34.34x25 (without fear for the combination 22-28 35.32x23 21x32 36.37x28 26x37 37.41x32 17-22 38.28x17 12x21 39.23x3 21-26 40.3x20 15x44 41.25-20 with a very promising endgame position, especially against a computer) 1-7 35.29-23 18x29 36.27x18 12x23 37.32-27 21x32 38.37x10 26x37 39.41x32 15x4 40.25-20 etc. with in both cases very good prospectives for white.

30.48-42 22x31 31.36x27 13-19 32.38-33 7-12 33.33-28 1-6 34.39-33 8-13 35.34-29 12-17 36.41-36 2-7

diagram 5

Clearly Krajenbrink has still the better position. His next move is better than 37.30-24 19x30 38.35x24 because of the reaction 17-22 39.28x17 11x31 40.36x27 7-11 and white has no serious chances anymore.

37.46-41 17-22 38.28x17 11x31 39.36x27 7-11 40.29-24 26-31 41.37x17 11x31 42.32-28 6-11 43.33-29 11-17

diagram 6

In this position the exchange 44.30-25 19x30 45.25x34(!) would have given better opportunities. However, due to the excellent defensive skills of computers (not in the least because of the 6-piece endgame database) it is not likely that Krajenbrink would have won in this case. At least after a few more moves ( 16-21 46.34-30 13-19 47.30-24 19x30 48.35x24) Truus already starts to calculate drawing lines. For a human player it would still be very hard to defend the black position. After the next move the game quickly ends in a draw.

44.42-37 31x42 45.47x38 18-22 46.38-33 13-18 47.24x13 18x9 48.30-25 16-21 49.35-30 21-26 50.30-24 22-27 51.24-20 15x24 52.29x20 26-31 53.28-23 31-36 54.41-37 27-32 55.37x28 36-41 56.23-19 14x32 57.33-28 32x23 58.20-14 9x20 59.25x14 41-46 60.14-9