Deep Fritz Puts Enormous Pressure on Kramnik

After four hours and 44 moves of play, today's third match in World Chess Challenge 2006 between World Champion Vladimir Kramnik (Russia) and the world's leading chess computer program, Deep Fritz, (Germany) ended in a draw. For the first time in this competition, Deep Fritz (black) took the initiative and exerted enormous pressure on Kramnik. The Catalan opening put the computer in a superior position - Vladimir Kramnik had to mount a very precise defense in order to maintain his own position.

Deep Fritz was not interested in capturing material. Instead, it sacrificed a pawn in its 16th move in order to obtain a development advantage. However, the Russian World Champion successfully neutralized the machine's advantage. By making an exchange sacrifice in the 38th move, Kramnik managed to build an impenetrable King's fortress and finished the game with a draw.

Following his defeat in the second match, Kramnik took far more time to plan his initial moves than in the first two games. Kramnik needed 45 minutes for the first 15 moves, while Fritz only used 15 minutes. "After what happened in the second match, I had to be twice as focused for today's game. This match was psychologically difficult - I couldn't help thinking about my last encounter with Fritz. Deep Fritz had a very strong game today, but I defended myself carefully and ended the match with a draw," said Kramnik in the post-game press conference. Halfway through World Chess Challenge 2006, Deep Fritz leads Kramnik with 2:1.

Result: Match 3, Nov. 29, 2006: Vladimir Kramnik (Russia) - Deep Fritz (Germany)
Score: Kramnik - Deep Fritz 1.0:2.0 points
Notation, 3rd match; Kramnik - Deep Fritz:
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 dxc4 5. Qa4+ Nbd7 6. Qxc4 a6 7. Qc2 c5 8. Nf3 b6 9. Ne5 Nd5 10. Nc3 Bb7 11. Nxd5 Bxd5 12. Bxd5 exd5 13. O-O Nxe5 14. dxe5 Qc8 15. Rd1 Qe6 16. Qd3 Be7 17. Qxd5 Rd8 18. Qb3 Rxd1+ 19. Qxd1 O-O 20. Qb3 c4 21. Qc3 f6 22. b3 Rc8 23. Bb2 b5 24. Qe3 fxe5 25. bxc4 Rxc4 26. Bxe5 h6 27.Rd1 Rc2 28. Qb3 Qxb3 29. axb3 Rxe2 30. Bd6 Bf6 31. Bc5 a5 32. Bd4 Be7 33. Bc3 a4 34. bxa4 bxa4 35. Rd7 Bf8 36. Rd8 Kf7 37. Ra8 a3 38. Rxf8+ Kxf8 39. Bb4+ Kf7 40. Bxa3 Ra2 41. Bc5 g6 42. h4 Kf6 43. Be3 h5 44.Kg2 1/2-1/2
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