Sufi 23 - Sadler

TCEC Season 23 SuperFinal: Leela Chess Zero vs Stockfish
GM Matthew Sadler
The TCEC Season 23 SuperFinal was once again O-O 9. Bd3 Re8 10. O-O Nbd7
a contest between Stockfish and Leela Chess Zero.
Division P witnessed a nail-biting struggle for the 8
rZblrZkZ
dubious privilege of facing the champion of the last 7
5 SuperFinals; it was only decided in game 222 of
opZnZpap
6
224 when Stockfish defeated Komodo Dragon for 0Z0o0mpZ
5
a fourth game pair win out of four(!) to leave Leela Z0oPZ0Z0
4
ahead on tie-break! 0Z0ZPZ0Z
3
The SuperFinal was as entertaining as ever and Z0MBZNZP
2
featured 21 game pair wins—unfortunately 19 of PO0Z0OPZ
1
these were Stockfish’s! Stockfish gained its 6th con- S0AQZRJ0
secutive SuperFinal title with 12 games to spare, a b c d e f g h
winning in the end by 58.5–41.5 (+27, -10, =63). Book exit

Congratulations to both teams of developers for
some thrilling chess! The Season 23 SuperFinal started with one of the
The subsidiary battle between the bookmakers most biased openings, assessed by the Leela net we
was much closer and ended 11–10 in Jeroen’s fa- used to prepare the book as +0.56.
vor, only being decided in the very last game when At first glance, this evaluation seems a little odd:
Stockfish ground down Leela in a Czech Benoni! it looks like a standard Modern Benoni where both
Matthew’s consolation prize was to reach the peak sides have developed normally. However, thanks to
of top SuperFinal chatter by some margin, leaving the opening book, Black has missed the opportun-
a former champion exhausted in his wake in 16th ity of creating counterplay against e4 with 9… b5
place. allowing White to consolidate. The general rule of
Many thanks as always to kanchess and the Modern Benoni is that if the e4-pawn is safe
AntonMihailov for all the organization, to and White has developed normally, then White is
noobpwnftw for the fantastic hardware, and to clearly better.
Aloril42 and kkeronen62 for keeping the engines
purring at maximum efficiency all through the
SuperFinal! LCZero—Stockfish 1–0
Stockfish decided to show that the e4-pawn wasn’t

Games 1–2 Modern Benoni (A61) safe here, either, but took the exceptionally
risky (human translation: positionally abominable)
Book moves (Matthew): 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3
course of swapping off the dark-squared bishop
c5 4. d5 d6 5. Nc3 eXd5 6. cXd5 g6 7. h3 Bg7 8. e4
for White’s knight with 12… BXc3 to win the e4-
Edited by S. Kiminki (2nd Dec 2022) pawn.
1
8
rZbl0ZkZ Stockfish—LCZero 1–0
7
opZnZpZp The reverse was greeted with much anticipation
6
0Z0o0ZpZ by Leela fans mindful that Stockfish had preferred
5
Z0oPZ0Zn 11. a4 in its PV instead of Leela’s seemingly very
4
0Z0ZrZ0Z strong 11. Be3. Indeed, 11. a4 was played
3
Z0O0ANZP 8
2
PZ0ZBOPZ rZblrZkZ
7
1
S0ZQZRJ0 opZnZpap
6
a b c d e f g h 0Z0o0mpZ
5
LCZero—Stockfish after 13… Re8Xe4 Z0ZPZ0Z0
4
Its planned follow-up was to sacrifice the ex-
PZpZPZ0Z
3
change for White’s dark-squared bishop and try en-
Z0M0ZNZP
2
trenchment on squares like e5, but it looked any- 0OBZ0OPZ
1
thing but convincing. Stockfish in fact spent nearly S0AQZRJ0
a b c d e f g h
23 minutes on its 15th move before settling on
Stockfish—LCZero after 12. Bd3– c2
15… Ndf6,
8 but still seemed fairly strong! By move 16, Stock-
rZbl0ZkZ fish was over +2 and Leela was at 0.64. A central
7
opZ0ZpZp break with 18. e5
6
0Z0o0mpZ 8
5
Z0oPs0Zn 0ZrZrZkZ
7
4
0Z0Z0Z0Z ZplbZpap
6
3
Z0O0A0ZP pZ0o0mpZ
5
2
PZ0MBOPZ Z0mPO0Z0
4
1
S0ZQS0J0 PZpZ0A0Z
3
a b c d e f g h Z0M0ZNZP
2
LCZero—Stockfish after 15… Nd7– f6 0OBLROPZ
1
but the more or less forcing continuation that en-
ZRZ0Z0J0
a b c d e f g h
sued was clearly winning for White, Stockfish—LCZero after 18. e4– e5
8
rZ0l0ZkZ forced an exchange sacrifice from Leela after which
7
o0Z0ZpZp the writing was on the wall.
6
0Z0obZpA Pair Current Pair
5
Z0onZ0Zn Engine
score score wins
4
0ZNZ0Z0Z LCZero 1 (+1 =0 -1) 1 (+1) 0
3
ZQZ0Z0ZP Stockfish 1 (+1 =0 -1) 1 (+1) 0
2
PZ0Z0OPZ Pair result Reverse kill
1
S0Z0S0J0 Book score Matthew–Jeroen 0–0
a b c d e f g h
LCZero—Stockfish after 21. Be3– h6 Game links:
h cec che c d f ga e 1 ea 23
and Leela converted very efficiently. h cec che c d f ga e 2 ea 23
2
Games 3–4 Slav, Smyslov variation (D16) 8

0ZrZqs0j
7
Book moves (Jeroen): 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3
Z0Zna0o0
6
Nf6 4. Nc3 dXc4 5. a4 Na6 6. e4 Bg4 7. BXc4 e6 0Z0ZpZbo
5
8. Be3 Nb4 9. Rc1 Bh5 ZNZ0ZpZ0
4
0mpOPZPZ
3
8
rZ0lka0s Z0Z0LNAP
2
7
opZ0Zpop 0OBS0O0Z
1
6
0ZpZpm0Z Z0ZRZ0J0
5 a b c d e f g h
Z0Z0Z0Zb
4 LCZero—Stockfish after 23… f7– f5
PmBOPZ0Z
3
Z0M0ANZ0
2
0O0Z0OPO
1
Z0SQJ0ZR makes everything work by a miracle!
a b c d e f g h
Book exit
Stockfish took an early lead after a 1.5–0.5 vic- 8

0ZrZqs0j
tory in the second game pair. The opening position 7
Z0ZnZ0o0
was taken from a game analysed in depth in Silicon 6
0Z0ApZbo
Road 1 ! 5
Z0Z0Z0Z0
4
0ZpOpZPZ
3
LCZero—Stockfish 0.5–0.5 Z0Z0LNZP
2
Stockfish defended the black side amazingly. The
0ORZ0O0Z
1
sacrificial pawn break 20… c5 looked impossible, Z0ZRZ0J0
a b c d e f g h
LCZero—Stockfish after 26… f5Xe4
8
0ZrZqs0j
7
Z0Znapo0
6
pZ0ZpZbo 26… fXe4 was the tactical point you had to spot
5
Zpo0Z0Z0 at the start! The zwischenzug 27. BXf8 eXf3! wins
4
Pm0OPZPZ material for Black!
3
ZBM0LNAP
2
0O0S0O0Z
1
Z0ZRZ0J0
a b c d e f g h
Stockfish—LCZero 1–0
LCZero—Stockfish after 20… c6– c5
In the reverse, Leela also defended well and found

but the key point 23… f5 a neat regrouping, which I hadn’t spotted in Sil-
1
Sadler, Matthew. The Silicon Road to Chess Improve-
icon Road: 17… Ne8 intends …Nd6 followed by
ment: Chess Engine Training Methods, Opening Strategies & …Kh8, …Bg8, and …f6 achieving some sort of
Middlegame Techniques. New In Chess, 2022. harmony.
3
8 8
rZ0lnskZ 0Z0Z0skZ
7 7
Z0Z0apob Z0Z0Z0Z0
6 6
pZpZpZ0o 0Z0Z0oPo
5 5
ZpZ0ZPZ0 Z0ZPoPZ0
4 4
Pm0OPZPZ pZ0ZPZ0Z
3 3
Z0M0A0ZP Z0S0Z0Z0
2 2
0O0MBZ0Z 0Z0Z0Z0Z
1 1
Z0SQZRZK Z0Z0Z0ZK
a b c d e f g h a b c d e f g h
Stockfish—LCZero after 17… Nf6– e8 Stockfish—LCZero after 44. Rc7Xc3
However, Leela got its kingside into a tangle and Pair Current Pair
Engine
you could imagine Stockfish’s eyes gleaming with score score wins
pleasure at the sight! LCZero 0.5 (+0 =1 -1) 1.5 (+1) 0
Stockfish 1.5 (+1 =1 -0) 2.5 (+2) 1
8
0Z0Z0s0j Pair result Decisive pair
7
Z0ZqZ0o0 Book score Matthew–Jeroen 0–1
6
pZ0Z0oPo Game links:
5
ZpsPo0m0 h cec che c d f ga e 3 ea 23
4 h cec che c d f ga e 4 ea 23
0m0ZPZPO
3
ZPM0Z0Z0
2
0Z0ZBZQZ Games 5–6 Nimzo-Indian, Vitolins gambit
1
Z0S0Z0SK (E21)
a b c d e f g h
Book moves (Matthew): 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3
Stockfish—LCZero after 30. h3– h4 Bb4 4. Nf3 c5 5. g3 b5
8
Leela had some tactics planned rmblkZ0s
7
o0ZpZpop
6
8
0ZqZ0s0j 0Z0Zpm0Z
5
7
Z0Z0Z0o0 Zpo0Z0Z0
4
6
pZ0Z0oPo 0aPO0Z0Z
3
5
ZpZPo0O0 Z0M0ZNO0
2
4
0Z0ZPZPZ PO0ZPO0O
1
3
ZPsnZ0Z0 S0AQJBZR
2 a b c d e f g h
0Z0ZBZQZ
1 Book exit
Z0Z0ZRSK
a b c d e f g h Up next, a crazy gambit idea in the Nimzo-Indian
Stockfish—LCZero after 32… Nb4– d3 from Vitolins, taken from the book The Livonian
Knight: Selected Games of Alvis Vitolins2 .
but had mis-assessed the resulting position some- 2
Lanka, Zigurds et al. The Livonian Knight: Selected
what. We got equal pawns in a rook and pawn end- Games of Alvis Vitolins. Elk and Ruby Publishing House,
ing, but not an equal position! 2021.
4
LCZero—Stockfish 0.5–0.5 Stockfish—LCZero 0.5–0.5
It’s intriguing how little an early pawn loss matters As White, Stockfish copied Leela’s approach ex-
to engines when there are open lines and diagonals. actly until move 19,
The two draws in Basman’s Gambit 1. e4 e6 2. d4
a6 3. c4 b5!? a couple of seasons ago are a case in
8
point.3 rmqZ0ZkZ
7
Leela chose not to hold the Benko pawn on b5, Z0ZpZ0op
looking to exploit the dark squares instead. 6
0LbZpZ0Z
5
Z0O0ZpZ0
8 4
rm0l0skZ 0Z0Z0Z0O
7 3
ZbZpZpop Z0Z0ZNO0
6 2
0Z0Zpm0Z PZ0ZPOBZ
5 1
ZpO0Z0Z0 ZRZ0Z0J0
4 a b c d e f g h
0Z0Z0A0Z
3 Stockfish—LCZero after 19. h2– h4
Z0O0ZNO0
2
PZ0ZPOBO
1
S0ZQZRJ0 which was a bit of a downer! Move 23
a b c d e f g h
LCZero—Stockfish after 11. Bc1– f4
8
0s0Z0ZkZ
7
Although Leela reached a pawn-up rook and ZqZpZ0o0
6
knight endgame, Stockfish’s relaxed evaluation nZbZpZ0o
5
didn’t inspire confidence in White’s conversion L0O0ZpZP
4
chances 0Z0Z0Z0M
3
Z0Z0Z0O0
8
0Z0Z0ZkZ 2
PZ0ZPOBZ
7
Z0ZNZ0o0 1
Z0S0Z0J0
6
0ZnZpZ0o a b c d e f g h
5
Z0O0ZpZ0 Stockfish—LCZero after 23. Nf3– h4
4
rZ0Z0Z0Z
3
Z0Z0Z0O0 brought a Stockfish boom4 (to 2.01 before settling
2
0Z0ZPOKO back to 1.66), which made chatters wonder whether
1
ZRZ0Z0Z0 another Stockfish win from nowhere was about to
a b c d e f g h
take place! Essentially, Stockfish seemed to be hav-
LCZero—Stockfish after 27. Ne5Xd7 ing a serious difference on whether a rook and 4
pawns vs a rook and 3 pawns ending was a draw or
and the game was indeed drawn… eventually, after a win for White.
Leela had teased the assembled viewers with a 23-
minute think! 4
In TCEC lingo, a boom is understood as engine eval-
uation explosion away from 0.00, its opposite being a moob
3
h cec che c d f ga e 17 meaning evaluation implosion back in the general direction of
ea 21 0.00.
5
8 8
0s0Z0Z0Z rmblkZ0s
7 7
Z0Z0Zko0 Z0Znapop
6 6
0ZRZ0Z0o pZ0opZ0Z
5 5
Z0Z0ZpZP ZpZ0Z0Z0
4 4
0Z0Z0Z0Z 0Z0MPZPZ
3 3
Z0Z0Z0O0 Z0M0APZ0
2 2
0Z0ZPO0Z POPL0Z0O
1 1
Z0Z0Z0J0 S0Z0JBZR
Stockfish—LCZero after 35. Rg6Xc6 Book exit
Jeroen was very happy about finding a sharp

Open Sicilian that was neither too drawish nor too
It wasn’t the best 4v3 endgame I’d ever seen, as busted!
White could force an exchange of the f-pawn for its
g-pawn to secure a protected passed e-pawn, but
that was still unlikely to be winning without poor
play from Black. In fact soon after, Stockfish had LCZero—Stockfish 0.5–0.5
to hang its fishy head in shame as it moobed down
to a 1.17 evaluation! Leela played in a quite complicated fashion with re-
straining moves on both sides of the board: 12. a3,
15. b3, 16. Rh3, and 17. Na2.
Pair Current Pair 8

Engine
score score wins 0ZrZ0skZ
7
LCZero 1 (+0 =2 -0) 2.5 (+1) 0
Zbl0apop
6
Stockfish 1 (+0 =2 -0) 3.5 (+2) 1 pm0opZ0Z
5
Pair result Double draw
ZpZ0m0O0
4
Book score Matthew–Jeroen 0–1 0Z0MPZ0O
3
Game links:
OPZ0APZR
2
h cec che c d f ga e 5 ea 23 NZPL0Z0Z
1
h cec che c d f ga e 6 ea 23 ZKZRZBZ0
a b c d e f g h
LCZero—Stockfish after 17. Nc3– a2
But when Stockfish’s counterplay came with

Games 7–8 Sicilian, Najdorf 6. Be3 (E90)
17… d5, Leela proved to be perfectly placed to ab-
sorb it! The game moved into a French-style end-
Book moves (Jeroen): 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 game where Leela’s enthusiasm rose (0.62 at move
cXd4 4. NXd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e6 7. f3 Be7 27) as Stockfish’s fell (0.79 at the same move!) Un-
8. Qd2 b5 9. g4 Nfd7 fortunately, after 27… f6
6
8 8
0m0Z0skZ 0ZrZ0skZ
7 7
Zbs0Z0op Zblnapop
6 6
pZ0Zpo0Z 0m0ZpZ0Z
5 5
ZpZpO0OP o0ZpO0O0
4 4
0M0S0O0Z 0o0M0Z0O
3 3
OPZ0Z0ZR Z0Z0ZPLB
2 2
0ZPZ0Z0Z POPZNZ0Z
1 1
ZKZ0ZBZ0 ZKARZ0ZR
LCZero—Stockfish after 27… f7– f6 Stockfish—LCZero after 19. e4– e5
followed by 19… NXe5 20. h5 Rfe8 21. Nf4

Leela’s evaluation fell like a stone to 0.49, and even 8
though the resulting Black position wasn’t a dream
0ZrZrZkZ
7
for a human player, Stockfish had little trouble
Zbl0apop
6
holding a draw! 0m0ZpZ0Z
5
o0Zpm0OP
4
0o0M0M0Z
3
Z0Z0ZPLB
2
Stockfish—LCZero 1–0 POPZ0Z0Z
1
ZKARZ0ZR
a b c d e f g h
Leela fans quailed at the prospect of the black
side of an Open Sicilian against Stockfish... and Stockfish—LCZero after 21. Ne2– f4
they weren’t wrong. Things started reasonably, and
put a planet-size spanner in those works. A couple
when Leela broke with 18… d5, Black’s counter-
of moves ago, White’s attack seemed ages away;
play seemed to be proceeding smoothly.
now you couldn’t see how to stop NfXe6/NdXe6
or g6. And 22. NdXe6 it was
8
8
0ZrZ0skZ 0ZrZrZkZ
7
7
Zblnapop Zblnapop
6
6
0m0ZpZ0Z 0m0ZNZ0Z
5
5
o0ZpZ0O0 o0ZpZ0OP
4
4
0o0MPZ0O 0o0Z0M0Z
3
3
Z0Z0ZPLB Z0Z0ZPLB
2
2
POPZNZ0Z POPZ0Z0Z
1
1
ZKARZ0ZR ZKARZ0ZR
a b c d e f g h
a b c d e f g h
Stockfish—LCZero after 22. Nd4Xe6
Stockfish—LCZero after 18… d6– d5
not caring about Black’s counterplay with

22… QXc2+! A regrouping and some Rubinstein-
However, the awesome pawn sacrifice 19. e5!! style BXh7+ followed by g6 and h6 was in the
7
air. Leela gave up the exchange, but the carnage The next game was a Semi-Slav Triangle in hon-
continued. our of grizzled veteran TCEC chatter mrbdzz who
is both Leela’s greatest fan and a Semi-Slav aficion-
8
0ZbarZkZ ado5 . But fittingly, it was a rather dodgy one! This
7
Z0l0Zpop line was fairly popular in my time as a professional!
6
0m0ZnZ0Z
5
Z0ZNZNOP LCZero—Stockfish 1–0
4
po0Z0Z0Z Stockfish actually defended rather poorly, rushing
3
Z0Z0ZPL0 to exchange queens but weakening Black’s struc-
2
PO0Z0Z0Z ture, which gave Leela a comfortable edge without
1
J0ARS0Z0 tactics to trouble it!
a b c d e f g h
8
Stockfish—LCZero after 29. Nf4Xd5
rZbZkZ0s
7
opZna0Zp
6
Stockfish had picked up its second game pair 0ZpZpZpZ
5
win, and my colleague Jeroen had picked up his Z0Z0Z0M0
4
second bookmaker’s win! 0ZPOpZ0O
3
Z0Z0O0Z0
Pair Current Pair 2
PO0ABO0Z
Engine
score score wins 1
S0Z0J0ZR
LCZero 0.5 (+0 =1 -1) 3 (+1) 0 a b c d e f g h
Stockfish 1.5 (+1 =1 -0) 5 (+3) 2 LCZero—Stockfish after 14. Nf3– g5
Pair result Decisive pair A sharp little 3-move tactic and Leela had picked
Book score Matthew–Jeroen 0–2
up a pawn and the game soon followed.
Game links:
In the reverse Leela defended much more aggress-
ively with an early pawn sacrifice, which had led to
Games 9–10 Semi-Slav Triangle (D31)
some draws in my test games.
Book moves (Matthew): 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 8
c6 4. e3 f5 5. g4 fXg4 6. QXg4
rmblkZ0s
7
o0Z0a0Zp
6
8
rmblkans 0ZpZpmpZ
5
7
opZ0Z0op ZpZpZ0L0
4
6
0ZpZpZ0Z 0ZPO0Z0O
3
5
Z0ZpZ0Z0 Z0M0ONZ0
2
4
0ZPO0ZQZ PO0Z0O0Z
1
3
Z0M0O0Z0 S0A0JBZR
2 a b c d e f g h
PO0Z0O0O Stockfish—LCZero after 9… b7– b5
1
S0A0JBMR
a b c d e f g h 5
The accuracy of the second half of the claim is unclear.
Book exit (Ed.)
8
Unfortunately, though Leela may have got the LCZero—Stockfish 0.5–0.5

style points, its wasn’t a better end result in the end,
Stockfish winning a rook ending two pawns up. Stockfish played 9… Na5 and blocked the centre
8 with 10… c5, which felt a bit like Petrosian–Gufeld
0Z0Z0Z0Z games from the 1960s which never ended well for
7
Z0ZkZ0Z0 Black!
6
0Z0ZpZ0Z
5
S0ZpZ0Zr
4
0Z0O0Z0Z 8
3
Z0Z0O0Z0 rZbl0skZ
7
2
0O0ZKO0Z Z0Z0Zpap
6
1
Z0Z0Z0Z0 po0o0mpZ
5
a b c d e f g h m0oPo0Z0
4
Stockfish—LCZero after 49. Rc5Xa5 0ZPZPZ0Z
3
O0M0APZ0
Pair Current Pair 2
0O0L0ZPO
Engine
score score wins 1
S0M0JBZR
LCZero 1 (+1 =0 -1) 4 (+2) 0 a b c d e f g h
Stockfish 1 (+1 =0 -1) 6 (+4) 2 LCZero—Stockfish after 11… b7– b6
Pair result Reverse kill
Game links: Leela expanded on the kingside and Stockfish
h cec che c d f ga e ea 23 hit back with 14… h5—always associated with the
great King’s Indian player Gligorić—to avoid get-
ting completely squeezed on the kingside.
Games 11–12 Sämisch King’s Indian (E83)
Book moves (Jeroen): 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3
Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f3 O-O 6. Be3 Nc6 7. Nge2 a6 8
8. Qd2 e5
rZ0l0skZ
7
8
ZnZbZpa0
rZbl0skZ 6
po0o0mpZ
7
Zpo0Zpap 5
Z0oPo0Zp
6
pZno0mpZ 4
0OPZPZPZ
5
Z0Z0o0Z0 3
O0MNAPZ0
4
0ZPOPZ0Z 2
0Z0L0Z0O
3
Z0M0APZ0 1
S0Z0JBZR
2
PO0LNZPO a b c d e f g h
1
S0Z0JBZR LCZero—Stockfish after 14… h7– h5
a b c d e f g h
Book exit
An old-fashioned strategical King’s Indian up Leela aimed for a pawn sacrifice full of optim-
next—normally a good opening for Leela! ism,
9
8 8
rZ0lbskZ rZbl0skZ
7 7
Z0Z0Z0Zn ZpZnZpZp
6 6
0Z0o0ZpZ pZ0o0apZ
5 5
o0oPo0Zp m0oPo0A0
4 4
0ZPZPZ0a 0ZPZPZ0Z
3 3
O0M0APZB Z0M0ZPZ0
2 2
0Z0L0Z0O PO0L0ZPO
1 1
S0Z0Z0SK ZRM0JBZR
LCZero—Stockfish after 23. Bf1– h3 Stockfish—LCZero after 14… Bg7– f6
It was all a big joke! After throwing in a few

Bg5–h6 repetitions, Stockfish put the bishop back
but a move later, gloom started to set in as Leela to e3 and carried on playing! Doh!
spotted the precise tactics Stockfish was envisaging
to neutralise White’s initiative. 8
rZbZ0skZ
7
Z0ZnZ0ap
6
po0o0Z0Z
5
8
rZ0lbZ0j m0oPopZ0
4
7
Z0Z0Z0ZB 0ZPZ0Z0l
3
6
0Z0o0Z0Z OPM0APZ0
2
5
o0oPo0ap 0Z0LBZPO
1
4
0ZPZPZ0Z ZRM0ZRJ0
a b c d e f g h
3
O0M0s0Z0 Stockfish—LCZero after 20. b2– b3
2
0Z0L0Z0O
1
S0Z0Z0SK Again it felt very old-fashioned, like a 1950s
a b c d e f g h King’s Indian tussle between Petrosian and Glig-
LCZero—Stockfish after 26… Bh4– g5 orić!
8
0sbZ0skZ
7
Z0Z0Z0ap
Stockfish held the draw without any problems. 6
Time for the reverse…
po0o0m0l
5
m0oPo0Z0
4
PZPZ0o0Z
3
ZPM0ZPZ0
2
Stockfish—LCZero 0.5–0.5
0ZBL0APO
1
ZRM0ZRJ0
a b c d e f g h
… and Leela chose the same plan with Black as Stockfish—LCZero after 24… Nd7– f6
Stockfish! Stockfish seemed to play for the ex-
change of the dark-squared bishops, which wasn’t Stockfish didn’t really get anywhere, though it
on my bucket list for these structures. looked dangerous to the human eye! A big passed
10
8
d-pawn surged through the board, but Black had it rZbZkZns
firmly barricaded. 7
opZpopap
6
8
0ZRs0Z0Z 0lnZ0ZpZ
5
7
ZrZPZnj0 ZBo0Z0Z0
4
6
pM0Z0apZ 0Z0ZPZ0Z
3
5
Z0Z0o0Z0 Z0O0ZNZ0
2
4
0Z0Z0o0Z PO0O0OPO
1
3
Z0Z0ZPZ0 SNAQZRJ0
a b c d e f g h
2
0Z0Z0APO Book exit
1
Z0ZRZ0ZK We started off with a normal-looking Rossolimo
a b c d e f g h
Stockfish—LCZero after 43. Rc1– c8 with a very bad evaluation: 0.58 by Leela, 1.64 by
Stockfish!
In the end, Leela was able to surround the ad-
vanced d-pawn and destroy it, LCZero—Stockfish 1–0
8
0Z0Z0Z0Z The game seemed to be proceeding fairly normally
7
Z0sPanZ0 until Stockfish panicked after Leela’s 24. Qb4.
6
0Z0ZkZpZ 8
5
Z0A0o0Z0 rZrZ0Z0Z
7
4
0Z0ZNZ0Z Z0ZpZ0ak
6
3
Z0ZRZPO0 bZ0ZplpZ
5
2
0Z0Z0ZKZ Z0ZpZ0Zp
4
1
Z0Z0Z0Z0 pL0O0A0O
3
a b c d e f g h ZPZ0ZNO0
2
Stockfish—LCZero after 56… Rc6– c7 PZ0Z0O0Z
1
S0Z0S0J0
securing a solid drawn game pair. a b c d e f g h
LCZero—Stockfish after 24. Qd2– b4
Pair Current Pair
Engine
score score wins Stockfish suddenly went for an opposite-
LCZero 1 (+0 =2 -0) 5 (+2) 0 coloured bishop position that it hated!
Stockfish 1 (+0 =2 -0) 7 (+4) 2 8
0Z0Z0ZkZ
Pair result Double draw 7
Z0ZpZrZ0
6
rZ0ZpZpL
Game links: 5
O0ZpZqZp
4
h cec che c d f ga e 12 ea 23 0ZbO0A0O
3
S0Z0ZPO0
2
Games 13–14 Sicilian Rossolimo (B31) PZ0Z0Z0Z
1
S0Z0Z0J0
Book moves (Matthew): 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 a b c d e f g h
3. Bb5 g6 4. O-O Bg7 5. c3 Qb6 LCZero—Stockfish after 34. a4– a5
11
8
This confused a well-known Internet personal- 0Z0Z0Z0s
ity:6 7
Z0Z0Z0JP
6
bj0o0Z0Z
5
Z0ZpZ0Z0
4
Sami Kiminki 0Z0o0Z0Z
3
@skiminki
Replying to @gmmds
O0Z0Z0Z0
2
0s0A0Z0Z
1
TBH, this game was a bit of alien chess to Z0SRZ0Z0
a b c d e f g h
me. It’s not immediately obvious to me that
LCZero—Stockfish after 58. Kg6– g7
this is so much better for white and not
fading into an OCB draw… Although I’m
sure all of this is part of the standard GM Stockfish—LCZero 0.5–0.5
training program! Could Stockfish strike back? Quietly confident
doesn’t describe it! When Stockfish uncorked
Nov 2, 2022 30. Rh5, its evaluations were heading for the stars!
h e c a 158787657513 18 14
8
0ZbZ0Z0s
7
o0ZpZkZ0
Leela is excellent in superior opposite-coloured 6
bishop positions with major pieces (a feature of
0ZpZpZ0l
5
NNs in general as we saw with AlphaZero) and Z0ZrZ0ZR
4
used its control of the dark squares to invade with 0Z0O0Z0Z
3
its king. ZRZ0Z0M0
2
PZQZ0OPZ
1
Z0Z0Z0J0
a b c d e f g h
8
0ZbZ0Z0Z Stockfish—LCZero after 30. Re5– h5
7
Z0Z0s0Z0
6
PZko0ZpZ Leela is the queen of fortresses, however, and
5
Z0Zpo0J0 didn’t worry about sacrificing the queen
4
0ArO0ZPO 8
3
O0Z0S0Z0 0ZbZ0Z0Z
7
2
0Z0Z0Z0Z o0ZpZkZ0
6
1
Z0ZRZ0Z0 0ZpZpZ0Z
5
a b c d e f g h Z0Z0Z0Zr
4
LCZero—Stockfish after 49. f3Xg4 0Z0O0Z0Z
3
Z0Z0ZPZ0
2
The king was a total star and shepherded the h-
PZQZ0O0Z
1
pawn home for a Leela win!
Z0Z0Z0J0
a b c d e f g h
Stockfish—LCZero after 34… Rh8Xh5
6
Based on the Twitter replies, possibly not the only one
struggling to evaluate the position correctly. (Ed.) or even losing the bishop later!
12
8
0ZQZ0Z0Z Be2+Harry system against the Pirc!
7
Z0Zpj0Z0
6
0ZpZpZ0Z
5
o0ZrZ0Z0 LCZero—Stockfish 0.5–0.5
4
0Z0Z0Z0Z
3
Z0Z0ZPJ0 Leela went for the refined approach, putting a
2
PZ0Z0O0Z rook’s pawn on the 6th !
1
Z0Z0Z0Z0
a b c d e f g h
8
Stockfish—LCZero after 40… a7– a5 rZbl0skZ
7
The game was drawn in 229 moves giving Leela
opo0opap
6
(and me!) the first decisive game pair victory!
0Zno0mpO
5
Z0Z0Z0Z0
4
Pair Current Pair 0Z0OPZ0Z
Engine 3
score score wins Z0M0Z0Z0
2
LCZero 1.5 (+1 =1 -0) 6.5 (+3) 1 POPZBOPZ
1
Stockfish 0.5 (+0 =1 -1) 7.5 (+4) 2 S0AQJ0MR
a b c d e f g h
Pair result Decisive pair
Book score Matthew–Jeroen 1–2 LCZero—Stockfish after 7. h5– h6
Game links:
Leela won a centre pawn for the rook’s pawn and
reached a better endgame but achieved precisely
nothing against the obdurate Fish.
Games 15–16 Pirc (B07)
Book moves (Jeroen): 1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3
8
g6 4. Be2 Bg7 5. h4 O-O 6. h5 0s0Z0j0Z
7
8 Zpo0spZp
rmbl0skZ 6
pZ0Z0Zpm
7
opo0opap 5
Z0Z0Z0Z0
6
0Z0o0mpZ 4
PZ0SPZ0Z
5
Z0Z0Z0ZP 3
Z0S0Z0Z0
4
0Z0OPZ0Z 2
0OPZBOPZ
3
Z0M0Z0Z0 1
Z0Z0ZKZ0
2
POPZBOPZ a b c d e f g h
1
S0AQJ0MR LCZero—Stockfish after 24… Ng4Xh6
a b c d e f g h
Book exit
The next opening was Jeroen’s and featured Stockfish—LCZero 1–0

a GM Simon Williams7 / IM Richard Palliser8
7
h e c g ge g The reverse was a bit more gung-ho, as Stockfish
8
h e c cha d a e opened the h-file and soon won the exchange.
13
8
rZbl0Z0Z Engine
Pair Current Pair
7
opo0okap score score wins
6
0Z0o0ZpZ LCZero 0.5 (+0 =1 -1) 7 (+3) 1
5
Z0Z0Z0Z0 Stockfish 1.5 (+1 =1 -0) 9 (+5) 3
4
0Z0ZPAnZ Pair result Decisive pair
3
Z0Z0ZNZ0 Book score Matthew–Jeroen 1–3
2
POPZ0OPZ Game links:
1
S0ZQJ0ZR h cec che c d f ga e 15 ea 23
a b c d e f g h h cec che c d f ga e 16 ea 23
Stockfish—LCZero after 14. Bg5Xf4
Games 17–18 King’s Indian (E76/E77)

It didn’t look so bad at one stage, but an extra
pawn sacrifice Book moves (Matthew): 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3
Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f4 c5 6. d5 O-O 7. Be2 e6 8. dXe6
fXe6 9. g4
8
rZbZ0Z0Z
7
opo0oka0 8
rmbl0skZ
6
0Z0o0Zpo 7
opZ0Z0ap
5
Z0Z0O0Z0 6
0Z0opmpZ
4
0ZqZ0ZnZ 5
Z0o0Z0Z0
3
Z0Z0ZNA0 4
0ZPZPOPZ
2
POPL0OPZ 3
Z0M0Z0Z0
1
S0Z0ZRJ0 2
PO0ZBZ0O
a b c d e f g h 1
S0AQJ0MR
Stockfish—LCZero after 19. e4– e5 a b c d e f g h
Book exit
and penetration to the 8th rank

A kamikaze anti-KID next for the engines!
8
rZbL0Z0Z LCZero—Stockfish 0–1
7
opo0oka0
6
0Z0Z0Zpo I tried a couple of these in this SuperFinal. They
5
Z0Z0Z0Z0 were both anti-King’s Indian systems that I’d
4
0ZqZpZnZ thought up but never got to try out! I came across
3 them—and a few others—in Gawain Jones’ books
Z0Z0ZNA0 on the King’s Indian and thought they made ideal
2
POPZ0OPZ black-biased openings. Essentially, the best way—
1
S0Z0S0J0 in my opinion—to get a natural black-biased open-
a b c d e f g h
ing is to follow an opening where White’s concept
Stockfish—LCZero after 21. Qd2– d8
is tempting but wrong, and then exit at the crucial
moment where White either has to hit the brakes or
sealed Leela’s fate despite long resistance. keep on going regardless!
14
8
Whatever, Leela was not going to be thanking rZ0l0skZ
a certain GM for this book choice! Leela hit the 7
Z0ZnZ0a0
brakes with 10. Nh3, 6
bZ0opZpZ
5
Z0o0Z0O0
4
0Z0mPO0Z
3
8
rZbl0skZ Z0M0Z0ZQ
2
7
opZ0Z0ap PO0ZBZ0Z
1
6
0ZnopmpZ S0A0J0MR
a b c d e f g h
5
Z0o0Z0Z0 Stockfish—LCZero after 17. Qd3– h3
4
0ZPZPOPZ
3
Z0M0Z0ZN
2
PO0ZBZ0O
1
S0AQJ0ZR
a b c d e f g h What do you do when a dark-squared bishop is
LCZero—Stockfish after 10. Ng1– h3 raking along the h8-a1 diagonal, the a- and b-files
are open, the queen and rook are targeting a2, and
c- and d-pawns are ready to rush forwards? Castle
queenside!
but it just left White with weaknesses and no coun-
terplay to show for it! Stockfish did a clinical job
of dismantling White’s position.
8
qZ0Z0s0Z
7
8
rZ0Z0ZkZ Z0ZnZka0
6
7
Z0Z0l0ap rZ0Z0ZpZ
5
6
bZ0o0Z0Z Z0opZ0O0
4
5
ZNo0mro0 0Z0Z0O0Z
3
4
PZ0ZPZ0Z Z0M0L0Z0
2
3
Z0Z0A0Z0 PO0Z0Z0Z
1
2
0O0ZQM0O Z0JRZ0MR
a b c d e f g h
1
S0Z0ZRZK Stockfish—LCZero after 24. O-O-O
a b c d e f g h
LCZero—Stockfish after 21… Rf8Xf5
Amazingly this was the start of the equalisation

Stockfish—LCZero 0.5–0.5 process. Quite amazing that 24… d4 forking queen
and knight and opening the line of the queen against
Stockfish did kamikaze much better than Leela! the Rh1 didn’t win anything, but 25. Qd3—hitting
The White position was still full of holes, but at the rook on a6 in return—avoided immediate dis-
least Leela had to attend to its king too! aster.
15
8 8
qZ0Z0s0Z rmblkans
7 7
Z0ZnZka0 opopZ0op
6 6
rZ0Z0ZpZ 0Z0Z0Z0Z
5 5
Z0o0Z0O0 Z0Z0OpZ0
4 4
0Z0o0O0Z 0ZBZ0o0Z
3 3
Z0MQZ0Z0 Z0Z0Z0Z0
2 2
PO0Z0Z0Z POPO0ZPO
1 1
Z0JRZ0MR SNAQJ0MR
Stockfish—LCZero after 25. Qe3– d3 Book exit
Anyone for a King’s Gambit?

Leela tried to clear defensive pieces from the
black king, but all it did was lead to a series of ex-
changes and a draw a few moves later. LCZero—Stockfish 0.5–0.5
The game was quite wild, Leela playing on both

8
0Z0Z0Z0Z sides of the board with an open king,
7
Z0Z0Zrj0
8
6
0Z0s0ZpZ 0Zks0Zns
7
5
Z0o0Z0Z0 obopa0op
6
4
0ZQo0Z0Z 0onZ0Z0Z
5
3
Z0Z0ZqZ0 Z0ZBOpAq
4
2
PO0Z0Z0Z PZ0O0Z0O
3
1
Z0JRZ0ZR Z0M0ZNZ0
2
a b c d e f g h
0OPZ0J0Z
1
Stockfish—LCZero after 31… Kg8Xg7 S0ZQZ0ZR
a b c d e f g h
LCZero—Stockfish after 14. a2– a4
Pair Current Pair
Engine
score score wins
and Stockfish leaving pawn weaknesses as it
LCZero 0.5 (+0 =1 -1) 7.5 (+3) 1 struggled to break free of the bind Leela imposed.
Stockfish 1.5 (+1 =1 -0) 10.5 (+6) 4
Pair result Decisive pair 8
0Z0s0m0s
Book score Matthew–Jeroen 2–3 7
okopZ0Z0
Game links: 6
0o0Z0Z0o
h cec che c d f ga e 17 ea 23 5
m0Z0OpZ0
4
PZqO0Z0Z
3
Z0ONZ0Z0
2
Games 19–20 King’s Gambit (C33) 0ZPAQJ0Z
1
Z0Z0Z0SR
Book moves (Jeroen): 1. e4 e5 2. f4 eXf4 3. Bc4 f5 a b c d e f g h
4. e5 LCZero—Stockfish after 26… Ng6– f8
16
Eventually, Leela reached the safe harbour that is Stockfish, too, managed to reach the blessed state
the dream of every King’s Gambit player: a worse of a slightly worse endgame and held!
but holdable ending!
8
0Z0Z0Z0Z
8
0Z0Z0Z0Z 7
okZpZ0Z0
7
o0ZpZ0Z0 6
0o0Z0Z0Z
6
ko0Z0s0Z 5
Z0ZNZ0Z0
5
m0Z0Z0Z0 4
nZ0J0Z0Z
4
0Z0S0ZNZ 3
Z0O0Z0Z0
3
Z0OPZ0Z0 2
0ZPZ0Z0Z
2
0Z0ZKZ0Z 1
Z0Z0Z0Z0
1
Z0Z0Z0Z0 a b c d e f g h
a b c d e f g h Stockfish—LCZero after 41… Nb2Xa4
LCZero—Stockfish after 46. Nh6– g4
Pair Current Pair
Engine
Stockfish—LCZero 0.5–0.5 score score wins
LCZero 1 (+0 =2 -0) 8.5 (+3) 1
The reverse was very similar: space gaining from
Stockfish 1 (+0 =2 -0) 11.5 (+6) 4
Stockfish as White,
8
0Zks0Zns Book score Matthew–Jeroen 2–3
7
obopa0o0 Game links:
6
0onZ0Z0o h cec che c d f ga e 1 ea 23
Z0ZBOpZq
4
PZ0O0A0O
3
Z0M0ZNZ0 Games 21–22 Trompovsky (A45)
2
0OPZ0J0Z Book moves (Matthew): 1. d4 Nf6 2. Bg5 Ne4
1
S0ZQZ0ZR 3. Bf4 g5
a b c d e f g h
8
Stockfish—LCZero after 15. Bg5– f4 rmblka0s
7
opopopZp
and Leela leaving behind loose pawns on the king- 6
side in the struggle to break free.
0Z0Z0Z0Z
5
Z0Z0Z0o0
4
8
0Z0s0Z0s 0Z0OnA0Z
3
7
okZpZ0Z0 Z0Z0Z0Z0
2
6
0opZ0Zqo POPZPOPO
1
5
Z0Z0OpZ0 SNZQJBMR
4 a b c d e f g h
PMnO0L0Z
3 Book exit
Z0O0Z0Z0
2
0ZPZ0J0Z Next up: A Tromp! One of those opening
1
Z0Z0S0ZR exits where despite the Basman-like 3… g5, Leela’s
a b c d e f g h evaluation was quite modest… but I thought there
Stockfish—LCZero after 26… Qe8Xg6 was more in it!
17
One Grob fan was definitely sold! However, Stockfish summoned its inner horse
and got that g7-knight moving.
Martyn Hamer
@MerryHatMan
Replying to @gmmds
8
0ZkZ0Z0s
I think I’ve just got a new weapon against 7
opm0ZpZ0
the Tromp 6
0ZbZpZ0Z
5
Nov 3, 2022
Z0lpO0Z0
4
h e c e a a a 0Z0Z0LPZ
15881 7722 47788 3
O0M0Z0Z0
2
0OPZ0Z0Z
LCZero—Stockfish 0.5–0.5 1
Z0JRZBZ0
a b c d e f g h
Fishy got a little nervous—maybe not too unex-
LCZero—Stockfish after 24… Ne8– c7
pectedly for me—and Leela got interested! Eleven
moves in, Leela’s evaluation was at 0.49 and Stock-
fish’s at 1.67!
In fact by move 45, the knight had made a jour-
8
rmblka0s ney totalling 11 moves: f6-e4-f6-h5-g7-e8-c7-a8-
7
opo0opm0 b6-a4-b6!
6
0Z0Z0Z0Z
5
Z0ZpO0Zp
4
0Z0O0ZPS 8
0Z0l0Z0Z
3
Z0M0ZPZ0 7
jpZrZ0Z0
2
POPZ0Z0Z 6
0m0Z0ZRZ
1
S0AQJBM0 5
o0Z0Z0Z0
a b c d e f g h 4
PZ0Z0Z0Z
LCZero—Stockfish after 11. Rh1Xh4 3
ZPZPL0Z0
We got something that looked like an Advance 2
0Z0Z0Z0Z
Caro-Kann now with a mysteriously bad knight on 1
ZKM0Z0Z0
g7! It even had something of Magnus Carlsen’s Rat a b c d e f g h
(1. e4 g6 2. d4 Nf6 3. e5 Nh5). LCZero—Stockfish after 45… Rd4– d7
8
rZblkZ0s
7
opZ0apm0
6 A mere extra pawn was not enough, and Stock-
0ZnZpZ0Z fish secured the draw.
5
Z0opO0Zp
4
0Z0O0ZPZ
3
Z0M0APZ0
2
POPLNZ0S Stockfish—LCZero 0.5–0.5
1
S0Z0JBZ0
a b c d e f g h The reverse was also very interesting: Leela just
LCZero—Stockfish after 15. Qd1– d2 offered the g5-pawn, Basman-style!
18
8
rmblkZ0s and Black’s position deployed harmoniously with
7
opo0opap …Qa5, …Ndc5, and …b5!
6
0Z0m0Z0Z 8
rZbZkZ0s
5
Z0ZpZ0A0 7
o0Z0opa0
4
0Z0O0Z0Z 6
0ZpZnZ0o
3
Z0M0ZPZ0 5
lpm0Z0Z0
2
POPZPZPO 4
0Z0ZPA0Z
1
S0ZQJBMR 3
O0M0ZPZN
a b c d e f g h
2
Stockfish—LCZero after 7. Bc1Xg5 0OPL0ZPO
1
Z0JRZBZR
a b c d e f g h
The black king’s knight was once again put
through its paces: g8-f6-e4-d6-f5-d4-e6 in the first Stockfish—LCZero after 15… b7– b5
10 moves!
Leela continued to throw caution to the winds
8 with a second pawn sacrifice!
rmblkZ0s
7
opo0opa0 8
rZbZkZ0s
6
0Z0ZnZ0o 7
Z0Z0opa0
5
Z0ZpZ0Z0 6
0lpZnZ0o
4
0Z0Z0A0Z 5
o0m0Z0Z0
3
Z0M0ZPZ0 4
0o0ZPM0Z
2
POPLPZPO 3
O0Z0APZ0
1
Z0JRZBMR 2
NOPL0ZPO
a b c d e f g h
1
Stockfish—LCZero after 10… Nd4– e6
Z0JRZBZR
a b c d e f g h
Stockfish—LCZero after 18… b5– b4
The position on move 11 looked impressive for
White with an extra pawn to boot, Stockfish’s evaluation was varying wildly. It
clearly liked taking pawns, but Black’s counterplay
8
rZblkZ0s was also quite worrying. Leela’s evaluation was
7
oponopa0 smooth and serene, filling the hearts of Leela fans
6
0Z0ZnZ0o with tranquil joy.
5
Z0ZNZ0Z0 8
4
0Z0Z0A0Z 0ZbZ0skZ
7
3
Z0Z0ZPZ0 Z0Z0opa0
6
2
POPLPZPO 0ApZ0Z0o
5
1
Z0JRZBMR Z0Z0l0Z0
4
a b c d e f g h 0LBZPm0Z
3
Stockfish—LCZero after 11… Nb8– d7 Z0Z0ZPZ0
2
0OPZ0ZPO
but Black’s umbrella—a term coined by the creat- 1
sNJRZ0ZR
ive Canadian GM Duncan Suttles—was still to un- a b c d e f g h
fold! The white knight was driven back with …c6, Stockfish—LCZero after 25… Qc7– e5
19
The tactics continued, and 27… Ra4!! was a LCZero—Stockfish 0.5–0.5

lovely intermediate move
Stockfish at once offered Leela the chance to con-
8
0ZbZ0skZ vert its dynamic advantage into a static one and
7
Z0Z0opa0 Leela typically accepted it!
6
0ApZnZ0o
5
Z0Z0l0Z0
8
4
rLBZPO0Z rZbZkZ0s
7
3
Z0Z0Z0O0 Z0Z0apop
6
2
0OPZ0Z0O pZplpZ0Z
5
1
ZNJRZ0ZR Z0ZnZ0Z0
a b c d e f g h 4
0Z0Z0Z0Z
Stockfish—LCZero after 27… Ra1– a4 3
Z0M0AQZ0
2
after which Leela held a comfortable draw after a POPZ0OPO
1
zany Basman-style opening! Z0JRZBZR
a b c d e f g h
Pair Current Pair LCZero—Stockfish after 11… Qd8Xd6
Engine
score score wins
LCZero 1 (+0 =2 -0) 9.5 (+3) 1
Stockfish 1 (+0 =2 -0) 12.5 (+6) 4 A long endgame with weak pawns for Black en-
sued in which Leela was very optimistic
Game links: 8
0Z0s0ZkZ
7
h cec che c d f ga e 22 ea 23 Z0Z0a0op
6
rZ0ZpZ0Z
5
Games 23–24 Scheveningen Sicilian (B80) o0onApZ0
4
PZNZ0Z0Z
Book moves (Jeroen): 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 3
Z0Z0Z0O0
cXd4 4. NXd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Be3 Be7 7. Qf3 2
0OPZ0OPZ
a6 8. O-O-O 1
8
Z0JRZ0ZR
rmblkZ0s a b c d e f g h
7
ZpZ0apop LCZero—Stockfish after 21. Nd2– c4
6
pZ0opm0Z
5
Z0Z0Z0Z0 but made very little progress.
4
0Z0MPZ0Z
3
Z0M0AQZ0
2
POPZ0OPO Stockfish—LCZero 1–0
1
Z0JRZBZR
a b c d e f g h
The reverse was not likely to be good for Leela and,
Book exit
indeed, turned out that way! Stockfish built up a +2
A ropey Scheveningen next from Jeroen! advantage quickly
20
8
0ZrakZ0s LCZero—Stockfish 0.5–0.5
7
Z0Z0Zpop
6
0ZqobZ0Z Many years ago, I found a pamphlet by the Amer-
5
Z0mNo0OP ican IM John Watson about the Panno system
4
0oBZPZ0Z (…Nc6) against the Sämisch in the then excellent
3
ZPZ0AQZ0 chess section of the London Foyles bookstore. It’s
2
0ZPZ0O0Z now lost somewhere in my parents’ attic, but I still
1 vividly remember the content.
Z0JRZ0ZR
a b c d e f g h
The amazing thing about this little book was the
Stockfish—LCZero after 22. h4– h5
number of possible move orders for Black that Wat-
and coasted to a win! son considered from the 7th move onwards. The
normal 7… a6 and 8… Rb8 was of course con-
sidered, but there was so much more!
Pair Current Pair
Engine
score score wins 7… a6 and 8… Bd7 (much loved by English
LCZero 0.5 (+0 =1 -1) 10 (+3) 1 King’s Indian players like Nunn, Watson, and Pig-
Stockfish 1.5 (+1 =1 -0) 14 (+7) 5 ott) was covered as well as 7… Re8 and this game’s
Pair result Decisive pair 7… Rb8 8. Qd2 Re8.
The gorgeous thing about analysing these lines
Game links: with an engine is that you see that these unusual
h cec che c d f ga e 23 ea 23 move orders are not much worse than the main lines
known for 40–50 years. In fact… they are not worse
at all!
Games 25–26 Sämisch King’s Indian (E81) This line has become kind of a theme for me
Book moves (Matthew): 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 in the SuFi book. Season 21 featured 7… a6 and
Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f3 O-O 6. Bg5 Nc6 7. Nge2 Rb8 8… Bd7 and turned out pretty spectacular (1.5–0.5
8. Qd2 Re8 to Stockfish).9 Season 22 featured 7… a6 and
8… Re8 and ended in 2 draws though Stockfish
8
0sblrZkZ came very close to winning.10
7
opo0opap This Season, we got the most exotic yet:
6
0Zno0mpZ 7… Rb8 and 8… Re8. Leela castled queenside but
5
Z0Z0Z0A0 on the 15th move, instead of attacking with 15. g4
4
0ZPOPZ0Z (which was my analysis for the white side), chose
3
Z0M0ZPZ0 to swap queens with 15. e5.
2
PO0LNZPO
1
S0Z0JBZR
a b c d e f g h
Book exit
9
h cec che c d f ga e 65
ea 21 and h cec che c d f ga e
66 ea 21
The next 6. Bg5 King’s Indian Sämisch was one 10
of my self-indulgences, as it brings back all sorts of ea 22 and h cec che c d f ga e
childhood memories. 78 ea 22
21
8 8
0sblrZ0Z 0s0Z0Zrj
7 7
Z0o0opj0 o0Z0l0Z0
6 6
0Z0o0mpZ 0Z0o0o0Z
5 5
mpZ0O0Zp m0Z0o0mP
4 4
0Z0O0Z0O 0o0OPZbZ
3 3
ZPM0ZPZ0 ZPZBL0Z0
2 2
PZ0LNZPZ PM0ZNZ0Z
1 1
Z0JRZBZR ZKS0Z0ZR
LCZero—Stockfish after 15. e4– e5 Stockfish—LCZero after 28… f7– f6
The resulting position was pleasant for White Stockfish switched to a positional approach, and
due to Black’s weak pawns and dark squares, but it looked disgusting for Black to me,
it was never going to seriously trouble Stock-
8
fish…and it didn’t! 0Z0Z0s0j
7
ZqZ0Z0Z0
6
0Z0o0o0Z
Stockfish—LCZero 0.5–0.5 5
o0ZPo0mP
4
Stockfish’s game as White was much more excit- 0oNZPZbZ
3
ing! Stockfish sacrificed two pawns on the kingside ZPZ0L0M0
2
with 19. Ng3. PZ0Z0Z0Z
1
ZKZ0ZRZ0
a b c d e f g h
8
0s0lrZ0Z Stockfish—LCZero after 35. Nb2– c4
7
o0ZbZpj0
6 but Leela’s queenside counterplay with 35… a4
0Z0opmpZ
5
m0Z0Z0Z0 seemed to do the biz.
4
0o0OPZpO
8
3
ZPZ0ZPM0 0Z0Z0s0j
7
2
PM0L0Z0Z Z0ZbZ0Z0
6
1
ZKZRZBZR 0Z0o0o0Z
5
a b c d e f g h
l0ZPo0mP
4
Stockfish—LCZero after 19. Ne2– g3 Po0ZPZ0Z
3
Z0Z0L0M0
2
Leela’s defence was to give up the g-pawn in PM0Z0Z0Z
1
front of its king (20… g5 21. QXg5+ with check!) ZKS0Z0Z0
a b c d e f g h
to keep the h-file closed. Stockfish’s evaluation
continued to rise (up to 1.45), and it looked as if Stockfish—LCZero after 38… Qa6– a5
Leela might be outplayed. But Leela’s defensive
structure ...e5 and ...f6 seemed to dampen Stock- The game ended peaceably with both kings too
fish’s enthusiasm and restore Leela’s calm. open for any side to be able to attempt anything.
22
Pair Current Pair grim to be honest! (Though he won some fine vic-
Engine
score score wins tories too.) The engines prefer 7… d6.
LCZero 1 (+0 =2 -0) 11 (+3) 1 Stockfish sacrificed its queenside to get castled,
Stockfish 1 (+0 =2 -0) 15 (+7) 5
8
Game links: 0Z0l0skZ
7
h cec che c d f ga e 25 ea 23 Z0Z0apop
6
h cec che c d f ga e 26 ea 23 0Z0onm0Z
5
ZNZbZ0Z0
4
Games 27–28 St. George (B00) 0ZNZ0Z0Z
3
Book moves (Jeroen): 1. e4 a6 2. d4 b5 3. Nf3 Bb7
Z0O0Z0Z0
2
4. Bd3 0OBZQOPO
1
8
Z0A0S0J0
rm0lkans a b c d e f g h
7
Zbopopop LCZero—Stockfish after 18. Na3Xc4
6
pZ0Z0Z0Z
5
ZpZ0Z0Z0
4
0Z0OPZ0Z and it looked like a clear pawn for zero compens-
3
Z0ZBZNZ0 ation to me! However, Stockfish did pretty well as
2
POPZ0OPO always to steer the position to one where the extra
1
SNAQJ0ZR pawn no longer mattered!
a b c d e f g h
Book exit
The next opening was my colleague Jeroen’s 8

0Z0Z0Z0j
tribute to Basman with a St. George! 7
Z0Z0Z0Zp
6
0Zbl0apZ
Z0ZpZ0Z0
8 4
rm0lka0s 0Z0Z0ZQZ
7 3
ZbZpZpop Z0O0Z0Z0
6 2
pZ0Zpm0Z 0Z0Z0OPO
5 1
Zpo0Z0Z0 sBA0S0J0
4 a b c d e f g h
0Z0OPZ0Z
3 LCZero—Stockfish after 31… Ra2– a1
Z0OBZNZ0
2
PO0Z0OPO
1
SNAQS0J0
a b c d e f g h
LCZero—Stockfish after 7. Rf1– e1
Mike tried many things: 7… Qb6, 7… h6, and The reverse deviated when Stockfish took on c5 on
7… Be7 in this position, but it was generally a bit move 7,
23
8 8
rm0lka0s 0Z0Z0ZkZ
7 7
ZbZpZpop ZbZpZ0o0
6 6
pZ0Zpm0Z 0Z0ZpZ0Z
5 5
ZpO0Z0Z0 ZPl0Z0o0
4 4
0Z0ZPZ0Z 0ZPZ0Z0s
3 3
Z0OBZNZ0 Z0ZQZPZP
2 2
PO0Z0OPO RZ0ZBMPa
1 1
SNAQZRJ0 Z0Z0ZKZ0
Stockfish—LCZero after 7. d4Xc5 Stockfish—LCZero after 41. Qb3– d3
both engines foreseeing an alternative method of It means that in two SuperFinals, Basman’s
Black being a pawn down! openings have led to four draws! Games 17–18 was
8 the thrilling game pair in the Season 21 SuperFi-
bZ0Z0skZ nal!11
7
a0lpZpop
6
0ZnZpZ0Z Engine
Pair Current Pair
5
ZBZnO0Z0 score score wins
4
0Z0Z0Z0Z LCZero 1 (+0 =2 -0) 12 (+3) 1
3
Z0O0ZNZ0 Stockfish 1 (+0 =2 -0) 16 (+7) 5
2
0O0M0OPO Pair result Double draw
1
Z0AQS0J0 Book score Matthew–Jeroen 2–4
a b c d e f g h
Game links:
Stockfish—LCZero after 14… O-O h cec che c d f ga e 27 ea 23
I’m pretty sure that Basman would have ap-
proved of Leela’s treatment of the St. George, as
those lurking bishops in the corner definitely had Games 29–30 Ginger Palliser Gambit (B00)
potential! Book moves (Matthew): 1. e4 Nc6 2. b4
8
0Z0Z0ZkZ 8
rZblkans
7
abZpZno0 7
opopopop
6
0l0ZpZ0o 6
0ZnZ0Z0Z
5
Z0Z0Z0Z0 5
Z0Z0Z0Z0
4
0O0Z0s0Z 4
0O0ZPZ0Z
3
Z0OBZNZP 3
Z0Z0Z0Z0
2
0Z0ZROPM 2
PZPO0OPO
1
Z0Z0L0J0 1
SNAQJBMR
a b c d e f g h
a b c d e f g h
Stockfish—LCZero after 27… Nd8– f7
Book exit
All the activity and open diagonals for the pawn 11
gave Leela more than enough to easily hold the ea 21 and h cec che c d f ga e
draw! 18 ea 21
24
This line was the brainchild of GM Williams and feeling that this waste of time is not optimal!
IM Palliser in their excellent Grandmaster Gambits Stockfish settled into defending the resulting posi-
book12 . tion and did the normal good stuff to hold—Leela
in particular struggled to find any plan to complete
LCZero—Stockfish 0.5–0.5 its queenside development. In particular, the
sequence 20… Bh6 21. Nb3
I’m proposing to call it the Ginger Palliser Gambit!
How much is a clear extra b-pawn worth? Leela 8
rZ0s0Z0Z
seemed to think not so much! Oddly after a series 7
opZ0ZpZk
of exchanges (normally better for the side with the 6
0ZpZ0lpa
extra pawn), Leela was already making other plans 5
for the evening!
O0Z0o0Zp
4
0ZPZPmbZ
3
8
rZ0Z0skZ ZNZ0A0Z0
2
7
ZpoqZpop 0ZQZ0OPO
1
6
0ZnZ0Z0Z S0Z0SBJ0
5 a b c d e f g h
o0ZpObZ0
4 Stockfish—LCZero after 21. Nd2– b3
0Z0O0O0Z
3
ZQZ0ZNZP and now 21… Bc8 was quite striking!
2
PZNZ0ZPZ In the end, Leela didn’t really manage to do any-
1
Z0S0ZRJ0 thing with its pieces, and when exchanges started
a b c d e f g h to arrive, a draw was inevitable!
LCZero—Stockfish after 17. Na3– c2
8
rZbZ0Z0Z
7
Stockfish—LCZero 0.5–0.5 o0Z0Zpj0
6
Leela made a better go of the reverse, and Stock-
0ZpSnlpZ
5
fish’s play can only be characterised as very odd! o0O0L0Z0
4
0ZBZPZ0Z
8 3
rZbZ0skZ Z0Z0ZNZ0
7 2
opZ0Zpap 0Z0Z0OKO
6 1
0ZpZ0lpZ Z0Z0Z0Z0
5 a b c d e f g h
Z0Z0o0Zn
4 Stockfish—LCZero after 34. Qc3Xe5
PZ0ZPZ0Z
3
Z0O0Z0Z0
2 Pair Current Pair
0ZQZ0OPO Engine
score score wins
1
SNARZBJ0 LCZero 1 (+0 =2 -0) 13 (+3) 1
a b c d e f g h
Stockfish 1 (+0 =2 -0) 17 (+7) 5
Stockfish—LCZero after 15. a2– a4
5. Bd3—11. Bc4—13. Bb5+—14. Bf1 was Book score Matthew–Jeroen 2–4
one particularly strange episode—you can’t help Game links:
12
Palliser, Richard and Williams, Simon. Grandmaster h cec che c d f ga e 2 ea 23
Gambits: 1 e4. Everyman Chess, 2021. h cec che c d f ga e 3 ea 23
25
Games 31–32 Dutch (A80) LCZero—Stockfish 0.5–0.5
Book moves (Jeroen): 1. d4 f5 2. Bf4 Nf6 3. e3 g6

To human eyes, it started off badly and got worse:
4. h4 h6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Qf3 Bg7
after 11 moves, Black had spent two moves defend-
ing g6 (7… Kf7, 8… Qe8) and two moves with its
8
rmblkZ0s king (7… Kf7, 10… Kf8).
7
opo0o0a0
6
0Z0o0mpo
5
Z0Z0ZpZ0 8
4
0Z0O0A0O rZbZqj0s
7
3
Z0M0OQZ0 opo0o0a0
6
2
POPZ0OPZ 0Zno0mpo
5
1
S0Z0JBMR Z0Z0ZpZ0
4
a b c d e f g h 0ZBO0A0O
3
Book exit Z0M0O0LN
2
POPZ0OPZ
1
After a night’s sleep and a rather sedately Z0JRS0Z0
middle-aged parkrun , it was time to review the a b c d e f g h
night’s action! Despite plenty of interesting games, LCZero—Stockfish after 11. Rh1– e1
we’ve hit a run of draws, so surely a dodgy Dutch
worthy of @ChessProblem himself would solve it?
Bizarrely enough, Stockfish’s evaluation contin-
8
rmbl0Z0s ued to fall, and when Leela achieved the e4-break,
7 it was barely enough to elicit a weary shrug of the
opo0oka0
6 elegant Fish’s shoulders.
0Z0o0mpo
5
Z0Z0ZpZ0
4
0Z0O0A0O
3
Z0M0O0L0 8
rZbZ0Zks
2
POPZ0OPZ 7
opo0oqa0
1
S0Z0JBMR 6
0Z0o0mpo
a b c d e f g h 5
m0Z0ZpZ0
LCZero—Stockfish after 7… Ke8– f7 4
0Z0OPA0O
3
Z0M0ZBLN
2
MrDodgy is plotting POPZ0OPZ
1
@ChessProblem Z0JRS0Z0
Replying to @gmmds a b c d e f g h
LCZero—Stockfish after 14. e3– e4
still theory
Nov 5, 2022
h e c he be a To my eyes, Stockfish was being forced into more
158886783545 44 641 and more concessions to keep afloat,
26
8
rZbZ0ZkZ Stockfish—LCZero 0.5–0.5
7
opo0oqar
6
0Z0o0Z0o So it was time for the reverse. Stockfish achieved
5
Z0Z0Z0Zp e4 even quicker and seemed mighty pleased with
4 itself. It was Leela’s turn to yawn and recall the
0ZnONM0O words of David Janowski: “He plays like such an
3
Z0Z0Z0L0 idiot, I cannot concentrate!”
2
POPA0OPZ
1
Z0JRS0Z0
a b c d e f g h
8
LCZero—Stockfish after 18… Rh8– h7 rZbl0Z0s
7
Zpo0Zka0
6
but somehow Leela had got as far as it could, and pZnopmpo
5
there was no clear way to make any progress. The Z0Z0ZpZ0
4
counter 22… Rf8 activated all of Black’s pieces. 0ZBOPA0O
3
Z0M0Z0LN
2
8
POPZ0OPZ
0Z0Z0skZ 1
Z0JRZ0ZR
7
opZ0oqar a b c d e f g h
6
0mpo0Z0o Stockfish—LCZero after 11. e3– e4
5
Z0Z0Z0Zp
4
0Z0O0MbO
3
Z0A0ZPL0 To this idiot, however, it looked mighty danger-
2 ous! Leela shimmied its king back to the kingside
POPZ0ZPZ but lost the h6-pawn on the way!
1
Z0JRSNZ0
a b c d e f g h
LCZero—Stockfish after 22… Ra8– f8
8
rZbl0skZ
7
To add insult to injury, the rubbish rook on h7 Zpo0Z0a0
6
turned out to be perfectly-placed to cover the 7th pZnopZpA
5
rank when the endgame started! Z0Z0Z0Zn
4
0ZBOpZ0O
3
8 Z0M0LPZN
0Z0Z0ZkZ 2
POPZ0ZPZ
7
opZ0S0Zr 1
Z0JRZ0ZR
6
0mpo0a0o a b c d e f g h
5
Z0Z0Z0Zp Stockfish—LCZero after 15. Bf4Xh6
4
0Z0O0sPO
3
Z0A0Z0Z0
2
POPZ0ZPZ A tactical flurry ensued, and when the smoke
1
Z0JRZNZ0 cleared, I couldn’t understand why Black’s king
a b c d e f g h simply wasn’t going to be toast in a couple of
LCZero—Stockfish after 25… Bg7– f6 moves!
27
8 8
rZbZqskZ rZbZ0skZ
7 7
Zpo0Z0a0 Zpo0Z0a0
6 6
pZ0opZpZ pZ0ZpZ0Z
5 5
Z0Z0Z0A0 Z0Z0Z0Z0
4 4
0ZBm0Z0O 0ZpZ0A0O
3 3
Z0ZQZ0ZN Z0O0Z0ZN
2 2
POPZ0ZPZ POKZ0ZPZ
1 1
Z0JRS0Z0 Z0ZRS0Z0
Stockfish—LCZero after 21. Qe2– d3 Stockfish—LCZero after 26. Bg5– f4
However, Leela had discovered a concrete plan but Leela resolutely aimed for the safe haven of
of counterattack—which it must have seen many opposite-coloured bishops and judged the exchange
moves before. The key point was that when White of rooks perfectly.
goes for the kingside,
8
0Z0Z0ZkZ
7
8
rZbZ0skZ Zpo0Z0Z0
6
7
Zpo0Z0a0 pZ0Z0Z0Z
5
6
pZ0ZpZQZ Z0Z0A0O0
4
5
Z0ZpZ0A0 0ZpZ0Z0Z
3
4
qZBm0Z0O Z0ObJ0Z0
2
3
Z0O0Z0ZN PO0Z0ZPZ
1
2
PO0Z0ZPZ Z0Z0SrZ0
a b c d e f g h
1
Z0JRS0Z0 Stockfish—LCZero after 34… Rf8– f1
a b c d e f g h
Stockfish—LCZero after 23. Qd3Xg6
Two exciting and somewhat surprising draws!
Leela could swap off the queens.
Pair Current Pair
Engine
score score wins
8
rZbZ0skZ LCZero 1 (+0 =2 -0) 14 (+3) 1
7
Zpo0Z0a0 Stockfish 1 (+0 =2 -0) 18 (+7) 5
6
pZ0ZpZQZ Pair result Double draw
5
Z0ZpZ0A0 Book score Matthew–Jeroen 2–4
4
0ZBm0Z0O Game links:
3
Z0O0Z0ZN h cec che c d f ga e 31 ea 23
2
POqZ0ZPZ h cec che c d f ga e 32 ea 23
1
Z0JRS0Z0
a b c d e f g h
Games 33–34 Trompovsky (A45)
Stockfish—LCZero after 23… Qa4– c2+
Book moves (Matthew): 1. d4 Nf6 2. Bg5 e6
The resulting positions still looked a bit tricky, 3. Nd2 h6 4. Bh4 c5 5. e4 cXd4
28
8 8
rmblka0s 0Zks0Z0s
7 7
opZpZpo0 obZpaNZ0
6 6
0Z0Zpm0o 0onZpZpZ
5 5
Z0Z0Z0Z0 Z0ZnO0Zp
4 4
0Z0oPZ0A 0Z0o0Z0Z
3 3
Z0Z0Z0Z0 O0ZBZ0A0
2 2
POPM0OPO 0OPM0OPZ
1 1
S0ZQJBMR Z0JRZ0ZR
Book exit LCZero—Stockfish after 18. Ng5– f7
The next opening was another one of my lower-
exit openings. I had some hopes for this one, Stockfish gave the exchange and then started ad-
though, as the Black positions looked very holey. vancing its kingside pawns.
8
LCZero—Stockfish 0.5–0.5 0Z0Z0s0Z
7
8 o0jpa0Z0
rmblka0s 6
0onZpZ0Z
7
opZpZpZ0 5
Z0Z0O0Z0
6
0Z0ZpZ0o 4
0Z0oBZpo
5
Z0ZnO0o0 3
O0Z0Z0On
4
0Z0o0Z0O 2
0OPS0O0A
3
Z0Z0Z0A0 1
Z0J0ZRZ0
2
POPM0OPZ a b c d e f g h
1
S0ZQJBMR LCZero—Stockfish after 27… g5– g4
a b c d e f g h
LCZero—Stockfish after 8. h2– h4 The counterplay came to a head, and Leela de-
Leela was very optimistic by move 15 (with eval- cided to clear pawns and pieces from the board
uation of 0.47), starting with 28. BXc6 and 30. RXd4.
8
rZ0Zka0s 8
0Z0Z0s0Z
7
obZpZpZ0 7
o0ZpZ0Z0
6
0onZpZqZ 6
0okZpZ0Z
5
Z0ZnO0Zp 5
Z0Z0O0Z0
4
0Z0oQZ0Z 4
0Z0S0Zpa
3
O0ZBZNA0 3
O0Z0Z0Zn
2
0OPM0OPZ 2
0OPZ0O0A
1
Z0JRZ0ZR 1
Z0J0ZRZ0
a b c d e f g h
a b c d e f g h
LCZero—Stockfish after 15. Bf1– d3
LCZero—Stockfish after 30. Rd2Xd4
but Stockfish was relaxed and on its next move
offered an exchange sacrifice, which didn’t seem After a series of tactics, we ended up in this end-
amazingly impressive to me at first glance. game, which Stockfish held easily.
29
8
0Z0Z0Z0Z The tactics started with 43. Bb5!!
7
Z0jpZ0Z0 8
6
0o0ZpZ0Z ks0Z0Z0Z
7
5
o0Z0a0Z0 Z0ZpZpZ0
6
4
0Z0Z0Z0Z pZrOqZ0Z
5
3
O0Z0Z0ZR ZBZ0m0Zp
4
2
0OPZ0Z0Z PZ0ZpS0Z
3
1
ZKZ0Z0Z0 APZ0ZbO0
2
a b c d e f g h KZ0L0O0Z
1
LCZero—Stockfish after 37… a7– a5 Z0S0Z0Z0
a b c d e f g h
Stockfish—LCZero after 43. Bf1– b5
In the reverse. If I was White, I would assume I had and 46. Rf5!! was the key point.
a big advantage—2 bishops, dark squares, weak 8
Black pawn on h5, slightly restricted black queen— 0s0Z0Z0Z
7
but the engines were not so impressed! ZkZpZpZ0
6
0Z0OqZ0Z
5
8
0jrZ0Z0s LpZ0mRZp
4
7
o0ZpZpl0 PZ0ZpZ0Z
3
6
0obOpZ0Z ZPZ0ZbO0
2
5
Z0ZnZ0Zp KZ0Z0O0Z
1
4
0Z0Z0Z0A Z0A0Z0Z0
a b c d e f g h
3
O0ZBZ0Z0 Stockfish—LCZero after 46. Rf4– f5
2
0OPZ0OPS
1
ZKZRL0Z0 46… QXf5 47. QXb5+ Kc8 48. Qc5+ Kb7
a b c d e f g h
49. Be3! and the knight on e5 can’t help Black de-
Stockfish—LCZero after 24… Rc7– c8 fend the queenside, as it is now pinned to the queen
on f5!
The game got messy… deeply messy… but also The position resolved to an opposite-coloured
engine 0.00 messy! bishop ending and another draw!
8 8
0j0ZrZ0Z 0ZkZ0Z0Z
7 7
o0ZpZpZ0 Z0ZpZ0Z0
6 6
0orOqZ0Z 0Z0OpZ0Z
5 5
Z0O0m0Zp ZPZ0Z0Ap
4 4
0Z0ZpS0Z 0Z0ZpZ0Z
3 3
OPZ0AbO0 J0Z0Z0O0
2 2
KZ0L0O0Z 0ZbZ0O0Z
1 1
Z0Z0SBZ0 Z0Z0Z0Z0
Stockfish—LCZero after 38. c4– c5 Stockfish—LCZero after 52. Bc1– g5
30
8
Engine
Pair Current Pair rZ0Zka0s
7
score score wins o0ZqZpo0
6
LCZero 1 (+0 =2 -0) 15 (+3) 1 0o0ZpZ0o
5
Stockfish 1 (+0 =2 -0) 19 (+7) 5 Z0mpOnZ0
4
Pair result Double draw 0ZPZ0ZQZ
Z0Z0ZNZ0
2
Game links: PO0ZNOPO
1
S0ARZ0J0
h cec che c d f ga e 34 ea 23 a b c d e f g h
LCZero—Stockfish after 15. c3– c4
and that was a sign for Stockfish’s evaluation to

drop! The game got pretty spicy as 20. h4 g5! hit,
Games 35–36 French Winawer (C16) and it was turning into an atypical slow French!
8
Book moves (Jeroen): 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 0ZrZka0s
7
Bb4 4. e5 Qd7 5. Qg4 Bf8 o0Z0ZpZ0
6
0o0ZpZ0Z
5
Z0ZqO0op
4
8
rmbZkans 0Z0MnL0O
3
7
opoqZpop Z0Z0Z0Z0
2
6
0Z0ZpZ0Z PO0Z0OPZ
1
5
Z0ZpO0Z0 S0ARZ0J0
a b c d e f g h
4
0Z0O0ZQZ LCZero—Stockfish after 20… g7– g5
3
Z0M0Z0Z0
2
POPZ0OPO Black’s manic activity continued!
1
S0A0JBMR 8
a b c d e f g h 0ZrZkZrZ
7
Book exit o0Z0ZpZ0
6
0o0ZpZ0Z
5
Zqa0O0Zp
4
A dodgy Winawer next! In the good old days, 0Z0ZnZ0Z
3
this was a fairly sure Leela win… not quite the Z0Z0ANZ0
same, though, nowadays! 2
PO0Z0OPL
1
S0ZRZ0J0
a b c d e f g h
LCZero—Stockfish after 26… Bb4– c5
LCZero—Stockfish 0.5–0.5 However, Leela played well and suddenly

Black’s position looked very risky, as White man-
After a period of manoeuvring, it started to get very aged to push the black pieces away from attacking
sharp, the white kingside.
31
8
0ZrZkZrZ The concept kept on getting weirder / more in-
7
o0Z0ZpZ0 teresting with 9. Qd1!?
6
0o0ZpZ0Z
5
Z0Z0O0ZQ 8
rZbZka0s
4
0Z0SnZ0Z 7
opoqZpop
3
Z0Z0A0Z0 6
0ZnZpZ0Z
2
PZqZ0OPZ 5
Z0ZpOnZ0
1
Z0Z0S0J0 4
0O0O0Z0Z
a b c d e f g h
3
LCZero—Stockfish after 30. Qh2Xh5 O0M0Z0Z0
2
0ZPZ0OPO
1
However, Stockfish organised 31… Qf5 to stop ZRAQJBMR
any ambitions White might have with a queen ex- a b c d e f g h
change Stockfish—LCZero after 9. Qg4– d1
8
0ZrZkZrZ 9… NcXd4 10. g4! and 9… NfXd4 10. b5! is the
7
o0Z0ZpZ0 tactical justification.
6
0o0ZpZ0Z By move 14 a really unbalanced position had
5
Z0Z0OqZQ arisen.
4
0Z0S0Z0Z
3
Z0m0Z0Z0 8
2
PZ0A0OPZ 0Zks0a0s
7
1
Z0Z0S0J0 oboqZ0Zp
6
a b c d e f g h 0onZpZpZ
5
LCZero—Stockfish after 31… Qc2– f5 Z0ZpOnZ0
4
after which Leela had little chance for the win.
0O0Z0Z0Z
3
O0MBZNZ0
2
0ZPZ0OPO
1
ZRAQS0J0
In the reverse Stockfish came out with a real sur- a b c d e f g h
prise: 6. Rb1!? Never seen that one before! Stockfish—LCZero after 14… O-O-O
8
rmbZkans It was vaguely reminiscent of a famous French
7
opoqZpop from the last true Sufi—the TCEC Season 17 SuFi
6
0Z0ZpZ0Z where Leela performed the unlikely feat of a double
5
Z0ZpO0Z0 kill13 !
4
0Z0O0ZQZ However, the miracle of Season 17 was not to
3
Z0M0Z0Z0 be repeated! Stockfish took control and that active
2
POPZ0OPO move 16… d4 was just going to cost a pawn!
1
ZRA0JBMR
a b c d e f g h 13
Stockfish—LCZero after 6. Ra1– b1 ea 17
32
8 8
0j0s0Z0s rmbl0skZ
7 7
oboqZ0ap opo0opa0
6 6
0o0ZpZpZ 0Z0o0mpo
5 5
ZPZnOnZ0 Z0Z0Z0A0
4 4
PZ0oBZ0Z 0ZPOPZ0Z
3 3
Z0Z0ZNM0 Z0M0Z0ZP
2 2
0APZ0OPO PO0Z0OPZ
1 1
ZRZQS0J0 S0ZQJBMR
Stockfish—LCZero after 20. Bd3– e4 Book exit
A rook sacrifice with 46. Re5!

The opening was a Makogonov KID with the du-
8
0j0s0Z0Z bious 6… h6 to finish.
7
o0o0Z0s0
6
0Z0Z0Z0Z
5
ZPl0S0o0 LCZero—Stockfish 0.5–0.5
4
QZ0Z0Z0o
3
Z0O0ZPZP Why is 6… h6 dubious? White will gain a free and
2
0Z0Z0ZPZ useful tempo with Qd2, and after …Kh7, a later
1
S0Z0Z0ZK …e5 and …f5 is risky because the black king is on
a b c d e f g h
the b1-h7 diagonal.
Stockfish—LCZero after 46. Re1– e5
Leela chose a very quiet plan of development
was a nice echo of 46. Rf5!! a few games earlier14 , with 9. Nf3 and combined that (unusually) with
and this one was even winning! 8. Bd3 and 12. Bc2. It didn’t look too impressive
from the start
Pair Current Pair
Engine
score score wins
8
LCZero 0.5 (+0 =1 -1) 15.5 (+3) 1 rZbl0skZ
7
Stockfish 1.5 (+1 =1 -0) 20.5 (+8) 6 opZnZpa0
6
Pair result Decisive pair 0Zpo0Zpo
5
Book score Matthew–Jeroen 2–5 Z0ZPo0Z0
4
Game links: 0ZPZPm0Z
3
h cec che c d f ga e 35 ea 23 Z0M0ANZP
POBZ0OPZ
1
S0ZQZRJ0
Games 37–38 Makogonov King’s Indian a b c d e f g h
(E71) LCZero—Stockfish after 12. Bd3– c2
Book moves (Matthew): 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3

Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. h3 O-O 6. Bg5 h6
and it didn’t look so great, either, after Stockfish’s
14
See Game 34. next moves. Look at that bishop on b3!
33
8
rZbl0skZ However, Stockfish is pretty much the king
7
ZpZ0Zpa0 of concrete and liquidated the position, wrecking
6
0m0o0Zpo White’s kingside structure along the way. White
5 had an extra pawn but not a great one!
o0oPo0Z0
4
PZPZPm0Z 8
3
ZBM0ANZP 0Z0Z0skZ
7
2
0O0Z0OPZ ZpZ0Z0a0
6
1
S0ZQZRJ0 0Z0o0l0o
5
a b c d e f g h Z0o0ZpZ0
4
LCZero—Stockfish after 14… a7– a5 PZPZ0Z0Z
3
ZBZ0ZPZP
However, Leela’s evaluation was higher, and 2
when the queenside gets blocked, it’s all a question
0O0LRO0J
1
about what White can do on the kingside. Leela Z0Z0Z0Z0
a b c d e f g h
planned to eject the knight on f4 with g3 and Stock-
LCZero—Stockfish after 30. g2Xf3
fish struck back with 16… f5.
8
rZbZ0skZ It might still have been awkward if White had
7 managed to get the bishop active on, e.g., d5, but
ZpZ0l0a0 that never proved possible, and Stockfish held the
6
0m0o0Zpo draw comfortably.
5
o0oPopZ0
4
PZPZPm0Z
3 Stockfish—LCZero 0.5–0.5
ZBM0A0ZP
2
0O0Z0OPJ The reverse started off with a nice little trap:
1
S0ZQZRM0
a b c d e f g h 8
LCZero—Stockfish after 16… f7– f5
rZbl0skZ
7
Zpo0Zpa0
6
Leela manufactured some exchanges, and all of nZ0o0mpo
5
a sudden, you wondered about Black’s play. Give o0ZPo0Z0
4
White a few moves and we can target either f4 0ZPZPZ0Z
(Qf3, Ne2) or f5 (Bc2, Nf3–h4). 3
Z0M0A0ZP
2
8 PO0L0OPZ
rZ0Z0skZ 1
S0Z0JBMR
7
ZpZ0Zqa0 a b c d e f g h
6
0m0oRZ0o Stockfish—LCZero after 9… Nb8– a6
5
o0oPZpZ0
4
PZPZ0o0Z 10. BXg6 is met by 10… NXe4 11. NXe4 Qh4!
3
ZBZ0Z0ZP winning the piece back!
2
0O0Z0OPJ Stockfish played the unusual 10. f3 (you don’t
1
S0ZQZ0M0 normally play both h3 and f3), and Leela reacted
a b c d e f g h quickly with an immediate 11… f5. The first crisis
LCZero—Stockfish after 22. Re1– e6 was already upon us on move 11.
34
8
rZbl0skZ via a3, b4 and h4, g5. However, Stockfish disap-
7
Zpo0Z0a0 pointingly went for a rock solid queenside struc-
6
nZ0o0Zpo ture… and then its evaluation looked disappointed
5 when it did!
o0ZPopZn
4
0ZPZPZ0Z 8
rZbl0s0Z
3
Z0M0APZP 7
Z0o0Z0j0
2
PO0LNZPZ 6
0Z0o0a0o
1
S0Z0JBZR 5
o0oPo0Z0
a b c d e f g h
4
Stockfish—LCZero after 11… f7– f5
0ZPZNoPZ
3
O0M0ZPZP
2
Leela found an unusual reply to Stockfish’s typ- 0O0LKZ0Z
1
ical g4 break. You normally only think about S0Z0Z0S0
a b c d e f g h
…Nf4. Leela, however, played 13… f4 14. Bf2
Ng3 Stockfish—LCZero after 21. Kf1– e2
8
The game continued for quite some time, but this
rZbl0skZ basic structure was never broken!
7
Zpo0Z0a0
6
nZ0o0Z0o Engine
Pair Current Pair
5
o0ZPo0Z0 score score wins
4
0ZPZ0oPZ LCZero 1 (+0 =2 -0) 16.5 (+3) 1
3 Stockfish 1 (+0 =2 -0) 21.5 (+8) 6
Z0M0ZPmP
2
PO0LNA0Z Pair result Double draw
1 Book score Matthew–Jeroen 2–5
S0Z0JBZR
a b c d e f g h Game links:
Stockfish—LCZero after 14… Nh5– g3 h cec che c d f ga e 37 ea 23
gaining the bishop pair after 15. Rg1 NXf1.

Games 39–40 Modern (A42)
8
rZbl0skZ Book moves (Jeroen): 1. d4 g6 2. c4 Bg7 3. e4 d6
7
Zpo0Z0a0 4. Nc3 e5 5. d5 Ne7
6
nZ0o0Z0o 8
5
o0ZPo0Z0 rmblkZ0s
7
4
0ZPZ0oPZ opo0mpap
6
3
Z0M0ZPZP 0Z0o0ZpZ
5
2
PO0LNA0Z Z0ZPo0Z0
4
1
S0Z0ZKS0 0ZPZPZ0Z
3
a b c d e f g h Z0M0Z0Z0
2
Stockfish—LCZero after 16. Ke1Xf1 PO0Z0OPO
1
S0AQJBMR
To be honest, this looked pretty promising for a b c d e f g h
White to me with chances to expand on both wings Book exit
35
The next game was a Modern, which led to an- Leela’s play looked Basmanic again, as it sacri-
other King’s Indian structure. In the good old days, ficed a pawn on the kingside to get a firm outpost
having a bad King’s Indian position was bound to on e5 for its pieces.
create some decisive games, but the engines have
8
got tougher! rZblkZ0s
7
opZ0ZnZ0
6
LCZero—Stockfish 0.5–0.5 0Z0o0Z0a
5
Leela’s 0.58 (out of the book exit) is pretty ZNoPm0oR
4
“oomphy” on its evaluation scale, but Stockfish’s 0ZPZPZ0Z
3
1.11 is pretty “meh” on its evaluation scale… But Z0Z0A0O0
2
in such positions so far this SuFi, meh has beaten POQZ0M0Z
1
oomph! S0Z0JBZ0
a b c d e f g h
8
0ZbZ0skZ Stockfish—LCZero after 18… c7– c5
7
Z0l0mpa0
6
0o0o0mpZ When the queens came off, Leela continued the
5
ZPoPo0Mp tried and trusted engine technique of exchanging
4 pieces in a position a pawn down!
0ZPZPZ0O
3
Z0M0Z0Z0 8
0s0ZkZ0a
2
0Z0ABOPZ 7
o0Z0ZnZ0
1
L0Z0ZRJ0 6
0Z0o0Z0Z
a b c d e f g h
5
LCZero—Stockfish after 16. O-O ZNo0Z0o0
4
0ZPZPZbZ
Leela kept on getting excited, but the fish was 3
ZPZ0A0O0
still swimming contentedly around in circles, and 2
White never really got anywhere.
PZ0J0Z0Z
1
ZRZ0ZBZ0
a b c d e f g h
Stockfish—LCZero 0.5–0.5 Stockfish—LCZero after 27… Bc8Xg4
In the reverse, Leela showed what it thought of Jer-
More pawns got exchanged and the drawzone
oen’s opening by rerouting the e7-knight at once to
was not far away!
h6!
8 8
rmblkZ0s 0ZrZkZ0Z
7 7
opo0Z0a0 A0Z0ZnZ0
6 6
0Z0o0opm 0Z0o0Z0Z
5 5
Z0ZPo0Zp ZNZ0Z0o0
4 4
0ZPZPZ0O 0SPZPZbZ
3 3
Z0M0A0O0 Z0Z0Z0a0
2 2
PO0Z0O0Z PZ0J0Z0Z
1 1
S0ZQJBMR Z0Z0ZBZ0
Stockfish—LCZero after 9… Ng8– h6 Stockfish—LCZero after 31… Be5Xg3
36
8
Engine
Pair Current Pair rZ0lka0s
7
score score wins ZbZnZpo0
6
LCZero 1 (+0 =2 -0) 17.5 (+3) 1 ponZpZ0o
5
Stockfish 1 (+0 =2 -0) 22.5 (+8) 6 Z0ZpO0Z0
4
Pair result Double draw 0Z0M0OPZ
Z0M0A0Z0
2
Game links: POPL0Z0O
1
S0Z0JBZR
LCZero—Stockfish after 11… Nb8– c6
Games 41–42 Sicilian (B23)

It looked a little like a line of the French I had
experimented but with a few moves less develop-
Book moves (Matthew): 1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 b6
ment.
Leela’s evaluation rose but soon flattened out
8 after a series of exchanges that led to a pure major
rmblkans piece endgame. I would have felt nervous as Black
7
o0Zpopop with my king stuck in the centre, but Stockfish’s
6
0o0Z0Z0Z 0.21 evaluation showed the depth of its concern!
5
Z0o0Z0Z0
4
0Z0ZPZ0Z
3
Z0M0Z0Z0
2
POPO0OPO 8
rZ0ZkZ0Z
1
S0AQJBMR 7
Z0Z0Zpo0
a b c d e f g h 6
0ZqZpZ0Z
Book exit 5
Z0o0O0Zr
4
0Z0ZpO0Z
3
The next opening led to some fraught games in ZPL0Z0Z0
2
my test set. PZ0Z0Z0O
1
ZKZRS0Z0
a b c d e f g h
LCZero—Stockfish after 26… Rh8Xh5
LCZero—Stockfish 0.5–0.5
Concrete as they are, engines were happy to play

…a6 and …b5 and enter an Open Sicilian a tempo Stockfish—LCZero 0.5–0.5
down, which obviously increases the risk.
Stockfish allowed Leela to gain kingside space The reverse was pretty thrilling! Leela played
with 8. g4 and headed for a pretty poor French 7… h5 (what else?) to prevent kingside expansion
Steinitz-style structure with a quick 9… d5. with g4.
37
8
rm0lkans looked impossible for Black, but Leela had as-
7
ZbZpZpo0 sessed them all well.
6
po0ZpZ0Z
5
Z0Z0Z0Zp 8
rm0ZNZ0S
4
0Z0MPZ0Z 7
ZbZnZpZ0
3
Z0M0APZ0 6
pj0o0Z0Z
2
POPZ0ZPO 5
ZpZ0o0a0
1
S0ZQJBZR 4
PZ0ZPZ0Z
a b c d e f g h 3
Z0M0ZPZ0
Stockfish—LCZero after 7… h7– h5 2
0OPZBZPZ
1
The game followed one of my test games (Stock- ZKZ0Z0Z0
a b c d e f g h
fish against Dragon) up to move 17, Stockfish sac-
rificing a piece early for a massive initiative. Stockfish—LCZero after 24… Kc7– b6
8
rm0j0Z0Z Stockfish grabbed a raft of pawns but not enough
7
ZblpapM0 to overwhelm Leela’s extra piece.
6
pZ0Z0m0Z
5
ZpZ0o0Z0 8
4
0Z0ZPZ0Z 0Z0Z0Z0Z
7
3
Z0M0ZPO0 ZbZnZNZ0
6
2
POPLBZPZ 0Z0Z0Z0Z
5
1
ZKZ0Z0ZR Z0j0Z0Z0
4
a b c d e f g h 0Z0oPZ0Z
3
Stockfish—LCZero after 17. Rd1Xh1 Z0Z0ZPZ0
2
Dragon had played 17… Qc5 (also Stockfish’s
0OPaBZPZ
1
recommendation) and barely survived. Leela ZKZ0Z0Z0
a b c d e f g h
twiddled with her hair and played 17… Qd6 giv-
Stockfish—LCZero after 32… e5Xd4
ing a very modest 0.20 evaluation.
8
rm0j0Z0Z After a series of mysterious long thinks from
7
ZbZpapM0 Leela, the game ended in a draw!
6
pZ0l0m0Z
5
ZpZ0o0Z0 Pair Current Pair
4
0Z0ZPZ0Z Engine
score score wins
3
Z0M0ZPO0 LCZero 1 (+0 =2 -0) 18.5 (+3) 1
2
POPLBZPZ Stockfish 1 (+0 =2 -0) 23.5 (+8) 6
1
ZKZ0Z0ZR Pair result Double draw
a b c d e f g h
Stockfish—LCZero after 17… Qc7– d6
Game links:
Stockfish’s evaluation rocketed but then subsided h cec che c d f ga e 41 ea 23
severely as it searched deeper. Some of the lines h cec che c d f ga e 42 ea 23
38
Games 43–44 Sicilian Dragon (B78) 8

0ZrZ0s0Z
7
o0ZqopZk
Book moves (Jeroen): 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 6
cXd4 4. NXd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Be3 Bg7 7. f3
0Z0o0apZ
5
O-O 8. Qd2 Nc6 9. Bc4 Bd7 10. O-O-O Rc8 Z0ZPZ0Zn
4
11. Bb3 Ne5 12. h4 Nc4 13. BXc4 RXc4 0o0M0Z0O
3
ZPZQAPZ0
2
8
0Z0l0skZ PZPZ0Z0Z
1
7
opZbopap ZKZRZ0S0
a b c d e f g h
6
0Z0o0mpZ LCZero—Stockfish after 23… b5– b4
5
Z0Z0Z0Z0
4
0ZrMPZ0O and it looked very unpleasant for Black. Amaz-
3 ingly, Stockfish and Leela defended it successfully
Z0M0APZ0
2 in completely different ways!
POPL0ZPZ Stockfish gave up the dark-squared bishop for
1
Z0JRZ0ZR the knight and happily proved that dark squares are
a b c d e f g h
overrated.
Book exit
8
0Z0Z0s0Z
7
Jeroen has produced some good Dragons in past Z0ZqopZk
SuperFinals, and he came up with another nice one 6
0Z0o0mpZ
for Season 23. 5
o0ZPZ0Sr
4
0o0Z0O0Z
3
LCZero—Stockfish 0.5–0.5 ZPZ0Z0Z0
2
PZPZ0AQZ
1
14. h5 felt natural and Fischer-esque (“h5, sac, sac, ZKZ0S0Z0
and mate”), but neither engine wanted it in the end a b c d e f g h
preferring 14. g4. LCZero—Stockfish after 30… Rh4– h5
8
0Z0l0skZ
7
opZbopap Leela let the knight jump into e6 and proved that
6 knights on e6 are overrated!
0Z0o0mpZ
5
Z0Z0Z0Z0 8
0ZrZqZ0Z
4
0ZrMPZPO 7
Z0Z0opZk
3
Z0M0APZ0 6
0Z0oNZpZ
2
POPL0Z0Z 5
o0ZPa0Zn
1
Z0JRZ0ZR 4
0o0ZQO0O
a b c d e f g h 3
LCZero—Stockfish after 14. g2– g4
ZPZ0Z0s0
2
PZPZRZ0Z
1
ZKA0Z0S0
Both games followed the same course up til move a b c d e f g h
24, Stockfish—LCZero after 29… Rc3– g3
39
8
Amazingly, two draws! rZ0lka0s
7
opZnZpo0
6
0ZpopmpZ
5
Engine
Pair Current Pair Z0Z0Z0Z0
score score wins 4
0Z0OPZ0Z
3
LCZero 1 (+0 =2 -0) 19.5 (+3) 1 Z0M0Z0O0
Stockfish 1 (+0 =2 -0) 24.5 (+8) 6 2
POPZ0OBO
1
Pair result Double draw S0AQJ0ZR
Book score Matthew–Jeroen 2–5 a b c d e f g h
Game links: LCZero—Stockfish after 8… h7Xg6

h cec che c d f ga e 44 ea 23 Leela went for a quite positional approach, and
its evaluation rose to something quite hopeful
(0.53). Stockfish’s evaluation also started to rise
to worrying levels (1.55).
Games 45–46 Irregular (A46)
8
Book moves (Matthew): 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d6 0ZrlrZkZ
7
3. Nc3 Bf5 4. g3 Nbd7 ZpZnZpo0
6
0ZpZpapZ
5
8 o0Z0Z0Z0
rZ0lka0s 4
PZ0O0Z0O
7
oponopop 3
Z0O0ZBO0
6
0Z0o0m0Z 2
0O0A0O0Z
5
Z0Z0ZbZ0 1
S0ZQS0J0
4
0Z0O0Z0Z a b c d e f g h
3
Z0M0ZNO0 LCZero—Stockfish after 17… Ra8– c8
2
POPZPO0O
1
S0AQJBZR Attracted by a rook’s pawn push like a moth to
a b c d e f g h the flame, Leela played 18. Kg2 preparing Rh1.
Book exit Stockfish reacted classically with a central break,
and Stockfish’s evaluation started to fall!
These irregular Black openings with …d6 and
8
…Bg4 / …Bf5 were played in various move orders 0ZrlrZkZ
7
by creative British players such as Speelman and ZpZnZpo0
6
Hodgson. 0ZpZ0apZ
5
o0Z0o0Z0
4
PZ0O0Z0O
3
LCZero—Stockfish 0.5–0.5 Z0O0ZBO0
2
0O0A0OKZ
Leela’s exit was quite low, but the likely resulting 1
S0ZQS0Z0
positions seemed quite promising (strong centre + a b c d e f g h
two bishops). LCZero—Stockfish after 18… e6– e5
40
8
Leela’s position looked perfectly set up for a long 0Z0Z0ZkZ
painful squeeze, but Stockfish surprisingly started 7
ZpZ0ZRo0
counterplay on the king’s wing… where Leela was 6
0Z0l0ZPZ
set to attack! 5
o0oPZ0Z0
4
8
rZ0ZrZkZ PZna0Z0O
3
7
ZpZ0m0o0 Z0Z0A0Z0
2
6
0Z0l0ZpZ 0O0L0ZKZ
1
5
o0oPapZ0 Z0ZBZ0Z0
4 a b c d e f g h
PZPZpZPO LCZero—Stockfish after 38… Qd7– d6
3
Z0Z0A0Z0
2
0O0LBOKZ
1 Stockfish—LCZero 1–0
Z0Z0S0ZR
a b c d e f g h
The reverse started very aggressively with Stock-
fish castling queenside and Leela incautiously
A double pawn sacrifice freed Stockfish’s posi- opening the centre.
tion,
8
8
rZ0lka0s
0Z0ZrskZ 7
opZnZpop
7
ZpZqZ0o0 6
0ZpZpmbZ
6
0Z0m0ZPZ 5
Z0Z0Z0Z0
5
o0oPZ0A0 4
0Z0OpZ0M
4
PZPa0Z0O 3
Z0M0ZPO0
3
Z0Z0Z0Z0 2
POPAQZ0O
2
0O0L0ZKZ 1
Z0JRZBZR
1
Z0ZBSRZ0 a b c d e f g h
a b c d e f g h
Stockfish—LCZero after 10… d5Xe4
LCZero—Stockfish after 35. f5Xg6
Stockfish handled its knights like Tal, and it
and a gorgeous sham rook sacrifice sealed the draw!
looked certain that a knight sac on e6 was immin-
8
0Z0Z0ZkZ ent!
7
ZpZqZ0o0 8
6
0Z0m0ZPZ rZ0lka0s
7
5
o0oPZ0A0 opZnZpop
6
4
PZPa0Z0O 0ZpZpm0Z
5
3
Z0Z0s0Z0 Z0Z0Z0Mb
4
2
0O0L0ZKZ 0Z0O0Z0M
3
1
Z0ZBZRZ0 Z0Z0ZPO0
2
a b c d e f g h POPAQZ0O
1
LCZero—Stockfish after 36… Re8– e3 Z0JRZBZR
a b c d e f g h
38… Qd6 was the gorgeous point: Stockfish—LCZero after 12. Ne4– g5
41
However, after 12… h6, Stockfish meekly The reply was brutal!
dropped its knight back to h3!
8
8
rZ0lka0s rZ0ZkZ0s
7
7
opZnZpo0 opZnapZ0
6
6
0ZpZpm0o 0ZpZpmNo
5
5
Z0Z0Z0Zb Z0Z0Z0ZP
4
4
0Z0O0Z0M 0Z0l0Z0o
3
3
Z0Z0ZPON Z0Z0ZPZB
2
2
POPAQZ0O POPAQZ0O
1
1
Z0JRZBZR Z0JRZ0ZR
Stockfish—LCZero after 13. Ng5– h3 Stockfish—LCZero after 18. Nf4– g6
Black’s light-squared bishop, however, was in

some trouble and threatened with g4! The ex- Beautiful play followed from Stockfish, ripping
change of light-squared bishop for knight and the open the Black position.
return of the white “Tal” knight to f4 looked pro-
foundly worrying for Black, but Leela was fairly 8
unconcerned.
rZ0ZkZrZ
7
8
opZna0Z0
rZ0lkZ0s 6
0ZpZ0mPo
7
opZnapZ0 5
Z0l0o0Z0
6
0ZpZpm0o 4
0Z0Z0O0o
5
Z0Z0Z0ZP 3
Z0A0Z0ZB
4
0Z0O0M0o 2
POPZQZ0O
3
Z0Z0ZPZ0 1
Z0JRS0Z0
2
POPAQZ0O a b c d e f g h
1
Z0JRZBZR Stockfish—LCZero after 22. f3– f4
a b c d e f g h
Stockfish—LCZero after 16. Nh3– f4 8
0Z0skZrZ
The d4-pawn looked like the proverbial hot 7
opZna0Z0
potato, but Leela grabbed it with both hands! 6
0ZpZ0ZPo
5
8
rZ0ZkZ0s Z0lnO0ZQ
4
7
opZnapZ0 0Z0Z0Z0o
3
6
0ZpZpm0o Z0A0Z0ZB
2
5
Z0Z0Z0ZP POPZ0Z0O
1
4
0Z0l0M0o Z0JRS0Z0
3 a b c d e f g h
Z0Z0ZPZB
2 Stockfish—LCZero after 24. Qe2– h5
POPAQZ0O
1
Z0JRZ0ZR
a b c d e f g h Leela put up an astonishing resistance to reach
Stockfish—LCZero after 17… Qb6Xd4 an endgame with equal material
42
8 8
0Z0s0ZrZ rm0lka0s
7 7
opZPZ0j0 obopopZp
6 6
0ZpZ0Z0Z 0o0Z0mpZ
5 5
Z0ZnZ0o0 Z0Z0Z0Z0
4 4
0Z0Z0Z0o 0ZPO0Z0Z
3 3
Z0Z0Z0ZB Z0M0Z0Z0
2 2
POPZ0Z0O POQZPOPO
1 1
Z0JRS0Z0 S0A0JBMR
Stockfish—LCZero after 30… Kg6Xg7 Book exit
but, unfortunately, one that Stockfish was assessing A Queen’s Indian game is normally one where
at +8!! The conversion was smooth. you plan in a restorative rest after a long hard night.
8
0Z0s0j0Z
7 LCZero—Stockfish 0.5–0.5
opZPZ0Z0
6
0ZpZBm0s However, Jeroen had cooked up an accelerated
5
Z0O0S0o0 Queen’s Indian. So accelerated that it exploded
4
0O0Z0Z0o right from the off with Leela castling on move 9
3
J0Z0Z0ZP 8
2
PZ0Z0Z0Z rm0lkZ0s
7
1
Z0ZRZ0Z0 obo0Zpap
6
a b c d e f g h 0o0o0mpZ
5
Stockfish—LCZero after 54… Kf7– f8 Z0Z0Z0A0
4
A first win in the bookmaker’s competition for
0ZPMPZ0Z
3
what felt like years, though Jeroen kept a clear lead Z0M0Z0Z0
2
with 5 decisive pairs to 3! POQZ0OPO
1
Z0JRZBZR
a b c d e f g h
Pair Current Pair
Engine
score score wins LCZero—Stockfish after 9. O-O-O
LCZero 0.5 (+0 =1 -1) 20 (+3) 1

Stockfish 1.5 (+1 =1 -0) 26 (+9) 7
and blowing open the centre on move 11!
Pair result Decisive pair 8

rm0l0skZ
7
obo0Zpa0
Game links: 6
0o0o0mpo
5
h cec che c d f ga e 46 ea 23 Z0Z0O0Z0
4
0ZPM0Z0A
3
Games 47–48 Accelerated Queen’s Indian Z0M0Z0Z0
2
(A50) POQZ0OPO
1
Z0JRZBZR
Book moves (Jeroen): 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 b6 3. Nc3 a b c d e f g h
Bb7 4. Qc2 g6 LCZero—Stockfish after 11. e4– e5
43
8
However, Stockfish wriggled out by sacrificing 0ZnZbs0Z
the exchange and entrenching itself on the dark 7
ZrZ0Zqak
squares—not too dissimilar to the course of game 6
0Z0o0ZpZ
99!—to hold another tough opening. 5
ZpmPo0Ap
4
pM0ZPZ0O
3
O0M0ZPL0
2
8
rZ0Z0ZkZ 0O0ZBS0Z
1
7
o0o0ZpZ0 ZKZ0Z0S0
a b c d e f g h
6
0o0Z0apZ Stockfish—LCZero after 39… Bd7– e8
5
Z0mPZ0Zp
4
0Z0ZBZ0O At some stage, though, we skipped the blitzing
3
Z0Z0ZPl0 phase and headed straight to the demolition part!
2
POQZ0ZPZ
1
ZKZRZ0ZR 8
a b c d e f g h 0Z0Zbs0Z
7
LCZero—Stockfish after 21… Qd6– g3 Z0lnm0Zk
6
0s0o0Zpa
5
ZpZPoPZp
4
pM0ZPZ0O
Stockfish—LCZero 1–0 3
O0Z0A0S0
2
0O0ZNZQZ
The reverse was a tough old fight. 1
ZKZBZ0S0
a b c d e f g h
Stockfish—LCZero after 50. f4– f5
8
0ZrZqskZ
7
Z0Zbmpa0 Engine
Pair Current Pair
6
0Z0o0ZpZ score score wins
5
ZpmPo0Op LCZero 0.5 (+0 =1 -1) 20.5 (+3) 1
4 Stockfish 1.5 (+1 =1 -0) 27.5 (+10) 8
pM0ZPZ0O
3
O0M0APZ0 Pair result Decisive pair
KOQZBZ0Z
1
Z0Z0Z0SR Game links:
Games 49–50 Sicilian Rossolimo (A50)

Experienced TCEC watchers were expecting
100 moves of shuffling and then a crazy blitz finish. Book moves (Matthew): 1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6
The shuffling continued and the evaluations contin- 3. Bb5 Nd4 4. Nf3 g6 5. Bc4 Bg7 6. NXd4 cXd4
ued to rise. 7. Qf3 f5
44
8 8
rZblkZns rZbZ0skZ
7 7
opZpo0ap o0Zpm0ap
6 6
0Z0Z0ZpZ 0Z0ZpZpZ
5 5
Z0Z0ZpZ0 lpZ0ZpZ0
4 4
0ZBoPZ0Z 0Z0oPZ0Z
3 3
Z0M0ZQZ0 ZBZPZPL0
2 2
POPO0OPO POPZNZPO
1 1
S0A0J0ZR S0A0ZRJ0
Book exit LCZero—Stockfish after 13. f2– f3
We started the night with a rather confusing Ros- That seemed to wake Stockfish up because its
solimo Sicilian. evaluation rocketed up to a worrying 1.57, and it
spent more than 14 minutes on its 13th move—an
eternity for these monsters.
LCZero—Stockfish 0.5–0.5 Leela proceeded methodically, exchanging a pair
of rooks and Black’s dark-squared bishop, leaving
Allowing the intermezzo 7. Qf3 hitting f7 is sup- the d4-pawn extremely vulnerable.
posed to be a mistake, but the engines had fairly
8
different opinions about how to play the position. 0Z0Z0ZkZ
7
Stockfish’s plan was a little odd. It felt as if obZpZ0Zp
6
Stockfish was keen to get White to castle to avoid 0ZnLpspZ
the danger of being hit by a quick h4-h5. 8… Qa5 5
lpZ0Z0Z0
pins the d2-pawn and thus makes it impossible for 4
0Z0oPZ0Z
White to support the e4-pawn with d3. 3
ZBZPZ0Z0
2
POPZ0ZPO
1
8
rZbZkZns S0Z0Z0MK
7 a b c d e f g h
opZpo0ap
6 LCZero—Stockfish after 21. Qg3Xd6
0Z0Z0ZpZ
5
l0Z0ZpZ0 And indeed, Leela managed to pick up the d4-
4
0ZBoPZ0Z pawn to stand a clear pawn up.
3
Z0Z0ZQZ0
8
2
POPONOPO 0Z0l0skZ
7
1
S0A0J0ZR ZbZpZ0Zp
6
a b c d e f g h
0Z0ZpZpZ
5
LCZero—Stockfish after 8… Qd8– a5 o0Z0Z0Z0
4
Po0LPZ0Z
3
The key moment came at move 13. Leela had ZBZPZ0Z0
been expecting Stockfish to play …fXe4 at several 2
0OPZ0ZPO
moments. When Stockfish delayed, Leela played 1
Z0Z0S0ZK
13. f3 (to recapture on e4 with the f-pawn) and was a b c d e f g h
extremely happy with itself. LCZero—Stockfish after 26. Qd6Xd4
45
8
And this was the odd part! Once the pawn had rZbl0skZ
dropped… so did Stockfish’s assessment of White’s 7
opZ0Z0ap
chances! 6
0Z0ZpZpm
It has often been said that the moment after 5
Z0ZpZ0ZP
winning material is the most dangerous because 4
the opponent’s pieces—that were defending the
0ZBoPZ0Z
3
material—are freed from drudgery and suddenly Z0Z0Z0L0
2
become active… and this was a prime example! POPZNOPZ
1
Leela tried many to make progress, but playing S0A0J0ZR
a b c d e f g h
e5 never felt as if it was going to be the way.
Stockfish—LCZero after 13. h4– h5
8
0Z0Z0s0Z
7 However, it really was such a game where the
ZblpZ0j0 closer you get to your goal, the worse it seems!
6
0Z0ZpZpZ Stockfish’s evaluation got progressively more de-
5
o0Z0O0Z0 pressed as the tactics exploded.
4
PoBZ0Z0o
3
ZPZPL0Z0 8
rZ0l0ZkZ
2
0ZPZ0ZPO 7
opZbZ0ap
1
Z0Z0S0J0 6
0Z0ZpsPm
a b c d e f g h
5
LCZero—Stockfish after 32. e4– e5
Z0Z0Z0Z0
4
0ZpoPZ0L
3
Bizarrely enough, despite being a pawn down, Z0Z0Z0Z0
Stockfish was supremely unconcerned about ex- 2
POPZNOPZ
changing off the major pieces! 1
S0A0J0ZR
a b c d e f g h
8
0Z0Z0Z0Z Stockfish—LCZero after 15… Bc8– d7
7
ZbZpZ0Z0
6
0Z0ZpZkZ Leela bailed out to a worse endgame
5
oBZ0O0o0
4
Po0O0l0Z 8
rZ0Z0ZkZ
3
ZPZ0Z0ZP 7
opZbZ0sp
2
0ZPZ0L0Z 6
0Z0ZpZ0Z
1
Z0Z0Z0J0 5
Z0Z0Z0Z0
a b c d e f g h 4
0ZpMPZ0S
LCZero—Stockfish after 43… Qf8– f4 3
Z0Z0Z0Z0
2
The game soon ended in a draw. POPZ0O0Z
1
S0Z0ZKZ0
a b c d e f g h
Stockfish—LCZero after 20… Rg2– g7
The reverse was short and sharp. Stockfish’s exit
evaluation was pretty impressive (1.47), and it did but held it consummately—as engines do! Two ab-
indeed get its h4-h5 thrust going! sorbing draws!
46
Pair Current Pair I wrote on Twitter at the time: “Leela’s eval

Engine
score score wins stays high so we expect the typical break b4! (prob-
LCZero 1 (+0 =2 -0) 21.5 (+3) 1 ably with Bf2) will come at some stage followed
Stockfish 1 (+0 =2 -0) 28.5 (+10) 8 by a breakthrough on the queenside with …ab, a5.
Seems quite promising but we may have to wait
Book score Matthew–Jeroen 3–6 sometime before Leela punts it!”
Game links:
However, as Twitter fans pointed out…
Why must I taunt MrDodgy

Games 51–52 King’s Indian Sämisch (E80) @wmiltti
Replying to @gmmds
Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f3 e5 6. d5 Nh5 7. Be3 f5 8. Qd2 It’s still on b2…
f4 9. Bf2
8
rmblkZ0s Nov 8, 2022
h e c a 158 681 54 5312
7
opo0Z0ap
6
0Z0o0ZpZ
5
Z0ZPo0Zn 8
4
0ZPZPo0Z 0Z0a0ZkZ
7
3
Z0M0ZPZ0 Z0l0Z0m0
6
2
PO0L0APO 0o0o0ZrZ
5
1
S0Z0JBMR oPoPo0Zp
4
a b c d e f g h PZNZPo0Z
3
Book exit Z0Z0ZPZQ
2
A blocked King’s Indian Sämisch. 0O0J0A0Z
1
Z0Z0Z0ZR
a b c d e f g h
LCZero—Stockfish after 51. Ke2– d2
It seemed to me that White had wonderful chances
to break through on either wing, but somehow
Leela never got it together. And indeed, Leela got nowhere in the rest of the
8
rZbl0mrZ game. This felt like something of a missed chance
7 for Leela.
ZpZ0Z0mk
6
0Z0o0a0o
5
oNoPo0ZP
4
0ZPZPo0Z Stockfish—LCZero 0.5–0.5
3
Z0ZNZPZ0
2 The reverse became sharp very quickly. Black got
PO0Z0Z0L
1 the dark-squared bishops off, but White was very
Z0JRABS0 quick with queenside play—maybe too quick?
a b c d e f g h
LCZero—Stockfish after 21. Qd2– h2 As the game proceeded,
47
8
rZ0s0ZkZ Games 53–54 Caro-Kann Hillbilly (B10)
7
ZbZ0l0Zp Book moves (Matthew): 1. e4 c6 2. Bc4 d5 3. Bb3
6
0o0o0ZpZ dXe4 4. Qh5
5
o0mPo0Zn
4
0Z0ZPo0Z 8
rmblkans
3
Z0M0ZPZ0 7
opZ0opop
2
POQZ0ZPO 6
0ZpZ0Z0Z
1
ZKMRZBZR 5
Z0Z0Z0ZQ
a b c d e f g h
4
Stockfish—LCZero after 22. Qb3– c2
0Z0ZpZ0Z
3
ZBZ0Z0Z0
2
POPO0OPO
it felt like Black would block White entry channels 1
SNA0J0MR
quite easily (…a5 and …Nc5). Using tactics to a b c d e f g h
play c5 quickly as Stockfish did felt cool, but the Book exit
downside was being forced to play cXd6 early: it
gave Black better chances of organising the defens- The excellent Grandmaster Gambits15 continued
ive pieces. to provide inspiration for the SuFi! We had a Hill-
Leela defended well, and a Benko-style sacrifice billy on the board!
of the a-pawn gave some pretty nice counterplay!
LCZero—Stockfish 0–1
8
0s0Z0ZkZ
7
l0Z0Z0Zp Stockfish rubbed its fins with glee, but to a human
6 player it looked raaaaaather messy,
0Z0o0ZpZ
5
ZboPo0Z0
8
4
0s0ZPo0Z 0ZkZrZ0s
7
3
ONS0ZPZ0 ZplnZpZ0
6
2
0OQZ0ZPO 0ZpapmpZ
5
1
JRZ0Z0Z0 o0Z0ZbA0
4
a b c d e f g h
0OBZ0Z0o
3
Stockfish—LCZero after 45… Ba6– b5 O0MPZNZP
2
0ZPZ0LPZ
1
Pair Current Pair
Z0Z0SRJ0
Engine a b c d e f g h
score score wins
LCZero—Stockfish after 17. b2– b4
LCZero 1 (+0 =2 -0) 22.5 (+3) 1
Stockfish 1 (+0 =2 -0) 29.5 (+10) 8
as 17. b4 started some queenside counterplay!
However, Stockfish neutralised all Leela’s play
by going for a two rooks vs queen position
Game links:
Palliser, Richard and Williams, Simon. Grandmaster
h cec che c d f ga e 52 ea 23 Gambits: 1 e4. Everyman Chess, 2021.
48
8
rZ0Z0Z0s but Leela was unable to make any progress, and by
7
Z0jnZ0Z0 move 30, Leela had returned two pawns in a fruit-
6
0ZpZ0opZ less attempt to make some progress.
5
Z0a0obZ0 8
0Z0Z0s0Z
4
pZBZ0Z0o 7
ZpZ0a0Zp
3
O0MPZNZP 6
0ZpZkZpZ
2
0ZPZ0ZPJ 5
Z0Z0O0Z0
1
Z0L0Z0Z0 4
pZ0ZRZPZ
a b c d e f g h 3
LCZero—Stockfish after 28… a5– a4
Z0O0Z0ZP
2
PO0A0Z0Z
1
and mopped up very efficiently. Z0J0Z0Z0
a b c d e f g h
Stockfish—LCZero after 30. Re1Xe4
However, it was all in vain: Stockfish held on
In the reverse, Stockfish took the not very fun ap- easily for another pair win.
proach to defence of exchanging queens and hoping
Pair Current Pair
to hang on forever. Engine
score score wins
8 LCZero 0.5 (+0 =1 -1) 23 (+3) 1
rm0Zkans Stockfish 1.5 (+1 =1 -0) 31 (+11) 9
7
opZ0ZpZp Pair result Decisive pair
6
0ZpZpZpZ Book score Matthew–Jeroen 4–6
5
Z0Z0MbZ0 Game links:
4
0Z0Z0ZPZ h cec che c d f ga e 53 ea 23
3
ZBZ0Z0Z0 h cec che c d f ga e 54 ea 23
2
POPO0Z0O
1
SNA0J0ZR Games 55–56 Queen’s Gambit Accepted
a b c d e f g h
(D20)
Stockfish—LCZero after 10. g2– g4
Book moves (Jeroen): 1. d4 d5 2. c4 dXc4 3. e4
It looked like a clear pawn to me, Nf6 4. e5 Nd5 5. BXc4 Nb6 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. Be3
Be6 8. Nc3 Bd5
8 8
rZ0Zkans rZ0lka0s
7 7
opZnZ0Zp opo0opop
6 6
0ZpZ0opZ 0mnZ0Z0Z
5 5
Z0ZpZ0Z0 Z0ZbO0Z0
4 4
0Z0O0ZPZ 0Z0O0Z0Z
3 3
ZBZ0ZNZ0 Z0MBA0Z0
2 2
POPZ0Z0O PO0Z0OPO
1 1
S0A0JRZ0 S0ZQJ0MR
Stockfish—LCZero after 15. d2– d4 Book exit
49
The opening of the night was a slightly sub- and the draw was inevitable. Strangely disappoint-
optimal Queens’ Gambit Accepted 3. e4. ing there from Leela.
When I saw Jeroen had included this, I got vibes of Stockfish—LCZero 0.5–0.5
an old game of mine from the Isle of Man.16
In some ways you’d think that exchanging off the The reverse was way more exciting! Stockfish blew
“bad” light-squared bishop would relieve Black’s the game wide open with an exchange sacrifice!
position, but I learnt during my game against Shaw
that Black’s position was simply devoid of counter-
play. So, it was going to be a hard slog on the black 8
side for both engines!
rZ0Zka0s
7
ZpoqZpop
6
8
rZ0Z0Z0s 0m0ZpZ0Z
5
7
ZpZqapj0 o0SnO0Z0
4
6
0ZpZpZpo PZ0O0Z0Z
3
5
Z0ZnOnZ0 ZQZ0ZNZ0
2
4
pZ0OBZ0Z 0O0ABOPO
1
3
O0ZRZNO0 Z0Z0ZRJ0
a b c d e f g h
2
0ORZ0O0O Stockfish—LCZero after 18. Rc1– c5
1
Z0AQZ0J0
a b c d e f g h
LCZero—Stockfish after 38… Bd8– e7
Stockfish fans cheered and whooped as the eval-
However, oddly, for Leela that was as good as uation rose to 1.95.
life got, and it ended up shuffling purposelessly and
gradually dropping evaluation points. By move 65,
we were down to just +0.17 8
rZ0lkZ0s
7
8
Z0o0mpop
0Z0s0Z0Z 6
0ZPZpZ0Z
7
Z0lrmpj0 5
A0LnO0Z0
6
0ZpZpZpZ 4
PZ0Z0Z0Z
5
ZpZ0OnZp 3
Z0Z0ZNZ0
4
pZ0OBZ0O 2
0O0ZBOPO
3
O0ZRZ0O0 1
Z0Z0ZRJ0
2
0O0LNO0J a b c d e f g h
1
Z0S0Z0Z0 Stockfish—LCZero after 24. Bd2Xa5
a b c d e f g h
LCZero—Stockfish after 65. Ng1– e2
16
Matthew Sadler vs John Shaw, Isle of Man Open
However, White’s pieces were a little awkward,
(1994), rd 5, 1–0. h che ga e c e and Leela exploited this to free its position with ex-
che ga e g d 2283157 changes.
50
8 8
0Z0ZkZ0s 0SrZ0Z0Z
7 7
Z0A0mpop Z0OkZ0o0
6 6
0ZPZpZ0Z 0Z0Zpo0o
5 5
Z0LqO0Z0 A0ZnO0ZP
4 4
rZ0Z0Z0Z rO0M0Z0Z
3 3
Z0Z0ZNZ0 Z0Z0Z0Z0
2 2
0O0Z0OPO 0Z0Z0OPZ
1 1
Z0S0Z0J0 Z0Z0Z0J0
Stockfish—LCZero after 28… Ra8Xa4 Stockfish—LCZero after 37. Nf3– d4
Stockfish’s evaluation rose still further (above A few steps more and Stockfish only saw a clear
+3), advantage but nothing winning.
8
0ZrZ0Z0Z 8
0ZkZ0Z0Z
7
Z0O0Zkop 7
Z0m0Z0o0
6
0Z0Zpo0Z 6
0S0ZpZ0o
5
ARZnO0Z0 5
A0Z0o0ZP
4
rO0Z0Z0O 4
0O0Z0Z0Z
3
Z0Z0ZNZ0 3
Z0Z0Z0Z0
2
0Z0Z0OPZ 2
0Z0Z0OPJ
1
Z0Z0Z0J0 1
Z0s0Z0Z0
Stockfish—LCZero after 34. Rc5– b5 Stockfish—LCZero after 43… Kd7Xc8
but the end lines Leela was calculating didn’t seem Leela was concerned but far from depressed. In
completely hopeless (for example RN+3 vs RN+2 fact, they were both looking at exactly the same line
with broken pawns), though obviously fraught. but assessing it differently.
Stockfish’s evaluation reached over +4, trivially The key point of the ending is quite intricate,
winning, and Leela does these sorts of endings very well.
8
0SrZ0Z0Z Leela would need to lose the e-pawn to activate the
7
Z0O0j0o0 knight, and the kingside g7-pawn was also an easy
6 prey.
0Z0Zpo0o
5
A0ZnO0ZP 8
0Z0Z0Z0Z
4
rO0Z0Z0Z 7
Z0Z0Z0S0
3
Z0Z0ZNZ0 6
0Z0Zkm0o
2
0Z0Z0OPZ 5
A0Z0Z0ZP
1
Z0Z0Z0J0 4
0O0ZpZ0Z
a b c d e f g h 3
Stockfish—LCZero after 36. Rb5– b8
Z0Z0Z0O0
2
0Z0Z0OKZ
and you knew Fishy was already planning its next 1
ZrZ0Z0Z0
scuba-diving vacation. One more step was made to a b c d e f g h
the ending… and Stockfish’s evaluation collapsed! Stockfish—LCZero after 55. Rc7Xg7
51
However, a rook on the b-file ties down the Games 57–58 Philidor (C41)
bishop and attacks the f2 pawn: White must watch
out for both …e3 and stop …Ng4. Book moves (Matthew): 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bc4
Bg4
8
0Z0Z0Z0Z 8
7
Z0Z0Z0S0 rm0lkans
7
6
0Z0Zkm0o opo0Zpop
6
5
A0Z0Z0ZP 0Z0o0Z0Z
5
4
0O0ZpZ0Z Z0Z0o0Z0
4
3
Z0Z0Z0O0 0ZBZPZbZ
3
2
0s0Z0OKZ Z0Z0ZNZ0
2
1
Z0Z0Z0Z0 POPO0OPO
1
a b c d e f g h SNAQJ0ZR
a b c d e f g h
Stockfish—LCZero after 55… Rb1– b2
Book exit
Amazingly, at a massive distance Leela had as-
sessed properly that it could lose two pawns in an A ropey Philidor for the engines to defend!
endgame and still hold with activity. Leela finished
with a nice trick to assure liquidation,
8
0s0A0Z0Z The downside to playing the bishop to g4 so early
7
Z0Z0ZkZ0 is that it can get shut out of the game. And indeed,
6
0Z0S0Z0o
5
Z0ZnZ0ZP 8
rZ0lkZns
4
0Z0Z0Z0Z 7
Z0Znapob
3
Z0Z0o0OK 6
0Zpo0Z0o
2
0Z0Z0O0Z 5
opZ0o0ZP
1
Z0Z0Z0Z0 4
0Z0ZPZPZ
a b c d e f g h
3
Stockfish—LCZero after 62… e4– e3 O0MPZNZ0
2
BOPZQO0Z
1
as 63. RXd5 RXd8 64. RXd8 allows 64… e2! S0A0J0ZR
a b c d e f g h
LCZero—Stockfish after 12… Bg6– h7
Pair Current Pair
Engine
score score wins
LCZero 1 (+0 =2 -0) 24 (+3) 1 the bishop on h7 was looking a little sad… I was
Stockfish 1 (+0 =2 -0) 32 (+11) 9 wondering whether we were going to see some-
thing similar to the classic 1922 game between
Book score Matthew–Jeroen 4–6 Capablanca and Bogolyubov.17
Game links: 17
Jose Raul Capablanca vs Efim Bogoljubov, London
h cec che c d f ga e 55 ea 23 (1922), rd 6, 1–0. h che ga e c e
h cec che c d f ga e 56 ea 23 che ga e g d 1 3 6 5
52
8 8
rZ0l0j0s nZ0Z0Z0Z
7 7
Z0Z0apo0 Z0Z0aPZk
6 6
0Zpo0m0o 0Z0Z0Z0o
5 5
o0m0oPZP Z0Z0O0Z0
4 4
0o0ZPZ0Z 0Z0ZPO0Z
3 3
O0ZPANZ0 Z0Z0Z0Z0
2 2
BOPZQO0Z BZPZKZ0Z
1 1
S0Z0J0S0 Z0Z0Z0Z0
LCZero—Stockfish after 18. Bc1– e3 Stockfish’s PV after 42. Bc4Xa2 (variation)
I had marked this one down as a possible Leela This was about where the main line ends. Also
pair win, and Leela continued to play strongly and quite cool (+0.97 apparently!)
evaluations continued to rise.
Stockfish was under pressure, but Leela’s eval-
uation was somehow flatlining. Stockfish’s PV
(primary variation) for White’s 22nd move caused Why must I lose to this idiot?
@wmiltti
a bit of a stir!
Replying to @gmmds
21… Bd6 22. Bc4 Kg8 23. Qd2 Kh7
24. Ng5+ hXg5 25. QXg5 Qe7 26. Qg6+ Yeah I’d definitely aim for that position and
think ”I’m probably about +1 here”...
Nov 9, 2022
8
rZ0Z0Z0s h e c a 15 3 417 76 4711
7
Z0Z0lpok
6
0Zpa0mQZ
5
Z0o0oPZP
4
poBZPZ0Z Matthew Sadler
@gmmds
3
O0ZPZ0Z0 Replying to @wmiltti
2
0OPZ0O0Z
1
S0Z0ZKZR Check this man for beads!
a b c d e f g h
Stockfish’s PV after 26. Qg5– g6+ (variation) Nov 9, 2022
h e c g d a 15 3 43686243 412
26… Kg8 27. h6 Ne8 28. Ke2 Qf6 29. aXb4

cXb4 30. Rag1 QXg6 31. fXg6 RXh6 32. RXh6
gXh6 33. gXf7+ Kh7 34. d4 Nc7 35. Rg8 Be7 Stockfish—LCZero 1–0
36. dXe5 a3 37. bXa3 bXa3 38. Ba2 c5 39. f4 c4
40. BXc4 a2 41. RXa8 NXa8 42. BXa2 The reverse led to a disagreement in assessment!
53
8
0Z0Z0skZ Interesting endgame, though White was odds on
7
Z0Zqapob to win. The only doubt was the drawing margin
6
0Zpo0m0o with two knights vs king!
5
M0m0o0OP In the end, it didn’t come that far, though the
4
0ZBZPZ0Z slight difference of opinion about the game’s eval-
3
O0ZPZNZ0 uation continued deep into the endgame
2
0sPAQO0Z
1
Z0S0ZKS0
a b c d e f g h
8
Stockfish—LCZero after 23. g4– g5 0Z0Zbj0Z
7
Z0Z0Z0Z0
6
It looked scary for Black, though! Stockfish’s NZ0Z0o0Z
5
evaluation was bouncing up and down between ela- Z0Z0ZNZ0
4
tion and slight disappointment! It was obviously a 0Z0ZPZ0Z
3
difficult position! Z0Z0J0Z0
2
0Z0Z0Z0Z
1
8
0s0Z0Z0Z Z0Z0Z0Z0
a b c d e f g h
7
Z0ZqZpj0 Stockfish—LCZero after 55. Nb4Xa6
6
0Zpa0mbZ
5
M0mpo0M0
4
0ABZPZ0Z with Stockfish showing 151.54 and Leela show-
3
O0ZPZ0L0 ing 0.9!
2
0sPZ0O0Z
1
Z0S0ZKZR
a b c d e f g h
Stockfish—LCZero after 30… Be7– d6
Pair Current Pair
Engine
score score wins
The smoke cleared, and we had rook and two LCZero 0.5 (+0 =1 -1) 24.5 (+3) 1
knights (R2N) vs rook, bishop, knight (RBN) with Stockfish 1.5 (+1 =1 -0) 33.5 (+12) 10
an extra pawn for Stockfish.
8
0Z0Z0Z0Z Game links:
7
Z0Z0ZpZk h cec che c d f ga e 57 ea 23
6
0ZpM0ZbZ h cec che c d f ga e 58 ea 23
5
Z0Z0M0Z0
4
0Z0ZPZRZ
3
O0Z0Z0Z0
2
rZ0Z0O0Z Games 59–60 Larsen Caro-Kann (B16)
1
Z0m0ZKZ0
a b c d e f g h Book moves (Jeroen): 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3
Stockfish—LCZero after 42. Nc4– d6 dXe4 4. NXe4 Nf6 5. NXf6+ gXf6 6. Bc4 h5
54
8
rmblka0s Stockfish—LCZero 0.5–0.5
7
opZ0opZ0
6
0ZpZ0o0Z In the reverse, Stockfish played very aggressively
5 and sacrificed three pawns after Leela had picked
Z0Z0Z0Zp up three sets of isolated doubled pawns!
4
0ZBO0Z0Z
3
Z0Z0Z0Z0
2
POPZ0OPO 8
rZ0l0j0s
1
S0AQJ0MR 7
ZbZ0ZpZ0
a b c d e f g h
6
Book exit pm0a0o0Z
5
Z0o0ZNZp
Jeroen wheeled out a Larsen-style Caro-Kann as 4
the next challenge!
pZpZ0Z0Z
3
Z0Z0Z0ZP
2
0O0Z0OPZ
1
S0AQSBJ0
After 10… Na6 black’s play was a bit, umm…, a b c d e f g h
fishy? Stockfish—LCZero after 19. Nh4– f5
8
rZ0Zka0s
7
opZqopZ0 Oddly enough, Stockfish’s earlier strong optim-
6 ism had evaporated as it played the sacrifices!
nZpZ0o0Z
5
Z0Z0ZbZ0 Sometimes not castling can prove a bonus, as you
4 suddenly discover a rook in the corner to help out
0ZBO0M0o
3 with your weaknesses! 27… Rh7 and 28… Kh8
Z0Z0Z0ZP was a nice way of keeping the king safe (anagouma
2
POPZ0OPZ Shogi-style).
1
S0AQZRJ0
a b c d e f g h
LCZero—Stockfish after 10… Nb8– a6 8
0Zbs0Z0j
7
Stockfish shattered its pawn structure, grabbed a Z0l0ZpZr
pawn, moved its queen in the opening—and was en 6
pm0Z0Z0Z
route to equalising! 5
Z0Z0oNZp
4
8
rZ0Zka0s pZpZ0Z0Z
3
7
o0Z0ZpZ0 Z0Z0Z0LP
2
6
pZpO0o0Z 0O0Z0OPZ
1
5
Z0ZboqZ0 S0Z0SBJ0
a b c d e f g h
4
0Z0Z0M0o Stockfish—LCZero after 28… Kg8– h8
3
Z0Z0Z0ZP
2
PO0ZQOPZ
1
S0A0S0J0 Stockfish started to pick off weakies, but Leela
a b c d e f g h managed to exchange off queens. That was, how-
LCZero—Stockfish after 16… Be4– d5 ever, just the start of fresh adventures!
55
8 8
0Z0Z0ZkZ rZblka0s
7 7
Z0Z0ZpZr oponopZp
6 6
pm0Z0Z0Z 0Z0o0mpZ
5 5
Z0lrO0Zp Z0Z0Z0Z0
4 4
pZpZRZ0Z 0Z0OPZPZ
3 3
Z0Z0L0ZP Z0M0Z0Z0
2 2
0O0Z0ZPZ POPZ0O0O
1 1
Z0Z0SBJ0 S0AQJBMR
Stockfish—LCZero after 37… Qd6– c5 Book exit
A push of the e-pawn to e7 did not look Leela-

friendly! Next up was a sharp reply to a risky Lion
move order with the last book move (4… g6) being
8
0Z0ZkZ0Z slightly suboptimal!
7
Z0Z0OpZr
6
pm0Z0Z0Z
5
Z0s0Z0Zp
4 LCZero—Stockfish 0.5–0.5
pZpZRZ0Z
3
Z0Z0Z0ZP
2 Leela got optimistic very quickly, controlling space
0O0Z0ZPZ
1 on both sides of the board.
Z0Z0SBJ0
a b c d e f g h
Stockfish—LCZero after 40… Kf8– e8
8
However, there was no way through, pawns got rZblkZ0s
7
exchanged, and the game ended in a draw! opZ0opa0
6
0Z0o0mpo
5
Pair Current Pair Z0oPm0Z0
Engine 4
PZ0ZPZPO
score score wins
3
LCZero 1 (+0 =2 -0) 25.5 (+3) 1 Z0M0ZPZN
2
Stockfish 1 (+0 =2 -0) 34.5 (+12) 10 0OPZ0Z0Z
1
Pair result Double draw S0AQJBZR
a b c d e f g h
LCZero—Stockfish after 9. f2– f3
Game links:
Stockfish continued the trend of artificial cast-
Games 61–62 Risky Lion (B07) ling, breaking early and riskily with 9… e6. We’ve
often seen it: engines nowadays never wait to be
Book moves (Matthew): 1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 squashed. You’ll have a breakout to contend with
Nbd7 4. g4 g6 whatever happens!
56
8 8
rZbl0j0s 0Z0s0Z0s
7 7
opZ0Zpa0 opZnZ0j0
6 6
0Z0opmpo 0Z0Z0Zpo
5 5
ZBoPm0Z0 Z0oPa0Z0
4 4
PZ0ZPZPO PZ0Z0ZPO
3 3
Z0M0ZPZN S0Z0ZBZK
2 2
0OPZ0Z0Z 0OPZNl0Z
1 1
S0AQJ0ZR Z0Z0L0ZR
LCZero—Stockfish after 10… Ke8– f8 LCZero—Stockfish after 24. Qd1– e1
An opposite-coloured bishop ending ensued.

The full breakout came a couple of moves later
Stockfish wasn’t too thrilled—and we have seen it
based on the loose bishop on e3.
win some stunning OCB endings vs Leela in the
past—but managed to hold the draw after 72 moves.
8
0Z0s0j0s
7
opZ0lpa0 Stockfish—LCZero 1–0
6
0Z0Zbmpo
5 The reverse was another sad story for Leela fans.
Z0opm0Z0 Leela’s planned tactical breakout starting with
4
PZ0ZPMPO 26… Nb6
3
Z0M0APZ0 8
2
0OPZBZ0Z 0ZksrZ0Z
7
1
S0ZQJ0ZR opZ0ZpZ0
6
a b c d e f g h qmpo0ZpZ
5
LCZero—Stockfish after 14… d6– d5 Z0Z0aPOn
4
0Z0MPZ0S
Loose bishop on e3—told ya! 3
O0M0A0Z0
2
8
0OPL0Z0Z
0Z0s0j0s 1
ZKZRZ0Z0
7
opZ0Zpa0 a b c d e f g h
6
0Z0Z0mpo Stockfish—LCZero after 26… Nd7– b6
5
Z0oPZ0Z0 had to be aborted with a screeching halt
4
PZ0Z0MPO 8
3
Z0M0lnZ0 0ZksrZ0Z
7
2
0OPZBZ0Z opZnZpZ0
6
1
S0ZQZKZR qZpo0ZpZ
5
a b c d e f g h Z0Z0aPOn
4
LCZero—Stockfish after 17… Qe7Xe3 0Z0MPZ0S
3
O0M0A0Z0
As the tactics continued, it was Leela’s king that 2
0OPZ0ZQZ
suddenly came under attack, and Leela had to resort 1
ZKZRZ0Z0
to some cool defensive moves (20. Ra3, thank god a b c d e f g h
for 8. a4!) and an exchange of queens. Stockfish—LCZero after 27… Nb6– d7
57
leaving Stockfish in complete control. It took a LCZero—Stockfish 1–0

long time, but the result was never in doubt.
Stockfish channeled its inner Petrosian and Bron-
8 stein!
0Z0s0Z0Z
7
Zkl0ZpZ0 8
0j0s0a0s
6
0ZporOpZ 7
oboqmpop
5
ZpZ0m0On 6
0onZpZ0Z
4
0O0SPZ0Z 5
Z0ZpO0Z0
3
S0Z0Z0Z0 4
PZ0O0Z0O
2
0MPL0Z0A 3
Z0MBZNZ0
1
ZKZ0Z0Z0 2
0OPZ0OPZ
a b c d e f g h
1
Stockfish—LCZero after 62. Rc3– a3 S0AQZRJ0
a b c d e f g h
LCZero—Stockfish after 9… Kc8– b8
Pair Current Pair
Engine
score score wins
Both great players famous for …b6, …Bb7,
LCZero 0.5 (+0 =1 -1) 26 (+3) 1 …Qd7, …O-O-O in the French but with (whis-
Stockfish 1.5 (+1 =1 -0) 36 (+13) 11 per it quietly) not such amazing results. Some nice
Pair result Decisive pair games when it worked though!18
Book score Matthew–Jeroen 6–6 Looks like Leela decided that doubled pawns
Game links: were how to fight Stockfish!
0j0s0a0s
7
ZbZqZpop
Games 63–64 French 3… Nc6 (C10) 6
popZpZ0Z
5
Book moves (Jeroen): 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nc6 Z0ZpOnZ0
4
4. e5 Nge7 5. h4 PZ0O0Z0O
3
Z0ZPZNM0
2
8
rZblka0s 0O0A0OPZ
1
7
opo0mpop S0ZQZRJ0
6 a b c d e f g h
0ZnZpZ0Z
5 LCZero—Stockfish after 15. Ne2– g3
Z0ZpO0Z0
4
0Z0O0Z0O I’m never 100% sure about this doubled d-pawn
3
Z0M0Z0Z0 structure (you see it a lot in the Advance Caro-
2
POPZ0OPZ Kann), so I was looking forward to seeing how this
1
S0AQJBMR one goes! And it went very well! Leela got an old-
a b c d e f g h
style bind on Stockfish’s position
Book exit
18
E.g., Fridrik Olafsson vs Tigran V Petrosian, Bled
This slow French turned out to be a double (1961), rd 11, 0–1. h che ga e c e
smash! che ga e g d 11 65 4
58
8 8
0j0s0a0s 0Z0s0a0s
7 7
ZbZ0Zpo0 jboqmpop
6 6
pZpZpZ0Z po0ZpZ0Z
5 5
A0ZpO0Zp mNZpO0Z0
4 4
PZ0O0Z0Z 0Z0O0Z0O
3 3
Z0ZPZ0Z0 Z0ZBZNZ0
2 2
0ORZNOPZ 0OPZQOPZ
1 1
Z0Z0S0J0 S0A0S0J0
LCZero—Stockfish after 24. Bd2– a5 Stockfish—LCZero after 13. Nc3– b5+
and squeezed in a opposite-coloured bishop posi- Stockfish was very optimistic, Leela still not
tion until everything broke! over-concerned, but Stockfish’s evaluation reached
the stratosphere!
8
0Z0j0ZrZ
8
7
Z0ZbZpZ0 0Z0Z0s0Z
7
6
pZpApZ0Z ZkZ0ZPZ0
6
5
Z0OpO0Z0 pZ0Z0Z0Z
5
4
PO0O0Zps ZpZ0ZpOp
4
3
Z0S0Z0Z0 0ZPO0ArZ
3
2
0Z0ZKO0Z Z0Z0ZbO0
2
1
Z0Z0Z0S0 0Z0Z0Z0Z
1
a b c d e f g h
S0S0ZKZ0
LCZero—Stockfish after 41. Rg3– c3 a b c d e f g h
Stockfish—LCZero after 38. c3– c4
Would you assess this as +9.3 for White? The
In the reverse, Stockfish threw a cheeky rook’s reason was nothing to do with the rook on g4 being
pawn forward! trapped—it can be freed with …h4 and can’t even
be attacked! It’s all due to the vulnerability of the
8
0j0s0a0s black king, which is exploited by 43. Raa6!!
7
Zboqmpop
8
6
ponZpZ0Z 0Z0Z0Z0Z
7
5
O0ZpO0Z0 ZkZ0ZrZ0
6
4
0Z0O0Z0O RZ0ZRZ0Z
5
3
Z0MBZNZ0 ZpZ0ZpO0
4
2
0OPZ0OPZ 0Z0O0Aro
3
1
S0AQS0J0 Z0Z0ZbO0
2
a b c d e f g h
0Z0Z0Z0Z
1
Stockfish—LCZero after 11. a4– a5 Z0Z0ZKZ0
a b c d e f g h
Followed by a sham knight sacrifice. Stockfish—LCZero after 43. Ra1– a6
59
8
Even then the finish was exceedingly complex, rZ0l0skZ
but Stockfish made no mistake (of course!) Game 7
ZpZbZ0ap
pair saved! 6
nZpo0ZpZ
5
Z0mPopOP
4
pOPZPZ0Z
Pair Current Pair 3
Z0M0A0Z0
Engine
score score wins 2
PZ0MBO0Z
LCZero 1 (+1 =0 -1) 27 (+4) 1 1
Stockfish 1 (+1 =0 -1) 37 (+14) 11
S0ZQZKZR
a b c d e f g h
Pair result Reverse kill LCZero—Stockfish after 15. b2– b4
Game links:
h cec che c d f ga e 63 ea 23 The game followed a previous Leela-Stockfish
h cec che c d f ga e 64 ea 23 game19 until move 18 when Stockfish decided not
to sacrifice a piece with 18… QXg5 and instead re-
treated the knight to a6.
Games 65–66 King’s Indian (E73)

8
Book moves (Matthew): 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3
rZ0l0ska
7
Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Be2 O-O 6. Be3 e5 7. d5 a5 ZpZbZ0Zp
6
nZpZ0ZpO
5
Z0oPopO0
8
rmbl0skZ 4
pZPZPZ0Z
7
Zpo0Zpap 3
O0M0Z0Z0
6
0Z0o0mpZ 2
0Z0MBO0Z
5
o0ZPo0Z0 1
S0ZQZKZR
4
0ZPZPZ0Z a b c d e f g h
3
Z0M0A0Z0 LCZero—Stockfish after 18… Nb4– a6
2
PO0ZBOPO
1
S0ZQJ0MR When I analysed this position in Silicon Road,
a b c d e f g h
I liked ideas like 19. Rg1 keeping hold of the g5-
Book exit
pawn and burying the h8-bishop forever. I’d no-
ticed Leela’s recommendation of grabbing the b7-
It was a night to remember for Leela fans… but pawn and jettisoning the g5-pawn, and noted it was
not in a good way! more complicated…
And complicated is where the Fish gets motor-
ing. To the dismay/astonishment/anger/resignation
LCZero—Stockfish 0.5–0.5 (yes, we went through all the stages! ) of the
Leela fans, evaluations started to drop.
Using the dark arts of bookmakery, Stockfish had
been enticed into falling into the same positional 19
trap it had fallen into 3 seasons ago! 15. b4!! ea 2
60
8
0Z0s0ska Leela got its queenside play going nicely while
7
Z0mbZ0Zp Stockfish did another Shogi-style anagouma cast-
6
0SPZ0lpO ling with its king behind its rook!
5
Z0o0o0Z0 Leela punted the exchange of light-squared bish-
4
QZPZpZ0Z ops, which is not usually a great idea for Black
3
O0M0ZNZ0 in the King’s Indian… and Stockfish’s evaluation
2
0Z0ZBO0Z jumped!
1
Z0Z0ZKZR
a b c d e f g h
LCZero—Stockfish after 25… f5Xe4 8
0s0Z0skZ
By the time the tactics were finished, we had 7
Z0Z0lpap
reached an opposite-colour bishop middlegame 6
nZ0o0ZpZ
that Stockfish had no problems holding! 5
ZpmPo0OP
4
8
0Z0s0skZ pZ0ZPZ0Z
3
7
Z0Z0Z0Zp Z0M0A0Z0
2
6
0ZQZ0apO PO0ZQO0S
1
5
Z0o0l0Z0 Z0S0M0ZK
4 a b c d e f g h
PZPZ0Z0Z Stockfish—LCZero after 20. Qd1Xe2
3
Z0Z0ZRZ0
2
0Z0ZBO0Z
1
Z0Z0ZKZR
a b c d e f g h Criticise the Fish all you like, no one could ever
LCZero—Stockfish after 34… Qf5– e5 claim that it doesn’t know how to build a kingside
attack. And build it did!
And now the reverse. Surely Leela wouldn’t lose
8
a game pair which had been won 3 seasons ago? 0srZqZ0Z
7
Well… the game followed the previous one until Z0ZkZpap
move 13 where Stockfish played the also very sens- 6
nZ0o0ZpZ
ible 13. Rc1. 5
Z0mPo0OP
4
8
rZ0l0skZ po0ZPZNL
3
7
ZpZbZpap Z0Z0Z0MR
2
6
nZpo0ZpZ PO0A0OKZ
1
5
o0mPo0OP Z0S0Z0Z0
4 a b c d e f g h
0ZPZPZ0Z
3 Stockfish—LCZero after 30… Ke7– d7
Z0M0ANZ0
2
PO0ZBO0Z
1
Z0SQJ0ZR
a b c d e f g h Blows started to rain down on Leela’s position
Stockfish—LCZero after 13. Ra1– c1 from both sides of the board. It was a dizzying ride!
61
8
0ZrZ0ZqZ Engine
Pair Current Pair
7
Z0j0ZpaR score score wins
6
0Z0o0ZpZ LCZero 0.5 (+0 =1 -1) 27.5 (+4) 1
5
Z0mPo0O0 Stockfish 1.5 (+1 =1 -0) 38.5 (+15) 12
4
poNZPZ0Z Pair result Decisive pair
3
Z0ZnZ0ZQ Book score Matthew–Jeroen 7–6
2
PO0ANOKZ Game links:
1
Z0Z0Z0Z0 h cec che c d f ga e 65 ea 23
Stockfish—LCZero after 41… Nd7– c5
Games 67–68 Trompovsky (A45)

Finally the pressure became too great and Leela
had to allow a simple yet pleasing tactical blow Book moves (Jeroen): 1. d4 Nf6 2. Bg5 Ne4 3. h4
c5 4. d5 Qb6 5. Nd2 NXd2 6. BXd2
8
8
0ZrZ0ZqZ rmbZka0s
7
7
Z0j0ZpaR opZpopop
6
6
0Z0M0ZpZ 0l0Z0Z0Z
5
5
Z0mPo0O0 Z0oPZ0Z0
4
4
po0ZPZ0Z 0Z0Z0Z0O
3
3
Z0ZnZ0ZQ Z0Z0Z0Z0
2
2
PO0ANOKZ POPAPOPZ
1
1
Z0Z0Z0Z0 S0ZQJBMR
Stockfish—LCZero after 42. Nc4Xd6 Book exit
and then: LCZero—Stockfish 1–0
The opening was a Julian Hodgson Trompovsky

8
0ZrZ0ZqZ (with 3. h4) in which the b2-pawn was dangled in
7
Z0Z0ZpS0 front of a Fishy nose.
6
0Z0j0ZpZ
5
Z0mPo0O0 8
rZbZka0s
4
po0ZPZ0Z 7
opZnopop
3
Z0ZnZ0ZQ 6
0l0o0Z0Z
2
PO0ANOKZ 5
Z0oPZ0Z0
1
Z0Z0Z0Z0 4
PZ0ZPZ0O
a b c d e f g h 3
Stockfish—LCZero after 43. Rh7Xg7
Z0Z0Z0Z0
2
0OPA0OPZ
1
S0ZQJBMR
A winning game pair for me but somehow the a b c d e f g h
opposite of what I had imagined! LCZero—Stockfish after 8. a2– a4
62
Stockfish couldn’t resist for too long (8… QXb2 Stockfish—LCZero 0.5–0.5
surprising Jeroen because it had never done that in
his test games) and was soon under attack from both Stockfish needed to win the reverse to equalise the
rook’s pawns! mini-match! Even though it avoided Leela’s 8. a4,
8. Bc3 also looked pretty useful for White!
8
rZbZkarZ
7
oplnopZp
6
0Z0o0Z0O 8
5
O0oPZ0o0 0sblkZ0s
7
4
0Z0ZPZ0Z Z0Z0apZ0
6
3
Z0Z0Z0Z0 pZ0o0mpo
5
2
0ZPANOPZ ZpoPo0Z0
4
1
S0L0JBZR 0Z0ZPZPO
3
a b c d e f g h Z0Z0ZPM0
2
LCZero—Stockfish after 13. h5– h6 POPABZ0L
1
S0Z0J0ZR
Leela played very nicely, and Stockfish accumu- a b c d e f g h
lated pawn weaknesses as it struggled to develop. Stockfish—LCZero after 16… Ra8– b8
8
rZ0Z0ZrZ
7
obZ0ZkZp The moment was move 17 where Stockfish took
6
0Z0apZ0O the unprovoked decision to allow the sealing of the
5
Z0o0o0Z0 kingside with 17. h5 g5.
4
0Z0ZPZ0Z
3
Z0Z0ZPo0
2
0ZPABZPZ 8
0sblkZ0s
1
S0Z0J0ZR 7
Z0Z0apZ0
a b c d e f g h
6
LCZero—Stockfish after 24… Bc6Xb7
pZ0o0m0o
5
ZpoPo0oP
4
Eventually, something had to give, and Leela fin- 0Z0ZPZPZ
ished things off very smoothly. 3
Z0Z0ZPM0
2
8
POPABZ0L
rZ0Z0ZrZ 1
S0Z0J0ZR
7
o0abZ0Zp a b c d e f g h
6
BZ0Zpj0O Stockfish—LCZero after 17… g6– g5
5
Z0Z0o0ZR
4
0ZpZPO0Z
3
Z0A0Z0o0 It looked pretty unlikely that Stockfish could
2
0ZPZKZPZ open a queenside invasion channel large enough to
1
Z0Z0Z0ZR cause real damage, and that proved indeed the case.
a b c d e f g h It took 256 moves to prove it, but hey, that’s why we
LCZero—Stockfish after 36. f3– f4 watch engine chess right?
63
8
Engine
Pair Current Pair rmblkZns
7
score score wins opZ0Zpop
6
LCZero 1.5 (+1 =1 -0) 29 (+5) 2 0Z0ZpZ0Z
5
Stockfish 0.5 (+0 =1 -1) 39 (+15) 12 aNZpO0Z0
4
Pair result Decisive pair 0Z0O0Z0Z
OpZ0Z0Z0
2
Game links: 0ZPZ0OPO
1
S0AQJBMR
LCZero—Stockfish after 7… b4– b3+
We saw both 8. Bd2 and 8. c3 in the engines’

Games 69–70 French Winawer (C17)
lines, but Leela went for an unusual combination:
8. c3 Nc6 9. Rb1!?
Book moves (Matthew): 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3
Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. a3 Ba5 6. b4 cXb4 8
rZblkZns
7
opZ0Zpop
6
8
rmblkZns 0ZnZpZ0Z
5
7
opZ0Zpop aNZpO0Z0
4
6
0Z0ZpZ0Z 0Z0O0Z0Z
3
5
a0ZpO0Z0 OpO0Z0Z0
2
4
0o0O0Z0Z 0Z0Z0OPO
1
3
O0M0Z0Z0 ZRAQJBMR
2 a b c d e f g h
0ZPZ0OPO
1 LCZero—Stockfish after 9. Ra1– b1
S0AQJBMR
a b c d e f g h
The idea was to recapture on b3 with the
Book exit rook and to still have Qg4 hitting the g7-square
weakened by the absence of the dark-squared
The evening started with a dodgy version of a bishop.
French Winawer. Leela’s evaluation grew, and the position did in-
This line was first played in 1933; a few of the deed look promising as Leela probed Black’s king-
first games (e.g., Rabinovich-Tolush 1939) went side dark squares.
6… cXb4, but thereafter only 6… cXd4 was played. 8
Humans picked up very quickly on the critical/best
rZ0ZkZ0s
7
line! But the engines get the worse one! ZplbmpZp
6
pZnZpApZ
5
Z0ZpO0Z0
4
LCZero—Stockfish 0.5–0.5 PZ0O0ZQZ
3
ZRO0Z0Z0
After 7. Nb5, Black had a number of choices at 2
0Z0Z0OPO
its disposal: 7… Nc6 (the main ICCF move and 1
Z0Z0JBMR
a Stockfish favourite for some time). Eventually, a b c d e f g h
however, 7… b3+ was played. LCZero—Stockfish after 15. Bg5– f6
64
8
However, Leela’s development was lagging, and 0Z0Z0ZqZ
its queenside was also a little bit weak. Stockfish 7
Z0Z0ZpZp
used that to develop and exchange its light-squared 6
0ZkZpZpL
bishop. 5
ZpMpO0Z0
4
0ZnO0Z0O
3
s0O0Z0Z0
2
8
rZ0Zks0Z 0Z0Z0OPZ
1
7
Z0l0mpZp ZRZ0Z0J0
a b c d e f g h
6
pZ0ZpApZ LCZero—Stockfish after 36… Kb6– c6
5
mbZpO0Z0
4
0Z0O0Z0Z
3
S0O0Z0Z0 The game was drawn in 93 moves.
2
0Z0Z0OPO
1
Z0ZQJBMR
a b c d e f g h
LCZero—Stockfish after 18… Bd7Xb5
The reverse was also very interesting. Stockfish

went for a more traditional approach, recaptur-
It basically looked as if Black had moved ing the b3-pawn with the queen and grabbing the
everything away from the kingside, so the weak bishop pair.
dark squares didn’t matter!
8
0Zrl0j0s
7
8 opa0m0op
rZ0Z0s0Z 6
0Z0Zpo0Z
7
Z0lkmpZp 5
m0ZpO0Z0
6
0Z0ZpApZ 4
0Z0O0O0Z
5
ZpZpO0Z0 3
O0O0ZNZ0
4
0ZnO0Z0Z 2
0Z0A0ZPO
3
S0O0ZNZ0 1
SQZ0JBZR
2
0Z0Z0OPO a b c d e f g h
1
Z0ZQZRJ0 Stockfish—LCZero after 15. Ng1– f3
a b c d e f g h
LCZero—Stockfish after 21… Na5– c4
The key points were whether Stockfish would
manage to open a fresh attack channel on the king-
We reached a static position which looked prom- side and whether Leela would manage to repair the
ising to me but where there wasn’t actually a good disruption caused by the opening.
way to activate the white rook. Without that, White I was a bit surprised that Leela didn’t play …h5
didn’t have the firepower to trouble Black’s solid itself, but it seemed perfectly happy to take on h5
structure despite the passive black queen. and sit and wait. And wait it did for many moves!
65
8
0Zra0ZkZ Exchanges followed. It wasn’t clear to a human
7
ZpZqZ0sp that Black was definitely drawing this, but to an
6
pZ0ZpZnZ engine on 12-second increments, it’s like shelling
5 peas!
m0ApOpZR
4
PZ0O0O0Z 8
0Z0Z0Z0Z
3
Z0OBZNZ0 7
Z0Z0ZkZ0
2
0Z0Z0JPZ 6
0Z0ZpZ0Z
1
SQZ0Z0Z0 5
a0Z0OpZP
a b c d e f g h
4
Stockfish—LCZero after 24… Ne7– g6
BZ0Z0O0Z
3
Z0Z0m0Z0
2
More often than not, though, the engines find 0ZpZ0Z0J
1
a way to create something and that seemed to be Z0Z0Z0ZR
a b c d e f g h
happening around move 113(!), as 113. Ba3 hit the
knight on f8 after which h7 is vulnerable. Stockfish—LCZero after 129… c3– c2
Two draws in the French Winawer!

8
0s0a0m0j
7 Pair Current Pair
S0Z0Z0Zp Engine
score score wins
6
0ZqZpZ0Z
5 LCZero 1 (+0 =2 -0) 30 (+5) 2
Z0ZpOpZ0 Stockfish 1 (+0 =2 -0) 40 (+15) 12
4
0ZnO0O0Z
3 Pair result Double draw
ArZ0ZNO0 Book score Matthew–Jeroen 7–7
2
0ZQZBJ0Z
1 Game links:
Z0Z0Z0ZR h cec che c d f ga e 6 ea 23
a b c d e f g h
Stockfish—LCZero after 113. Bc1– a3
However, an exchange sacrifice (113… RXf3+) Games 71–72 Modern (B06)

and a cold-blooded king move (116… Kg8) Book moves (Jeroen): 1. d4 g6 2. e4 Bg7 3. Nf3
seemed to deal with the danger. White’s king was d6 4. Bd3 a6 5. O-O Nd7 6. c3 e6 7. Re1 Ne7
also suddenly looking a touch airy… 8
rZblkZ0s
7
8
0Z0Z0j0Z Zponmpap
6
7
Z0Z0Z0Zp pZ0opZpZ
5
6
0aqZpZ0Z Z0Z0Z0Z0
4
5
Z0ZpOpZ0 0Z0OPZ0Z
3
4
0Z0Z0O0Z Z0OBZNZ0
2
3
Z0ZQmBO0 PO0Z0OPO
1
2
0Z0Z0Z0Z SNAQS0J0
a b c d e f g h
1
Z0Z0ZKZR Book exit
a b c d e f g h
Stockfish—LCZero after 120… Nc4– e3+ Next up was a Hippo!
66
8
LCZero—Stockfish 0.5–0.5 0Z0ZnskZ
7
Z0ZRZpa0
6
Stockfish traded c-pawns and went for the Maginot 0Z0ZpZ0o
line approach! Leela used the rook’s pawns to tease 5
Z0Z0O0Zp
out some more weaknesses. 4
0Z0Z0Z0Z
3
s0Z0OPZ0
2
0Z0Z0Z0A
8
0Z0lnskZ 1
ZBS0Z0J0
7
ZbZ0mpa0 a b c d e f g h
6
rZ0opZpo LCZero—Stockfish after 42… Ra6Xa3
5
Z0Z0Z0Z0
pZ0OPZ0O
3
L0Z0ZNA0 The reverse was a bit of brutal Stockfish magic! A
2
0OBM0OPZ quick rook’s pawn march softened up Leela’s king-
1
Z0S0S0J0 side light squares, and the knights gravitated to-
a b c d e f g h wards them.
LCZero—Stockfish after 29. Bb1– c2
8
rZblrZkZ
7
Z0o0Zpa0
6
The game meandered on somewhat: Leela po0o0m0o
5
seemed unsure how to make any progress, and mPZ0o0oP
4
Stockfish was happily swimming around in circles PZ0OPZ0Z
3
in its little pond. However, at some stage Leela took Z0OBZ0Z0
2
the plunge and launched itself! 0A0Z0OPM
1
S0ZQSNJ0
a b c d e f g h
Stockfish—LCZero after 17. Nd2– f1
8
0Z0lnskZ
7
ZbZ0mpa0 Leela decided that the moment was ripe for the
6
rZ0opZpo breakout!
5
Z0Z0O0ZP 8
rZ0lrZkZ
4
pZ0O0Z0Z 7
Z0obZpa0
3
L0Z0ZNZ0 6
0o0Z0m0o
2
0O0M0OPA 5
mPZpo0oP
1
ZBS0S0J0 4
0Z0OPZ0Z
a b c d e f g h
3
LCZero—Stockfish after 33. h4– h5
Z0OBZ0M0
2
0A0Z0OPM
1
S0ZQS0J0
a b c d e f g h
However, the Stockfish liquidating technique Stockfish—LCZero after 19… d6– d5
once again proved very effective, and a draw was
soon the result. But Stockfish said: “No!”
67
8
rZ0lrZkZ In this position after Stockfish sacrificed the ex-
7
Z0obZpa0 change, Black has no good way to stop QXd6 fol-
6
0o0Z0Z0o lowed by Nf5+! White is simply winning a knight,
5 and there is nothing Leela can do about it.
mPZPOnoP
4 The conversion was trivial for Stockfish, and it
0Z0Z0Z0Z picked up another game pair win (leading 13–2),
3
Z0ZBZ0Z0 and Jeroen edged back ahead 8–7 in the book-
2
0AQZ0OPM makers’ competition!
1
S0Z0S0J0
a b c d e f g h
Pair Current Pair
Stockfish—LCZero after 23. Qd1– c2 Engine
score score wins
A knight does not simply enter the lair of Stock- LCZero 0.5 (+0 =1 -1) 30.5 (+5) 2
fish’s position! Fearing 23… Ne7 24. e6! (for Stockfish 1.5 (+1 =1 -0) 41.5 (+16) 13
good reason), Leela offered the knight back with Pair result Decisive pair
23… Nd6. Book score Matthew–Jeroen 7–8
There was once again a massive difference in
Game links:
opinion. With an offside knight, weak c7-pawn, h cec che c d f ga e 71 ea 23
and exposed king, I felt Leela’s 0.34 was on the in- h cec che c d f ga e 72 ea 23
souciant side, but I couldn’t really relate to Stock-
fish’s 5.13(!!), either!
Games 73–74 King’s Indian (E73)
8
rZ0Z0Z0Z Book moves (Matthew): 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3
7
ZnobZpj0 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Be2 O-O 6. g4 c5 7. d5 e6 8. h4
6
0o0l0Z0o
5 8
ZPZPZ0oP rmbl0skZ
4 7
0Z0Z0Z0Z opZ0Zpap
3 6
Z0LBS0Z0 0Z0opmpZ
2 5
0Z0Z0OPZ Z0oPZ0Z0
1 4
Z0Z0ZNJ0 0ZPZPZPO
a b c d e f g h 3
Z0M0Z0Z0
Stockfish—LCZero after 29. Qc2– c3+ 2
PO0ZBO0Z
1
The key point was quite amazing: S0AQJ0MR
a b c d e f g h
8
0Z0Z0Z0s Book exit
7
Z0ZQZpj0
6 This opening was originally one of my aban-
0o0m0Z0o doned anti-KID hacks a long time ago, and I re-
5
ZPZPl0oP cently came across it in one of GM Gawain Jones’s
4
0Z0Z0Z0Z excellent books on that opening.
3
Z0ZBM0Z0
2
0Z0Z0OPZ LCZero—Stockfish 0.5–0.5
1
Z0Z0Z0J0
a b c d e f g h We had a bit of a rollercoaster ride, as Stockfish’s
Stockfish—LCZero after 33. Qc7Xd7 evaluation jumped to -1.71 and then plunged down
68
8
to -0.57 multiple times within the same move! 0Z0lrZkZ
Stockfish started with a Tal-style pawn sacrifice! 7
ZbZ0ZpZp
6
0Z0o0Z0Z
5
s0ZPa0Op
4
8
rmbl0skZ PmpZ0M0O
3
7
o0Z0Zpap S0M0Z0Z0
2
6
0Z0o0mpZ 0O0Z0OKZ
1
5
ZpoPZ0Z0 Z0AQZ0ZR
4 a b c d e f g h
0ZPZ0ZPO
3 LCZero—Stockfish after 20… Ra8– a5
Z0M0Z0Z0
2
PO0ZBO0Z Leela sidestepped a possible mine, abandon-
1
S0AQJ0MR ing its favoured move for many minutes in the
a b c d e f g h end for Stockfish’s, and the position—though still
LCZero—Stockfish after 9… b7– b5 terrifying—
8
0Z0ZrZkZ
7
I use the phrase Tal-style advisedly, as it re-
Z0Z0ZpZp
6
minded me very much of his 1964 game against
0l0o0Z0Z
5
Thorbergsson:20 sNZ0Z0Op
4
PZ0Z0A0O
3
Z0ZQZbJ0
2
8 0O0Z0Z0Z
rmbl0skZ 1
Z0Z0Z0ZR
7
o0Z0Zpap a b c d e f g h
6
0Z0o0mpZ LCZero—Stockfish after 26… Bd5Xf3
5
ZpoPZ0Z0 ended in a draw when Leela set up one of its trade-
4
0ZPZ0O0Z mark fortresses!
3
Z0M0ZNZ0 8
0Z0Z0Z0Z
2
PO0ZBZPO 7
Z0Z0Zpj0
1
S0AQJ0ZR 6
0Z0Z0Z0l
a b c d e f g h
5
Thorbergsson—Tal after 9… b7– b5 (Reykjavik, Z0Z0Z0Zp
1964), rd 10 4
0Z0Z0Z0O
3
Z0Z0Z0ZR
2
To be honest, it looked dead scary for White, 0Z0Z0MKZ
1
but Leela was very calm while Stockfish was al- Z0Z0Z0Z0
a b c d e f g h
ternately claiming a win and then sinking into the
LCZero—Stockfish after 41. Kf1– g2
depths of despair.
20
Freysteinn Thorbergsson vs Mikhail Tal. Reyk-
javik (1964), rd 10. h che ga e c e In the reverse, Leela went for 15… Nc7 rather than
che ga e g d 113 7 1 Stockfish’s 15… Nb4.
69
8 8
rZblrZkZ qZ0s0ZkZ
7 7
Z0m0Zpap Z0Z0ZpZp
6 6
0Z0o0ZpZ 0Z0s0ZbZ
5 5
ZNoPZ0On Z0L0S0Op
4 4
PZ0Z0Z0O 0O0Z0Z0O
3 3
S0Z0Z0Z0 Z0Z0A0M0
2 2
0O0ZBO0Z 0Z0Z0O0Z
1 1
Z0AQZKMR Z0Z0Z0J0
Stockfish—LCZero after 15… Na6– c7 Stockfish—LCZero after 30. b2– b4
Things seemed to be going Leela’s way, Pair Current Pair

Engine
score score wins
8 LCZero 1 (+0 =2 -0) 31.5 (+5) 2

rZ0Z0ZkZ Stockfish 1 (+0 =2 -0) 42.5 (+16) 13
7
Z0l0ZpZp Pair result Double draw
6
0Z0o0Z0Z Book score Matthew–Jeroen 7–8
5
Z0oPabOp Game links:
4
PZ0Z0ZrO h cec che c d f ga e 73 ea 23
3
S0Z0Z0M0 h cec che c d f ga e 74 ea 23
2
0O0Z0OKZ
1
Z0AQS0Z0 Games 75–76 Ruy Lopez (C92)
a b c d e f g h
Stockfish—LCZero after 21… Bc8– f5 Book moves (Jeroen): 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5
a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6
8. c3 O-O 9. h3 Nd7 10. d4 Nb6 11. Nbd2 Bf6
but an exchange sacrifice on move 23 stabilised
12. Nf1 Na5
matters for Stockfish.
8
rZbl0skZ
7
8
rZ0Z0ZkZ Z0o0Zpop
6
7
Z0ZqZpZp pm0o0a0Z
5
6
0Z0o0Z0Z mpZ0o0Z0
4
5
Z0oPSbOp 0Z0OPZ0Z
3
4
PZ0Z0ZrO ZBO0ZNZP
2
3
Z0Z0Z0M0 PO0Z0OPZ
1
2
0O0Z0OKZ S0AQSNJ0
1 a b c d e f g h
Z0AQS0Z0 Book exit
a b c d e f g h
Stockfish—LCZero after 23. Re3Xe5
It was a pretty wild night. Jeroen had chosen
a slightly misplayed Ruy Lopez for the engines to
It was strangely hard to find mating threats fight out. Black has somehow mixed a few plans:
against the white king with the knight on g3! …Bf6, …Nd7–b6, and …Na5.
70
8
LCZero—Stockfish 1–0 rZ0l0skZ
7
Z0Zbmnap
Leela always closes the centre quickly (Karpov- 6
pZ0o0opZ
style) in these positions, and this was no exception. 5
15. d5 stops the knight on a5 from coming back to
OpoPo0O0
4
play via c6. 0Z0ZPZ0O
3
ZPO0MNZ0
2
0ZBZQO0Z
1
8
rZbZ0skZ S0A0Z0SK
7 a b c d e f g h
Z0l0Zpop
6 Leela’s PV after 24… Nc8– e7 (variation)
pm0o0a0Z
5
mpoPo0Z0 However, Stockfish went for something a little
4
0Z0ZPZ0Z odder, playing 20… Bh6. Leela jumped at the
3
ZPO0ZNZP opportunity to pinpoint the queenside defect in
2
PZBZ0OPZ Black’s position: the pawn on b5.
1
S0AQSNJ0 8
a b c d e f g h rZ0m0skZ
7
LCZero—Stockfish after 15. d4– d5 Z0lbZ0Zp
6
0m0o0opa
5
With the centre closed, Leela started playing ZpoPo0Z0
4
on both wings, first teasing the b5-pawn and then 0Z0ZPZ0Z
3
preparing kingside expansion with 19. Kh1 and ZPOBMNZP
2
20. Rg1. 0Z0AQOPZ
1
S0Z0Z0SK
a b c d e f g h
8
rZ0Z0skZ LCZero—Stockfish after 23. Bc2– d3
7
ZnlbZ0Zp
6 Stockfish’s plan was to give up a pawn to free its
pm0o0opa position and then hang on in entrenched positions.
5
ZpoPo0Z0
4
PZ0ZPZ0Z 8
0Z0m0skZ
3
ZPO0MNZP 7
Z0lbZ0Zp
2
0ZBAQOPZ 6
0m0o0opZ
1
S0Z0Z0SK 5
Z0ZPo0Z0
a b c d e f g h
4
LCZero—Stockfish after 21. Bc1– d2
0ZNZPZ0Z
3
Z0OBZ0ZP
2
0Z0MQOPZ
Leela was gladdening the heart of every grizzled 1
S0Z0Z0ZK
Chigorin enthusiast by recommending Rubinstein’s a b c d e f g h
…Nf7, …Ne7 regrouping as the best defence.21 LCZero—Stockfish after 27. Nf3Xd2
21
Leela’s PV moves: 20… Nd8 21. g4 Nf7 22. h4 Qd8 We have seen Stockfish survive such positions
23. a5 Nc8 24. g5 Ne7 after 180 moves of grim defending, so I wondered
71
whether Leela would regret cashing in on its ad- and Leela’s evaluation jumped to 2.06!
vantage so quickly. However, Leela’s evaluation Leela made no mistakes with the conversion,
continued to rise smoothly. squeezing Black’s pieces to the sides of the board
and picking up loose pawns! 1–0… could Leela
8
0sqZ0Z0Z hold the reverse?
7
S0ZbZnj0 One of the beautiful things about Leela–
6
0Z0o0opZ Stockfish matchups is how fundamentally different
5 the engines are. It’s quite heart-warming to see two
Z0mPo0Zp
4 3600-Elo engines taking totally different paths in a
0Z0ZPZ0O complex position!
3
Z0O0M0Z0
2
0ZBM0OPZ
1
L0Z0Z0J0 Stockfish—LCZero 1–0
a b c d e f g h
Stockfish’s approach was totally different: keep the
LCZero—Stockfish after 36. Ra8– a7
centre fluid and then ramp up the pressure some
more with f4.
The queens came off, and Leela’s evaluation con-
tinued to rise… as did Stockfish’s!
8
0ZbZrskZ
7
8
0Z0Z0j0Z Znl0Zpap
6
7
ZnZbZnZ0 pm0o0ZpZ
5
6
0M0o0opZ Zpo0o0Z0
4
5
Z0ZPo0Zp 0Z0OPO0Z
3
4
0Z0ZPZ0O ZPO0A0MP
2
3
Z0O0M0Z0 PZBL0ZPM
1
2
0ZBZ0OPZ Z0S0S0ZK
1 a b c d e f g h
Z0Z0Z0J0 Stockfish—LCZero after 21. f2– f4
a b c d e f g h
LCZero—Stockfish after 41. Nc4– b6
There was even an echo of AlphaZero with a
Even engines suffer from despair! Stockfish march of the rook’s pawn to h6 to squeeze the black
broke out with 46… g5, king further!
8 8
0ZNZ0j0Z 0Zbs0skZ
7 7
Z0Z0ZnZ0 Z0l0Z0ap
6 6
0Z0o0o0Z pm0onopO
5 5
ZbmPo0op ZpZ0Z0Z0
4 4
0Z0ZPZ0O 0ZpOPZ0Z
3 3
Z0O0MPZ0 ZPO0A0M0
2 2
0ZBJ0ZPZ PZBL0ZPZ
1 1
Z0Z0Z0Z0 Z0S0SNZK
LCZero—Stockfish after 46… g6– g5 Stockfish—LCZero after 27. h5– h6
72
Stockfish also showed its fantastic strategical Leela avoided losing anything at once, but the
side by playing over the whole board: now a queen- pressure was growing unbearable. Eventually,
side thrust with a4! Leela jettisoned the d5-pawn to swap off the rooks,
8 8
0Zbs0ska 0Z0Z0mka
7 7
Z0l0Z0Zp Z0ZqZ0Zp
6 6
pm0onopO 0Z0Z0ZpO
5 5
ZpZ0Z0Z0 ZpZPZpZ0
4 4
PZpOPZ0Z 0ZnO0M0Z
3 3
ZPO0A0M0 Z0O0ZQZ0
2 2
0ZBL0ZPZ 0ZBZ0ZPZ
1 1
Z0S0SNZK Z0A0Z0ZK
Stockfish—LCZero after 28. a2– a4 Stockfish—LCZero after 50. Ne2– f4
The game still balanced on a knife-edge, how- but it didn’t lead to much reduction in pressure!
ever, but then Stockfish started to get a sniff of some Stockfish won easily to equalise the game pair!
kingside play. First, the flexible 37. Re2.
Pair Current Pair
Engine
8 score score wins
0Z0srZka
7
Zbl0Z0Zp LCZero 1 (+1 =0 -1) 32.5 (+6) 2
6 Stockfish 1 (+1 =0 -1) 43.5 (+17) 13
pZ0ZnopO
5
ZpZpZ0Z0 Pair result Reverse kill
PZnOPZ0L
3
ZBO0Z0M0 Game links:
0Z0ZRZPZ h cec che c d f ga e 76 ea 23
1
Z0ARZNZK
a b c d e f g h
Stockfish—LCZero after 37. Re1– e2 Games 77–78 Vienna (C25)
Book moves (Matthew): 1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nc6
Then, BOOM!!
3. Bc4 f5
8 8
0Z0lrmka rZblkans
7 7
ZbZrZ0Zp opopZ0op
6 6
0Z0Z0opO 0ZnZ0Z0Z
5 5
ZpZpZ0ZN Z0Z0opZ0
4 4
0ZnOPZ0L 0ZBZPZ0Z
3 3
Z0O0Z0M0 Z0M0Z0Z0
2 2
0ZBZRZPZ POPO0OPO
1 1
Z0A0S0ZK S0AQJ0MR
Stockfish—LCZero after 42. Rd1– e1 Book exit
73
8
Next up was my opening, taken from Jonathan rZbZka0s
Tait’s very nice book A Disreputable Opening Rep- 7
Zpo0l0Zp
ertoire22 . A King’s Gambit a tempo down, what 6
pZno0m0Z
could possibly go wrong? 5
Z0Z0o0o0
4
0OBZPo0Z
O0MPZNZP
2
A lot of my test games in this line had been reverse 0APZ0OPZ
1
kills (White wins both) but very thrilling and tense S0ZQZRJ0
a b c d e f g h
ones! Stockfish went for a plan I’d seen before,
LCZero—Stockfish after 10… g6– g5
closing the centre quickly.
Only now as both engines followed their
8
rZblka0s identical main lines, the penny dropped with a sick-
7
opo0Z0op ening thud, as my English teacher was wont to say.
6
0Zno0m0Z The evaluations of both engines collapsed. What
5
Z0Z0o0Z0 had they missed? Both had seen from way back
4
0ZBZPo0Z that Black should meet the apparently destructively
3
O0MPZNZ0 decisive 15. NXe5
2
0OPZ0OPO 8
rZbZka0s
1
S0AQJ0ZR 7
Zpo0m0lp
a b c d e f g h
6
pZ0o0Z0Z
5
ZPZPM0Z0
4
Unfortunately for Leela, it spotted something 0ZBZ0opZ
3
tactical that looked reeaaaaaally good, even Stock- O0ZPZ0ZP
2
fish agreed at first. So Leela castled kingside… 0APZ0OPZ
1
S0ZQS0J0
8 a b c d e f g h
rZbZka0s
7 LCZero—Stockfish after 15. Nf3Xe5
Zpo0l0Zp
6
pZno0mpZ with 15… Rg8!! (The queen pins the knight on e5
5
Z0Z0o0Z0 to the bishop on b2!)
4
0OBZPo0Z
3
O0MPZNZP 8
rZbZkarZ
2
0APZ0OPZ 7
Zpo0m0lp
1
S0ZQZRJ0 6
pZ0o0Z0Z
a b c d e f g h 5
ZPZPM0Z0
LCZero—Stockfish after 10. O-O 4
0ZBZ0opZ
3
…and Stockfish—somewhat in desperation—
O0ZPZ0ZP
2
pushed 10… g5. 0APZ0OPZ
1
S0ZQS0J0
22
Tait, Jonathan. A Disreputable Opening Repertoire. a b c d e f g h
Everyman Chess, 2022. LCZero—Stockfish after 15… Rh8– g8
74
8
What Leela had missed was that after 16. bXa6, rZbZkZrZ
7
8 Z0o0m0Zp
rZbZkarZ 6
pZ0l0Z0Z
7
Zpo0m0lp 5
Z0ZPL0Z0
6
PZ0o0Z0Z 4
0ZBO0ZpO
5
Z0ZPM0Z0 3
O0Z0Z0O0
4
0ZBZ0opZ 2
0ZPZ0Z0Z
3
O0ZPZ0ZP 1
S0Z0S0J0
2
0APZ0OPZ a b c d e f g h
1
S0ZQS0J0 LCZero—Stockfish after 23… Qb6– d6
a b c d e f g h
LCZero—Stockfish after 16. b5Xa6 and you thought Leela might emerge at least with
Black can calmly reply 16… bXa6 some ending advantage. But after Stockfish’s
clever 25… Be6, liquidation and a draw set in.
8
rZbZkarZ
7 8
Z0o0m0lp rZ0ZkZrZ
6 7
pZ0o0Z0Z Z0o0l0Zp
5 6
Z0ZPM0Z0 pZ0ObZ0Z
4 5
0ZBZ0opZ Z0Z0Z0Z0
3 4
O0ZPZ0ZP 0ZBO0ZpO
2 3
0APZ0OPZ O0Z0Z0O0
1 2
S0ZQS0J0 0ZPZ0Z0Z
a b c d e f g h 1
S0Z0S0J0
LCZero—Stockfish after 16… b7Xa6 a b c d e f g h
LCZero—Stockfish after 25… Bc8– e6
and leave the situation as it is for a move
longer! The game looked like a 19th -century King’s
Gambit—an Allgaeir or something! Stockfish—LCZero 1–0
8
rZbZkZrZ How would the reverse go? Well, it proved to be a
7 total disaster for Leela. Leela deviated already with
Z0o0m0ap 5… fXe4.
6
pZ0Z0Z0l
5
Z0ZPA0Z0 8
rZblka0s
4
0ZBZ0ZpO 7
opopZ0op
3
O0ZPZ0O0 6
0ZnZ0m0Z
2
0ZPZQZ0Z 5
Z0Z0o0Z0
1
S0Z0S0J0 4
0ZBZPZ0Z
a b c d e f g h
3
LCZero—Stockfish after 21. Qd1– e2 O0M0Z0Z0
2
0OPZ0OPO
Unfortunately for Leela, the conclusion was less 1
S0AQJ0MR
romantic, as Stockfish found a clean path to the a b c d e f g h
draw. 23… Qd6 allowed a little tactic, Stockfish—LCZero after 6. d3Xe4
75
8
This led to a Schliemann a tempo down for Black rZ0mkZ0Z
(as White has played Bc4 directly, not Bb5–c4). I 7
Zpo0Z0Zr
thought Black might have to face a bind, but Stock- 6
0Z0Z0oNo
fish clearly had plans for the day and went for the 5
o0a0o0Z0
jugular at once with 8. Ng5! 4
0ZBZPZbZ
3
O0Z0Z0Z0
2
0OPA0ZPO
1
8
rZblkZ0s Z0J0SRZ0
a b c d e f g h
7
opo0Z0op Stockfish—LCZero after 21. Rd1– e1
6
0Zno0m0Z
5 but didn’t manage to avoid the pain of defeat!
Z0a0o0M0
4
0ZBZPZ0Z Pair Current Pair
3 Engine
O0M0Z0Z0 score score wins
2
0OPZ0OPO LCZero 0.5 (+0 =1 -1) 33 (+6) 2
1
S0AQJ0ZR Stockfish 1.5 (+1 =1 -0) 45 (+18) 14
a b c d e f g h
Stockfish—LCZero after 8. Nf3– g5 Book score Matthew–Jeroen 8–8
Game links:
It was time to be hyper-precise, but Leela’s
8… Qd7 showed it had missed a crucial detail:
Stockfish’s 12. Rf1!! Games 79–80 English (A27)
Book moves (Jeroen): 1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. Nf3
f5 4. g3 d6 5. d4 e4 6. d5 Ne5
8
8
rZbm0j0s rZblkans
7
7
opoqZ0Zp opo0Z0op
6
6
0Z0o0o0Z 0Z0o0Z0Z
5
5
Z0a0o0MQ Z0ZPmpZ0
4
4
0ZBZPZ0Z 0ZPZpZ0Z
3
3
O0Z0Z0Z0 Z0M0ZNO0
2
2
0OPZ0OPO PO0ZPO0O
1
1
S0A0JRZ0 S0AQJBZR
Stockfish—LCZero after 12. Rh1– f1 Book exit

This featured a dodgy English!
Taking the knight was too dangerous (BXg5 and
f4 is coming), but so was not taking it! Leela man- With an evaluation of 0.60, Leela was extremely
aged to exchange the queens confident, and Stockfish’s evaluation even peaked
76
8
at 2.03! Funnily enough, though, despite Leela rZbZkZ0s
playing Stockfish’s moves, Stockfish’s evaluation 7
opo0l0Zp
started to fall. 6
0Z0o0ZpZ
5
8
rZbZkZ0s Z0ZPapZ0
4
7
opo0l0ap 0ZPZPO0O
3
6
0Z0o0Zpm Z0M0Z0O0
2
5
Z0ZPmpZ0 PO0Z0ZBJ
1
4
0ZPMpZ0O S0ZQZRZ0
a b c d e f g h
3
Z0M0ZPO0 LCZero—Stockfish after 16. f3– f4
2
PO0ZPZBZ
1
S0AQZRJ0 Stockfish intended to play a position a pawn down
a b c d e f g h
but with a broken White queenside structure.
8
rZ0Z0skZ
It was due to this move 11… Nd3!! 7
opo0Z0lp
6
8
rZbZkZ0s 0Z0o0ZpZ
5
7
opo0l0ap Z0ZPZ0Z0
4
6
0Z0o0Zpm 0ZPLBObO
3
5
Z0ZPZpZ0 Z0O0Z0O0
2
4
0ZPMpZ0O PZ0Z0ZKZ
1
3
Z0MnZPO0 S0Z0ZRZ0
2 a b c d e f g h
PO0ZPZBZ
1 LCZero—Stockfish after 20… Bc8– g4
S0AQZRJ0
a b c d e f g h
And that was that! Leela struggled to create any-
LCZero—Stockfish after 11… Ne5– d3
thing at all from this position, and Stockfish just
You’re surprised it doesn’t lose more than a pawn played 23… b6 and waited! A well-timed 32… h5
to be honest! However, Stockfish’s idea was quite after 30. g4 also removed any chances White might
deep. After 15… Be5, have to break on the kingside!
8
8
rZbZkZ0s 0Z0Z0skZ
7
7
opo0l0Zp o0o0ZqZ0
6
6
0Z0o0ZpZ 0o0o0ZpZ
5
5
Z0ZPapZ0 Z0ZPZbOp
4
4
0ZPZPZ0O 0ZPL0O0O
3
3
Z0M0ZPO0 Z0OBS0J0
2
2
PO0Z0ZBJ PZ0Z0Z0Z
1
1
S0ZQZRZ0 Z0Z0Z0Z0
LCZero—Stockfish after 15… Bd4– e5 LCZero—Stockfish after 34… Bg4– f5
Black is threatening 16… QXh4+, and after 16. f4 The game ended in a draw!
77
8
Stockfish—LCZero 1–0 QZ0Z0Z0Z
7
Z0S0Z0Zp
6
The reverse was a bit painful! Leela played 0Z0o0ZkZ
5
11… Nef7 Z0Z0Z0Z0
4
0Z0Z0Z0Z
3
Z0ZqZ0ZB
2
8 0Z0Z0Z0Z
rZbZkZ0s 1
Z0Z0J0Z0
7
opo0lnap a b c d e f g h
6
0Z0o0Zpm Stockfish—LCZero after 61. Kf1– e1
5
Z0ZPZpZ0
4
0ZPMpZ0O But a couple of moves later, Leela had seen the
3
Z0M0ZPO0 truth!
2
PO0ZPZBZ
1
S0AQZRJ0 Engine
Pair Current Pair
a b c d e f g h score score wins
Stockfish—LCZero after 11… Ne5– f7 LCZero 0.5 (+0 =1 -1) 33.5 (+6) 2
Stockfish 1.5 (+1 =1 -0) 46.5 (+19) 15
instead of Stockfish’s 11… Nd3 and was soon hav-
ing problems holding its e4-pawn and its light Game links:
squares. Stockfish carried on plundering material h cec che c d f ga e 7 ea 23
left right and centre.
Games 81–82 Alekhine (B03)

8
0ZrZ0Zrj Book moves (Matthew): 1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4
7
L0oqZ0Zp d6 4. c4 Nb6 5. f4 g6
6
0Z0o0m0Z 8
5
Z0Z0mNZ0 rmblka0s
7
4
0ZPZ0Z0O opo0opZp
6
3
ZRZ0O0O0 0m0o0ZpZ
5
2
PZ0Z0ZBZ Z0Z0O0Z0
4
1
Z0Z0ZRJ0 0ZPO0O0Z
3
a b c d e f g h Z0Z0Z0Z0
2
Stockfish—LCZero after 32. Nd4Xf5 PO0Z0ZPO
1
SNAQJBMR
a b c d e f g h
Book exit
The end was slightly bizarre, as Stockfish an-
nounced mate in 49 while Leela was still glitching Games 81 and 82 were 5… g6 in the Alekhine
at 1.13. against the Four Pawns attack.
78
8
LCZero—Stockfish 0.5–0.5 0ZrZ0a0s
7
ZponZkZp
6
I got interested in this line after a game as White pZnZbopZ
5
in a Dutch rapid event. If it (half-)worked, it would Z0Z0Z0Z0
be a lovely way to avoid the depressing main lines! 4
0ZPZ0O0Z
Stockfish took the equally depressing decision to 3
ZPM0ABZP
head for a worse endgame. 2
PZ0SNJPZ
1
Z0Z0Z0ZR
a b c d e f g h
LCZero—Stockfish after 19. Ng1– e2
8
0ZrZkZ0s
7
opo0opap
6
0mnZbZpZ Leela reshuffled its pieces multiple times. But
5
ZNZ0O0Z0 although it still didn’t look fun for Black, Stockfish
4
0ZPZ0O0Z was not losing any sleep! The game ended in a draw
3
ZPZ0A0ZP on move 84.
2
PZ0S0ZPZ
1
Z0Z0JBMR
a b c d e f g h
LCZero—Stockfish after 13. b2– b3
I was expecting more fireworks with Stockfish as

White, and indeed, Leela really channeled its inner
Not everyone is a fan of the Alekhine! hypermodernist with some very provocative play to
draw forward the white centre.
8
Christof Sielecki
@ChessExplained
rmbl0skZ
7
Replying to @gmmds opZ0opap
6
0m0Z0ZpZ
5
I have been toying with the idea of an Z0ZPO0Z0
4
Alekhine’s Defence course for years, but 0Z0Z0Z0Z
3
it’s just so depressing - in about all lines, Z0M0ANZ0
2
really PO0ZBZPO
1
S0ZQZRJ0
Nov 14, 2022 a b c d e f g h
h e c he a ed a
15 2 78811218468864 Stockfish—LCZero after 13. c4Xd5
Well, the first task of drawing forward White’s

It looked like unpleasant pressure, but the Fish centre had definitely been achieved. Now to under-
thrives on unpleasant defence! mine it…
79
8
rm0l0skZ equal? Leela (from long afar) was assessing these
7
opZ0Zpap endings as equal,
6
0m0ZpZpZ 8
0Z0Z0Z0Z
5
Z0ZPO0Z0 7
o0Z0Z0Zk
4
0Z0L0Z0Z 6
0ZRZ0ZpZ
3
Z0M0ARZ0 5
Z0Z0a0Zp
2
PO0ZBZPO 4
0Z0Z0Z0Z
1
S0Z0Z0J0 3
Z0Z0Z0Z0
a b c d e f g h
2
Stockfish—LCZero after 15… e7– e6
0Z0Z0ZPO
1
Z0Z0Z0ZK
a b c d e f g h
And Leela started. This looked weakening!
Stockfish evaluation was still very high but Leela’s Stockfish—LCZero after 39. Rc1Xc6
started to drop… Some of Stockfish’s evaluation which humans certainly know to be true, too. I
had disappeared, but it was still clearly on top. drew this ending aged around 12 against an Eng-
lish IM, so it’s been in my head for a long time!
8
rZ0Z0Z0j Stockfish, however, was not so cultured. This is the
7
o0Z0Z0Z0 best White gets:
6
0ZpApZpa 8
0Z0Z0ZkZ
5
Z0ZqO0Zp 7
Z0Z0Z0Z0
4
0Z0Z0Z0Z 6
0Z0ZKZpZ
3
Z0Z0Z0Z0 5
Z0Z0Z0Zp
2
PO0Z0LPO 4
0Z0Z0Z0Z
1
Z0Z0ZRJ0 3
Z0Z0ZRZP
a b c d e f g h
2
Stockfish—LCZero after 28. Bc5– d6 0Z0Z0ZPZ
1
a0Z0Z0Z0
However, Leela went for a risky pawn grab and a b c d e f g h
seemed to think equality was in reach! Stockfish—LCZero after 88… Kg7– g8
8
The dark-squared bishop stays on the a1-h8 di-
rZ0Z0Z0j agonal, and the white king never gets to attack the
7
o0Z0Z0Z0 kingside pawns! Stockfish carried on fruitlessly for
6
0ZpApZpa 145 moves before agreeing a draw!
5
Z0Z0O0Zp
4 Pair Current Pair
0Z0Z0Z0Z Engine
score score wins
3
Z0Z0Z0Z0
2 LCZero 1 (+0 =2 -0) 34.5 (+6) 2
qO0Z0LPO Stockfish 1 (+0 =2 -0) 47.5 (+19) 15
1
Z0Z0ZRJ0 Pair result Double draw
a b c d e f g h
Stockfish—LCZero after 28… Qd5Xa2
Game links:
Leela was looking at all sorts of exchange sac- h cec che c d f ga e 81 ea 23
rifices, which it considered dead equal. Why so h cec che c d f ga e 82 ea 23
80
Games 83–84 King’s Indian Bayonet (E97) 8

rZ0l0snZ
7
ZpZ0Z0ak
Book moves (Jeroen): 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 6
0Z0o0Zpo
Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O Nc6 5
OpZPo0Z0
8. d5 Ne7 9. b4 Nh5 10. Re1 f5 11. a4 Nf6 12. a5 4
h6
0Z0ZBZ0Z
3
A0Z0Z0ZP
2
0Z0Z0OPZ
8
rZbl0skZ 1
Z0SQS0J0
7 a b c d e f g h
opo0m0a0
6
0Z0o0mpo LCZero—Stockfish after 22… a6Xb5
5
O0ZPopZ0 which it had no trouble defending.
4
0OPZPZ0Z
Z0M0ZNZ0
2
0Z0ZBOPO Leela’s task was to hold as Black as well. Leela’s
1
S0AQS0J0 play (13… Kh7, 14… Rb8, and 15… b6) was a bit
a b c d e f g h
odd.
Book exit
8
0sbl0s0Z
7
The next game was a Bayonet King’s Indian.
o0o0m0ak
6
0o0o0mpo
5
O0ZPopZ0
4
0OPZPZ0Z
Z0M0Z0Z0
2
These always used to be painful for Stockfish in
0A0M0OPO
1
the good old days but not anymore. Stockfish’s re- S0ZQSBJ0
a b c d e f g h
strained 13… c6 approach Stockfish—LCZero after 15… b7– b6
The big question was: would Stockfish play c6

8 (as it often likes to do in the Mar del Plata) or cXd6?
rZbl0skZ It was 22. cXd6, and Stockfish’s original intention
7
opZ0m0a0 was to follow up 23. b5
6
0Zpo0mpo 8
5
O0ZPopZ0 0s0l0s0Z
7
4
0OPZPZ0Z o0Zbm0Zk
6
3
Z0M0Z0Z0 Po0o0mpZ
5
2
0Z0MBOPO ZPZPo0Zp
4
1
S0AQS0J0 0Z0ZPo0Z
3
a b c d e f g h Z0MBZ0Z0
2
LCZero—Stockfish after 13… c7– c6 0A0L0OPO
1
ZRZ0S0J0
a b c d e f g h
gave it a stable, slightly worse position, Stockfish—LCZero after 23. b4– b5
81
8
with Na2–b4–c6. I wasn’t 100% sure that there rZ0l0Z0Z
would be a breakthrough if Black captured on c6 7
o0ZbZ0j0
unless g3 could follow very quickly. After some 6
Po0o0snm
thought, Stockfish went 24. Ba3 and 25. Be2 5
ZPZPo0ZB
4
0Z0ZPopZ
3
8
0s0l0Z0Z ARZ0ZPZ0
2
7
o0Zbm0Zk 0Z0Z0ZPO
1
6
Po0o0spZ Z0SNL0J0
a b c d e f g h
5
ZPZPo0Zp Stockfish—LCZero after 32. f2– f3
4
0Z0ZPonZ
3
A0M0Z0Z0 Black did manage to create a bit of counterplay
2
0Z0LBOPO (it’s a King’s Indian after all!), but Stockfish just
1
ZRZ0S0J0 curled up in a ball.
a b c d e f g h
8
Stockfish—LCZero after 25. Bd3– e2 0Z0Z0Z0s
7
o0ZbZnj0
6
and its eval boomed! I’m still confused why! One Po0Z0ZnZ
5
part was discovering Nd1–b2–c4. Another part ZPZPo0l0
4
was invasion prospects on the c-file. Yet a key part 0Z0ZPo0Z
3
seemed to also be grabbing a pawn on h5. Z0Z0ZNZ0
2
Black’s natural plan to get counterplay going was 0A0ZBSPO
1
to regroup with …Nh6 intending …g4, which was Z0Z0ZQJ0
where grabbing the h5-pawn came in. a b c d e f g h
Stockfish—LCZero after 46. Nd2– f3
8
0s0l0Z0Z After that with two extra pawns and a big target
7 on e5, it was just shelling peas for the Fish!
o0ZbZ0Zk
6
Po0o0snm
5
ZPZPo0oB Pair Current Pair
Engine
4 score score wins
0Z0ZPo0Z
3 LCZero 0.5 (+0 =1 -1) 35 (+6) 2
A0Z0Z0Z0 Stockfish 1.5 (+1 =1 -0) 49 (+20) 16
2
0Z0L0OPO
1 Pair result Decisive pair
ZRSNZ0J0 Book score Matthew–Jeroen 8–10
a b c d e f g h
Stockfish—LCZero after 28. Be2Xh5 Game links:
It just seemed to open the h-file for Black to me
(and Leela!), but Stockfish was +3.62 adamant!
Games 85–86 Caro-Kann Advance (B12)
Somehow, Leela didn’t manage to get its pieces
right. White played f3 to free its bishop, and Book moves (Matthew): 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5
Black’s position was collapsing! 4. Nf3 e6 5. Be2 Nd7 6. O-O Bg6 7. a4 Ne7
82
8 8
rZ0lka0s 0s0l0skZ
7 7
opZnmpop opZna0op
6 6
0ZpZpZbZ 0ZpZpZbZ
5 5
Z0ZpO0Z0 O0ZpOpZ0
4 4
PZ0O0Z0Z 0ZPO0OPZ
3 3
Z0Z0ZNZ0 ZQZ0Z0Z0
2 2
0OPZBOPO 0O0ZBZ0O
1 1
SNAQZRJ0 S0ANZRJ0
Book exit LCZero—Stockfish after 16. Nc3– d1
transferring to e3 was a beautiful Leela idea.

Games 85–86 were an Advance Caro-Kann. Leela’s point was 21. Qh6!
8
0s0l0skZ
7
LCZero—Stockfish 1–0 opZna0Zp
6
0Z0ZpZ0L
5
I had a sneaking suspicion that Leela would do well O0ZpOpZ0
4
in this line, and that was confirmed in Leela’s White 0Z0O0O0Z
3
game, as Stockfish was smashed to all corners of Z0Z0Z0Z0
2
the park! 0O0Z0Z0O
1
Stockfish developed incautiously and got hit by S0ANZRJ0
a b c d e f g h
a very typical idea in this line: g4 followed by an
exchange of knights and then f4! LCZero—Stockfish after 21. Qh3– h6
when e6 cannot be defended (all hail 8. a5!—which

I’m sure Alekhine would have claimed as presci-
8
rZ0lkZ0s ence!) A Stockfish developer suggested music to
7
opZnZpop accompany the final sad moments of Stockfish’s de-
6
0ZpZpZbZ mise as it lost all its pawns : Chaconne from
5 Johann Sebastian Bach’s Partita for Violin no. 2 in
O0ZpO0Z0
4 D minor performed by Hilary Hahn.23
0Z0O0OPa
3
Z0O0Z0Z0
2
0O0ZBZ0O Stockfish—LCZero 1–0
1
SNAQZRJ0 Could Leela hold the reverse? In general, Leela
a b c d e f g h
LCZero—Stockfish after 12. f2– f4
plays such Black positions better. But well enough
to hold an angry Fish? Leela’s opening move or-
der was subtle, waiting with …Be7 until White had
played 10. b4.
Leela piled on the pain, and Stockfish kept on
getting hit by moves it didn’t expect. 16. Nd1 23
h be g
83
8
0ZrlkZ0s Somewhere it all went wrong! Leela’s tactical
7
opZnapop trickery was manhandled by [Stockfish], and
6
0ZpZpZbZ Leela’s position turned into a train wreck!
5
O0ZpOnZ0 8
0Z0lnZkZ
4
0O0O0Z0Z 7
Z0Z0ZrZp
3
Z0O0ZNZ0 6
0o0ZQZ0Z
2
0Z0ZBOPO 5
Z0Z0O0o0
1
SNAQZRJ0 4
0O0s0OPZ
a b c d e f g h 3
Stockfish—LCZero after 10… Bf8– e7
Z0Z0A0a0
2
0Z0Z0ZNZ
1
The point is that it’s harder for White to create S0Z0ZRJ0
a b c d e f g h
central and queenside pressure with Qb3 and c4
Stockfish—LCZero after 30. Bc1– e3
when White has already played b4. Stockfish got a
bind but not an immediate assault. An exchange was won, queens were exchanged,
and Stockfish mopped up to equalise the game pair,
8
0Zrl0skZ costing me a game pair win, and leaving Jeroen
7
o0ZnZ0op 10–8 ahead in the bookmakers’ competition!
6
0opZpZbZ Pair Current Pair
5 Engine
O0ZpOpZ0 score score wins
4
0O0O0OPa LCZero 1 (+1 =0 -1) 36 (+7) 2
3
M0O0Z0ZP Stockfish 1 (+1 =0 -1) 50 (+21) 16
2
0Z0ZBZ0Z Pair result Reverse kill
1
S0AQZRJ0 Book score Matthew–Jeroen 8–10
a b c d e f g h
Game links:
Stockfish—LCZero after 15… b7– b6 h cec che c d f ga e 85 ea 23
Stockfish’s kingside assault started, but so did
Leela’s counterplay with 15… b6 and 17… c5,
Games 87–88 French (C00)
breaking the bind and activating the rook on c8!
The game was in the balance. Book moves (Jeroen): 1. e4 e6 2. Qe2 d5 3. eXd5
QXd5 4. Nc3 Qd8 5. b3 Nf6 6. Bb2 Be7
8 8
0Z0l0skZ rmblkZ0s
7 7
Z0ZnZ0op opo0apop
6 6
0o0ZpZ0Z 0Z0Zpm0Z
5 5
Z0Z0O0Z0 Z0Z0Z0Z0
4 4
0O0OpOPZ 0Z0Z0Z0Z
3 3
Z0s0Z0a0 ZPM0Z0Z0
2 2
0Z0Z0ZNZ PAPOQOPO
1 1
S0AQZRJ0 S0Z0JBMR
Stockfish—LCZero after 23… Rc8– c3 Book exit
84
8
We moved on to reeeeeaaaallly dodgy offbeat 0ZbZ0skZ
2. Qe2 French in games 87–88. 7
Z0Z0apZp
6
0lpZpZpO
5
Z0ZnZ0Z0
LCZero—Stockfish 1–0 4
0ZBL0Z0Z
3
Stockfish took the immediate sirens blaring ap- ZPZ0ZNZ0
2
proach and sacrificed the rook’s pawn to start im- rAPO0OPZ
1
mediate counterplay. Z0JRZ0ZR
a b c d e f g h
LCZero—Stockfish after 19. Qe4– d4
8
rmblkZ0s
7
Zpo0apop
6
0Z0Zpm0Z and after that, an extra pawn and weaknesses were
5
Z0Z0Z0Z0 too much for Stockfish to save.
4
pZ0Z0Z0Z
3
ZPM0ZNZ0
2
PAPOQOPO
1
Z0JRZBZR Stockfish—LCZero 1–0
a b c d e f g h
LCZero—Stockfish after 8… a5– a4
The reverse was absolutely bananas with some
heavy tactical hitting! Leela took a similar desper-
Stockfish got a rook’s pawn in the gums on the ate approach and sacrificed a pawn to get queenside
other side but seemed to have decent Mortazavi24 play going and then offered an exchange.
chances on the queen’s wing.
8
rZbl0skZ 8
7
Z0ZnapZp rZ0lkZ0s
7
6
0ZpZpZpO ZbZnapAp
6
5
Z0ZnZ0Z0 0opZpZ0Z
5
4
NZ0Z0Z0Z oNZ0Z0O0
4
3
ZPZ0ZNZ0 Pm0Z0Z0Z
3
2
0APOQOPZ ZPZ0ZNZ0
2
1
Z0JRZBZR 0ZPOQO0O
1
a b c d e f g h Z0JRZBZR
a b c d e f g h
LCZero—Stockfish after 15… g7– g6
Stockfish—LCZero after 13… c7– c6
However, Leela used a mating threat on g7/h8 to

exchange queens,
At a quick glance, everything is too bewildering!
24
Referring to IM Ali Mortazavi (Ed.) Stockfish offered a queen sacrifice:
85
8 8
rZ0lkm0Z rZ0Zkm0Z
7 7
ZbZ0apZQ ZbZ0ZpA0
6 6
0ZpZpZrZ 0ZplpZ0Z
5 5
o0Z0Z0OP o0Z0Z0ZP
4 4
pm0A0Z0Z 0Z0ZQZ0Z
3 3
ZPM0ZNZ0 ZBM0ZrZ0
2 2
0ZPO0O0Z 0Z0O0O0Z
1 1
Z0JRZBZR m0JRZ0ZR
Stockfish—LCZero after 19. h4– h5 Stockfish—LCZero after 26… Nc2– a1
Then Leela offered its rook in a different way: It was all very much in Stockfish’s favour, how-
ever! This win sealed Stockfish’s victory in the
8 match with 12 games to spare!
rZ0lkm0Z
7
ZbZ0apZQ
6
0ZpZps0Z Pair Current Pair
Engine
5 score score wins
o0Z0Z0OP
4
pm0A0Z0Z LCZero 1 (+1 =0 -1) 37 (+8) 2
3 Stockfish 1 (+1 =0 -1) 51 (+22) 16
ZPM0ZNZ0
2
0ZPO0O0Z Pair result Reverse kill
Z0JRZBZR
a b c d e f g h Game links:
Stockfish—LCZero after 19… Rg6– f6 h cec che c d f ga e 87 ea 23
Leela was hitting wildly and gnawing away at

White’s king protection on the queenside while Games 89–90 Magnus Sicilian (B23)
Stockfish was queening its g-pawn!
Book moves (Matthew): 1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 d6 3. d4
8 cXd4 4. QXd4 Bd7 5. b3 Nf6 6. Bb2 e5
rZ0lkm0Z
7
ZbZ0apO0 8
rm0lka0s
6
0ZpZpZ0Z 7
opZbZpop
5
o0Z0Z0ZP 6
0Z0o0m0Z
4
0Z0AQZ0Z 5
Z0Z0o0Z0
3
ZpM0ZrZ0 4
0Z0LPZ0Z
2
0ZnO0O0Z 3
ZPM0Z0Z0
1
Z0JRZBZR 2
PAPZ0OPO
a b c d e f g h
1
Stockfish—LCZero after 22… Nb4Xc2
S0Z0JBMR
a b c d e f g h
Book exit
After 26… Na1, the rook on f3 had been
hanging since move 20! We started the evening with a Magnus Sicilian.
86
8
LCZero—Stockfish 0.5–0.5 0jrZ0Z0Z
7
opZ0Z0op
6
Stockfish decided it had seen enough and engaged 0Z0snZ0Z
5
“hold rubbish ending mode”. O0ZNZ0ZP
4
0O0oPo0Z
3
ZKZRZPZ0
2
8
0ZPZ0Z0Z
rZ0Zka0s 1
Z0ZRZ0Z0
7
opZbZpop a b c d e f g h
6
0Zno0m0Z LCZero—Stockfish after 35… Rd7– d6
5
Z0l0o0Z0
4
0Z0ZPO0Z the next move brought a burst of optimism!
3
ZPM0L0Z0 8
2
PAPZ0ZPO 0jrZ0Z0Z
7
1
Z0JRZBMR o0Z0Z0op
6
a b c d e f g h 0Z0snZ0Z
5
LCZero—Stockfish after 9… Qa5– c5 OpZNZ0ZP
4
0O0oPo0Z
3
ZKZRZPZ0
2
The resulting endgame was indeed not pleasant, 0ZPS0Z0Z
1
but Leela’s evaluation flatlined at a high level but Z0Z0Z0Z0
a b c d e f g h
without progress.
LCZero—Stockfish after 36… b7– b5
And after Leela’s next (logical-looking) push

8 37. h6,
0jrZ0Z0Z
7
opZ0Z0op 8
0jrZ0Z0Z
6
0Z0snZ0Z 7
o0Z0Z0op
5
O0ZNZ0ZP 6
0Z0snZ0O
4
0Z0oPo0Z 5
OpZNZ0Z0
3
ZPZRZPZ0 4
0O0oPo0Z
2
0JPZ0Z0Z 3
ZKZRZPZ0
1
Z0ZRZ0Z0 2
0ZPS0Z0Z
a b c d e f g h
1
LCZero—Stockfish after 27. Rh1– d1 Z0Z0Z0Z0
a b c d e f g h
The well-known TCEC shuffle mode was en- Stockfish was even happier!
gaged! Oddly, just at the moment Stockfish’s eval- It looked ugly, but somehow Black had organ-
uation jumped to a high value (1.83 is pretty seri- ised itself such that White could not win Black’s
ous), weaknesses without exposing its own!
87
8
0j0Z0Z0Z However, Stockfish’s winning technique was
7
o0Z0ZrZp quite astonishing. Leela defended superbly, look-
6
0ZrZ0Z0o ing to head for an opposite-coloured bishop (OCB)
5 position.
OpZNZ0m0
4
0O0oPo0S
3
ZKZ0ZPZ0
8
2
0ZPS0Z0Z 0Z0s0Z0Z
7
1
Z0Z0Z0Z0 ZpZbjpo0
a b c d e f g h 6
0Z0Z0Z0o
LCZero—Stockfish after 41… Ne6– g5 5
Z0ZPA0Z0
4
Leela tried, but Black’s odd pawn structure 0ZrZ0Z0Z
3
seemed tailor-made to hold Black’s position to- lPZ0Z0ZP
2
gether! The game ended in a draw in 68 moves. 0ZPL0ZPZ
1
ZKZ0Z0ZR
a b c d e f g h
Stockfish—LCZero after 26… Rc8Xc4
In game 90, Leela took a different approach and
tried to rumble in the middlegame.
However, Stockfish had seen 27. Qe1!!
8
0ZrZkZ0s
7
opZbapo0
6
0Zno0m0o 8
0Z0s0Z0Z
5
Z0l0o0Z0 7
ZpZbjpo0
4
0Z0ZPO0Z 6
0Z0Z0Z0o
3
ZPM0Z0ZP 5
Z0ZPA0Z0
2
PAPZ0ZPZ 4
0ZrZ0Z0Z
1
ZKZRLBMR 3
lPZ0Z0ZP
a b c d e f g h
2
Stockfish—LCZero after 12… Ra8– c8 0ZPZ0ZPZ
1
ZKZ0L0ZR
It did not go well. a b c d e f g h
Stockfish—LCZero after 27. Qd2– e1
8
0ZrZ0Z0s
7
ZpZbjpo0
6
0Zno0m0o The key point was 27… Kf8 28. Qg3!! when
5
Z0lRZ0Z0 28… Bf5 29. BXg7+ Ke8 30. Qe5+ Qe7
4
0Z0ZPZ0Z 31. QXf5 is winning for White.
3
ZPZ0ZNZP The key point is that White manages to keep an
2
0APZQZPZ extra pawn in an OCB ending but with undamaged
1
ZKZ0ZBZR pawns. Still, conversion didn’t look like a walk in
a b c d e f g h the park. I mean, I understand that White has great
Stockfish—LCZero after 20. Rd1– d5 chances with such active pieces but +8!?!?
88
8
0Z0ZkZ0Z Leela soon gave up after leaving us with Stock-
7
ZpZ0A0S0 fish leading 52.5–37.5 (+23 -8 =59) with 10 games
6
0Z0Z0Z0o to go. In the bookmakers’ competition I pulled one
5 back to trail 10–9!
Z0ZPZ0Z0
4
0ZPJ0Z0Z
3
ZrZ0Z0Zb Engine
Pair Current Pair
2 score score wins
0Z0Z0Z0Z
1
Z0Z0Z0Z0 LCZero 0.5 (+0 =1 -1) 37.5 (+8) 2
a b c d e f g h Stockfish 1.5 (+1 =1 -0) 52.5 (+23) 17
Stockfish—LCZero after 38… Bd7Xh3 Pair result Decisive pair
Stockfish’s plan was easy to understand—the
black king must be chased from in front of the Game links:
d-pawn—but the execution was peerless. (Leela
h cec che c d f ga e ea 23
didn’t think White could force it.) This was the cul-
mination:
8
0Z0ZkZ0Z Games 91–92 Nimzowitsch Sicilian (B29)
7
ZpZ0ZrZ0 Book moves (Jeroen): 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. e5
6
0Z0J0Z0Z Nd5 4. Nc3 NXc3 5. dXc3 Nc6
5
A0ZPZ0Z0
4
0ZPZRZ0Z 8
rZblka0s
3
Z0Z0Z0Z0 7
opZpopop
2
0Z0Z0Z0Z 6
0ZnZ0Z0Z
1
Z0Z0ZbZ0 5
Z0o0O0Z0
a b c d e f g h 4
Stockfish—LCZero after 59. Rg4– e4+
0Z0Z0Z0Z
3
Z0O0ZNZ0
2
Note the light-squared bishop had been nudged POPZ0OPO
1
earlier from d3 to f1 so that 59. Re4+ was possible! S0AQJBZR
a b c d e f g h
This organisation of the pieces on the h-file was
also very elegant! Book exit
8
0Z0Z0j0Z Games 91–92 featured a pair of dodgy Nimzow-
7
ZpZ0ZrZ0 itsch Sicilians, and both Leela and Stockfish en-
6
0Z0J0Z0Z joyed pummelling their opponents in their own re-
5 spective styles.
Z0OPZ0ZR
4
0Z0Z0Z0A
3
Z0Z0Z0Z0 LCZero—Stockfish 1–0
2
0ZbZ0Z0Z
1
Z0Z0Z0Z0 Leela accumulated pawn weaknesses as Stockfish
a b c d e f g h struggled to develop active play. There was one
Stockfish—LCZero after 65… Bd3– c2 funny moment in this period
89
8 8
rZ0Z0skZ rZbZka0s
7 7
opZ0Z0o0 opZpopop
6 6
0ZnZRZ0Z 0ZnZ0Z0Z
5 5
Z0o0Z0o0 Z0o0O0Z0
4 4
0ZPo0Z0Z 0Z0Z0A0Z
3 3
Z0ZBZ0O0 Z0lBZNZ0
2 2
POPZ0OPZ PZPZ0OPO
1 1
Z0J0Z0ZR S0ZQZRJ0
LCZero—Stockfish after 18. Re1Xe6 Stockfish—LCZero after 8… Qb2Xc3
when Leela started considering 18. RXe6: Leela’s and Stockfish started hitting!
evaluation rose from 0.83 to 1.05, then dropped
back to 0.83, then exploded up to 1.87, which for 8
rZbZkZ0s
Leela is stratospheric! A Leela developer wailed 7
Z0Zpapo0
that it was mathematically impossible for Leela’s 6
pZqSpZ0Z
evaluation to fluctuate as much and feared a bug or 5
a crash!
ZpZ0Z0Zp
4
But Stockfish’s explosion in evaluation showed
PZ0ZNA0O
3
that Leela had simply evaluated the resulting end- Z0O0Z0Z0
2
game perfectly! 0Z0Z0OPZ
1
Z0ZRL0J0
a b c d e f g h
8
0Z0Z0ZkZ Stockfish—LCZero after 23. Rd3– d6
7
opZ0Z0o0
6
0ZnS0Z0Z It fell apart very quickly, allowing Fish to keep
5
Z0o0Z0o0 its 17–2(!) game pair advantage!
4
0ZPoBZ0Z
3
Z0Z0Z0O0 Engine
Pair Current Pair
2
POPZ0sPZ score score wins
1
Z0ZKZ0Z0 LCZero 1 (+1 =0 -1) 38.5 (+9) 2
a b c d e f g h Stockfish 1 (+1 =0 -1) 53.5 (+24) 17
LCZero—Stockfish after 23. Kd2– d1
Pair result Reverse kill
Leela finished off the game with fluent technique Game links:
to give its fans hope that a third game pair win was h cec che c d f ga e 1 ea 23
on the cards! h cec che c d f ga e 2 ea 23
Stockfish—LCZero 1–0 Games 93–94 Blumenfeld Gambit (E10)

But it was not to be. Leela went for the quick double Book moves (Matthew): 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5
pawn grab approach e6 4. Nf3 b5 5. Bg5 Qa5+
90
8 8
rmbZka0s 0Z0l0s0Z
7 7
o0ZpZpop s0Z0Z0Zk
6 6
0Z0Zpm0Z 0Z0o0Zpo
5 5
lpoPZ0A0 Z0oPZ0Z0
4 4
0ZPZ0Z0Z PmBaNo0Z
3 3
Z0Z0ZNZ0 ZPZ0ZPZP
2 2
PO0ZPOPO 0Z0LRO0J
1 1
SNZQJBZR Z0ZRZ0Z0
Book exit LCZero—Stockfish after 26. Bb5– c4
It was looking pretty clear, but we have ended

Games 93 and 94 are a line of the Blumenfeld up in this position which again defies my ability to
Gambit that—if I recall correctly—I had in 1988 grasp a 9.71(!) evaluation at a glance. There are
vs Stephen Fry at a London Charity simul! problems defending g6 and tactics to chase away
the black pieces. Still…!
8
0Z0Z0Z0Z
7
LCZero—Stockfish 1–0 Z0Z0ZrZk
6
RZRZ0Zpo
5
The opening is not super nowadays, but I didn’t Z0Z0aqZr
4
think it would be a trivial win, as engines are aston- 0Z0ZNo0Z
3
ishingly good at defending pawn-down positions Z0Z0ZPZP
2
with open lines for active pieces. 0Z0Z0O0J
1
Z0Z0ZQZ0
a b c d e f g h
LCZero—Stockfish after 46. Rb6– c6
8
rZbZ0skZ
7
Z0Z0apop Stockfish—LCZero 1–0
6
nZ0o0m0Z In the reverse, Leela played a little hypermodern,
5
lBoPZ0A0 drawing the White central pawns on.
4
PZ0Z0Z0Z
3
Z0Z0ZNZ0 8
rmbakZ0s
2
0O0M0OPO 7
o0ZpZpo0
1
S0ZQJ0ZR 6
0Z0OpZ0o
a b c d e f g h 5
l0o0O0Z0
LCZero—Stockfish after 12… Nb8– a6 4
0ZpZ0Z0Z
3
Z0Z0ZNZ0
2
PO0MBOPO
However, Leela did a sterling job of keeping con- 1
S0ZQJ0ZR
trol of any sources of counterplay and gradually a b c d e f g h
squeezed Stockfish out of the pond! Stockfish—LCZero after 11… Be7– d8
91
8
It didn’t look super, but judging from the eval- 0Z0Z0Z0Z
uations, it seemed that Leela might hold and get a 7
Z0ZkZ0Z0
third game pair win. 6
0Z0a0S0o
5
o0Z0Z0Z0
4
PZBZ0O0Z
3
8 ZPZ0ZKZ0
0s0a0skZ 2
0Z0Z0Z0Z
7
Z0ZpZ0o0 1
Z0Z0Z0Zr
6
0lnOpZ0o a b c d e f g h
5
o0o0OpZ0 Stockfish—LCZero after 51. Ke2– f3
4
0ZBZ0Z0Z
3
OPZ0ZNZP I don’t yet understand completely why it works,
2 but Stockfish was adamant that 51… Rh5 was the
0ZQZ0OPZ only move to hold. Leela considered all continu-
1
ZRZRZ0J0 ations roughly equivalent—and leading to the same
a b c d e f g h
Stockfish—LCZero after 21… a7– a5
path—and played 51… Rh4.
8
0Z0Z0Z0Z
7
Z0ZkZ0Z0
6
Then Stockfish got motoring, and Leela started 0Z0a0S0o
to creak! 5
o0Z0Z0Z0
4
PZBZ0O0s
3
ZPZ0ZKZ0
2
8
0s0Z0Z0j 0Z0Z0Z0Z
1
7
Z0ZpZ0s0 Z0Z0Z0Z0
a b c d e f g h
6
0lnOpZPo Stockfish—LCZero after 51… Rh1– h4
5
o0o0Opa0
4
0Z0Z0ZPZ The reply was an evil sequence from Stockfish
3
OPZBZNZ0 culminating with 53. Be2!!
2
0ZQZ0O0Z 8
1
ZRZRZ0J0 0Z0Z0Z0Z
7
a b c d e f g h Z0ZkZ0Z0
6
Stockfish—LCZero after 31. g3– g4 0Z0a0S0o
5
o0Z0Z0Zr
4
PZ0Z0O0Z
3
The odd thing, though, was that Stockfish’s and
ZPZ0Z0J0
2
Leela’s main lines coincided exactly, and it was 0Z0ZBZ0Z
1
leading to this endgame. I had in my head that it Z0Z0Z0Z0
a b c d e f g h
should be a draw with Black’s king so well-placed.
Stockfish—LCZero after 53. Bc4– e2
The game followed this path and reached the cru-
cial position: and then 54. Rf7+.
92
8 8
0Z0Z0Z0Z 0ZkZ0Z0Z
7 7
Z0ZkZRZ0 Z0Z0a0Z0
6 6
0Z0a0Z0o 0Z0Z0ZRZ
5 5
o0Z0Z0Z0 o0Z0ZPZp
4 4
PZ0Z0O0Z PZBZ0ZrZ
3 3
ZPZ0Z0J0 ZPZ0J0Z0
2 2
0Z0ZBZ0Z 0Z0Z0Z0Z
1 1
Z0Z0Z0Zr Z0Z0Z0Z0
Stockfish—LCZero after 54. Rf6– f7+ Stockfish—LCZero after 78… Rf4– g4
However, Stockfish got hold of Black’s h-pawn

and started advancing, and the writing was on the
wall.
54… Ke6 allows 55. Bc4+ mate and 54… Kc6 8
allows 55. Bf3+!, so the black king is forced to go 0ZRZ0Z0Z
7
to the back rank. This gives White’s king enorm- Z0Z0j0Z0
6
ous freedom to advance through the centre, which 0Z0sBZKZ
5
Stockfish now considered winning! o0Z0ZPZ0
4
The winning method was staggeringly complex.
PZ0Z0Z0Z
3
With a series of subtle manoeuvres, Stockfish man- ZPZ0Z0Z0
2
aged to break the Bc7/Rh4 defensive structure and 0Z0a0Z0Z
1
push the f-pawn safely. Z0Z0Z0Z0
a b c d e f g h
Stockfish—LCZero after 92. Kg5– g6
I was so close to drawing level in the book-

makers’ competition! Close but no cigar!
8
0Zka0Z0Z
7
Z0Z0Z0Z0 Pair Current Pair
Engine
6 score score wins
RZ0Z0Z0Z
5
o0ZBZPZp LCZero 1 (+1 =0 -1) 39.5 (+10) 2
4 Stockfish 1 (+1 =0 -1) 54.5 (+25) 17
PZ0Z0Z0s
3
ZPZ0ZKZ0 Pair result Reverse kill
0Z0Z0Z0Z
1 Game links:
Z0Z0Z0Z0 h cec che c d f ga e 3 ea 23
a b c d e f g h
Games 95–96 Two Knights Defence (C58)

Book moves (Jeroen): 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4
It was all complicated by the fact that Leela could Nf6 4. Ng5 d5 5. eXd5 Na5 6. Bb5+ c6 7. dXc6
offer the exchange of rooks at many moments. bXc6 8. Bd3 h6 9. Ne4 Nd5
93
8 8
rZblka0s 0ZrZra0Z
7 7
o0Z0Zpo0 Z0Z0Z0Z0
6 6
0ZpZ0Z0o 0Z0Z0Zko
5 5
m0Zno0Z0 o0oNZpo0
4 4
0Z0ZNZ0Z PZPmpZ0Z
3 3
Z0ZBZ0Z0 Z0Z0APZ0
2 2
POPO0OPO 0OPZ0ZPO
1 1
SNAQJ0ZR Z0S0SKZ0
Book exit LCZero—Stockfish after 29… e5– e4
was Stockfish and

Games 95 and 96 were slightly misplayed
8
Two Knights Defences that followed very similar 0s0Z0Z0Z
7
courses. o0Z0Z0Z0
6
0ZparZkZ
5
Z0Z0Z0Zp
4
NZ0mpZ0Z
3
LCZero—Stockfish 0.5–0.5 / Z0ZPZpZR
Stockfish—LCZero 0.5–0.5 2
POPA0OPZ
1
Z0S0ZKZ0
a b c d e f g h
Both Leela and Stockfish looked at their position a
pawn down with a broken queenside structure, and Stockfish—LCZero after 33… e5– e4
offered the exchange of queens.
was Leela!
slightlyconfused.com tbh!
8 Pair Current Pair

rZqZrakZ Engine
7 score score wins
onZ0Zpo0
6
0ZpZ0Z0o LCZero 1 (+0 =2 -0) 40.5 (+10) 2
5 Stockfish 1 (+0 =2 -0) 55.5 (+25) 17
Z0Zno0Z0
4
0Z0Z0ZQZ Pair result Double draw
Z0ZPZ0M0
2
POPZ0OPO Game links:
SNA0ZRJ0 h cec che c d f ga e 6 ea 23
a b c d e f g h
LCZero—Stockfish after 15… Qd8Xc8
Games 97–98 Czech Benoni (A56)
Book moves (Matthew): 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5
They then proceeded to draw the games without e5 4. Nc3 d6 5. e4 Be7 6. Nf3 Nbd7 7. g3 O-O
the slightest trouble! 8. Bg2
94
8 8
rZbl0skZ 0Z0Z0Z0Z
7 7
opZnapop o0ZbZka0
6 6
0Z0o0m0Z 0Z0o0ZpZ
5 5
Z0oPo0Z0 O0oPZ0Op
4 4
0ZPZPZ0Z 0ZPZ0O0Z
3 3
Z0M0ZNO0 Z0ZBZ0ZP
2 2
PO0Z0OBO 0Z0A0ZKZ
1 1
S0AQJ0ZR Z0Z0Z0Z0
Book exit LCZero—Stockfish after 48… Bd4– g7
My last chance to draw level in the bookmakers’
competition was a Czech Benoni in games 97 and The reverse showed the typical way in which Stock-
98! Traditionally, a fertile hunting ground for fish plays these positions: shuffle mysteriously
Leela. while its eval goes up and then win. It did help
to be a calculating monster to see that the queen on
h6 was not getting trapped!
8
LCZero—Stockfish 0.5–0.5 0Z0anZrj
7
ZpZ0Zqmp
6
This time it wasn’t to be… Another pawn sacrifice
rZ0o0o0L
5
by Stockfish for active pieces, O0oPobo0
4
0ZPZPZ0Z
3
S0M0ZNOP
2
0Z0ABO0Z
1
8
rZqZ0skZ S0Z0Z0J0
a b c d e f g h
7
o0Zba0Zp Stockfish—LCZero after 43… Bc8– f5
6
0Z0o0mpZ
5
Z0oPZ0Z0 A few sudden changes of structure
4
0ZPmpZPZ
3
O0MQZNZP 8
0ZbanZrj
2
0S0A0OBZ 7
Zpm0ZqZp
1
Z0Z0ZRJ0 6
rZ0o0Z0L
a b c d e f g h
5
LCZero—Stockfish after 21… e5– e4
O0oPo0o0
4
0ZPZPZPZ
3
S0M0Z0Z0
2
RZ0A0O0Z
and the evaluations started to flatline. Leela 1
Z0ZBZNZK
strained mightily, but even this endgame turned out a b c d e f g h
to be drawn. Stockfish—LCZero after 51… f6Xg5
95
upped Stockfish’s evaluation another few notches. Games 99–100 King’s Indian (E61)

8
0Z0a0Z0j Bg7 4. Nf3 O-O 5. Bg5 c5 6. d5 h6 7. Bh4 d6
7
Zpm0Zqsp 8. Nd2 e5
6
rZ0o0m0L
5
O0oPoPo0 8
rmbl0skZ
4
0ZPZ0ZPZ 7
opZ0Zpa0
3
S0M0Z0Z0 6
0Z0o0mpo
2
RZ0A0O0Z 5
Z0oPo0Z0
1
Z0ZBZ0J0 4
0ZPZ0Z0A
a b c d e f g h
3
Stockfish—LCZero after 55. e4Xf5
Z0M0Z0Z0
2
PO0MPOPO
1
S0ZQJBZR
And after a breakthrough on the a-file, a b c d e f g h
Book exit
8
0Z0a0Znj
7
Z0Z0ZrZ0 The last game pair was based on the game
6 Dubov–Firouzja.25
RZ0o0m0o
5
ZBoPoPo0
4
0ZPZ0ZPZ LCZero—Stockfish 0.5–0.5
3
Z0Z0ZPZ0
2
0Z0AKM0Z Stockfish being not a happy little fish decided to
1
Z0Z0Z0Z0 switch to bad Benko mode!
a b c d e f g h
Stockfish—LCZero after 68. Ra2Xa6
8
rZbl0skZ
7
it was curtains for Leela! 57–41 to Stockfish, and o0m0Zpa0
6
vastly more importantly, 10–10 in the bookmakers’ 0Z0o0mpo
5
competition! It would all hinge on the last game ZpoPo0Z0
4
pair! 0ZPZ0Z0A
3
Z0MBOPZ0
2
PO0M0ZPO
Pair Current Pair 1
Engine
score score wins S0ZQJ0ZR
a b c d e f g h
LCZero 0.5 (+0 =1 -1) 41 (+10) 2 LCZero—Stockfish after 11… b7– b5
Stockfish 1.5 (+1 =1 -0) 57 (+26) 18
Book score Matthew–Jeroen 10–10 And then offered another one!
Game links: 25
Daniil Dubov vs Alireza Firouzja, FTX Crypto Cup
h cec che c d f ga e 7 ea 23 (2021) (rapid), rd 11. 0–1. h che ga e c
h cec che c d f ga e 8 ea 23 e che ga e g d 2 4 58
96
8
rZbZ0skZ I was expecting Stockfish to stay still and
7
o0m0Zpa0 wait forever, but Stockfish went all spicy with
6
0Z0o0lpo 41… Kg5!
5
ZPoPZ0Z0
4
0Z0ZpZ0Z 8
3
Z0MBOPZ0 rZqZ0Z0Z
7
2
PO0M0ZPO Z0Z0ZRZ0
6
1
S0ZQJ0ZR 0Z0o0ZpZ
5
a b c d e f g h Z0ZPa0j0
4
LCZero—Stockfish after 13… e5– e4 0Z0ZPZPZ
3
Z0Z0OQZ0
Leela kept the pressure well, and then Stockfish 2
0Z0Z0Z0Z
offered Leela an extra exchange: 1
ZRZ0Z0J0
a b c d e f g h
8
rZ0Z0ZkZ LCZero—Stockfish after 41… Kh6– g5
7
s0l0Zpa0
6
0mNo0ZpZ
5
ZRoPZ0Zp Leela took a long time to believe it, but the draw
4 was inevitable!
0Z0ZPZ0Z
3
Z0ZBO0ZP
2
0O0Z0LPZ 8
0Z0Z0S0Z
1
Z0Z0ZRJ0 7
Z0Z0Z0Z0
a b c d e f g h
6
LCZero—Stockfish after 29… Rb8– a8 0Z0o0Z0Z
5
Z0ZPa0o0
4
Both kibitzer Dragon and a different version of 0Z0ZPZkZ
3
Leela were screaming to play 30. e5 rather than take Z0Z0O0Z0
the exchange… but this Leela couldn’t resist! 2
0s0Z0ZKZ
We reached the following position. White is the 1
Z0Z0ZRZ0
exchange and a pawn up, but Black is very well- a b c d e f g h
entrenched! LCZero—Stockfish after 53… Rb4– b2+
8
0Z0Z0Z0Z
7
s0ZqZpj0 So now Leela had to hold the Black side of the
6
0Z0o0ZpZ Czech Benoni to produce a tie in the bookmakers’
5
Z0ZPa0Z0 championship. The omens were not good!
4
0S0ZPZPZ
3
Z0Z0O0Z0
2
0Z0Z0L0Z Stockfish—LCZero 1–0
1
Z0Z0ZRJ0
a b c d e f g h Leela played a strange idea gaining space quickly
LCZero—Stockfish after 37… Qe7Xd7 on the kingside with 9… g5 and 10… h5.
97
8
rm0l0skZ Eventually, Stockfish’s evaluation had risen so
7
opZ0Zpa0 much that it was time to strike out with 58. f4!
6
0Z0o0m0Z 8
5
Z0oPobop 0s0Z0Z0j
7
4
0ZPZ0Z0Z Zpl0ZpZb
6
3
Z0M0O0AP pZ0o0mrm
5
2
PO0M0OPZ O0oPo0Zp
4
1
S0ZQJBZR 0ZPZPO0O
3
a b c d e f g h ZRZ0Z0M0
2
Stockfish—LCZero after 11… Bc8– f5 KOBLNZ0Z
1
Z0S0Z0Z0
Stockfish considered locking the kingside briefly a b c d e f g h
but then chose a much better pawn structure option. Stockfish—LCZero after 58. f3– f4
8
rm0l0skZ The rest was a massacre!
7
opZ0Zpa0 8
0sqZ0ZbZ
6
0Z0o0mbZ 7
Z0Z0jpZ0
5
Z0oPo0Zp 6
pZ0o0m0O
4
0ZPZPZpO 5
Z0oPoPM0
3
Z0M0ZPA0 4
0ZPZPZ0Z
2
PO0M0ZPZ 3
S0Z0Z0Z0
1
S0ZQJBZR 2
0O0L0Z0Z
a b c d e f g h
1
Stockfish—LCZero after 14. f2– f3 J0ZBZ0Z0
a b c d e f g h
We now entered a phase typical of how Stockfish Stockfish—LCZero after 79. h5– h6
plays such positions. Nothing amazing apart from
a couple of exchanges seemed to happen for many Pair Current Pair
Engine
moves, but Stockfish’s evaluation rose inexorably! score score wins
LCZero 0.5 (+0 =1 -1) 41.5 (+10) 2
8
0Z0Z0Zrj Stockfish 1.5 (+1 =1 -0) 58.5 (+27) 19
7
Zpl0ZpZb Pair result Decisive pair
6
pZ0o0mrm Book score Matthew–Jeroen 10–11
5
O0oPo0Zp Game links:
4
0ZPZPZ0O h cec che c d f ga e ea 23
3
ZRZ0ZPM0 h cec che c d f ga e 1 ea 23
2
KOBLNZ0Z
1
Z0S0Z0Z0
a b c d e f g h
Stockfish—LCZero after 57. Rf1– c1
98
Match Summary
Pair Result Book by Score MS–JN Game Match Result W eval B eval Wins MS–JN
1 Lc0–SF 1–0 0.60 1.73 1–0
1 Reverse kill Matthew 0–0
2 SF–Lc0 1–0 1.42 0.56 2–0
3 Lc0–SF ½–½ 0.45 1.54 2–0
2 Decisive Jeroen 0–1
4 SF–Lc0 1–0 1.57 0.43 2–1
5 Lc0–SF ½–½ 0.60 1.43 2–1
3 Double draw Matthew 0–1
6 SF–Lc0 ½–½ 1.53 0.57 2–1
7 Lc0–SF ½–½ 0.43 1.61 2–1
8 SF–Lc0 1–0 1.46 0.47 2–2
9 Lc0–SF 1–0 0.65 1.60 3–2
10 SF–Lc0 1–0 1.87 0.63 4–2
11 Lc0–SF ½–½ 0.50 1.40 4–2
6 Double draw Jeroen 0–2
12 SF–Lc0 ½–½ 1.40 0.48 4–2
13 Lc0–SF 1–0 0.58 1.45 5–2
7 Decisive Matthew 1–2
14 SF–Lc0 ½–½ 1.64 0.57 5–2
15 Lc0–SF ½–½ 0.49 1.38 5–2
16 SF–Lc0 1–0 1.50 0.49 5–3
17 Lc0–SF 0–1 -0.61 -1.83 6–3
18 SF–Lc0 ½–½ -1.66 -0.64 6–3
19 Lc0–SF ½–½ -0.49 -1.62 6–3
20 SF–Lc0 ½–½ -1.45 -0.48 6–3
21 Lc0–SF ½–½ 0.32 1.05 6–3
22 SF–Lc0 ½–½ 1.02 0.34 6–3
23 Lc0–SF ½–½ 0.70 1.72 6–3
24 SF–Lc0 1–0 1.78 0.63 6–4
25 Lc0–SF ½–½ 0.36 1.00 6–4
26 SF–Lc0 ½–½ 1.09 0.36 6–4
27 Lc0–SF ½–½ 0.50 1.57 6–4
28 SF–Lc0 ½–½ 1.62 0.52 6–4
29 Lc0–SF ½–½ -0.33 -1.11 6–4
30 SF–Lc0 ½–½ -0.93 -0.33 6–4
31 Lc0–SF ½–½ 0.46 1.54 6–4
32 SF–Lc0 ½–½ 1.28 0.47 6–4
33 Lc0–SF ½–½ 0.36 0.99 6–4
34 SF–Lc0 ½–½ 1.04 0.35 6–4
35 Lc0–SF ½–½ 0.44 1.50 6–4
36 SF–Lc0 1–0 1.56 0.44 6–5
37 Lc0–SF ½–½ 0.36 1.13 6–5
38 SF–Lc0 ½–½ 1.38 0.35 6–5
99
39 Lc0–SF ½–½ 0.50 1.59 6–5

40 SF–Lc0 ½–½ 1.70 0.50 6–5
41 Lc0–SF ½–½ 0.37 1.18 6–5
42 SF–Lc0 ½–½ 1.25 0.36 6–5
43 Lc0–SF ½–½ 0.49 1.39 6–5
44 SF–Lc0 ½–½ 1.60 0.47 6–5
45 Lc0–SF ½–½ 0.39 1.34 6–5
46 SF–Lc0 1–0 1.24 0.40 7–5
47 Lc0–SF ½–½ 0.48 1.66 7–5
48 SF–Lc0 1–0 1.53 0.47 7–6
49 Lc0–SF ½–½ 0.38 1.12 7–6
50 SF–Lc0 ½–½ 1.47 0.36 7–6
51 Lc0–SF ½–½ 0.50 1.47 7–6
52 SF–Lc0 ½–½ 1.45 0.49 7–6
53 Lc0–SF 0–1 -0.47 -1.26 8–6
54 SF–Lc0 ½–½ -1.40 -0.48 8–6
55 Lc0–SF ½–½ 0.55 1.65 8–6
56 SF–Lc0 ½–½ 1.71 0.54 8–6
57 Lc0–SF ½–½ 0.43 1.35 8–6
58 SF–Lc0 1–0 1.21 0.42 9–6
59 Lc0–SF ½–½ 0.50 1.47 9–6
60 SF–Lc0 ½–½ 1.54 0.50 9–6
61 Lc0–SF ½–½ 0.47 1.27 9–6
62 SF–Lc0 1–0 1.51 0.47 10–6
63 Lc0–SF 1–0 0.51 1.64 10–7
32 Reverse kill Jeroen 6–6
64 SF–Lc0 1–0 1.50 0.49 10–8
65 Lc0–SF ½–½ 0.43 1.38 10–8
66 SF–Lc0 1–0 1.25 0.42 11–8
67 Lc0–SF 1–0 0.53 1.42 11–9
68 SF–Lc0 ½–½ 1.66 0.51 11–9
69 Lc0–SF ½–½ 0.44 1.35 11–9
70 SF–Lc0 ½–½ 1.52 0.43 11–9
71 Lc0–SF ½–½ 0.52 1.58 11–9
72 SF–Lc0 1–0 1.59 0.46 11–10
73 Lc0–SF ½–½ -0.34 -1.04 11–10
74 SF–Lc0 ½–½ -1.37 -0.35 11–10
75 Lc0–SF 1–0 0.52 1.40 11–11
76 SF–Lc0 1–0 1.73 0.50 11–12
77 Lc0–SF ½–½ 0.49 1.56 11–12
78 SF–Lc0 1–0 1.18 0.46 12–12
79 Lc0–SF ½–½ 0.60 1.72 12–12
80 SF–Lc0 1–0 1.66 0.60 12–13
100
81 Lc0–SF ½–½ 0.52 1.45 12–13

82 SF–Lc0 ½–½ 1.64 0.51 12–13
83 Lc0–SF ½–½ 0.52 1.63 12–13
84 SF–Lc0 1–0 1.72 0.54 12–14
85 Lc0–SF 1–0 0.55 1.76 13–14
86 SF–Lc0 1–0 1.39 0.54 14–14
87 Lc0–SF 1–0 0.61 1.80 14–15
88 SF–Lc0 1–0 1.79 0.59 14–16
89 Lc0–SF ½–½ 0.58 1.55 14–16
90 SF–Lc0 1–0 1.59 0.59 15–16
91 Lc0–SF 1–0 0.59 1.79 15–17
92 SF–Lc0 1–0 1.69 0.60 15–18
93 Lc0–SF 1–0 0.56 1.73 16–18
94 SF–Lc0 1–0 1.67 0.54 17–18
95 Lc0–SF ½–½ 0.55 1.60 17–18
96 SF–Lc0 ½–½ 1.54 0.55 17–18
97 Lc0–SF ½–½ 0.57 1.77 17–18
98 SF–Lc0 1–0 1.69 0.56 18–18
99 Lc0–SF ½–½ 0.58 1.72 18–18
100 SF–Lc0 1–0 1.70 0.57 18–19
101
Openings
Pair ECO Opening Book moves

1 A61 Benoni defence 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 c5 4. d5 d6 5. Nc3 eXd5 6. cXd5 g6 7. h3
Bg7 8. e4 O-O 9. Bd3 Re8 10. O-O Nbd7
2 D16 QGD Slav, Smyslov variation 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dXc4 5. a4 Na6 6. e4 Bg4
7. BXc4 e6 8. Be3 Nb4 9. Rc1 Bh5
3 E21 Nimzo-Indian, three knights 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Nf3 c5 5. g3 b5
variation
4 B90 Sicilian, Najdorf, Byrne 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cXd4 4. NXd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e6
(English) attack 7. f3 Be7 8. Qd2 b5 9. g4 Nfd7
5 D31 QGD, semi-Slav 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c6 4. e3 f5 5. g4 fXg4 6. QXg4
6 E83 King’s Indian, Saemisch, 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f3 O-O 6. Be3 Nc6
Panno formation 7. Nge2 a6 8. Qd2 e5
7 B31 Sicilian, Nimzovich-Rossolimo 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 g6 4. O-O Bg7 5. c3 Qb6
attack (with ...g6, without ...d6)
8 B07 Pirc, bayonet (Mariotti) attack 1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. Be2 Bg7 5. h4 O-O 6. h5
9 E76 / E77 King’s Indian, Four pawns 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f4 c5 6. d5 O-O 7. Be2
attack / King’s Indian, Six e6 8. dXe6 fXe6 9. g4
pawns attack
10 C33 KGA, bishop’s gambit, 1. e4 e5 2. f4 eXf4 3. Bc4 f5 4. e5
Lopez-Gianutio counter-gambit
11 A45 Trompovsky attack (Ruth, 1. d4 Nf6 2. Bg5 Ne4 3. Bf4 g5
Opovcensky opening)
12 B80 Sicilian, Scheveningen 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cXd4 4. NXd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Be3 Be7
variation 7. Qf3 a6 8. O-O-O
13 E81 King’s Indian, Saemisch, 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f3 O-O 6. Bg5 Nc6
5...O-O 7. Nge2 Rb8 8. Qd2 Re8
14 B00 St. George (Baker) defence 1. e4 a6 2. d4 b5 3. Nf3 Bb7 4. Bd3
15 B00 KP, Nimzovich defence 1. e4 Nc6 2. b4
16 A80 Dutch 1. d4 f5 2. Bf4 Nf6 3. e3 g6 4. h4 h6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Qf3 Bg7
17 A45 Trompovsky attack (Ruth, 1. d4 Nf6 2. Bg5 e6 3. Nd2 h6 4. Bh4 c5 5. e4 cXd4
Opovcensky opening)
18 C16 French, Winawer, Petrosian 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 Qd7 5. Qg4 Bf8
variation
19 E71 King’s Indian, Makagonov 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. h3 O-O 6. Bg5 h6
system (5.h3)
20 A42 Modern defence, Averbakh 1. d4 g6 2. c4 Bg7 3. e4 d6 4. Nc3 e5 5. d5 Ne7
system
21 B23 Sicilian, closed 1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 b6
102
22 B78 Sicilian, dragon, Yugoslav 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cXd4 4. NXd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Be3 Bg7
attack, 10.O-O-O 7. f3 O-O 8. Qd2 Nc6 9. Bc4 Bd7 10. O-O-O Rc8 11. Bb3 Ne5
12. h4 Nc4 13. BXc4 RXc4
23 A46 Queen’s pawn game 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d6 3. Nc3 Bf5 4. g3 Nbd7
24 A50 Queen’s Indian accelerated 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 b6 3. Nc3 Bb7 4. Qc2 g6
25 B23 Sicilian, closed, 2...Nc6 1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nd4 4. Nf3 g6 5. Bc4 Bg7 6. NXd4
cXd4 7. Qf3 f5
26 E80 King’s Indian, Saemisch 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f3 e5 6. d5 Nh5 7. Be3
variation f5 8. Qd2 f4 9. Bf2
27 B10 Caro-Kann, Hillbilly attack 1. e4 c6 2. Bc4 d5 3. Bb3 dXe4 4. Qh5
28 D20 QGA, 3.e4 1. d4 d5 2. c4 dXc4 3. e4 Nf6 4. e5 Nd5 5. BXc4 Nb6 6. Bd3 Nc6
7. Be3 Be6 8. Nc3 Bd5
29 C41 Philidor’s defence 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bc4 Bg4
30 B16 Caro-Kann, Bronstein-Larsen 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dXe4 4. NXe4 Nf6 5. NXf6+ gXf6 6. Bc4
variation h5
31 B07 Pirc defence 1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 Nbd7 4. g4 g6
32 C10 French, Paulsen variation 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nc6 4. e5 Nge7 5. h4
33 E73 King’s Indian, Semi-Averbakh 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Be2 O-O 6. Be3 e5
system 7. d5 a5
34 A45 Trompovsky attack (Ruth, 1. d4 Nf6 2. Bg5 Ne4 3. h4 c5 4. d5 Qb6 5. Nd2 NXd2 6. BXd2
Opovcensky opening)
35 C17 French, Winawer, advance, 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. a3 Ba5 6. b4 cXb4
5.a3
36 B06 Robatsch (modern) defence 1. d4 g6 2. e4 Bg7 3. Nf3 d6 4. Bd3 a6 5. O-O Nd7 6. c3 e6
7. Re1 Ne7
37 E73 King’s Indian, 5.Be2 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Be2 O-O 6. g4 c5 7. d5
e6 8. h4
38 C92 Ruy Lopez, closed, 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1
Ragozin-Petrosian (‘Keres’) b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3 O-O 9. h3 Nd7 10. d4 Nb6 11. Nbd2 Bf6
variation 12. Nf1 Na5
39 C25 Vienna game, Max Lange 1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. Bc4 f5
defence
40 A27 English, three knights system 1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. Nf3 f5 4. g3 d6 5. d4 e4 6. d5 Ne5
41 B03 Alekhine’s defence, four pawns 1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. c4 Nb6 5. f4 g6
attack, fianchetto variation
42 E97 King’s Indian, orthodox, 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5
Aronin-Taimanov, bayonet 7. O-O Nc6 8. d5 Ne7 9. b4 Nh5 10. Re1 f5 11. a4 Nf6 12. a5 h6
attack
43 B12 Caro-Kann, advance variation 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. Nf3 e6 5. Be2 Nd7 6. O-O Bg6
7. a4 Ne7
103
44 C00 French, Chigorin variation 1. e4 e6 2. Qe2 d5 3. eXd5 QXd5 4. Nc3 Qd8 5. b3 Nf6 6. Bb2
Be7
45 B23 Sicilian, closed 1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 d6 3. d4 cXd4 4. QXd4 Bd7 5. b3 Nf6 6. Bb2 e5
46 B29 Sicilian, Nimzovich-Rubinstein 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. e5 Nd5 4. Nc3 NXc3 5. dXc3 Nc6
variation
47 E10 Blumenfeld counter-gambit, 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 e6 4. Nf3 b5 5. Bg5 Qa5+
Dus-Chotimursky variation
48 C58 Two knights defence 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 d5 5. eXd5 Na5 6. Bb5+
c6 7. dXc6 bXc6 8. Bd3 h6 9. Ne4 Nd5
49 A56 Czech Benoni defence 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 e5 4. Nc3 d6 5. e4 Be7 6. Nf3 Nbd7 7. g3
O-O 8. Bg2
50 E61 King’s Indian defence, 3.Nc3 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. Nf3 O-O 5. Bg5 c5 6. d5 h6
7. Bh4 d6 8. Nd2 e5
104

Sufi 23 - Sadler

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Sufi 23 - Sadler

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

TCEC Season 23 SuperFinal: Leela Chess Zero vs Stockfish

winning in the end by 58.5–41.5 (+27, -10, =63). Book exit

Stockfish decided to show that the e4-pawn wasn’t

Games 3–4 Slav, Smyslov variation (D16) 8

Stockfish took an early lead after a 1.5–0.5 vic- 8

In the reverse, Leela also defended well and found

LCZero—Stockfish 0.5–0.5 Stockfish—LCZero 0.5–0.5

Jeroen was very happy about finding a sharp

Pair Current Pair 8

But when Stockfish’s counterplay came with

followed by 19… NXe5 20. h5 Rfe8 21. Nf4

not caring about Black’s counterplay with

Unfortunately, though Leela may have got the LCZero—Stockfish 0.5–0.5

It was all a big joke! After throwing in a few

The next opening was Jeroen’s and featured Stockfish—LCZero 1–0

Stockfish—LCZero after 14. Bg5Xf4

Games 17–18 King’s Indian (E76/E77)

and penetration to the 8th rank

Amazingly this was the start of the equalisation

Anyone for a King’s Gambit?

The game was quite wild, Leela playing on both

The tactics continued, and 27… Ra4!! was a LCZero—Stockfish 0.5–0.5

The next opening was my colleague Jeroen’s 8

Games 31–32 Dutch (A80) LCZero—Stockfish 0.5–0.5

Book moves (Jeroen): 1. d4 f5 2. Bf4 Nf6 3. e3 g6

and that was a sign for Stockfish’s evaluation to

LCZero—Stockfish 0.5–0.5 However, Leela played well and suddenly

change Stockfish—LCZero after 9. Qg4– d1

A rook sacrifice with 46. Re5!

(E71) LCZero—Stockfish after 12. Bd3– c2

Book moves (Matthew): 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3

gaining the bishop pair after 15. Rg1 NXf1.

Games 41–42 Sicilian (B23)

Concrete as they are, engines were happy to play

Games 43–44 Sicilian Dragon (B78) 8

preferring 14. g4. LCZero—Stockfish after 30… Rh4– h5

Game links: LCZero—Stockfish after 8… h7Xg6

Stockfish—LCZero after 13. Ng5– h3 Stockfish—LCZero after 18. Nf4– g6

Black’s light-squared bishop, however, was in

LCZero 0.5 (+0 =1 -1) 20 (+3) 1

Pair result Decisive pair 8

Games 49–50 Sicilian Rossolimo (A50)

Pair Current Pair I wrote on Twitter at the time: “Leela’s eval

Why must I taunt MrDodgy

26… Kg8 27. h6 Ne8 28. Ke2 Qf6 29. aXb4

fishy? Stockfish—LCZero after 19. Nh4– f5

A push of the e-pawn to e7 did not look Leela-

An opposite-coloured bishop ending ensued.

leaving Stockfish in complete control. It took a LCZero—Stockfish 1–0

Games 65–66 King’s Indian (E73)

Stockfish—LCZero after 41… Nd7– c5

Games 67–68 Trompovsky (A45)

Stockfish—LCZero after 42. Nc4Xd6 Book exit

and then: LCZero—Stockfish 1–0

The opening was a Julian Hodgson Trompovsky

We saw both 8. Bd2 and 8. c3 in the engines’

The reverse was also very interesting. Stockfish

Two draws in the French Winawer!

However, an exchange sacrifice (113… RXf3+) Games 71–72 Modern (B06)

Things seemed to be going Leela’s way, Pair Current Pair

8 LCZero 1 (+0 =2 -0) 31.5 (+5) 2

Stockfish—LCZero after 12. Rh1– f1 Book exit