Deep Blue vs Kasparov, game 6

Deep Blue vs Garry Kasparov

IBM rematch, New York · 1997 · 1-0

Preparing your chess set…

Click or drag to move · Arrow keys + Enter to play

0 / 37 half-moves

Playback speed

Continuous playback · extra time at key moments

Following the game

The story behind the moves

A masterpiece, move by move

The game that decided the first match a reigning world champion lost to a computer. Kasparov allows a known knight sacrifice in the Caro-Kann and resigns after nineteen moves.

Scroll through every key moment at your own pace. Turn on Follow game to return to the current lesson as playback continues.

Themes to watch

caro-kannknight sacrificecomputer chessking in the centre

Coming up

7... h6

A pawn move creates a target

The idea

...h6 attacks the knight on g5, inviting it to retreat. Deep Blue instead uses the advanced knight to capture on e6, near Black’s uncastled king.

Follow the continuation

The game continues 8. Nxe6 Qe7 9. O-O fxe6 10. Bg6+. White gives up the knight to disrupt the pawn cover and draw the king away from e8.

Remember

Before chasing an attacking piece with a pawn, check its forcing captures. A retreat is not the opponent’s only option.

Coming up

8. Nxe6

Sacrifice on the king’s doorstep

The idea

Nxe6 captures the e6 pawn and attacks the queen on d8 and bishop on f8. White offers the knight to the f7 pawn, aiming to weaken the king’s shelter and open attacking diagonals.

Follow the continuation

Black first plays ...Qe7. White castles, then after ...fxe6 plays Bg6+, forcing the king to d8 in the game. White’s development and king safety help sustain the initiative.

Remember

A sacrifice near an uncastled king can disrupt development as well as pawn cover. Compare king safety and active pieces after the material is taken.

Coming up

10. Bg6+

Keep the king in the centre

The idea

Bg6+ checks e8 along the g6–f7–e8 diagonal, which was opened when the f-pawn captured the knight. Black’s normal castling plan has been disrupted.

Follow the continuation

After ...Kd8, White develops with Bf4 and later brings the rook to e1. The king eventually moves to c8, but the central files remain important attacking routes.

Remember

The point of a sacrifice may be the loss of castling and difficulty coordinating defenders. Bring the rest of your army into play.

Coming up

19. c4

Open the centre while the king is exposed

The idea

c4 challenges the pawn on b5 and the knight on d5 while Black’s king sits on c8. White is seeking more open lines after 17. Bf5 exf5 18. Rxe7 Bxe7 traded a bishop and rook for Black’s queen.

Follow the continuation

Kasparov resigned here, so the recorded game has no further moves. White’s queen and central pawns retain attacking possibilities against a king that has never found secure shelter.

Remember

Distinguish resignation from checkmate. Explain the threats and imbalances visible on the board without inventing a played continuation.

← Famous games

Deep Blue vs Kasparov, game 6

Deep Blue vs Garry Kasparov

IBM rematch, New York · 1997 · 1-0

Preparing your chess set…

Click or drag to move · Arrow keys + Enter to play

0 / 37 half-moves

Playback speed

Continuous playback · extra time at key moments

Following the game

The story behind the moves

A masterpiece, move by move

The game that decided the first match a reigning world champion lost to a computer. Kasparov allows a known knight sacrifice in the Caro-Kann and resigns after nineteen moves.

Scroll through every key moment at your own pace. Turn on Follow game to return to the current lesson as playback continues.

Themes to watch

caro-kannknight sacrificecomputer chessking in the centre

Coming up

7... h6

A pawn move creates a target

The idea

...h6 attacks the knight on g5, inviting it to retreat. Deep Blue instead uses the advanced knight to capture on e6, near Black’s uncastled king.

Follow the continuation

The game continues 8. Nxe6 Qe7 9. O-O fxe6 10. Bg6+. White gives up the knight to disrupt the pawn cover and draw the king away from e8.

Remember

Before chasing an attacking piece with a pawn, check its forcing captures. A retreat is not the opponent’s only option.

Coming up

8. Nxe6

Sacrifice on the king’s doorstep

The idea

Nxe6 captures the e6 pawn and attacks the queen on d8 and bishop on f8. White offers the knight to the f7 pawn, aiming to weaken the king’s shelter and open attacking diagonals.

Follow the continuation

Black first plays ...Qe7. White castles, then after ...fxe6 plays Bg6+, forcing the king to d8 in the game. White’s development and king safety help sustain the initiative.

Remember

A sacrifice near an uncastled king can disrupt development as well as pawn cover. Compare king safety and active pieces after the material is taken.

Coming up

10. Bg6+

Keep the king in the centre

The idea

Bg6+ checks e8 along the g6–f7–e8 diagonal, which was opened when the f-pawn captured the knight. Black’s normal castling plan has been disrupted.

Follow the continuation

After ...Kd8, White develops with Bf4 and later brings the rook to e1. The king eventually moves to c8, but the central files remain important attacking routes.

Remember

The point of a sacrifice may be the loss of castling and difficulty coordinating defenders. Bring the rest of your army into play.

Coming up

19. c4

Open the centre while the king is exposed

The idea

c4 challenges the pawn on b5 and the knight on d5 while Black’s king sits on c8. White is seeking more open lines after 17. Bf5 exf5 18. Rxe7 Bxe7 traded a bishop and rook for Black’s queen.

Follow the continuation

Kasparov resigned here, so the recorded game has no further moves. White’s queen and central pawns retain attacking possibilities against a king that has never found secure shelter.

Remember

Distinguish resignation from checkmate. Explain the threats and imbalances visible on the board without inventing a played continuation.