The fourteenth and fifteenth world chess champions Vladimir Kramnik (Russia) and Viswanathan Anand (India) engaged in a duel of wits in a four-game “no-castling match” at the historic Dortmund Sparkassen Trophy, Germany. In the first game of the innovative match, which is published as today’s feature game, Anand was victorious. The second game ended in a draw.
While it is advantageous to castle, it is not a requirement. Castling involves a player’s king and either of the two original rooks. It is the only move in chess in which a player moves two pieces simultaneously. Normally, the king can move only one square at a time, but in castling, the king moves two squares and the rooks move beside it. It is a unique move which keeps the king secure.
The principal idea behind the “no-castling” match is to bring attention to the hypothesis, and, perhaps, to emphasise the rich intensity of the game without castling. The idea of playing with the assistance of theory will be lessened. While the starting position and the rules of the game remain the same, the fact that the contenders cannot castle invalidates theory. And indeed, a look at the first game of the match makes it clear that “no-castling” games could be exciting.
About a year ago, Kramnik introduced the “no-castling” method to chess. This new variant developed by the Alpha Zero/Deep Mind team and Vladimir Kramnik compels players to deviate from memorized opening lines and leads to new creativity.
Demis Hassabis, CEO and founder of DeepMind, the most advanced enterprise in developing Artificial Intelligence said, in part, “When we first introduced AlphaZero, its creative and dynamic style inspired chess players around the world. Now it’s exciting to see world-class players like Vladimir Kramnik work with AlphaZero to design novel possibilities for the game. I look forward to seeing the No-Castling variant played between two former world champions and I hope it will once again inspire players of all levels to explore new possibilities and ideas in chess.”
Chess game
White: Viswanathan Anand
Black: Vladimir Kramnik
Tournament: Anand-Kramnik No-Castling Match, Round 1, July 14, 2021. Dortmund, Germany
Type of Game: English, Symmetrical
1. C4c5 2. Nf3e6 3. E3d5 4. d4Nf6 5. Nc3a6 6. dxc5Bxc5 7. a3Nc6 8. b4Ba7 9. Bb2h5 10. Qc2h4 11. Rd1Kf8 12. Rg1Ne7 13. G4hxg3 14. hxg3Bd7 15. g4Qc7 16. g5Ne8 17. Qd3Bc6 18. Cxd5exd5 19. Ne2Bb5 20. Qb1Ng6 21. Nc3Bxf1 22. Rxf1Rd8 23. Rxd5Rxd5 24. Nxd5Qd7 25. Nc3Rh3 26. Qe4Nd6 27. Qd5Kg8 28. Ne4Rxf3 29. Nxd6Qh3 30. Nc4Qg2 31. Qd8+Kh7 32. Qa8Nf4 33. Qxa7Nd3+ 34. Ke2Nxf2 35. Rg1Qxg1 36. Qd4Qxg5 37. Kxf3Nh3 38. Nd6Ng1+ 39. Kf2Nh3+ 40. Ke1Qg3+ 41. Kd1f6 42. Qe4+Kh8 43. Qe8+Kh7 44. Qh5+Kg8 45. Qf7+Kh8 46. Qh5+Kg8 47. Qd5+Kh8 48. Nxb7Qxe3 49. Nc5Nf2+ 50. Kc2Qe2+ 51. Kb3a5 52. bxa5Qb5+ 53. Ka2Qxa5 54. Bxf6Qe1 55. Bb2Nd1 56. Qa8+Kh7 57. Qe4+Qxe4 58. Nxe4Kg6 59. Bd4Kf5 60. Nc5g5 61. A4g4 62. A5g3 63. A6g2 64. Kb3Kf4 65. a7Ne3 66. Ne6+. 1-0. Black Resigns.
