Hangin's Observations

 Game 1: At the beginning of the match, the start of the game, Kasparov did not engage (look out and smile) the audience. He was looking downward. Something was bothering him. It was a full house. At the post game press conference, again Kasparov did not engage the audience. He was looking downward. In this game, Garry got what looked like a big advantage in the opening, but made some inaccurate moves and could not bring the full point home. Chalk this one up to X3D Fritz's defensive skills.

Game 2: at the beginning of the match, Kasparov again did not engage the audience.. He was mildly disturbed by the fact that the computer board was not adjusted correctly, with him looking at the black pieces. The board was set up with Garry having white. Technicians quickly remedied this problem.  Anson Carter, from the New York Rangers made the first move. for Gary, E7-E5. After resigning the game, a big screen on floor 9, showed a verbal altercation between Garry and the arbiter. Garry was clearly upset by the fact that the board was not set up properly.  At the post game press conference he would not engage the audience. He looked dejected. He stormed off the stage after the press conference and walked right by me.. he paused and gave me a look that said, I will be back and beat this machine. He looked determined. 

In game two, Kasparov was in serious time trouble and was blitzed off the board. The game reminded me of Polgar - Karpov  in Essent2003. Judith kept the tactical potential high, and worked the clock. Then when Karpov only had 5 minutes left on his clock. Karpov made a mistake and she pounced with a double bishop sacrifice, blitzing him off the board. Garry had no time to rest in this game, for two of his moves, I think it was 16,17,18 he used 30 minutes of his time. It seemed that every time Garry made a move, got up from the board, X3D Fritz responded immediately. This had to unnerve Gary. Also just prior to the blunder, Garry made a move, got up and took off the glasses and rubbed his eyes. Obviously the screen is getting to Gary. In the future , Garry might have to spend time looking into computer screens and acclimate himself to this new technology. Chalk one up for home field advantage, and Kasparov not maintaining the high sense of danger.

What is bothering  Gary, I think that Garry wants to just play chess. He wants to match his human creativity with the machines brute force power. Garry is under tremendous pressure, he is the world's number one player and he wants to win. He's up against a great opponent who will never blunder and will always play up to it's potential. However Garry must struggle with this new technology, and maybe it's only taking a little away from his strength, but that little bit might prevent him from winning. I think this is the core of Gary's problems. 

I believe that Kasparov must fight to draw this  match. Against Deep Junior, Garry had won the first game, he was in the driver's seat. Now the situation is reversed. Gary's back is against the wall. This is not the first time that Gary's been in a tough position. In 1984, even at age 22 Kasparov's  great character was evident when after trailing 5-0 in the world championship match against Karpov, Garry was able to drag the match out to 47 games and bring the match to a halt at 5-3. He was able to exhaust World Champion Karpov. Then in the 1987 World Championship match with is arch rival Anatoly Karpov, Kasparov again found his back against the wall, trailing by one in the 24Th and final game. Needing a victory to tie the match and keep his title, Kasparov was able to do the seemingly impossible. He beat one of the best players in the world. I think Garry must reach down deep inside of himself to find the resolve to tie this match. This chess reporter believes Garry Kasparov can tie the match.. 

Game three : Prior to the start of game 3, I saw David Levy, President of the ICGA, he was thinking of the Seville match in 1987, so he was thinking of a Kasparov comeback today. In the playing room, a technician sat at the board, and put on Gary's X3D glasses. He changed the battery and had to check to see if everything was ok. Ms New York City, Ms Horn made the first move Ng1 moves to F3. Garry came in smiling, He shook hands with the Arbiter. The arbiter Albert Vasse looked a little uneasy. Garry again did not engage the audience (press people) Owen Williams said that Garry was tense just before the start of the game.  A full house, a lot of spectators came to watch the game. Gary's mother was intensely watching the game and did not want to speak with any one, she never took her eyes off the big screen board, I think Garry should follow this example when playing the silicon monsters. After Winning the game, Garry came down to the post game press conference with a big smile on his face. He did not engage the audience, mostly he looked at the other panelists. He went back stage for an interview with one of the major networks. Lets revisit the end of game two, when Garry stormed off the stage, probably not wanting to be interview by a major network. He walked passed me and he gave me that "ILL BE BACK" look  He did rebound, like he had many other times during his long tough career. After his network interview for game 3, Garry marched off stage with a big smile on his face, mission accomplished. I wonder if this approach, the quite, closed positional game indicates a change in strategy. Against Deep Junior and X3D Fritz, Garry was going against conventional wisdom on how to play against computers. Is he now changing his strategy ? The big question now is, will Garry go for the win ? Is he getting stronger ? We shall see. On a personal note, I was thrilled to meet for the first time Dr Danny Kopec, Dan Hiesman at the game.

Game four : Prior to the start of the game, Garry looked tense, he was looking downward. Ken  Potziba, New York City Sports Commissioner, made the first move, however the voice recognition software picked up Garry voice first. Garry joked and said your to late.  Then Garry closed his eyes and looked skyward, as though he was meditating. However there was a look of concern on his face. He did not appear to be confident. He was tense. I don't think he likes the black side in these computer matches. He has not won from the black side since game 6 against Deep Blue in 1996. Gary's agent Owen Williams said that Garry was in good spirits.   During the early part of the game, Garry looked distressed, he took off his glasses and had his head in his hand. The first 13 moves were a repeat of his game with World Champion Vladimir Kramnik, a blitz game, which Garry won, however Garry played a line against Kramnik where he sacrificed his queen. Garry did not choose this option against X3D Fritz. I wonder if the Fritz Team had won the psychological opening battle.  Garry looked happy after the game.  He engaged the audience during the question and answer period. He said he could have played a few more games. He looked strong.