In 1967,some chess matches were held between USSR and USA. The first two matches were drawn, probably as expected by people in consideration of the players of such even temperament and capability! But the third match was won in the manner described below by the USSR player with the White pieces.
| 1. | e4 | e5 |
| 2. | Nf3 | Nc6 |
| 3. | Nc3 | Bc5 |
| 4. | Nxe5 | Nxe5 |
| 5. | d4 | Bd6 |
| 6. | dxe5 | Bxe5 |
| 7. | f4 | Bxc3+ |
| 8. | bxc3 | Nf6 |
| 9. | e5 | Ne4 |
| 10. | Qd3 | Nc5 |
| 11. | Qd5 | Ne6 |
| 12. | f5 | Ng5 |
The actual move by Black loses quickly but it is not clear if either of the players considered the following option!
| 12. | f5 | c6 |
| 13. | Qd6 | Qh4+ |
| 14. | g3 | Qe4+ |
| 15. | Kf2 | Qxh1 |
| 16. | Bg2 | Qxh2 |
| 17. | fxe6 | fxe6 |
| 18. | Ba3 | Kf7 |
| 19. | Qe7+ | Kg6 |
| 20. | Rh1 wins |
The actual game continued:
| 13. | h4 | f6 |
| 14. | hxg5 | fxg5 |
| 15. | Rxh7 | Rf8 |
If 15. … Rxh7 16. Qg8+ Ke7 17. Bxg5#.
| 16. | Rxg7 | c6 |
| 17. | Qd6 | Rxf5 |
| 18. | Rg8+ | Rf8 |
| 19. | Qxf8# |
If you think that the play was mediocre with Black playing worse than an amateur, you are correct as both the players were computers! That way, move 15. Rxh7 holds interest in that it may be the first genuine sacrificial move by a computer!
You may also wonder that both being computers, with far greater calculation power and memory compared to humans, wouldn’t their moves be of higher standard at near equal level with a draw as the likely outcome?
Of course, chess playing computers depend on the close interaction between chess experts and programming experts to raise their game. So, question arises – did USSR have better chess experts or better programmers than USA?
It is also a matter of conjecture if US computer makers tried to make amends for above fiasco nearly 40 years later by trying to create a computer to defeat a Russian champion!
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