Hikaru's Anti-Engine Strategy

Before today’s neural-network monsters like Stockfish 17 or Lc0, early engines often struggled with long-term pawn structures and closed positions. And that made for interesting battles between man and machine.

In this video, I breakdown Hikaru's strategy in defeating Crafty, a formidable engine on ICC back in 2007.

Review Questions

1. All moves in chess (even the best ones) have trade-offs. What is the downside to playing two-square pawn moves in the opening?
2. In closed positions, especially when you have a space advantage, why is patience and slow maneuvering often more effective than immediate pawn breaks?
3. How can you determine whether your advantage is in space or development, and how should your plans differ based on each type of advantage?
4. What is a "padlock pawn structure", and how does it work?
5. Are Knights or Bishops preferred in closed positions, and why?