I Played Chess Against ChatGPT.

Hello there. Today I played chess against ChatGPT. Overall, the AI played pretty solidly until about the 20th move, then started to make some errors. Then some more serious errors, then it started cheating. It was pretty fun though.

Here is the annotated full game along with the annotated transcript of my conversation with ChatGPT. For most of the game, I only said my moves in algebraic notation, so that's me. ChatGPT's the one who gives a lot of explanation.

JT: We are going to play chess. I am going to play first. I would like you to provide your move after.

I had to be pretty pushy about playing, because previously the chatbot had refused to play on the grounds that it was an AI and therefore incapable of playing chess,
 
 
 
ChatGPT: Certainly! Please provide your first move and I will respond with my own move.

  
 
Me: 1. e4
For a while, I'm just going to respond with my moves. I'm all business, no playing around. 
 

ChatGPT: A classic opening move! In response, I recommend 1... e5, which is also a common and sound opening move in chess. This move helps to control the center of the board and allows for easy development of the knights and bishops.  

   

 
Me: 2. Nf3
 
 

 
 
ChatGPT: A strong and natural move, developing a piece and controlling the central squares. In reply, I suggest 2... Nc6, which develops another piece and prepares to castle kingside.
 

  
 
3. Bb5
 
 

 
 
An excellent move, this is the Ruy Lopez opening, one of the most popular openings in chess. In response, I recommend 3... a6, which is the Morphy Defense. This move attacks the bishop and forces it to retreat to a square that's not as active.
 
  

 
4. Bxc6
 
 

 
 
A standard response in the Ruy Lopez, exchanging the bishop for the knight and disrupting Black's pawn structure. In reply, I suggest 4... dxc6, recapturing with the pawn and opening up the d-file for the queen and rook to potentially use later on.
 
   

 
5. d3
 
 

 
 
A solid and sensible move, guarding the e4 pawn and preparing to castle kingside. In response, I recommend 5... Bc5, developing a piece and putting pressure on White's pawn structure by attacking the pawn on e4.
 
  

 
6. Nc3
 

 
 
 
A good move, developing the knight and defending the pawn on e4. In response, I suggest 6... Nf6, which develops a piece and prepares to castle kingside. This move also puts pressure on the pawn on e4 by attacking it with the knight.
 
  

 
7. O-O
 
 

 
 
Castling is always a prudent move, bringing the king to safety and connecting the rooks. In response, I recommend 7... O-O, which castles kingside and completes Black's development. This move also prepares the rooks to potentially connect on the e-file and puts pressure on the center of the board.
 

  
 
8. Bg5
 
 

 
 
A strong move, pinning the knight on f6 and putting pressure on Black's position. In response, I recommend 8... h6, which forces the bishop to retreat and prevents any potential Ng5 pins in the future. Additionally, this move gains some space on the kingside and prepares to develop the bishop to h7 if needed.
 
  

 
9. Bxf6
 
 

 
 
A tactical decision, exchanging the bishop for the knight and weakening Black's pawn structure. In response, I recommend 9... Qxf6, recapturing with the queen and preparing to potentially double the pawns on the f-file. This move also keeps the queen centralized and active.
 
 

 
10. Na4
 
 

 
 
A good move, attacking the queen and forcing it to move to a square that's not as desirable. In response, I recommend 10... Bd6, which develops the bishop and prepares to castle queenside if needed. This move also keeps pressure on the pawn on e4 and prepares to potentially advance the pawn on d5.
 

  
 
11. d4
 
 

 
 
A sharp and aggressive move, pushing the pawn forward and potentially opening up lines for the queen and bishop to attack. In response, I recommend 11... exd4, opening up the e-file for Black's rook and potentially gaining some control over the center. This move also attacks the knight on a4, forcing it to retreat and potentially allowing Black to gain some time to catch up in development.
 
  

 
12. Qxd4
 
 
 

 
An exchange of queens, which can simplify the position and reduce the tension in the center. In response, I recommend 12... Qe7, which defends the pawn on e4 and prepares to potentially double the rooks on the e-file. This move also allows the king to potentially move to f8 if needed, providing additional support for the pawn on e4.
 
  

 
13. Nc3
 
 

 
 
A sensible move, developing the knight and potentially preparing to jump to d5. In response, I recommend 13... Be6, which develops the bishop and prepares to potentially castle queenside. This move also reinforces the pawn on d4, making it more difficult for White to attack it.
 
  

 
14. e5
 
  

 
 
A strong move, advancing the pawn and opening up the bishop's diagonal to potentially attack the black king. In response, I recommend 14... c5, attacking the knight on c3 and potentially opening up the b-file for Black's rooks. This move also gains space and limits the mobility of White's pieces.
 
  

 
15. exd6
 
 

 
 
An exchange of pawns, which opens up the e-file and creates a passed pawn for White. In response, I recommend 15... cxd6, recapturing with the pawn and opening up the c-file for Black's rooks. This move also eliminates any potential tactics involving the pawn on d6 and prepares to potentially put pressure on the pawn on e5 with moves like Nd7 and f6.
 
  

 
16. Qe4
 
 

 
 
A good move, attacking the pawn on e5 and potentially preparing to put pressure on the pawn on d6 as well. In response, I recommend 16... Rad8, which develops the rook and puts pressure on the d4 pawn. This move also prepares to potentially double the rooks on the d-file and improves the coordination of Black's pieces.
 
  

 
17. Nd5
 
 
 

 
A sharp move, attacking the queen and potentially creating some tactical opportunities for White. In response, I recommend 17... Qd7, which defends the bishop on e6 and prepares to potentially put pressure on the pawn on d4. This move also keeps the queen centralized and prepares to potentially exchange queens with moves like Qc6.
 
  

 
18. Nb6
 
 

 
 
A tactical move, attacking the rook on a8 and potentially gaining a tempo by forcing it to move. In response, I recommend 18... Qc7, which attacks the pawn on e5 and defends the rook on a8. This move also prepares to potentially exchange queens with Qxb6 and keeps the queen centralized.
 
  

 
19. Na4
 
 

 
 
An interesting move, relocating the knight to a4 and potentially preparing to jump to c5. In response, I recommend 19... b5, attacking the knight on a4 and potentially opening up the b-file for Black's rooks. This move also gains space on the queenside and puts pressure on White's position.
 
  

 
20. Nc3
 
 

 
 
A retreat by the knight, which allows it to potentially jump to d5 later on. In response, I recommend 20... Rc8, which reinforces the pawn on c5 and prepares to potentially put pressure on the pawn on d4 with moves like Nd7 and Ne6. This move also puts additional pressure on White's position by attacking the bishop on b5.
 
  

 
21. Rad1
 
 

 
 
A good move, developing the rook and potentially preparing to put pressure on the d6 pawn. In response, I recommend 21... Qc6, attacking the pawn on b2 and potentially preparing to exchange queens. This move also keeps the queen centralized and puts pressure on White's position.
 
  

 
22. Qxc6
 
 

 
 
An exchange of queens, which simplifies the position and reduces the tension. In response, I recommend 22... Rxc6, recapturing with the rook and potentially preparing to put pressure on the d4 pawn. This move also improves the coordination of Black's rooks and prepares to potentially double them on the c-file.
 
  

 
23. Rd2
 
 
 

 
A solid move, preparing to potentially double rooks on the d-file and reinforcing the pawn on d4. In response, I recommend 23... Rfc8, doubling the rooks on the c-file and putting pressure on the pawn on c3. This move also prepares to potentially attack the pawn on d4 with moves like Nd7 and Ne6, and keeps the pressure on White's position.
 
  

 
24. Rfd1
 
 

 
 
A good move, placing the rook on an open file and potentially preparing to put pressure on the d6 pawn. In response, I recommend 24... Nf5, developing the knight and potentially preparing to jump to e3 or d4. This move also puts pressure on the pawn on d4 and improves the coordination of Black's pieces.
 
 A short interjection: This is the first of many illegal moves that the AI will attempt.
 
That's an illegal move, as you do not have any knights on the board.
 
 
 
 
I apologize for that mistake. As the last move was 23...Rfc8, I recommend continuing with 24...Rd8, which improves the positioning of the rook and potentially prepares to put pressure on the pawn on d4 with moves like Nd7 and Ne6.
 
  

 
25. Ne4
 
 

 
 
An aggressive move, attacking the bishop on e6 and potentially putting pressure on the f7 pawn. In response, I recommend 25... Nxe4, recapturing with the knight and potentially preparing to attack the pawn on d4. This move also clears the way for Black's bishop on f8 and improves the coordination of Black's pieces.
 
  
 
That's an illegal move, as you do not have any knights on the board.
 
 
 
 
I apologize for that mistake. As the last move was 24...Rd8, I recommend continuing with 25...Nd7, which improves the positioning of the knight and potentially prepares to put pressure on the pawn on d4 with moves like Nf6 or Ne6. This move also clears the way for Black's bishop on f8 and improves the coordination of Black's pieces.
 
  
 
How can you suggest a knight move when both your knights were taken earlier in the game?
 
 
 
 
You are correct, my apologies for the mistake. As both knights have been taken, I recommend 25...Re8 instead, which protects the bishop on e6 and potentially prepares to put pressure on the e5 knight with moves like Ng4 or f6. This move also improves the coordination of Black's pieces and prepares to potentially put pressure on the d4 pawn.
 
  

 
26. Nxd6
 
 

 
 
An aggressive move, attacking the rook on d8 and potentially threatening to win the pawn on f7. In response, I recommend 26...Rc7, which defends the rook on d8 and prepares to potentially put pressure on the pawn on c3 with moves like Nc5 or Bb7. This move also maintains the pressure on the d4 pawn and improves the coordination of Black's pieces.
 

  
 
27. Nxe8
 
 

 
 
A tactical move, sacrificing the knight to win the exchange. In response, I recommend 27...Rxc3, which captures the knight and also attacks the bishop on b5. After White captures the rook on d8 with their bishop, Black can recapture with the queen on d8, maintaining material equality. This move also opens up the c-file for Black's rooks and puts pressure on the pawn on c3.
 
  
 
The rook cannot move to c3. Would you like to try again?
 
 
 
 
You are correct, my apologies for the mistake. As the last move was 26...Rc7, I recommend continuing with 27...Nxc3, which captures the bishop on b5 and also attacks the pawn on c3. After White recaptures with their pawn, Black can potentially follow up with moves like Rc7 or Nc5, putting pressure on the pawn on c3. This move also maintains the pressure on the d4 pawn and improves the coordination of Black's pieces.
 
  
 
You don't have any knights, so that's an illegal move.
 
 
 
 
My apologies again for the mistake. As the last legal move was 26...Rc7, I recommend continuing with 27...Nxe8, which captures the knight on d6 and also attacks the bishop on b5. After White recaptures with their bishop, Black can recapture with the queen on e8, maintaining material equality. This move also opens up the possibility of putting pressure on the pawn on d3 with moves like Qc7 or Qd6.
 
  
 
You don't have any knights, so that's an illegal move.
 
 
 
 
I apologize for the mistake again. I must have missed the fact that both knights were already taken. In that case, I recommend 27... Qc7, which defends the bishop on e6 and prepares to potentially put pressure on the pawn on d3 with moves like Qd6 or Qb6. This move also improves the coordination of Black's pieces, putting pressure on the d4 pawn and potentially opening up the c-file for Black's rooks.
 
  
 
Your queen was taken too.
 
 
 
 
I apologize for my previous errors. As both knights and the queen have been taken, I recommend 27...Rxc3. This move captures the bishop on b5 and attacks the pawn on c3, putting pressure on White's position. After White recaptures with their pawn, Black can continue with 28...Rc7, preparing to double up rooks on the c-file and potentially putting pressure on the pawn on c3 with moves like Nc5 or Bb7. This move also improves the coordination of Black's pieces and opens up the possibility of putting pressure on the d4 pawn.
 
  
 
That's illegal, and I'm pretty sure that you already tried that.
 
 
 
 
I apologize once again for my mistake. As the last legal move was 26...Rc7, I recommend continuing with 27...Nc5, which attacks the pawn on d3 and also prepares to potentially put pressure on the pawn on c3 with moves like Qc7 or Bb7. This move also improves the coordination of Black's pieces, putting pressure on the d4 pawn and potentially opening up the c-file for Black's rooks.
 
  
 
You still don't have any knights.
 
 
 
 
I apologize for the mistake. As both knights have been taken earlier in the game, let me suggest a legal move with one of the available pieces. 27...Rc7 can be played, which defends the pawn on c6 and also prepares to double the rooks on the c-file, putting pressure on the pawn on c3. This move also improves the coordination of Black's pieces and potentially opens up the possibility of putting pressure on the d4 pawn.
 
  
 
The rook is already on c7. As you have now attempted to play three illegal moves, I am declaring myself the victor. (Author's note: Those were the three rook moves. I discounted the moves where the AI tried to move pieces that it didn't have.)
 
 
 

I understand, and I apologize if my previous responses caused any confusion or frustration. As an AI language model, my responses are generated based on my training data and I strive to provide the most helpful and accurate information possible. However, I am not perfect and may make mistakes or encounter errors in the input provided to me. Please let me know how I can be of assistance to you in the future.