2MOVE
42PAWN
TO
F4By move 42,
AlphaZero has
sacrificed even
more pawns,
and is marching
another poor,
disposable
sucker toward
oblivion. But
this move seals
AlphaZero’s vic-
tory. That final
pawn is about
to crack open
Stockfish’s
king’s corner
like a knife
twisting open
an oyster.
Another key
element to
AlphaZero’s
style is its abso-
lute obsession
toward attacks
against the op-
ponent’s king—
rather than
focusing on
more delicate
tactical plays.
By move 42,
both of Alpha-Zero’s bishops
control long
open diagonals
directed right
at the king. Its
queen is one
leap away from
the fray. And
both rooks
are likewise
staring down
Stockfish’s
defense with
unholy fury.
In their book,
Sadler and Re-
gan write that
it’s important
for chess mas-
ters to embrace
early strategic
pawn sacrifices
despite the
risk: “Don’t
rush! AlphaZero
doesn’t attempt
to deliver
checkmate
immediately but
ensures that all
its pieces are
joining into
the attack.”March/April 2020 19