In February 1996 a chess-playing computer known as Deep Blue made history by defeating the
reigning world chess champion Gary Kasparov in a game played under match conditions. Kasparov
went on to win the six-game match 4-2 and at the end of the match announced that he believed
that chess computing had come of age. This book provides an enthralling account of the match
and of the story that lies behind it: the evolution of chess-playing computers and the
development of Deep Blue. The story of chess-playing computers goes back a long way and the
author provides a whistlestop tour of the highlights of this history. As the development comes
to its culmination in Philadelphia we meet the Deep Blue team Garry Kasparov and each of the
historic six games is provided in full with a detailed commentary. Chess grandmaster Yasser
Seirawan provided a lively commentary throughout the match and here provides a Foreword about
the significance of this event.
