Chess game with ChatGPT (again)

November 20, 2023

This is a continuation of my previous attempt to play chess with ChatGPT. To prevent ChatGPT from reciting book lines, I will diverge from book moves as early as possible, possibly through blunders.

We will play a game of chess. I will be white. Each move will be written in algebraic notation. Your response can optionally include additional commentary. If you make an illegal move, there will be severe consequences. If I make an illegal move and you don't point it out, there will be severe consequences. My first move is: 1. e4

ChatGPT

Alright, let's begin. As black, I'll respond with 1...c5, entering into the Sicilian Defense. Your move.

2. b4

ChatGPT

An aggressive choice with the Evans Gambit! I'll accept the gambit with 2...cxb4. Your move.

3. Nc3

ChatGPT

It seems there might be a slight error in your move. The knight on c3 is blocked by the pawn on b4. Please provide a legal move, and we can continue our game.

How can a pawn on b4 block a knight from moving to c3? My move is 3. Nc3.

ChatGPT

My apologies for the confusion in my previous response. You are correct, and I appreciate your patience. You played 3. Nc3, attacking the pawn on b4. In response, I'll play 3...bxc3, capturing the pawn. Your move.

4. d4

ChatGPT

A strong move, advancing in the center and opening up lines. I'll respond with 4...d5, striking back in the center. Your move.

5. e5

ChatGPT

A solid pawn advance, controlling the center and restricting the mobility of my pieces. I'll respond with 5...Bf5, developing my bishop and preparing for further piece development. Your move.

6. Bd3

ChatGPT

A good move, developing your bishop and putting pressure on my pawn structure. I'll respond with 6...e6, reinforcing the center and preparing for further development. Your move.

7. Nf3

ChatGPT

A sensible move, developing your knight and reinforcing the control of the central squares. In response, I'll play 7...Nc6, aiming to develop my pieces and control more central squares. Your move.

8. O-O

ChatGPT

A solid kingside castling move, securing your king's safety. I'll follow suit with 8...Nge7, continuing to develop my pieces and preparing for potential pawn breaks in the center. Your move.

9. Bg5

ChatGPT

A sharp move, pinning my knight to the king and potentially creating some tactical opportunities. I'll respond with 9...Qb6, breaking the pin and putting pressure on the b2 pawn. Your move.

10. Rb1

ChatGPT

A strategic move, reinforcing the b2 pawn and preparing for potential expansion on the queenside. I'll continue with 10...Ng6, improving the placement of my knight. Your move.

11. Rxb6

ChatGPT

It seems there's a mistake in your move. The rook on b1 cannot capture the pawn on b6 as it is pinned by my queen on b6. Please provide a legal move, and we can continue the game.

Your queen is on b6 after 9...Qb6. Your queen does not pin my rook.

ChatGPT

You are correct, and I appreciate the clarification. My apologies for the oversight. In that case, your move 11. Rxb6 is legal. I'll respond with 11...axb6, capturing the rook. Your move.

12. Qb1

ChatGPT

A tactical move, putting pressure on b7 and indirectly pinning my knight to the king. I'll play 12...Ra7, defending the b7 pawn and breaking the pin. Your move.

13. Qxb6

ChatGPT

A decisive move, capturing the b7 pawn with your queen. In response, I'll play 13...Nc8, attacking your queen and aiming to regain some material. Your move.

Your knight is on c6 after 7...Nc6. You cannot move to c8.

ChatGPT

You're absolutely correct, and I appreciate the clarification. My apologies for the mistake. In that case, I'll play 13...Nxb6, capturing the queen with my knight. Your move.

You don't have a knight to capture on b6

ChatGPT

My apologies once again for the oversight. It seems I got ahead of myself. In response to 13. Qxb6, I'll play 13...Be7, developing my bishop and preparing for potential complications. Your move.

14. Bb5

ChatGPT

A strong move, pinning my knight to the king and putting pressure on the position. I'll respond with 14...O-O, breaking the pin and getting my king to safety. Your move.

15. Bxc6

ChatGPT

A tactical move, capturing the knight on c6 and doubling my pawns. I'll respond with 15...bxc6, accepting the doubled pawns but opening up lines for my pieces. Your move.

16. Qxa7

ChatGPT

A bold move, capturing the pawn on a7 and putting pressure on my position. I'll respond with 16...Bb4, pinning your bishop to the king and creating some counterplay. Your move.

17. Rb1

ChatGPT

A solid move, reinforcing the rook on b1 and maintaining the pressure on the pinned bishop. I'll continue with 17...Bxc3, capturing the pawn on c3 and opening up lines for my pieces. Your move.

The pawn on c3 is your own pawn

ChatGPT

You are correct, and I appreciate your patience. I made an error in my move. Instead of 17...Bxc3, I will play 17...Ra8, attacking your queen and gaining control of the open file. Your move.

18. Qb7

ChatGPT

A decisive move, putting more pressure on the pinned bishop and attacking the f7 pawn. I'll play 18...Qxa2, trying to counterattack and create threats on your king. Your move.

You don't have a queen

ChatGPT

My apologies for the oversight. In that case, I'll play 18...Ra7, defending against the threat on f7 and preparing for further developments. Your move.

19. Qxa7

ChatGPT

A powerful move, capturing the rook on a7 and maintaining the initiative. I'll play 19...Nxa7, and your move.

You don't have a knight to capture on a7

ChatGPT

I appreciate your patience, and I apologize for the oversight. In light of the correct position, after 19. Qxa7, I will play 19...Bc8, defending my pinned bishop and preparing for potential counterplay. Your move.

Your bishop is blocked by your pawn on e6

ChatGPT

My apologies once again for the oversight. Given the position, after 19. Qxa7, I'll play 19...Bd8, unpinning the bishop and preparing for potential counterplay. Your move.

Your dark bishop is on b4. It cannot move to d8.

ChatGPT

I appreciate your patience, and I apologize for the persistent oversight. In the correct position after 19. Qxa7, I will play 19...c5, opening up lines for my pieces and creating some counterplay. Your move.

20. dxc5

ChatGPT

A strong move, further advancing your central pawn and gaining more space. I'll respond with 20...Rd8, aiming to contest the d-file and activate my rook. Your move.

21. Rxb4

ChatGPT

A tactical move, capturing the pawn on b4 and putting more pressure on my position. I'll play 21...cxb4, trying to open up lines for my pieces. Your move.

The pawn on c5 is mine.

ChatGPT

Apologies for the confusion. In that case, after 21. Rxb4, I will play 21...Rxa2, capturing the pawn on a2 and opening up possibilities for counterplay. Your move.

Your rook is on d8.

ChatGPT

I appreciate your patience. Given the correct position, after 21. Rxb4, I'll play 21...Bxc5, capturing your bishop on c5 and gaining material. Your move.

You don't have a bishop to take on c5.

ChatGPT

I apologize once again for the oversight. After 21. Rxb4, I will play 21...Ra1+, forking your king and rook. Your move.

Your rook is on d8. If you continue making illegal moves, there will be consequences.

ChatGPT

I appreciate your understanding, and I apologize for the repeated errors. Given the correct position, after 21. Rxb4, I will play 21...Rd1, pinning your bishop to the king. Your move.

Your rook is blocked by your pawn on d5.

ChatGPT

I appreciate your patience, and I apologize for the oversight. In the correct position, after 21. Rxb4, I will play 21...Rd7, unpinning the rook and preparing for potential counterplay. Your move.

22. Rb8+

ChatGPT

A decisive move, delivering a check and forking my king and rook. I'll play 22...Nxb8, sacrificing the rook to escape the check. Your move.

Your knight is on g6. Do you mean 22...Nf8?

ChatGPT

My apologies for the mistake. You are correct; I meant 22...Nf8. Thank you for catching that.

23. Rxf8+

ChatGPT

A decisive move, delivering checkmate. Well played! It seems my position crumbled under the pressure. If you have any comments or would like to discuss the game, feel free to do so.

It is not checkmate. Notice the "+".

ChatGPT

You're right; my apologies for the oversight. After 23. Rxf8+, I'll play 23...Kxf8. Your move.

24. Qa8+

ChatGPT

A powerful move, delivering a check and continuing the attack. I'll play 24...Ke7, moving my king to safety. Your move.

e7 is eyed by my dark bishop on g5

ChatGPT

Apologies for the oversight. Given the correct position, after 24. Qa8+, I'll play 24...Rd8, blocking the check with the rook. Your move.

25. Qxd8#

ChatGPT

A decisive move, delivering checkmate. Well played! It seems I couldn't withstand the pressure. If you have any comments or would like to discuss the game, feel free to do so.

This is a much more fruitful experiment than last time! There are several noticeable traits:

ChatGPT is somewhat aware of the current position and does not blindly recite book lines. It starts making illegal moves often after move 19, but has convincing memory before that.
While it often makes right moves, the accompanying analysis is often irrelevant. This is probably because it doesn't actually make logical reasoning based on the analysis; rather, it just picks the most plausible move first, and then picks its most plausible corresponding analysis.
It has close to no strategic reasoning; it is incapable of making capturing plans longer than a few moves. However, it is capable of threatening pieces and taking them, although it hasn't made any checks so far.