Can I defeat a computer that is rated around USCF 1900? I am not strong enough to defeat Fritz, Rybka, Chessmaster, etc. on the highest levels. This tabletop chess computer is fun to play and has a rating that is just right for the average club player. Here is a game with me playing the white pieces against Alexandra at the highest level:

Human Player-Alexandra 1.e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e6 6. Bg5 Bd7 7. Qf3 Nc6 This Sicilian Defense position is good for white so far. The game will be filled with tactics.

8. Nxc6 Bxc6 9. Bxf6 Qxf6 10. Qxf6 gxf6 11. f3 White has lost the bishop pair, but there is obvious composition because of Black's doubled pawns on the f-file and the ruined kingside pawn structure. I evaluate this position as winning for white.

....a6 12. 0-0-0 White castles queenside and places pressure on the d6 pawn.

... Bh6+ an unexpected move that accomplishes little. However, Black does win a tempo with this check because it develops its bad bishop.

13. Kb1 0-0-0 Castling on the same side usually leads to a more positional game. However, Alexandra has the bishop pair. 14. Bc4 The computer probably wants to advance the b pawn here, but this will weaken its queenside pawn structure, which is one of my goals.

.... b5 Ahh! It does make this positional error! 15. Be2 Kd7? Why not the immediate b4 and white loses its knight! I made a mistake with Be2!

16. Ka1 Of course White must make some space for its cramped knight on c3.

....Rg8. 17. g3 b4 18. Nb1 I am beginning to like white's position. Bxa6 looms in the horizon!

... Ra8 19. c3 Trying to open up some lines towards the Black king.

...a5 20. cxb4  axb4 Now Alexandra is placing some pressure on the a-file so I must be careful.

21. Rd3? What a mistake! Black has the immediate Bb5 with the threat of winning the bishop on e2!

Ke7? 22. Rb3? Rb8 23. a3 Uncertain about this position, I make a risky move.

.... bxa3 24. Rxb8 Rxb8 25. Nxa3 d5 Alexandra has an interesting, active position. Let's evaluate the position. White has a passed b-pawn. Materially, both sides are equal. Black has a more active king and the bishop pair, but there are doubled pawns on the f-file. Now, Black is threatening to open up the posiiton. Rc1 is not possible because of black's dark squared bishop on h6.  Should I take the pawn? I will.

26. exd5! Bxd5 Alexandra now has the bishop pair and an open position, just the type of game I did not want. This is good for tactics, which favors the computer.

27. Rd1 My strategy is to advance the f3 pawn to block off black's dark squared bishop, and maybe to exchange minor pieces on c4.

.... Rb3

28. Bc4?! A move that I could not resist because of the complications, for better or worse. If Bxf3, then Bxb3 Bxd1 Bxd1, with an interesting endgame.

....Rxa3+ Alexandra sacrifices the exchange--a rook for a knight! Is this a positionally justified sacrifice or a sign of desperation for the silicon beast?  This is a losing move. X3D Fritz sugggests the cool f4.

29. bxa3 Bxc4 30. f4 A very unbalanced position, but most humans would give a slight advantage to black because of the bishop pair. F4 was a necessity for me because it temporarily disrupts the coordination of the computer's bishops.

.... e5 31. Rc1 Be6 Should I have advanced the a pawn first?

32. Rc7+  Kd6 33. Ra7? exf4  34. gxf4 Bxf4! Alexandra has the advantage. 

35. h4  Kc5 36. a4 Kb4  37. a5 Bg3 38. h5  Bc4  39. a6 Ka5 40.  h6  f5 41. Kb2  Kb6! Notice how all of Alexandra's pieces leap into action.

42. Ra8!? Be5+ 43. Kc2?  Bxa6! 44. Rg8?  Bb7? 45. Rg7!!   Be4+

46. Kd1!  Bf3+ 47. Ke1  Bh5!  48. Rxh7 Kc5 49. Rg7! Kd5 50. Rg8! Bg6! 51. Kf2 f4 52. Kf3 Bh5+ 53. Kf2 Bd4+ 54. Kf1 My plan is to park the king on the f-file. Bg6 55. Rg7! f3! 56. Rg8 Bd3+ 57. Ke1?? f2+  White resigns.  I made some crazy moves, but I did produce some tactical counterplay that Alexandra effectively negated. I should avoid dubious exchanges in the middlegame. Alexandra sacrificed the exchange in a good position. I could have drawn if I had played a little less risky variations.

Score: Human-Alexandra 0-1