In the June 1997 issue of Chess Life the U.S. Chess Federation announced a limerick contest to help commemorate the upcoming Garry Kasparov vs. Deep Blue rematch. Prior to this I had never written a limerick before in my life! But it sounded like fun and one of many motto's in life is "How hard can it be?"

So I immediately walked across the street to the Mesa City Library and checked out every book on limericks that they had -- just to get a feel for them. After that, since I had been keeping up with this match, I felt I was as equipped as well as anyone else to write one!

It took a couple of weeks but below is one of my better efforts. It's sort of a "super limerick" -- it tells the complete story of the match.

Enjoy.

"Man versus Machine" it was billed

And each day the auditorium filled!

An interesting fight -

With Garry first to have White

Can anyone claim they weren't thrilled?

The first game proved Garry still King

"Deep Blue hasn't learned anything!"

Quickly out of its book

It later "won" Garry's Rook

Does this thing even belong in the ring?

But then Kasparov resigned in Game 2

And at the time nobody knew

Later shown he could draw

Did this stick in his craw?

Others may be wondering too!

"The printouts!" Kasparov cried

"Why was I so flatly denied?"

So they were then sealed

Only later revealed

One point each -- this match is now tied!

Games 3, 4, and 5 were all drawn

Deep Blue did indeed have some brawn!

It's now winner take all

So don't fumble the ball

(Or in our case don't fumble a pawn!)

Game 6 was the most startling yet

And I'm sure it cost many a bet

Deep Blue sacked a Knight

Quickly proved this was right

And so began all the talk on the "Net"

This chess match made worldwide news

And most thought that Deep Blue would lose

But with its three-and-a-half

If you do the math

You'll find Garry's the one with the "blues!" 

No machine has done it 'till now

Bested our champion in match play -- kapow!

While few thought it would

Deep Blue proved that it could

And Garry is wondering "How?"

"I was not in the mood to fight"

Said the champ to the press that night

"But let this be clear"

"I guarantee -- do you hear?"

"I will tear it to pieces!" -- he might!

So, in New York on the eleventh of May

Of '97, the records will say

A machine, no less

Sat down to play chess

And proved that it really can play!

"Rematch" was then heard through the land

It is something we ALL should demand

For if Deep Blue will square-off

One more time with Kasparov

The games would be certainly grand!

We really have nothing to fear

Computers can help us, it's clear

And although Deep Blue won

And had its day in the sun

I think "chess" was the real winner here!

Here's another one I wrote I'm kind of partial to:

"The printouts!" Kasparov cried

"Why was I so flatly denied?"

Because the answer would show

What you and I know

That Fischer was really inside!

You may recall that Garry tried out a couple of rather offbeat openings. With that in mind, I leave you with one more:

Garry not up to the job?

"What happened?" his fans cry and sob

He's been champion for years

Has respect from his peers

Next time why not try out the Grob!

Groan!!