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Subject: Re: The old chess program "OwlChess"

Author: Peter Kasinski

Date: 14:33:04 01/11/01

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On January 11, 2001 at 17:15:12, Dann Corbit wrote:

>On January 11, 2001 at 17:01:45, Ulrich Tuerke wrote:
>
>>On January 11, 2001 at 16:50:36, Dann Corbit wrote:
>>
>>>On January 11, 2001 at 16:42:21, Christophe Theron wrote:
>>>[snip]
>>>>I suggest null move and futility pruning because they are easy to implement and
>>>>well documented, and will definitely make the program much stronger at a low
>>>>cost.
>>>>
>>>>I do not suggest that by using these two techniques you will create a top
>>>>program.
>>>>
>>>>I guess that you already know that the most successful techniques are not
>>>>publicly documented. That's the fun of chess programming: do it yourself.
>>>
>>>No, that's the tragedy of chess programs.  Because money can be made,
>>>information is hidden instead of shared.
>>
>>I don't think that it's a tragedy. If all these tricks were published, we would
>>probably not have this variety of chess programs; instead of "individuals" we
>>would probably have a group of rather similar programs. Couldn't this be a bet
>>boaring, Dann (even if each of these would play a bit stronger than today's
>>toppers thanks to wisdom sharing) ?
>
>Bad science.  We benefit because we hide what we learn?  I don't believe one
>sub-atomic particle of that.


But why insist on science?  Isn't it equally valid to call it all a competition
(which, after all, it is) and things falls into place nicely. Better ideas win
and influence progress.

just a different angle I guess,
cheers

PK.



>
>Whoever says this is shouting a big lie.  If we should shout it loud enough and
>long enough people will believe it.  But that won't make it true.
>
>Mankind benefits from the sharing of truth.  Whether this truth is mathematical
>or philosophical or metaphysical or whatever.  Hiding the truth is *ALWAYS* so
>that we can benefit _ourselves_ rather than others.  Isn't this completely
>obvious?  We can justify it any way that we like.
>
>Now, I also understand economic reality.  If you share what you know in computer
>chess, other people will try it.  If you have a competitive edge and you
>describe how you got that edge, you just lost your edge.  That is too bad, and
>that is what drives the secrecy.  The sort of ideal world I envision is entirely
>impractical, and I am aware of that.  It does not stop me from lamenting,
>however.



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