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Subject: Re: Correspondence Chess and computers

Author: Ed Panek

Date: 08:33:03 08/15/98

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On August 15, 1998 at 11:12:37, Kevin Mulloy wrote:

>Dear Friends at CCC,
>     I was wondering if I might pose a question:  Does anyone believe that it
>would be possible for one of the current crop of top computer programs to post a
>Master rating in correspondence chess?  I can lend a little insite, but I would
>like the opinion of the good people that work with computers and the computer
>programs every day.  I am currently a USCF correspondence chess Candidate Master
>(2064).  I have played more than 30 games and -- to date -- I have no losses and
>only 2 draws.  I have played against players that I believed used computers.
>Since my own style of play with both the white and black pieces tends to be
>closed, I have noticed that computer players tend to attack well, but against
>the closed positions I play they have trouble making any advances in the middle
>game.  I am able to come out with a better game positionally and this has worked
>very well for me.  I have went as far as playing Hiarcs6, Fritz5 and MCP7 in
>simulated "postal games" and I am 1win, 0 losses and 2 draws.  I can not beat
>these programs in a standard 40 moves in 120 min game.  Most of the time I can
>not even draw against these programs at these time controls.  Does anyone have
>an opinion on this?  Is there anyone that has played several games against the
>top programs at "correspondence time controls" that may have simular results?
>     With my limited experience, I don't think that -- against closed positions
>-- the current software could achieve a master rating at postal.  If anyone
>would like to simulate a game against their program, the only three rules that
>you need to know are:  1.  Any opening library or research is legal. 2.  You are
>allowed 3 days per move.  3.  You can not use any computer programs to generate
>a move for you.  In an actual postal game you are not allowed to ask for advise
>from anyone else about a move.
>     I would be very interested to hear from anyone that plays such a match or
>has noticed some of the same things that I have while playing closed positions.
>                            Thank You,
>                                        Trapper
I believe almost any decent chess player should be able to beat a computer using
certain methods that computers dont do well at in corr time control.

for example i usually wait for th computer to castle and launch an attack that
tries to offer the computer some material on the other side from the king and
then use the time to bring my rooks and knights towards the kingside for an
attack usually a nice pair of pawns in the middle helps to keep the computer
from being too mobile to defend after it has won a pawn or 2 pawns. for example
if he fianchettos on the Q side i push e4e5 and then he cant relly defend
without opening up his king more ...his rook will be in the way and he only has
a few pawns to help ...this strategy only works on certain openings tho...

other opening require other tricks...computers are usually very apt to go for an
undefended pawn . Iguess the best strategy is you must outmanuever the computer.
pratice attacking with less material on the board than the computer but in a
better position. try to ge tthe computer to put his queen on a useless square
that only gains it a pawn or 2..


 im no expert so im sure others will have other opinions...


have fun,Ed




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