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Subject: Fact or Fiction? My take on the hoax.

Author: Peter Skinner

Date: 08:05:47 09/22/02


This whole scenario with Ruffian is a tad rediculous.

When I joined the computer chess circle about 9 years ago, I was amazed that
there were automated chess programs. Still today I find the hobby/sport
fasincating.

About 4 yrs ago I tried to write my own program with help from the Crafty
mailing list, here at the CCC, from sources on ICC/FICS. When my program got
it's first draw vs GNU-Chess I was amazed and actually posted the game here and
bragged to everyone I knew. That was 4 yrs ago.

Currently I no longer work on the program anymore and I doubt if it were to have
a rating of 1700. I am serious. It is horrible. I no longer work on it due to
work/time restrictions.

I looked at every piece of code I could get my hands on to write the damn thing.
There are others here that have been working on their respective programs for
over 20 years ie. Robert Hyatt.

People just take a step back and think. If _you_ were to write a chess program,
improved it's play to where _your_ program was beating the best this sport has
to offer, would you not "tell it on the mountain"? I sure as hell would, and I
know others would as well. That is something, as Robert said, someone would have
known about. NO ONE seems to know anything but how to say wait for a statement,
biography of the author, or even a release of the engine. That to me smells like
a rat. If it smells like it...

To have a program pop out of no where and suddenly be the #1 program in the
world is just a tad to much. Hense the great amount of doubt surrounding it.
Not only do I find it hard to believe, I find it _very_ disrespectful of those
who are posting results for this _new_ engine that most consider totally false.

If this is nothing more than a hoax I would recommend that those involved should
"let us all in on the joke" pretty damn quick.

This is a COMPUTER CHESS CLUB. It has every conceivable author of a known chess
program here to talk about the subject, share ideas, and frankly just love the
hobby they have chosen.

Personally if this _does_ turn into a hoax, and I am absolutely sure it will,
those involved should be removed from this board. Not only do they have people
like pavel all tied up in knots, you are showing little to no respect to those
who have worked very hard on their programs.

I have already stated that I am beginning to think that this could be a hoax to
promote Arena. The only people that have either seen this damn program, or have
results for it are attached to that project.

The only way that you are going to get the program is if you download the next
release of Arena. I find that odd.

Peter (tell it like it is) Skinner



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