Author: Uri Blass
Date: 09:40:42 05/21/03
Go up one level in this thread
On May 21, 2003 at 11:58:55, Tom Kerrigan wrote: >On May 21, 2003 at 09:07:24, martin fierz wrote: > >>On May 21, 2003 at 04:29:31, Tom Kerrigan wrote: >> >>>On May 21, 2003 at 00:00:11, Russell Reagan wrote: >>> >>>>As far as I know, computer chess is the most popular computer board game. There >>>>are dozens of commercial programs, and hundreds of amateur programs. >>>> >>>>What do you think are the main contributing factors to computer chess being the >>>>most popular? Why not checkers/draughts, or go, or any other game? >>>> >>>>I think there are two main factors. >>>> >>>>1. Chess is one of the most popular games in the world, if not THE most popular. >>>> >>>>2. The computer chess community has created a good environment that is inviting >>>>to potential computer chess programmers. >>>> >>>>One example of #2 can be seen in the nice GUI's that we amateur computer chess >>>>programmers have. Between Winboard and Arena, we have nice looking interfaces, >>>>and networking support for internet chess servers, and we get it all for free. >>>> >>>>I also think that chess servers such as ICC and FICS do a great deal to attract >>>>potential programmers to chess instead of other board games. >>>> >>>>For instance, I have tried to make other game playing programs in the past >>>>(checkers and amazons), but after a while my program slaughters me, and there >>>>isn't anyone to play my program. If I had a nice GUI like Arena that would let >>>>me organize a tournament with a dozen other amazons programs, then I would >>>>maintain my interest in computer amazons. Or if there was an "Internet Amazons >>>>Server", and I had a GUI that would handle the networking for me, I would be >>>>much more motivated to continue programming amazons. >>>> >>>>So what do you think contributes to the popularity of computer chess? >>> >>>1. It seems the game itself might be the west's most popular board game, and >>>computers are more widespread in the west. >>> >>>2. The rules and complexity of the game are difficult but not prohibitive, so >>>it's not too simple to be uninteresting with current compute power (as is >>>Connect 4, and arguably checkers) >> >>connect 4 can be solved on a fast pc in 1 hour. checkers is nowhere near being > >Really? I didn't know that. Not by "brute force," i.e., only scoring positions >as win, lose, or draw. I believe that takes closer to a month. I read that this game was solved even without computer programs. I never tried to write a program for that game but how do you get the estimate of one month? Even without knowing the solution I believe that programs can solve it relatively fast if you make the following asumptions: 1)I assume that hash tables are used. 2)I assume that symmetric is also used and the program consider 2 positions as the same if they are symmetric even if they are not the same. 3)I also assume that programs also can evaluate positions when all the moves are forced correctly as win,draw,loss These positions happen when there is only one file that you can put in it without letting the opponent to win in the next move. It make sense to search the game until the end in these positions. Uri
This page took 0 seconds to execute
Last modified: Thu, 15 Apr 21 08:11:13 -0700
Current Computer Chess Club Forums at Talkchess. This site by Sean Mintz.