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Subject: Re: Real Sacrifices Part II

Author: Harald Faber

Date: 01:50:28 12/15/98

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On December 15, 1998 at 03:06:54, Laurence Chen wrote:

>From the replies to the posting I read so far about this trick subject, it seems
>that the majority of chessplayer think that real sacrifices are unsound and it
>should not be played, and that because of this the chess engine does not play
>it.

To make a long story in a short answer:
Sacs are hard to refuse OTB. That is the only reason some masters and GMs play
some. They pull up some confusing struggle knowing that the opponent won't be
able to save the game because of 2 aspects: 1) king safety/ under pressure
(=psychology) and 2) time. Maybe the GM knows that the sac is unsound. He plays
it becasue he knows there is only one defence and the opp won't find it.
In corespondence chess you have to be much more carefully.
The only programs playing risky sacs are the ones that have a sound eval for
king safety and attacking potential, MCP, The King, WChess and CSTal come in
mind for that case. MAYBE Junior5. Fritz won't play it unless it is sure to win
material. :-)



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