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Subject: Re: I'm tired of people asking "What if Hydra was on a slower computer"

Author: Vasik Rajlich

Date: 03:51:35 08/31/04

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On August 30, 2004 at 16:10:58, Russell Reagan wrote:

>On August 30, 2004 at 14:57:40, David H. McClain wrote:
>
>>So is the argument valid that Hydra is a better chess program, or is it better
>>because of its hardware?
>
>It's apples and oranges. Hydra is a different approach than normal "chess
>playing software". It's more like a "chess playing computer". They can both play
>chess very well. The point of the chess match is not "Who has the better
>software?" It is "Who finishes with more points?", and nothing more.
>
>Think of it this way. Let's have a race. Everyone starts in New York and the
>first person to Los Angelos is the winner of the race. Lance Armstrong enters
>the race and decides to ride his bike. Jeff Gordon enters with his racing car. A
>military fighter pilot enters with his fighter jet and finishes days before the
>other participants.
>
>After the race all of the cycling hobbyists are chatting on their message board
>saying, "But the fighter pilot is clearly not a better cyclist than Lance!" The
>NASCAR fans are all chatting on their message board saying, "But the fighter
>pilot is clearly not a better race car driver than Jeff Gordon!"
>
>And here we have all of the computer chess software hobbyists chatting on a
>message board saying, "But Hydra is not the best chess software!" The point of
>the contest was not, "Who has the better chess software?" It was, "Which
>participant finishes with more points?"
>
>A lot of people miss the point of computer chess contests. They think they are
>only about chess software, and that is not the case. Superior software is only
>one means to an end. There are other means to reach that end, if you are
>fortunate enough to be in a situation to make use of those means.

Keep in mind that it's very normal in sports to have rules limiting the
equipment used. Baseball bats cannot be corked. Formula-1 engines must conform
to specifications. Football players cannot throw spears at the quarterback.

Open-hardware is indeed an interesting, legitimate contest - but so is
limited-hardware.

Vas



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