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Subject: Re: Future of Chess: Will GMs be able to draw computers?

Author: Tony Nichols

Date: 16:06:31 10/20/04

Go up one level in this thread


On October 20, 2004 at 04:17:26, Russell Reagan wrote:

>On October 19, 2004 at 22:00:24, Tony Nichols wrote:
>
>>We dont bow down to calculators do we.
>
>If the contest is to see who can do arithmetic calculations with the greatest
>accuracy and efficiency, then we would indeed bow down to calculators as they
>are clearly superior at this task.
>
Why do you think we dont have these competitions. There is no point. Just as
there is no point in seeing who remembers theory better computer or man.
>
>>They definitely do
>>math faster than humans.
>
>Right. At some point the calculators became faster than humans for doing simple
>math. Calculators continued to get faster, while humans did not, and now
>computers are billions of times faster than humans. Right now computers play
>equally as well or better than the best humans in the world, and computers will
>only get faster. Do you dispute any of this?
>
Yes! I don't think computers play = to the best human players and are certainly
not better. They will get better but I think they have a long way to go. By the
way speed is not important when the program is not even analyzing. What is
purley mathematical about opening books and endgame tablebases? We dont use
calculators with built in solutions. They have to compute each equation, so when
we talk of chess programs let it be that part that computes.
>
>>The point is chess programs are tools for chess
>>players.
>
>That may be what chess programs are *to you*, but that isn't what they are to
>everyone.
>
I understand this and it makes me sad. To think someone could be so involved in
chess and not be a player is weird. I suppose some people use calculators as
paperweights, but this is not their best use!
>
>>If we want to have matches between humans and computers we should not
>>forget this. By the way, I will not be "snickering at how it doesnt even
>>understand" I will be having good laugh thinking about all the people who think
>>it does!
>
>I don't think anyone in this discussion claimed that computers understand
>anything. What I am claiming is that chess is 100% purely mathematical and that
>some day computers will play the game perfectly, while humans will never
>approach perfection. My claim can be proven mathematically, at least
>theoretically. I doubt that your claim that humans will always have a chance can
>be proven, and I'm not even sure there is any evidence to support it. Your claim
>seems mainly based upon human ego, emotion, or hope.

If we assume that chess is 100% mathematical then why does the computer need the
crutches of opening books and endgame tablebases? Surely modern computers can
compute better than humans. Let this be the competition and I claim humans are
far superior to computers! Many famous players including Lasker and Botvinnik
have stated that chess is not a purely mathematical game. I dont know your field
of expertise but this is from a mathematician and an engineer.
 I think humans will always have chances because computers are not even close to
fully analyzing every possible move so they have to use positional evaluations
just like humans. If you've seen some of the bad evals. programs make you might
agree with me.
Regards
Tony



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