Author: KarinsDad
Date: 11:26:07 01/20/99
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On January 20, 1999 at 10:05:15, odell hall wrote: >Hi CCC > > I am Just curious, isn't it unsual for a grandmaster to take an active role in >computer chess? Not at all. Just look at former world champion Mikhail Botvinnik. >I am assuming ofcourse that this is true since I have heard his >name quite frequently. Has he played any matches with any programs?, if so I >would love to see the games. It seems that he would be the perfect choice to >play one of the top programs in a match, since he obviously has an interest in >computer chess, and has no "computer chess phobia" like so many other >grandmasters appear to have. It isn't exactly a "phobia" as much as a necessity. Some human/computer games are rated (especially in standard tournaments). When two humans play, both of them have the same constraints (such as sitting at a board for 6 hours will result in some level of fatigue). Also, making a minor mistake against a human may or may not result in the loss of the game. When a human plays a computer, the computer does not get tired. It does not usually play a totally inferior move due to a mis-calculation. And it will often catch minor mistakes that a human may miss. Therefore, unless there is some real money involved, playing against a computer is not usually worth it for a GM. Even if the game is not rated, there is the psychological factor of not wanting to be seen losing to a computer. You may consider this to be a phobia, but it is more like a cultural thing. KarinsDad
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