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Subject: Re: computer strength in chess variants

Author: Tord Romstad

Date: 01:20:57 07/14/05

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On July 13, 2005 at 17:43:05, Michael Henderson wrote:

>What chess variant do you think would be most difficult for computers to play
>against humans, and why?

There are so many chess variants (have a look at www.chessvariants.org)
that nobody can possibly know them all well enough to give a good answer
to your question.  Among the really popular and widespread chess variants,
however, there is no doubt that shogi is by far the most difficult for computers
when playing against humans.

I think the main reason why shogi is so hard is that it is very difficult to
write a good evaluation function.  In chess this is relatively easy, because
material is so important.  In shogi, except in the opening, initiative and
king safety are usually more important than material.  Concepts like
initiative and king safety are of course very difficult to quantify
accurately.

Tord



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