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Subject: Re: Unfriendly computer blitz

Author: Albert Silver

Date: 06:29:53 12/08/99

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On December 07, 1999 at 20:41:22, Ricardo Gibert wrote:

.
>>>>
>>>>This is already done.  It is called "playing with increment".  If a human
>>>>chooses a zero increment game, then he has to play to win or draw within
>>>>that time limit.  That is _his_/_her_ choice, and has nothing to do with the
>>>>computer.  I see no reason for the computer to play within that clock time
>>>>limit but let the human off if he gets low on time.
>>>
>>>Read my response to this that I wrote to Kappler's post in this thread.
>>>
>>>>
>>>>If the human insists on playing zero-inc games, then as the saying goes "he who
>>>>lives by the sword, dies by the sword."
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>The "drawback" to all this is that computers employing the above 2 ideas will
>>>>>wind up with lower ratings, but I think those ratings will then reflect their
>>>>>strength due to chessic reasons rather than non-chessic ones. Computer chess
>>>>>programers egos will take a hit when their programs ICC rating goes down, but
>>>>>they will gain in the long run by virtue of having produced a more enjoyable
>>>>>program that is bound to thereby be more popular. In a serious competitive
>>>>>setting or against another computer, these "features" should be turned off of
>>>>>course. Perhaps this could be tested on ICC with unrated games to see what the
>>>>>impact would be on playing strength.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>I have been playing chess for a _long_ time.  I have won and lost games on
>>>>time.  I consider the 'clock' to be a "chessic reason" for losing a game.  It
>>>>is part of the game, included in the rules...
>>>
>>>I have also played chess for a _long_ time and it has always been considered bad
>>>etiquette to try to win dead drawn positions on time in skittles. Maybe you play
>>>in a "tougher" neighborhood than I do.
>>
>>
>>
>>You just play in a very protected environment.  I have seen this happen at
>>USCF open events (blitz tournament).  At a FIDE event.  Even at long time
>>controls with a mad scramble at the end...
>>
>>again, avoid it by playing with increment... not by expecting your opponent to
>>let you off the hook after you choose a time control you can't live with...
>
>How do you know what "environment" I play in? You keep forgetting I am limiting
>this feature to friendly games. You mention USCF & FIDE events. So what? What
>about them? I wasn't talking about those. Like I said before, you don't seem to
>read my posts very carefully.

I'm not sure how "friendly" an environment a rated game on ICC is. I have never
seen a friendly zero increment game on ICC unless played against someone I
already knew, and even then it depended. When I want a friendly game, I'll go
for unrated with lots of increment. I am not the world's fastest blitz player (a
huge understatement) but will not even deign to complain, or even be upset, if
when my clock is down to 2-3 seconds, my opponent starts to play nonsense moves,
such as giving pieces away though with a check, in order to eat up those last
few seconds. Sounds terribly unfair, and the first time this happened to me I
felt cheated. I quickly realized though, that playing in a new environment
brought about new conditions, and learning to contend with them was a part of
it. Complaining about them would do little good. Caveat emptor.
Similarly, I always go to tournaments with wax earplugs whether or not it is a
small round-robin, or a big open. Sure, the arbiter should absolutely ensure
silence as a part of the playing conditions, and as a friend pointed out, it
shouldn't be necessary to take such precautions. Still, an argument, a noisy
spectator, an animated discussion by the players on the game that they just
finished playing before leaving the playing area: all are possibilities that
happen all the time. I'd rather not lose my concentration, and possibly the game
due to these, and then complain endlessly about it after. In my opinion, such an
attitude is just creating excuses to lose. In the end, the result remains the
same.

                                     Albert Silver



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