Author: James T. Walker
Date: 06:26:28 12/12/99
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On December 12, 1999 at 08:49:08, Albert Silver wrote: >Hi all, > >As the issue of SSDF ratings, and their comparative value with USCF or FIDE >ratings, has been a recurring theme and a number of threads have sprouted >recently, I thought I'd share my opinion (self-plagiarized) as I think it is >relevant and might shed some light on the matter. > >SSDF ratings: inflated or not? >Here's what I think: the ratings are not inflated in the least bit. >Sounds crazy doesn't it? But it's not. People get too caught up trying to make >these futile comparisons between SSDF ratings and human ratings whether USCF, >FIDE, or whatever. The point is, and it has been repeated very often, there >simply is no comparison. The only comparison possible is that both are generated >using Elo's rating system, but that's where it ends. Elo's system is supposed to >calculate, according to a point system, the probability of success between >opponents rated in that system. The SSDF rating list does that to perfection, >but it is based on the members of the SSDF only. If you put Fritz 5.32 on fast >hardware up against the Tasc R30 or whatnot, it will pulverize the machine. The >difference in SSDF ratings accurately depicts that. It has NOTHING to do with >FIDE or USCF ratings. The rating of Fritz, Hiarcs, or others on the SSDF rating >list depicts their probability of success against other programs on the SSDF >list, and that's it. It doesn't represent their probability of success against >humans because humans simply aren't a part of the testing. If you want to find >out how a program will do against humans then test it against humans, and then >you will find it's rating against them. The SSDF rating has nothing whatsoever >to do with that. As was pointed out, I believe the SSDF ratings pool is a pool >that is COMPLETELY isolated from all others and as such cannot possibly be >compared with them. > > Albert Silver Hello Albert, I agree with you except on one point. The SSDF did in fact "Advertise" that the ratings were calibrated by occasional games versus humans. They have on at least one and maybe two occasions adjusted the list to bring it in line with computer performances vs humans. The problem is I don't believe this has been done lately. The ratings are supposed to be equal to the Sweedish rating system and if that were true then a conversion to FIDE or USCF or British system should be an easy job (At least on average). If you try this conversion now you would end up with what most people call inflated values. IMHO Regards, Jim Walker
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