Computer Chess Club Archives


Search

Terms

Messages

Subject: Computers Programs Don't Have Rights

Author: Adrien Regimbald

Date: 15:58:58 05/16/00


Hello,

The discussion comparing computers being withheld from human tournaments to
opressing minorities is rediculous to the extreme.  A computer/computer program
doesn't have any rights - they do not have a right to play in a chess
tournament.  Computer programs are allowed to play in tournaments by the grace
of the players in them, not for any other reason.

Some people keep talking about how we "need to have computers playing in chess
tournaments".  This is something we as authors of programs and/or people
generally interested in computer chess would _like_ to see.  We have no place to
be debating how we want to participate.  We will play by the rules set by the
GMs, or we will not have the chance to have our programs play against them at
all!  Let's face it - the average human player does not like playing against a
computer program in a game of chess.

I can attest to this personally - I have encountered some earlier chess programs
that I could beat easily in almost every game I played, but still I didn't
particularily enjoy playing against them.  I will admit that sometimes I use a
strong chess program as a training partner - but this is a matter of convenience
and practicality - I would much rather be doing this with a human player, but I
don't have a human master strength player at my beck and call! :P

There has been some talk about how the GMs should be grateful for the
opportunity to play a strong computer.  While I am sure many GMs use computer
software of some sort for training purposes at home, you will be hard pressed to
find any of them who will say they like having a computer playing in a
tournament with them.

I think that a lot of people in this forum need to adjust their attitudes on
this issue.  There is a LOT of talk about what we want, but it is all
irrelevant.  The fact of the matter is that we have to take what we are given.
Rather than discussing what we want to see in a tournament with computers, why
not talk about something more constructive: compromises which will appease the
human players and allow us to play in more tournaments while at the same time
not completely crippling our programs.


Regards,
Adrien.



This page took 0 seconds to execute

Last modified: Thu, 15 Apr 21 08:11:13 -0700

Current Computer Chess Club Forums at Talkchess. This site by Sean Mintz.