Author: Robert Hyatt
Date: 20:30:12 05/16/00
Go up one level in this thread
On May 16, 2000 at 17:16:08, Hans Gerber wrote: >On May 16, 2000 at 09:43:55, Robert Hyatt wrote: > >> >>And I think what he did was a perfectly acceptable action. Sudden death and >>computers do _not_ mix if you add humans into the mix. I have done the same >>thing to GM players on ICC many times. They always instantly ask "Why did you >>do that?" After I explain that I would rather draw a won game, or resign a >>drawn game, in order to keep them coming back and playing more games, they >>usually respond "OK, thanks..." > >Let's analyse. > >You don't insist on winning a won game and sometimes you prefer to make a draw. >(That is your opinion, but I want to say that you had no obligation to do it.) > >You don't insist on drawing a drawn game and sometimes you prefer to lose. >(That is your opinion, but I want to say that you had no obligation to do it.) > >Ah, you forgot the following cases, let me just take one of them. > >You have a lost position and you do _what_? You propose a draw?? Comparing this >with your confession above I am sure that you won't behave like that. I would >agree. You should not go for a draw in lost positions. _Although_ I am sure that >you could win a lot more points because programs are much better than humans in >such time trouble. But you would lose the GMs as opponents. I am about to win on time. If time was not an issue, I would be about to lose although it is going to take lots of time. I have three options. (1) I continue to play claim a win when your flag falls. I win. (2) I offer a draw. That gives you 1/2 point more than you would get had I played on and let you run out of time. (3) I resign. I managed my time better, but by doing so I overlooked a tactic you spotted and took advantage of. Even though I managed my time better, I throw that out the window and let you win. Which is better? (2) or (3)? (2) seem like the proper thing to do, assuming I care about how you feel about the game. I'm not really interested in throwing the full point away, just because I managed my time well but you didn't. I'm not really interested in running your flag out, for whatever reason. (2) is _the_ right choice. I don't have any great respect for a GM above anyone else. Frans has a _lot_ of blood, sweat and tears invested in the software program named "Fritz". Don't _ever_ forget that. I can't say whether he has sweated more than the typical GM. But I am pretty sure he hasn't sweated _less_. So Frans deserves the GM's respect just as much as the GM deserves Frans'. quid pro quo. The draw was a mutually respectable outcome. > >Now my question. Why do you think F. Morsch's action was acceptable? See above. The legitimate result was 0-1 for the human. no points. Frans turned that into 1/2-1/2, which is better than 0-1. If someone sees a $100 bill on the ground at the same time you see it, you both rush for it, but he gets there first. Should he give you (a) 0.00? (b) 50.00? or (c) 100.00? You seem to be thinking 100. I lean more toward 0.00. 50.00 seems like a very good compromise to the potential "loser" (you) here.
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.