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Subject: Re: Next Human vs Computer ratings list - I need opinions

Author: Ed Schröder

Date: 10:29:05 05/19/00

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On May 19, 2000 at 13:26:26, Robert Hyatt wrote:

>On May 19, 2000 at 12:41:57, Enrique Irazoqui wrote:
>
>>On May 19, 2000 at 12:22:05, Ed Schröder wrote:
>>
>>>On May 19, 2000 at 11:05:45, Enrique Irazoqui wrote:
>>>
>>>>On May 19, 2000 at 10:58:57, Robert Hyatt wrote:
>>>>
>>>>>On May 19, 2000 at 10:27:04, blass uri wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>>On May 19, 2000 at 09:42:07, Enrique Irazoqui wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>>On May 19, 2000 at 09:37:19, Chris Carson wrote:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>I am planning to publish an updated list list here with
>>>>>>>>all rated human vs computer results for 40/2 events.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>Please let me know your thoughts on the following:
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>1.  Exclude Performance Rating when 3 or fewer games
>>>>>>>>    have been played by a program/hardware.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>I don't see why.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>2.  Exclude forfiets and protest resignations (Dutch Championship),
>>>>>>>>    and games where computers lost due to hardware, IP failures,
>>>>>>>>    or operator error.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>I would definitely exclude forfeits and IP failures, but not the rest. In my
>>>>>>>opinion, this list is interesting if it reflects the real performance of
>>>>>>>programs in actual games. Hardware failures and operator's errors are part of
>>>>>>>how a program plays. Forfeits and IP failures are not.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>Enrique
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Do you really think that losing on time is part of how shredder4 plays?
>>>>>>
>>>>>>I do not agree.
>>>>>>I think that operator's error are not part of how a program plays and it is not
>>>>>>fair to include the game that shredder lost on time in a winning position when
>>>>>>the reason was not a bug in the program.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Uri
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>Depends on your definition of "How Shredder plays".  If you mean how it plays
>>>>>in human events, then the answer is "yes".  Because the operator _will_ make a
>>>>>mistake here and there.  Resigning when there is a deep saving move that the
>>>>>program might have played without understanding it.  Losing time on the clock
>>>>>by going to the bathroom.  Etc. The human operator _is_ part of the "system"
>>>>>until we start using robots controlled by the computer.
>>>>>
>>>>>I have made mistakes (as an operator) that ending up costing Cray Blitz a game
>>>>>here and there.  In the WMCCC event in Jakarta, the operator misunderstood how
>>>>>to set the time control and set it for 40 moves in 2 days, not 40 moves in 2
>>>>>hours.  We lost the first game that way.  If you have a human in the loop, then
>>>>>he has to be factored in.  As does hardware failures which _do_ happen in games.
>>>>>
>>>>>In fact, bleeding edge hardware is dangerous to use for this reason.
>>>>
>>>>This was my first reaction too, but I remember reading here that the operator of
>>>>Shredder in the last round of the Israeli league lost on time almost on purpose,
>>>>making telephone calls, not caring about the program, etc. So it is an
>>>>exceptional case that in my opinion makes the game irrelevant for rating
>>>>purposes.
>>>
>>>I understand the point you are making. The very same thing happened in
>>>the 2 games Rebel8 played against GM Ralf Akesson. Rebel8 won the first
>>>game and lost the second game on time due to an operator error in a
>>>promising position. Make an exception? No way IMO. The next thing a GM
>>>loses on time in a won position because his wife gave birth and he went
>>>home. The list of exceptions soon becomes endless. We need a clear rule.
>>
>>Sure, but if the purpose of this rating list is to give us an idea of the
>>strength of programs, I would discard games that we know are meaningless, like
>>the 2 forfeits of Fritz in Holland and this Shredder game. The key word, to me,
>>is "meaning", and this game has none. The list may be more complicated, but also
>>more accurate.
>>
>>Enrique
>>
>>>Ed
>>>
>>>
>>>>Enrique
>
>
>Forfeits are "non-events" since they weren't played (even the 4 mover was a
>non-game for obvious reasons).  But operator errors are part of the computer
>"system".  And you can't always have a "perfect" operator.  The best solution
>is that the author is the _only_ one that operates.  As he is the least likely
>to make an error that influences the game outcome.  But as soon as you use other
>operators, the probability of error increases.  And as it increases, the chances
>that the program will perform somewhat below "expectation" become greater.
>
>But that is part of the "system" IMHO.  Otherwise you start with "It lost that
>game due to a power failure that lost some pondering time."  "It lost this game
>due to a hardware glitch that made me reboot and restart, losing information."
>"It lost that game due to an operator typo that made it have to back up and lose
>stuff."  "It lost that game because the hardware crashed and wouldn't come back
>up."
>
>Etc.
>
>All of those are part of computer chess.  The human has his own set of problems
>to contend with, and he can't escape them either.

Totally in agreement.

Ed



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