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Subject: Re: Just learning capability?

Author: Tom Kerrigan

Date: 11:19:31 06/13/00

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On June 13, 2000 at 06:19:46, Mogens Larsen wrote:

>On June 13, 2000 at 03:30:37, Dann Corbit wrote:
>
>>I don't think I am missing the point.  People think that computers have an
>>unfair advantage, so they want to cripple them.  I disagree adamantly.
>>
>>It is humans who have the unfair advantage.  Just because they don't apply it
>>properly is not the computer's fault.
>>
>>Humans have opening books.  Does anyone have to sit and think to decide that 1.
>>e4 or 1. d4 is better than 1. f4 or 1. h4?
>>
>>No thought is required because we have memorized the openings.  Some very good
>>players have memorized very deeply.  Their "opening book" is probably as large
>>or larger than any computer opening book.
>
>Well, computers play chess in a different way using calculation, while human
>players play chess using their understanding of the game itself. That gives

That's just your opinion of "understanding." I think that computers understand
chess just fine.

>different advantages and disadvantages. In principle computers have to use time
>on each single move, whether it be the first or the last. I think the average
>thinking time would be very similar. Human players would use less time in the
>opening and endgame and much more in the middlegame. A computer would use more
>time in the opening and endgame phase and less in the middlegame. I don't think
>there's any timedisadvantage without a book.
>
>Opening knowledge is an inherent part of the human understanding of chess. The
>same doesn't apply for computer programs. This and endgame knowledge is a part

But opening books are an inherent part of computer chess programming. Otherwise,
why does every program have one? I don't see the difference...

>of the game of chess. When you play chess for the first time then every move
>looks okay, but you gradually learn what works and what doesn't. The same should
>apply for computer programs. If it can't play the game... well, then it's just

But humans have teachers and read books. Surely programmers can teach their
programs...?

-Tom



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