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Subject: Re: Truly deserved computer ratings?

Author: Dann Corbit

Date: 00:24:35 06/27/00

Go up one level in this thread


On June 27, 2000 at 01:01:48, stuart taylor wrote:

>On June 27, 2000 at 00:44:20, Dann Corbit wrote:
>
>>On June 27, 2000 at 00:32:15, stuart taylor wrote:
>>
>>>  Is it not true that human ratings are lower than computer ratings relative to
>>>true standard of play due to the fact that humans make many blunders of the
>>>nature that computers do not?
>>>  That is what I Have always beleived as being one of the reasons why computers
>>>do as well as they do.
>>>  In other words, it could possibly be that 2650 on ssdf = 2550 against
>>>well-prepared, top humans or even 2500 which is = 2400 in actual standard of
>>>play, discounting tactical and mechanical extras.
>>>Is this correct?
>>
>>What you are observing is that the strength of computers and the strength of
>>humans is focused in different areas.
>>
>>Computers are tactically stronger than humans.
>>
>>Humans are positionally stronger than computers.
>>
>>If the human can avoid tactical blunders, they will win.  However, suppose the
>>chance is just 1% that the human will perform a tactical blunder.  By 20 moves,
>>the chances of not making a tactical blunder are only 80% and 74% by move 30.
>>
>>In other words, even in very mistake free chess, some tiny slip is likely to be
>>generated.  Often, this will result in some small material advantage.
>>
>>If the material advantage is large enough to offset the superior positional
>>understanding of the human player, the computer will win.
>>
>>We might imagine two basketball teams.  One has a bunch of short, quick guys.
>>They are good at stealing and running the fast break.  The other team has tall,
>>slower guys.  They are good at rebounding and shot blocking.
>>
>>Both teams play good basketball, but the styles are very different.
>>
>>Both teams can achieve the object, which is to win, but they go about it in a
>>very different manner.
>
>What really interests me is, how well would a computer rate if its ratio of
>tactical/mechanical prowess vs. positional understanding, would be similar to
>that of humans?
> This, I think is more interesting for a human to know, than when he doesn't
>know how much percentage of his effort is competing against something which is
>almost like a maths calculator. (as opposed to applied intelligence)

Nobody has figured out how to do that yet.  If you figure it out, you will be
famous.  Well, to a bunch of computer geeks you will be famous anyway.



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