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Subject: The big chess program's paradox: Programmers, reactions please!

Author: Jeroen Noomen

Date: 13:38:42 07/17/00


Hi all,

The Dutch championship and Dortmund have made one thing very clear: Computers
still have no idea what to do in blocked positions and how to prevent or defend
against a king's attack.

IMO the situation is as follows, what I will call 'the big chess program
paradox':

1. I am programmer and wondering what to do about these
   horrible king side attacks and blocked positions.

2. I try a lot of extra knowledge and EUREKA, it works!

3. Unfortunately there is a side effect: The NPS drops from
   400 KNodes to 200 KNodes.

This 'little' side effect makes me start thinking:

4. If I make this program commercially available, it will
   do bad against other programs. Why? Simple: I had 400 KNodes,
   now I have only 200, so I am outsearched.

5. If it scores bad against other programs, I get a very low
   rating in Sweden and I score (probably) bad in tactical
   positions.

6. After this, all people reading magazines, visiting CCC and
   playing computer programs will say: 'This is a bad program.
   It scores bad, is slow and thus it is weak'.

Conclusion: I, the programmer, will NOT do this. It's commercially
not a good thing to do!

And then I ask myself: Do I need more NPS versus humans? Is 400
Knodes enough? Or do I fancy 4.000? What is the point against strong
GM's to make it stronger in an aspect of the game (tactics) where it
is already superior?

Dear programmers, Christophe, Amir, Bob, Ed, Stefan and all others:
I am very interested in your opinion about this matter!

Jeroen


PS  You want to know why I started loving Rebel and I still love it?
Because it is far slower than the top programs, but KNOWS more about
positional chess!



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