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Subject: program paradox: To make them better against people or other programs

Author: Graham Laight

Date: 15:29:55 07/17/00

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On July 17, 2000 at 17:36:23, Ed Schröder wrote:

>On July 17, 2000 at 16:38:42, Jeroen Noomen wrote:
>
>>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?
>
>All good points Jeroen well and clear formulated.
>
>>Dear programmers, Christophe, Amir, Bob, Ed, Stefan and all others:
>>I am very interested in your opinion about this matter!
>
>Well.. last year I started a special topic on the Rebel Home Page called
>Chess in 2010 handling this topic. Did you miss it? :-)
>
>http://www.rebel.nl/ches2010.htm

Although I have to say that the opinion poll is conspicuously biased (IMHO), in
general it is an excellent, thought provoking page - well worth a visit!

-g

>Just in case.
>
>Ed
>
>
>>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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