Author: Bruce Moreland
Date: 21:45:46 11/10/00
Go up one level in this thread
On November 10, 2000 at 21:42:30, Bob Durrett wrote: >Help! Help! Help! > >Does anybody know of a specific chess position which satisfies the following >criteria? Would you please post that position here? The more the better. > >Criteria#1: For at least one popular chess engine, the engine will, after a few >minutes, settle on one and only one move for it to make in that position and >will never change it's mind no matter how much additional time is taken. > >This position should not be a theoretical forced win. Preferably it should be a >middlegame position. > >What do I want this for? > >Answer: I would like to screen out all such positions which do not also meet >the following additional criteria: > >Criteria#2: For some move, to be made by the program's opponent AFTER the >program makes it's move, the same program will then face a new position which >also meets the original criteria. > >I intent to extend this process until a line, originating from the original >position, is found in which the program's responses are all completely >predictable [after allowing a few minutes for each of the program's moves]. > >Finally, I hope to screen out all such examples except those leading to a >theoretically won position for the program's opponent. > >THE ULTIMATE INTENT IS: to prove by example that at least one such position >exists. [i.e. where, for some popular chess-playing program, a line leading to a >forced win can be demonstrated, subject to the above conditions] You can't prove this, in theory, because every position would resolve to a win, loss, or draw, given enough time. What this means is that the evaluation of a position is subject to change, and therefore it is likely that the program will change its mind eventually. Perhaps you can find a series of positions where a program won't change its mind in any practical period of time, but you'd always have to wonder if it will change its mind in another five minutes. If you want the looser case of a line that will win at most time controls, you can start by finding a line that wins at blitz, and seeing if you can still win with the line at longer time controls. bruce
This page took 0 seconds to execute
Last modified: Thu, 15 Apr 21 08:11:13 -0700
Current Computer Chess Club Forums at Talkchess. This site by Sean Mintz.