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Subject: Re: Why wouldn't Tiger benefit from super fast computers too ?

Author: James T. Walker

Date: 06:50:18 12/15/00

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On December 14, 2000 at 21:01:38, Christophe Theron wrote:

>On December 13, 2000 at 23:38:41, Laurence Chen wrote:
>
>>In this position Shredder 5 played the losing move 36. h4??, it could have drawn
>>the game with the move 36. g3!  It took Shredder at least 30 min. in my Pentium
>>III 600e with 128 MB Hash Table to evaluate the position as close to 0.00
>>(-0.01), it took Hiarcs 7.32 a few seconds to find 36. g3!, however the
>>evaluation was -0.76.  Perhaps Shredder 5 will benefit the most on a super fast
>>computer and at a longer time control.
>
>
>
>I don't see any reason to believe that Shredder would benefit more from faster
>computers.
>
>I'm always very skeptical when I read such claims. In the past it has always
>been used as an excuse for programs that were allegedly very strong but failed
>to demonstrate it.
>
>Dig into the CCC archives and check what I say.
>
>The escape was always "it will be better with faster computers or with longer
>time controls". Which is an easy escape, because at the time the faster
>computers were available a new version of the program was available too, so it
>was then out of question to test the older one.
>
>I want to say that this is not an attack against Shredder. This program is
>strong, and does not need IMO the "benefits more from faster computers" excuse.
>
>But I read this unjustified excuse so often that I think it's time to react.
>
>
>
>    Christophe

Hello Christophe,
I think you have to watch more Shredder games, especially at faster time
controls.  You will see what is described in a post higher up about Shredder
having a 5/6 plus point lead and losing.  This is very common at blitz but seems
to be less common at longer time controls and presumably with faster hardware.
I have never seen a program have these big turnarounds in the games.  It seems
like it is a highly selective search program that occasionally misses something
very important.  That may not be the case of course.  I would have to study all
of these big turnarounds to see if I can figure out what is happening.  I don't
see Tiger going from +6 to -5 in a couple of moves.  In fact I don't remember
seeing Tiger losing any games after being +6.  I have seen it Draw games after
having +5 scores because of a lack of endgame knowledge.  This when it thinks
the extra minor piece will win when it only draws.
Jim



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