Author: Christophe Theron
Date: 00:08:33 03/23/01
Go up one level in this thread
On March 22, 2001 at 23:12:33, Dann Corbit wrote:
>On March 22, 2001 at 22:39:31, Christophe Theron wrote:
>
>>On March 22, 2001 at 20:52:37, Mike S. wrote:
>>
>>>On March 22, 2001 at 19:55:55, Dann Corbit wrote:
>>>
>>>>(...) Considering the population of the countries
>>>>and the number of programmers writing excellent chess programs, the proportion
>>>>is as enormous as the previously mentioned GM proportions.
>>>>
>>>>Does anyone have any sort of explanation as to why this is so? Educational
>>>>system? Cultural focus on this topic? What?
>>>
>>>In terms of chess programmers to GMs ratio, Austria is even more astounding I
>>>think. For example, Nimzo, Inmichess, and - geographically speaking - Hossa are
>>>written in Austia. Lesser known examples are the old Ychess and RDChess, which
>>>aren't WB engines. We have currently one or two GM's AFAIK.
>>>
>>>I don't know if there is a cultural focus on chess in the Netherlands, if there
>>>is any, then it is certainly bigger than in Austria. Chess is virtually
>>>inexistant in public live here; it appears neither on the local television nor
>>>in advertisements etc., with very few exceptions.
>>>
>>>I think the reasons will be personal and individual one's; the programmers
>>>themselves could probably explain this better.
>>>
>>>Interesting is also, that some countries seem to be underrepresented, at least
>>>among the top programs (Italy, Spain, Canada, etc.). The importance of chess
>>>tradition in this respect is noticable, when you think of Japan. Looks like
>>>there must be large capacities which are not (yet) busy with chess programming.
>>>
>>>Regards,
>>>M.Scheidl
>>
>>
>>India comes also to mind.
>
>India is interesting because it has a large number of good chess players and a
>large number of good programmers but no (known -- at least by me) chess
>programmers.
>
>France is interesting because it has a lot of good chess programmers, but the
>programs tend to stay in France (Notable exceptions: AnMon, TCBishop, ZChess and
>a certain professional program from a French protectorate).
>
>I think (at least for good amateur programs) Austria is behind Germany and the
>Netherlands. And now that I have again reviewed this list:
>http://amateurschach.in-trier.de/schach/uebersicht.htm
>Here is a count of countries with large numbers of amateur chess programmers:
>Germany (18)
>USA (16) [High population -- not surprising]
>France (7) [it seems that I have slighted France -- quite a few here too]
France:
Virtual Chess
Chess Wizard
AnMon
The Crazy Bishop
ZChess
Capture
Chess Guru
TechnoChess
Chess Tiger
That makes at least 9 programs, not 7.
...and all the other good programs that I am forgetting, which is going to cause
me much trouble the next time I participate to the french championship in
person. I mentionned only the strongest ones, there are actually a lot more. I
seem to remember that in the last french championships there were 14 programs.
Christophe
>Italy (5)
>Netherland (4)
>England (4)
>
>The German, French, and Dutch engines seem to be strong on average. I was also
>thinking of Vincent when mulling over the Netherlands.
>
>Tossing out the US and looking at the locations of these countries on this map:
>http://www.virtualtourist.com/Europe/?s=@985319572-4163&
>showed it to be an intesting geographical locus for chess programmers.
>
>
>Must be something in the water.
>;-)
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