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Subject: Re: If programs are only IM strength, why bother to play Kramnik??

Author: Chris Carson

Date: 17:30:34 05/12/01

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On May 12, 2001 at 19:06:00, Jeroen van Dorp wrote:

>On May 12, 2001 at 10:48:20, Chris Carson wrote:
>
>>The SSDF is a valid and reliable measure of program strength on the
>>hardware measured for tournament play against humans and other
>>programs.
>>
>>The top programs have proven to perform above 2500 (2500 is the minimum
>>for GM strength).  Some of the programs have performances above 2600
>>and DJ6 has a 2702 performance against the top GM's (finished 50%
>>score).
>
>
>Hi Chris,
>
>Are you sure SSDF claims SSDF-ratings are exactly comparable with Elo-ratings?
>As long as you have no humans in the rating pool, you cannot decide on the
>starting (Elo)point for determining the rating - as you want to compare with
>humans, after all.
>
>More decisive I think are indeed the results of chess programs participating in
>tournaments and competition until now, scoring *very well* between solid IM's
>*and* IGM's.
>
>Maybe - just maybe- if all chess players would become more accustomed to
>computer participants in their tournaments, results could go down, because of
>the diminishing "surprise" factor- so to say.
>
>BTW as human GM's are drawed by weaker players now and then, I think the same
>goes for computer programs. I didn't mean to react on this discussion with the
>gandalf game I posted somewhere else on this board - I hadn't read this thread -
>but as you can see even a weakie like me has some luck, sometimes.
>
>Sometimes. Not often :))
>
>There's much discussion about the desirability of computers in human
>tournaments, and there are a lot of arguments pro and con, but I'm very
>interested in regular participation to really validate the results until now.
>I also think we might learn a lot from these games, "programming-wise".
>
>J.

J.,

You bring up some good points and I am also very interested in continued
human vs program/hw games at all levels.  :)

Yes, I think SSDF and ELO are fairly close (neither one is ever exact
and both are in a state of flux).  SSDF did calibration against humans
(see the link posted) and has re-calibrated based on recent games (last
spring if I recall).  All the games are at 40/2 for the SSDF and the
Human vs computer ratings.  Just remember that a 400 point difference
in rating implies that the weaker player should win 1 out of 10.  I think
many people forget that.  That could also be 2 draws.  If the result is
different, then the ratings for both players change to incorporate the
latest results (thus a state of ratings flux). Ratings change all the
time, so expect some upsets and some rating changes.  This is truly a
great time to be interested in Human vs Computer Chess.  In less than
5 years, it may be less competative.  5 years ago most people would
laugh at the thought of a pc vs World Champ match and today the World
Champ requires 3 months of preparation before he would play the
program.  Interesting that the program must provide the handicap.
I am still amazed that Kramnik can not just show up and play his best
game and be confident of a match win.  :)

Best Regards,
Chris Carson



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