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Subject: Re: New Research On How Humans Play Chess!

Author: Uri Blass

Date: 05:59:01 08/09/01

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On August 09, 2001 at 08:54:27, Adam Oellermann wrote:

>On August 09, 2001 at 07:30:57, Uri Blass wrote:
>
>>On August 09, 2001 at 07:13:21, Jeroen van Dorp wrote:
>>
>>>On August 09, 2001 at 06:19:01, Uri Blass wrote:
>>>
>>>>I do not have the impression that weak players use the chess computer method.
>>>>They have enough time at tournament time control to do 1 ply search and 1 ply
>>>>search after the move that they plan to play but they do not do it and a common
>>>>mistake of amatuers is not to play a move simply because they did not analyze it
>>>>or to lose material or to do a positional mistake because they did not consider
>>>>the opponent reply even for one second.
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>You should really read the article, if you didn't already. The way Graham tells
>>>it is a one line synopsis of an article, which is a synopsis of a research
>>>project. That's logical.
>>>
>>>The comparison lies not so much in raw calculating, but in the necessity of
>>>*assessing* each chess position from ground zero.
>>>
>>>The extensive use of their memory sets strong chess players up to constantly
>>>recall both the current situation as well as the development of the position,
>>>leading to pattern recognition, and better results. With this they can -based on
>>>the position characteristics- develop a plan and the candidate moves much more
>>>easily.
>>>
>>>As the weak chess player lacks this level of pattern recoginition, he has to
>>>assess the position a bit like a basic chess program does: start crunching all
>>>move sequences.
>>>For a computer program this still can result in very strong play - because of
>>>node speed - but as the human brain hasn't got the ability to not only tune up
>>>to that speed, but store and retrieve the analysis tree in a useful manner, the
>>>*weak* player will oversee even the most simple countermoves of the opponent.
>>>
>>>Basically the research seems to indicate that *memory* is very important, and
>>>the lack of it leads to more basic and flawed methods of calculation, *not* that
>>>the strong player thinks like a human and the weak like a computer.
>>>
>>>Nothing new under the sun, as these results confirm earlier research.
>>>And we all *know* that, as we play the same.
>>>Well know fact is that drilling with (simple) tactical combinations makes you
>>>aware of the possibilities of recognizing them in real play.
>>>
>>>I am *not* a strong chess player, but with my training and after-game analysis
>>>I'm always looking almost *automatically* for these positional characteristics.
>>>
>>>Just a few days ago I have been looking at numerous games with the sicilian in
>>>the ECO B50's range, as I have good results with those opening as black, but
>>>very often am stuck with a weak pawn on d6.
>>>I kick my opening books aside and specifically tried to identify the
>>>*characteristics* of games in which black won the game, although the d6 pawn (as
>>>a plus pawn for white) was nicked off the board.
>>>
>>>Not looking for a 'move sequence' how to solve it, but characteristics of piece
>>>placement and strong and weak points. A basic chess program won't do that, as
>>>well as a weak chess player.
>>
>>I agree that recognizing patterns is importnat but calculating is also important
>>and I believe that training in 1 ply searches can help most of the players
>>including the GM's to play better.
>>
>>1 ply searches are not going to help in most of the cases to get a new idea but
>>one case when it helps to get a new idea can help to get get a better result.
>>
>>Uri
>
>If we're going to transplant computer-chess terms into human chess playing, we
>should probably say at least "1 ply search with quiescence". What does 1 ply
>help? It just saves you accidentally leaving a piece en prise.

No
It also can help you to find a good positional move.

There are cases when humans do not consider a good positional move and looking
at the move for only 1/2 second can be enough for them to understand that it is
probably a good positional move that they need to analyze.

Uri



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