Author: Robert Henry Durrett
Date: 07:38:25 05/12/98
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On May 12, 1998 at 05:52:57, Odell Hall wrote: "Is it possible that many fear that because programs are becoming so strong many amatuer class players such as myself will no longer need lessons or may no longer participate in simuls, for after all why would i pay to play a grandmaster when i can simply buy fritz 5 and play one in the comforts of home!!" I used to feel the same way and,as an "amatuer class player" myself, refused to play against chessmasters in over-the-board tournaments. [If forced to play, I would simply end the game quickly by throwing away a piece after a few moves], because I then regarded it as being a total waste of my time and energy. And, indeed, it really would be a waste of the weaker player's time and energy if the chessmaster were to just get up and leave after the game ended. However, upon more mature reflection, I came to realize that many chessmasters are willing to engage in post-mortem discussions about the game. It is these invaluable post-mortem discussions which make playing the game worthwhile. They are sort-of free personalized instruction by a chessmaster. I soon learned to ask for the post-mortem analyses prior to the game beginning. [Only one ever said "No" and the game ended quickly.] Fritz 5 will never match the post-mortem instructions one can obtain as above! [And, there is no reason why the game cannot be subsequently analyzed utilizing Fritz 5 and suitable chess database software!] Fritz 5 is not human and cannot understand human psychology, and hence cannot explain why we make the mistakes we do. But higher-rated chessplayers are human and do understand human thinking. They are, therefore, able to provide instruction impossible for Fritz.
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