Author: Christopher R. Dorr
Date: 06:00:39 10/10/01
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Part of the issue revolves around 'What do we mean by GM strength?'. Can a program play single games or matches at the level of the *very best* GMs? Sure....we've seen that dozens of times. But I also see USCF Experts and weak Masters (like myself) able to get draws against many good programs (Tiger and Genius notably) at a *much* higher frequency than would be possible against a decent human GM. I was able at one point to get 5 straight draws against Tiger on a decent machine, a feat that would be wholly impossible against a GM. So how do we decide this question? Do we look at the excellent results against GMs and say this is clear evidence that these programs are super-GMs themselves, or do we see the 2300-2400 performance ratings demonstrated by some experts against these machines and say they are 'probably' IM strength, if that? No human IM would be able to get some of the scores that Tiger, Fritz and Rebel have put together. But no human GM would allow a USCF 2100 to get frequent draws against him. Both happen with computers. I tend to think that computers analyse and play strong players at GM level, but that they often play weaker (but still solid) players at IM level, if that. A computer *cannot* modify it's play the way a GM can. While it may see that the Sicilian has bee taking a beating lately and swith to a Spanish, it does not see that I (as a random expert/master) play endings very well, but tend to have problems with (for example) creating weaknesses on the kingside. The human GM will avoid going to an even ending with me and will try to prod me into creating kingside weaknesses. The computer doesn't underatnd this. The computer (if I live through the tactics) will gladly take me to an ending where I know how to hold, while the human GM would never let that happen after the first game. So while it is unfair to say that computers are *not* able to frequently play super-GM level chess, it is also unfair to say that they are 'totally' GM level. Chris
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