Computer Chess Club Archives


Search

Terms

Messages

Subject: Re: Will TACTIC's eventually REFUTE! Positional play?

Author: Russell Reagan

Date: 12:45:16 01/28/02

Go up one level in this thread


Eventually, yes, tactics will be all that matters. Actually they already do.
When you get down to the elements of chess and game theory, all that really
matters are tactical sequences.

Think of positional factors as "hints" for making good moves. If a move gives
you a bad bishop, that's a hint that it's not a good move (but doesn't mean that
it's not a good move). For example, let's say that move does give you a bad
bishop. That means that later on in the game, your bishop won't be able to carry
out it's full duties. It will be stuck behind it's own pawns not doing much more
than any other pawn could be doing. So you've essentially reduced your powerful
bishop to a pawn. So that means that _USUALLY_ that isn't going to be a good
move. However, if that move leads to you winning the opponent's queen for a
pawn, or leads to a mate in 3, then it's a good move. So tactics "refutes"
positional play already. Positional features of a position are just hints
meaning, "this will PROBABLY be bad" or "this will PROBABLY be good". Tactical
sequences mean "this IS good", if you can carry out the tactical sequence far
enough.

Russell



This page took 0 seconds to execute

Last modified: Thu, 15 Apr 21 08:11:13 -0700

Current Computer Chess Club Forums at Talkchess. This site by Sean Mintz.