Author: Oliver Roese
Date: 07:36:24 02/02/02
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On February 01, 2002 at 20:40:50, Frank Nelson wrote: >On February 01, 2002 at 14:06:50, John D. Conte, Jr. wrote: > >>I know there must be a web site regarding tips on playing against chess computer >>engines/programs. I only know from experience to play closed positions, wait til >>the computer castles; and also to pawn storm the castled side...depending upon >>the position. Also play positional chess, since a chess program can calculate >>much faster than a human. I realize a lot depends on which level of play it is >>on. I would like to print this info/site for my chess club. >>Thanks. > >Gee your idea sounds smart! Keep the position closed and pawn storm the side the >computer castles on. Usually when I blitz Hiarcs 7.32 I get burned. >Well it's worth a try I think. If you come up with other strategical ideas for >anti-computer play please post to this newsgroup. > >Ljubomir Hi! Some Hints: (1)The Golden Rule: In opening and middlegame keep the position closed under any circumstances! This rule is the most important one, if you fail to obey it your moves are counted. Check out your opening "before" you use it. A good pawnstructure to achieve is for example c3-d4-e3-f4. Look also for point (3) below. (1) "Simplify" the position! "Simplify" is quoted here, because simplified is not simplified for computers! Look at the branching factor of casual chessengines and you will see that they have a hard time to ponder even with very few stones on the board. If you trade two stones on the board, the remaining stones gain usually in power, so that the branching factor does not decrease by much. Thus the complexity for computers remains roughly the same. Not so for the human! Every dead piece simplifies his reasoning. I knew that a good human (> 2350 ELO) can easily calculate 20 moves (=40 plies) and more within some seconds in some pawnendings. Recently i posted such a position here. Such a depth is out of reach for moderate current hardware. In my games, my few wins were very often caused by reaching an endgame. (2) Go for static advantages, don't go for dynamic ones! This is easily overlooked, since is not feasible in play against humans. Nevertheless it is absolutely logically: Computers excel with their dynamic capabilities, humans are abel to see important concepts beyond moves. Some examples: Dynamic advantages: -Superior development, placement of pieces. -Pair of bishops. -Attacking chances on some wing. ... Static advantages: -Material. -Better pawnstructure. -Better pieces (e.g. knight against bad bishop). ... From that follows, for example: -Take material, don't sacrifice it. -Give your pair of bishops to double the opponent pawns, avoid weak pawns. -Dont attack prematurly. Take your static advantage and hope for the best. ... (3) Keep the game short! This is an obvious concept, since the more moves you make, the higher the probability to make a blunder in the end. I mention it here, since it distracts point (1). You have to outweigh this factors somehow. Good luck. (4) Avoid timetrouble! Timetrouble against machines is not fun and should be avoided. Make sure to use the right timecontrol. Obey rule (3). (5) Dont give up prematurly, if you have lost material! This is an interesting observation: In general computers are programmed to keep the position alive, to play out their strenghtes. But not so with material-advantage! They cooperate with you to simplify the position. Unfortunately, due to their lack of understanding of most basic endgames, you are able to hold a draw sometimes. I personally drawed many games in that manner. Relax and have fun. FM Oliver Roese
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