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Subject: Re: Tips on playing against chess computers (Some compiled hints)

Author: Chessfun

Date: 09:12:30 02/02/02

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On February 02, 2002 at 10:36:24, Oliver Roese wrote:

>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

Nice post, with some well noted points.

Thanks a good read.

Sarah.




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