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Subject: Imbalances make the Match!

Author: Stephen A. Boak

Date: 21:31:02 04/21/02

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On April 21, 2002 at 18:58:27, Chris Carson wrote:

>On April 21, 2002 at 18:52:13, pavel wrote:
>
>>http://www.chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=255
>>
>>===================================================================
>>
>>Kramnik vs Fritz – playing good chess under fair conditions
>>By Matthias Wüllenweber, ChessBase GmbH, Hamburg
>>
>>(...)
>>"It is important that the match rules establish optimal playing conditions to
>>ensure maximum strength for both human and computer. The match is not about
>>exploiting human weaknesses to pull a short-lived marketing stunt. The match is
>>not about tiring the human player, putting him under psychological pressure,
>>making him feel uncomfortable or insecure. This match is about playing good
>>chess under fair conditions for both sides. Vladimir Kramnik will get the
>>program a month in advance to get accustomed to its individual style. Human
>>beings have the ability to learn and to draw conclusions. This ability should be
>>a factor where men compete with machines, so a careful preparation is in the
>>spirit of this event. There are enough small random factors like hash table size
>>in modern chess software to avoid move-by-move preparation in specific
>>positions."
>>(...)
>>
>>=====================================================================
>
>I am always surprised that a GM needs the program in advance to play good chess
>against it.  This seem unfair to me, just my opinion.
>
>Seems to me that it would only be fair to clone GM Kramnik one month before the
>match so that the Fritz team can use the clone to prepare for the real GM
>Kramnik.  ;)

To paraphrase Silman's concepts on imbalances, it is the job of each player to
recognize & understand imbalances, seek favorable ones, and make the most of
them when they exist (whether favorable or not).

It is precisely the imbalance between human thought and software algorithms that
makes the matchup so interesting.

Why do some press so hard to 'equalize' everything?  If the matchup imbalances
go away, the interest goes.  For example, how boring to watch Fritz 7 vs. Fritz
7, even if the conditions are perfectly matched (same book, same learning
history, same settings, etc).

--Steve





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