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Subject: Re: Strength of the engine in chess programs

Author: Marc van Hal

Date: 12:44:08 05/20/02

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On May 20, 2002 at 12:48:05, Robert Hyatt wrote:

>On May 20, 2002 at 12:13:51, Rolf Tueschen wrote:
>
>>On May 20, 2002 at 11:17:47, Timothy J. Frohlick wrote:
>>
>>>Dear Mr. Tueschen,
>>>
>>>I can't give you percentages for engines without EGTBs or Opening Books.  I do
>>>think that the knowledge of endgames and openings is crucial in human chess
>>>progression.  A chess master has openings stored in his/her memory. What is
>>>wrong with the chess program having the same information?
>>>
>>>The specialized knowledge of today's chess programs is what makes them more fun
>>>to play.  It is no fun playing a machine that computes an opening line for three
>>>minutes that is on record as being a lousy line.  I prefer all the added
>>>information.
>>>
>>>Computers have no intelligence on their own.  They simulate intelligence.  You
>>>know that Rolf.
>>>
>>>Tim Frohlick
>>
>>To prevent that we begin talking at cross purposes, let me please add, Tim, that
>>I like playing the programs too with all that integrated. The question about
>>strength of the engine is often confused with wrong comparisons. Here are some
>>of them I met in earlier discussions.
>>
>>- Humans learn theory by heart so why books are wrong in computer programs?
>>- The design of a computer program was always a combination of engine and book.
>>- Also human players learn by heart without necessarily understanding each move.
>>
>>All these arguments are false. But it's not so at first sight. And therefore we
>>discuss all the time.
>>
>>With human players we mean weak amateurs or masters? It begins with such trivial
>>questions. Ok, a weak amateur learns by heart a few lines. The opponent, also a
>>weak amateur makes a weaker reply and our first weak amateur cannot exploitate
>>it, although the move is weaker than the book move.
>>Or the line ends and the weak amateur all on his own begins to blunder. Ah, he
>>had studied typical master games of that opening? Again the answer from above.
>>It's a total gamble. If the variation is played like it should, our amateur
>>might win in the end or lose or the other way round.
>>
>>A master, and that is difficult to understand as I have seen, does _not_ simply
>>play learned moves or lines. Simply because it wouldn't help him. He can only
>>play line he has analysed high up into the middle game. It's a capital error to
>>think that masters play chess with learning by heart lines they don't analyse.
>>Of course they must learn by heart their analyses.
>>
>>Now, what chapter should be discussed for our engines? I take for granted the
>>master chapter. So here comes my crucial argument: book doctors do nothing else
>>but preventing the machine play something that could lead into disadvantages.
>>But the machines would play these lines if they could. They are blind and can't
>>foresee the dangers. So far about master play by machines. I am not talking
>>about training games or my own fun games against engines with all power books
>>etc. Here the question was, what is the strength of the engine. Would you anwer
>>me, that the machine is very strong, if the book doctor has done a good work? Do
>>you think that the average master could only prevent opening traps if he learned
>>them by heart or does he understand the content and the context of a trap? So,
>>this is how long it takes to discuss only a few aspects of only the first
>>argument.
>>
>>Let me add the next two points in short.
>>
>>The design was defined/ found in the old days of CC when the machines couldn't
>>play chess without a minimum of moves. So this should not be an argument for the
>>actual machines. The engine should have enough chess knowledge to be able to
>>play reasonable opening moves.
>>
>>Then the point learning by heart without understanding. Well, that's an easy
>>one. This is how weaker amateurs must play chess. Still it makes fun, as I know.
>>Masters would not be masters if they played chess like this. Masters and their
>>big brothers write the theory weaker amateurs then must learn by heart.
>>
>>Of course I know the simulating thing, Tim, but I cannot understand why "we",
>>computerchess people, programmers and their programs should try to simulate
>>being GM without respecting the normal FIDE rules of chess! Why human
>>chessplayers can't read out of books during a game of chess too? Because, I got
>>the answer, opening books are not books, they are integral constituent of a
>>machine. Ahar...
>>
>
>
>
>Please take this argument _elsewhere_.  It is old.  It is repetitive.  And
>it serves absolutely no purpose.  And it has nothing to do with current
>computer chess approaches or rules.
>
>Or perhaps it _does_ serve your purpose of stirring acrimonious debate.
>
>CCC is not the place for such nonsense.  Tread lightly...
>
>
>
>
>>For me the development of computerchess took a wrong course. For me a
>>self-learning system playing chess could be a better symbol of AI than the
>>package which is simply not following the FIDE rules of chess. I'm talking about
>>games between human players and comps. What were the reasons for the programmers
>>to take the forbidden short cut?
>>
>>Rolf Tueschen
>
>There is no "forbidden shortcut" being taken.  Feel free to cite the rule
>that is being broken.  Many will then feel free to show you how your
>interpretation of said rule is mistaken.


I am wondering if you all understand what this sort of nonsens means for me.

Regards Marc van Hal



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