Author: Peter Hegger
Date: 07:57:58 05/21/02
Hello, There is alot of acrimonious debate on CCC as to whether opening books in comps are fair vs humans. As usual the Forklift vs. weightlifters or race car vs. runner comparisons get used ad nauseum when this debate gets going. However, I don't think the above anologies are accurate. I look at it as both humans and computers play chess period. The thought and calculating processes might be different as night and day, but in the end they are both doing the same thing by their own seperate means. So, in this respect I don't think it's as much a javelin thrower vs. howitzer scenario as it is a machine vs. machine competition. Unfortunately humans can only be so smart and have a finite limit to calculating In other words you can only squeeze so much power from a slant six engine and likewise with a human brain. Computers of course in theory could some day solve the game of chess. Her is where the 427 Mustang ( 425 HP. side-oiler of course) comes in to play. Would it be fair to race the 115 horse power slant six against the 425 horse power Mustang? Of course not. Of course we could could pull a plug wire or 2 off the mustang. But would that represent the Mustangs true strength? Would it be fair to handicap it that way? ( i.e. delete the opening book) or we could just find a more suitable opponent. Just my take. Regards, Peter
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