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Subject: Re: Major deficiency in Saitek Cosmic LCD Chess Computer

Author: José Carlos

Date: 14:37:11 08/08/02

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On August 08, 2002 at 07:17:32, Christophe Theron wrote:

>On August 08, 2002 at 00:11:11, eric guttenberg wrote:
>
>>I recently bought the Saitek Cosmic LCD-style chess computer.
>>
>>I was impressed with it right away. It is a sleek, handsome little
>>machine with a very easy to see display, a wide range of features
>>and options and appeared to play a strong game. Except...
>>
>>I was not too surprised when it could not do the KBN v K mate. But
>>then I discovered it could not mate a lone King with King and 2 Bishops
>>...or with King and Rook...or with King and Queen. It certainly plays
>>the middlegame well but if you get into the endgame you will find
>>a lot of positions where you can play for and get a draw even when
>>when the position should be dead lost.
>>
>>For as much as I liked this guy at first, it is just a little depressing
>>to see him cluelessly shifting his king back and forth in queen-up
>>position. He will push the pawn in a K+P vs K very efficiently but
>>while he gets the Queen all I have to do is move my King away from
>>the side of the board and -voila- Cosmic turns into Mortimer Snerd.
>>
>>eric
>
>
>
>A gentleman should resign when having the weakest side of K/KQ or K/KR, K/KBB or
>K/KBN.

  K/KBN is difficult if you don't know very well the technique to mate. I've
seen strong players (~2300 FIDE) not being able to checkmate with K/KBN with
little time on the clock. Also KR/KQ is very difficult with little time and/or
without the right knowledge.
  But you're right about gentlemen... there're very few, but they exist :)

  José C.



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