Author: Bob Durrett
Date: 10:12:36 10/31/02
The ideal sparring partner would be a chess engine which is perfectly human-like in all respects. This is true if and only if the chessplayer is training for future human vs human matches. I am not addressing sparring partners used to prepare for human vs computer matches. A sparring partner would be not useful in preparation for human vs human matches if the sparring partner engine could be defeated only by anti-computer strategies, because anti-computer strategies might not work well against a human. It should be possible to win against the sparring partner, but not by using anti-computer strategies. Ideally, only anti-human strategies would be successful. This implies that the ideal chess sparring partner engine would have human susceptabilities and frailties. Engines set to train weak players should have some serious human weaknesses! A chess engine programmer must have a keen understanding of human chess weaknesses if he/she is to design an ideal sparring partner engine which would EMULATE the play of humans. [This partner should be useful for human players at all performance levels.] For some, this may be a problem. It may be easier to design a GM strength engine than to design an ideal sparring partner! Of course, I wouldn't know since I am a chess engine USER myself and not a chess engine programmer. But, as a USER, I know what I want. I want a sparring partner which is as close to being human as a computer can get. [Olfactory and outgassing emulation not a requirement.] I want a human emulator. Bob D.
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