Author: Stephen Ham
Date: 09:56:18 12/06/02
Dear Readers, I just visited the Chessy web site (http://www.chessy.de/deu/index.html) where I found the following poll: "Die Fernschach-Umfrage - Welche Schachengines benutzen Sie am liebsten zur Unterstützung Ihrer Fernschachanalysen?" My translation is: Chess Survey - Which chess engines do you most like to use to support your correspondence chess analysis? Already 74 votes were made since November 24, with the following result: Fritz (23) 31% Junior (6) 8% Shredder (15) 20% Hiarcs (10) 14% Chess Tiger (3) 4% Gambit Tiger (8) 11% Rebel (0) 0% Nimzo (3) 4% Crafty (3) 4% Comet (1) 1% Goliath (0) 0% Chessmaster (1) 1% Zarkov (0) 0% MChess (1) 1% Other (0) 0% None (0) 0% This is found at: http://vote.pollit.com/vote?ID=383766&vote=8&submit=Abschicken This was interesting, although the question is vague. For example, I don't use any chess engines to analyse during my games; I find my own moves. However, I use Nimzo 7.32 to blunder check to ensure I'm not hanging material (unknowingly!) before posting the move. After the game, I use Nimzo 7.32 or sometimes Fritz to help me wade through complex tactical positions (yes, even I reach a few of those). So I could have voted None, since I find my own moves during the game. Instead, I voted for Nimzo, since I do use it after my games. So, in spite of the vagueness of the question, I think the poll is significant in that nobody voted for None. Still, I'd like to see a new poll where the question is specific to chess engine use for analytical support DURING the game. There's probably too little data from which to draw any meaningful conclusions, but that won't stop me from trying. :-) It's interesting that nobody voted for Rebel, a program with excellent success against humans (carbon-based life forms) in OTB chess at tournament time controls. It's also interesting that Chess Tiger is chosen less often than its much sharper clone, Gambit Tiger. So perhaps one might conclude that chess engine users tend to play ultra-sharp positions. Not so! Shredder seems very popular too, and from what I've read here, it's more of a solid defender than an attacker. So, maybe I shouldn't read too much into the above data. Still, I'd like to see a new poll - one specific to chess engine use DURING CC games. Also, I'd like to see more break-down regarding the specific chess engine. For example, just voting for Fritz is too vague, given the number if different Fitz engines around. The same could be said for Shredder and other engines too. Also, do some players use more than one chess engine? For example, I've read where some players use different chess engines depending upon the position they want to analyze. For example, Gambit Tiger or Deep Fritz or Nimzo might be used for complex tactical positions while Shredder or Chess Tiger or Rebel or Crafty are used in closed positions. Anyway, other than ranting at computer use in CC, would anybody care to opine further? By the way, I highly recommend the Chessy web site for all of you who can read German. All the very best, Stephen
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