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Subject: Re: What Kinds of Advantages Do Chess Engines Detect?

Author: Bob Durrett

Date: 06:32:12 12/08/02

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On December 07, 2002 at 23:22:58, Walter Faxon wrote:

>On December 06, 2002 at 21:04:50, Bob Durrett wrote:
>
>>On December 06, 2002 at 20:11:47, Rolf Tueschen wrote:
>>
>>>On December 05, 2002 at 20:31:41, Bob Durrett wrote:
>>>
>><snip>
>>
>>>>Now, here is a test:  [You have five seconds to answer.]  What are the
>>>>definitions of tactical and positional positions?  [Tick, tick, tick.]
>>>
>>>Tactical: In shorter range a direct advantage could be produced.
>>>Positional: No direct advantage in material is obtainable
>>
>>I read somewhere [a book by Larry Evans] that advantages can conveniently be
>>partitioned into (a) material, (b) pawn structure, (c) time, and (d) space.
>>
>>The time advantage could be a lead in development.  Having the "initiative" also
>>belongs somewhere in here.
>>
>>So, to get more specific:
>>
>>The issue seems to be whether or not a chess engine can examine a position and
>>determine whether or not there is a pawn structural advantage/disadvantage, a
>>time (development) advantage/disadvantage, and/or a space
>>advantage/disadvantage. Also, at issue is whether or not modern chess engines
>>can or do detect the fact that one side has the initiative.  Additionally, I
>>wonder whether or not the modern chess engines are programmed to seize the
>>initiative and use it.  Perhaps those more familiar with the current crop of
>>chess engines could enlighten us on this.
>>
>>
>> <snip>
>>
>>>Rolf Tueschen
>>>
>>>>
>>>>Bob D.
>
>
>Hi, Bob D.; all.
>
>IIRC, Hsu's new book on Deep Blue mentions that their program had no feature
>corresponding to "the initiative"; that when they tried to put one in, the
>machine played worse.  To realize an advantage, sometimes you must defend, and
>DB saw deeply enough to see "beyond" the initiative as it is usually defined.
>Also, I think Evans later expanded his list to include King safety.  And
>remember that it is always wise to consider trading in one advantage for a more
>durable one (time for space, space for material).
>
>-- Walter

Thanks.  I didn't see this until after I posted a new bulletin on this topic.  I
wish I had included king safety, although we have discussed king safety quite a
bit here recently.  For example:  Uri says his movei does not have anything in
it for king safety and yet it plays a decent game of chess.

Bob D.



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