Author: Dana Turnmire
Date: 16:21:29 12/24/02
I am beginning to think there is no way to test programs positionally because no matter what position is given it seems there is some objection to it (apples compared to oranges, no one correct move, computer gave the right move for the wrong reason etc.) Most agree that a strong human player understands long term strategy whereas computers are dumb in this area. This is just one example out of the book entitled "Multiple Choice Chess" by IM Graeme Buckley. When it comes to tactics even the world champion would get blown away by the present day programs but when it comes to strategy humans rule. Would this format be a satisfactory way to test programs for making good positional moves? All the programs I used were tested at 3min/move. [Date "1995.01.20"] [White "Ward, Christopher"] [Black "Voskanian, Vahagn"] [Result "1-0"] 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Bg5 Be7 6.e3 Nbd7 7.Bd3 Nf8 8.Qc2 Ne6 9.Bh4 c6 10.Nf3 g6 11.O-O O-O 12.Rab1 Ng7 13.b4 a6 14.a4 Bf5 15.Ne5 Bxd3 16.Nxd3 Nf5 17.Bxf6 Bxf6 18.b5 axb5 19.axb5 Nd6 20.bxc6 bxc6 21.Nb4 Qd7 22.Na4 Nc4 23.Nc5 Qd6 24.Rb3 Rfb8 25.Nba6 Rb5 26.Rxb5 cxb5 27.Nb4 Bd8 28.g3 Bb6 29.Nbd3 Bxc5 30.dxc5 Qf6 31.Nb4 Rc8 32.c6 d4 33.exd4 Qxd4 34.Rd1 Qe5 35.Qd3 Qe6 36.Qd5 Ne5 37.Rc1 Ng4 38.Qd4 Qe2 39.c7 h5 40.Nd5 1-0 Stage one is complete. Black has a weak backward pawn on a semi-open file. 21.Nd1 and 21.Rfc1 are safe and both score one point. 21.Nb4 begins the attack on black's weak link and bags two points. The weakest of White's choices was 21.f3, which scores no points. Take a bonus point if you spotted Black's strong reply 21...Nc4 when the e3-pawn proves impossible to defend satisfactorily. For example 22.Qc1 Re8 23.Re1 Nxe3!! 24.Rxe3 Bxd4 25.Nd1 Qe7 26.Kf2 Qh4+ 27.Kg1 Rxe3 28.Nxe3 Re8. Take two bonus points if you saw 23...Nxe3 for Black. Arasan 6.1 - 21.Rfc1 CM9000 - 21.Rb4 Genius 7 - 21.Ra1 Ruffian 21.Nc5 [d]r2q1rk1/5p1p/2pn1bp1/3p4/3P4/2NNP3/2Q2PPP/1R3RK1 w - - 0 21 22.e4 only scores one point; it just offers mass exchanges with 22...Nxe4 23Nxe4 dxe4 24.Qxe4 Qxd4 25.Qxd4 Bxd4 26.Nxc6 when a draw is a likely result. 22.Rfd1 and 22.Ne2 are also sufficient for one point but 22.Na4 deserves two points in view of the forking threat on b6 and the additional attack on c6. Arasan 6.1 - 22.Nd3 *CM9000 - 22.Na4 *Genius 7 - 22.Na4 Ruffian - 22.Nd3 [d]r4rk1/3q1p1p/2pn1bp1/3p4/1N1P4/2N1P3/2Q2PPP/1R3RK1 w - - 0 22 White still has to watch ...Na3 by Black and therefore must avoid 24.Rfc1, which loses two points. The question is where should the rooks go? There is a useful possibility that White can double after 24.Rb3 (two points) so this move slightly outscores the other two which are worth one point. Arasan 6.1 - 24.Ne4 CM9000 - 24.Ne4 Genius 7 - 24.Ne4 Ruffian - 24.Ne4 [d]r4rk1/5p1p/2pq1bp1/2Np4/1NnP4/4P3/2Q2PPP/1R3RK1 w - - 0 24 After Rfb1 Na3 White finds he has fallen for the fork (this loses two points). 25.Nca6 and 25.Re1 avoid this (both score one) but with the former White has made no progress after 25.Nca6 Rb6 26.Nc5. The best move must be 25.Nba6 (two points); this knight to a6 threatens to take control of the b-file and ...Rb6 is obviously prevented. Arasan 6.1 - 25.Rc1 CM9000 - Rc1 *Genius 7 - 25.Nba6 Ruffian - 25.Rc1 [d]rr4k1/5p1p/2pq1bp1/2Np4/1NnP4/1R2P3/2Q2PPP/5RK1 w - - 0 25 It does not make sense to give away control of an open file, so 26.Rc3 does not score. 26.Rfb1 is fine for one point. This beats 26.Rb4, which allows 26...Rxa6 27.Nxa6 Rxb4 28.Nxb4 Qxb4 (lose one point). The best, but only just, is 26.Rxb5 which splits the black pawns after the recapture. In this way White exchanges one advantage (Black's backward pawn) for another (the split b- and d-pawns). In addition, Black's d-pawn will become isloated. Score two point for this. *Arasan 6.1 - 26.Rxb5 CM9000 - 26.Rfb1 *Genius 7 - 26.Rxb5 Ruffian - 26.Rfb1 [d]r5k1/5p1p/N1pq1bp1/1rNp4/2nP4/1R2P3/2Q2PPP/5RK1 w - - 0 26 27.Qb3 and 27.Rb1 allow the respective forks...Nd2 and ...Na3 and lose one and two points respectively. 27.Ra1 merits one point, but leaves the knight on a6 rather needlessly in a pin. 27.Nb4 places the knight securely in front of Black's passed pawn (two points). *Arasan 6.1 - 27.Nb4 *CM9000 - 27.Nb4 Genius 7 - 27.Ra1 (Genius chooses 27.Nb4 at 4' 44") Ruffian - 27.Ra1 [d]r5k1/5p1p/N2q1bp1/1pNp4/2nP4/4P3/2Q2PPP/5RK1 w - - 0 27 28.h3 is okay for one point, but another pawn move is required if Black plays ...Bc7. 28.g3 carefully avoids the possible future checkmate threat and is worth two points. 28.Qe2 does not have a logical plan behind it but it is safe so it scores one point anyway. The same cannot be said for 28.Nb7; after 28...Qxb4 White finds that he has blundered a piece and three points. Arasan 6.1 - 28.Rc1 CM9000 - 28.Nbd3 *Genius 7 - 28.g3 Ruffian - 28.Rb1 [d]r2b2k1/5p1p/3q2p1/1pNp4/1NnP4/4P3/2Q2PPP/5RK1 w - - 0 28 Black has just captured so it would take something of a severe loss of concentration to choose either 30.Kg2 or 30.Nf4 both of which lose three points. 30.Nxc5 scores one point and leaves Black with the aforementioned pawn structure, which cannot be bad for White. 30.dxc5 scores two points because it gives White a passed pawn into the bargain. However, the nature of the game changes slightly after this move. If the passed pawn is not defended, then it is conceivable that it could be rounded up and taken. *Arasan 6.1 - 30.dxc5 Genius 7 - 30.Nxc5 *CM9000 - 30.dxc5 *Ruffian - 30.dxc5 [d]r5k1/5p1p/3q2p1/1pbp4/2nP4/3NP1P1/2Q2P1P/5RK1 w - - 0 30 31.Nb4 scores two points as it is an impressive multi-purpose move. White now defends the square c6 to aid in the advance of the c-pawn. Black has a passed pawn too, but for the moment its path is blocked and thus the b-pawn is not looking dangerous. One final point of 31.Nb4 is that it also attacks the d5-pawn. 31.Nf4 is an inferior version of this and scores one point. 31.c6 is a straightforward blunder and loses one point. More complicated is 31.Qb3 which loses two points after 31...Nd2. If you saw further with 32.Qxd5 Rd8! when Black cashes in more than the exchange, then give yourself one bonus point. Arasan 6.1 - 31.Rd1 *CM9000 - 31.Nb4 *Genius 7 - 31.Nb4 *Ruffian - 31.Nb4 [d]r5k1/5p1p/5qp1/1pPp4/2n5/3NP1P1/2Q2P1P/5RK1 w - - 0 31 The idea is to centralise the queen and help the passed pawn up the board. Playing 35.Qd3, without spotting 35...Nb2, reduces your score by two. You had to see ahead and intend to play 36.Qd4 (or Qd5, Qd6); these three moves score three bonus points. Best of all, 36.Qd7 socres four bonus points. 35.Qb3 is safe and earns one point. 35.Qe2 loses nine points after 35...Qxe2 which, by comparison, makes 35.Nd3 a good move, yet after 35...Qe4 it still carries a penalty of one point. Arasan 6.1 - 35.Qd3 CM9000 - 35.Qd3 Genius 7 - 35.Qd3 Ruffian - 35.Qd3 [d]2r3k1/5p1p/2P3p1/1p2q3/1Nn5/6P1/2Q2P1P/3R2K1 w - - 0 35
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