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Subject: Re: Typical delusions in CC

Author: Rolf Tueschen

Date: 11:06:05 01/26/03

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On January 26, 2003 at 13:49:14, Mark Young wrote:

>On January 26, 2003 at 10:29:26, Rolf Tueschen wrote:
>
>>On January 26, 2003 at 06:27:51, Frank Phillips wrote:
>>
>>>On January 26, 2003 at 05:30:01, Roger D Davis wrote:
>>>
>>>>>Unless I have misunderstood the contract, this is a modified version of chess to
>>>>>that defined by the standard rules, which nowhere states that because one side
>>>>>knows that the game is drawn with perfect play then it shall be declared a draw
>>>>>- even if the other side does not know or cannot demonstrate it.
>>>>
>>>>Presumably then, Kasparov could show up with his own set of tablebases, and
>>>>consult them during the match? Maybe he has a particular ending he's weak in. Or
>>>>do only Junior's tablebases count?
>>>
>>>I thought this was man versus machine.  Humankind advantages and disadvantages
>>>versus machine advantages and disadvantages.  See who prevails.
>>
>>This is a good example for delusions and pure wishful thinking in CC. At first
>>this sounds absolutely in order. I will prove now why it is in reality a cheat
>>with a logical fallacy.
>>
>>Let's describe the conditions.
>>
>>I. We have a long tradition in human chess. Rules have been made. These rules,
>>normaly that must not be pointed out, are made for two human chessplayers. In
>>special to prevent that one player takes unfair advantages from outer help.
>>Books, other documents or conversation with collegues.
>>
>>II. In computerchess people saw directly that without "books" taken from human
>>chess computers could not play sound chess at all. I mean alone based on their
>>engine [which is different nowadays, at least a bit]. So it was clear, also in
>>the understanding of computer sciences, that files, yes, whole databases could
>>well be added to the chess engine. Today endgame tablebases have been
>>successfully implemented so that the computer is now prepared to play perfect
>>chess the moment he gets the access to the tables. This is already possible long
>>before the concrete chess position is on the board. Consequence: chess is being
>>played only in between the zones of perfect knowledge [ok, not for me because I
>>often discussed that for the super GM the given opening theory is always the
>>picture from the past, but not the actual possible because this is exactly
>>researched by these masters - and then quickly copied and pasted by the CC
>>people; but it is clear thaqt the GM have always the advance].
>>Now with a certain irony CC people sigh that in the past no GM ever complained
>>that something is wrong with the addings, but the moment they began to lose,
>>they were against these hybrides. Is this a correct picture of the real
>>situation? Of course not.
>>
>>III. The truth is that
>>a) for comp - comp matches the addings are ok in a way [but only in a way
>>because that would be nonsense if the engines would be equally strong and the
>>differences would be defined only by the addings, books and learning features
>>etc.]
>>b) for comp - human matches we should ask which rules are respected. Strictly
>>after the FIDE rules books and tables would be forbidden.
>>
>>Let me explain why the situation in b) is extremely unfair for the masses of
>>normal players in both respects (book and tables) and even for super GM in
>>respect of the tables, always because of the perfect play while humans, even
>>super GM are unable to play perfectly [depending on the difficulty of endings].
>>
>>IV. We have a logical fallacy if we simply state that a match between comp and
>>human should be played so that each side plays after the rules of its side.
>>Because FIDE rules are made for humans only while computer rules are
>>traditionally made for both,  pure comp and also comp - human matches. I thi
>>nk it's clear that this handling is unfair. We must find rules for comp - human
>>matches. And for the Kasparov - Junior match a solution has been found. It
>>should rule out that the human player can lose an objectively even (=drawn)
>>game. I read that people in CC said that this would be ridiculous because you
>>can well lose a drawn ending as a human. I say that this is correct but this
>>would give the comp side an unfair edge. It's a question of memory, because the
>>chess engine does NOT calculate the moment it has found the draw but it can look
>>into the tables. This would be the same if the human GM had all these tables
>>moves in his memory which is impossible. But by force we must also conclude the
>>same for the amateur players who play with a very limited memory in the opening.
>>So we should change the rules so that also amateur players can use books. BTW
>>most players do this already when they play against computer programs at home.
>>If the comp sie would argue that this would be against the rules, then humans
>>simply answer that this is not about human chess but human - comp chess and
>>there the comps are allowed to use books. To say that this is ok, that comps are
>>allowed but that humans are NOT allowed is again a logical fallacy. Because the
>>CC people then would take advantages out of a sphere that is not their own. But
>>what I do at home is my stuff and none outside can interfere. But if we meet
>>then we must find rules for our meeting. And it would be nonsense to follow the
>>guide that humans must then play as it is in human chess. I think this should be
>>clear by now. Thank you for your attention.
>>
>>V. Let's give a perspective for the future. Since the zone where real chess is
>>being played is so small we should change the rules still further. We should
>>either forbid books for comps or should allow books for humans too. The latter
>>should be the easier in practice. Because you can't control that the engine has
>>no implementations regarding books. - But all these reflections are moot because
>>a concrete tournament play with comps is only fantasy. The main reason is [and
>>also this has been discussed in many articles, also by me] that in longer
>>periods human players would adapt on the comps play and very quickly comps would
>>be shown as what they really are, namely very stupid machines. Simply because no
>>matter how deep they could calculate humans can adapt to certain weeaknesses and
>>find typical weapons to exploit these weaknesses. Since all these have something
>>to do with depth, hence the consequences will be fatal until chess will be
>>solved in the year 5000. So by force the only play will be in such show events
>>where the human GM gets the neccessary money for a commercial interest, namely
>>the influencing of users who might be cheated about the real strength of the
>>product. Since such events [like Kasparov vs Junior] allow many players to get
>>some money as commentators or whatever, the truth about the real situation,
>>regarding strength, will never be told by named experts. Those who know the
>>truth and could say the truth are not taking for serious in the world of fantasy
>>and wishful thing, not to forget in a world where money is so important.
>>
>>I wish us, me included, all a good Sunday of CC.
>>
>>Regards,
>>Rolf Tueschen
>
>It is not unfair for the computer to use its own programmed memory in the
>opening and endgame. This is just the nature of the beast when you play a
>computer. Many humans who happen to be strong GM's also use book info and commit
>it to memory. I don't know of any good player that has not used opening
>information based on other players opening works to help his own game.
>
>Chess is far from played out. If the human wishes he can go into perfectly
>playable lines far from move 10 to make the program start thinking in the
>opening phase of the game.


Please do not leave out the connectivity of my statements. Taken isolated
nothing is unfair in CC, but I spoke of competition with human players.

Rolf Tueschen



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>>>
>>>Kasparov cannot turn up with reference works or his own computer either. He must
>>>rely on Kasparov.
>>>
>>>BTW Where would you draw the line on automatic draw: 2 man, 3 man, 4 man, 5 man
>>>6 man, 7 man, 8 man, 9 man.............
>>>
>>>As someone said a while back IIRC (maybe Bruce), this is an interestng time.  An
>>>historical analogue is the question of whether man with a hammer is better than
>>>a steam hammer.  Giving the machine a rubber hammer proves nothing.
>>>
>>>Not a big issue for the outcome of the contest I suspect, but it has established
>>>a precedent.  And if it so unimportant then why not stick to rules of chess and,
>>>if as Uri say above, Junior will draw anyway then why bother at all.
>>>
>>>Frank



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