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Subject: Re: Very interesting report on Chessbase site

Author: Roger D Davis

Date: 13:45:48 01/31/03

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On January 31, 2003 at 09:26:42, Jeff Lischer wrote:

>Continuing a thread from yesterday...
>
>On January 30, 2003 at 07:06:40, Mike Hood wrote:
>
>>On January 30, 2003 at 02:49:07, Jouni Uski wrote:
>>
>>>http://www.chessbase.com/columns/column.asp?pid=160
>>>
>>>The top humans are significantly stronger than the top programs at classical
>>>time controls. Hmm?!?! Bareev?
>>>
>>>Of course You must be careful when reading Chessbase report, bit this is OK.
>>>
>>>Jouni
>>
>>Jouni, although Chessbase can often be accused of a lot of spin, which is
>>understandable, I can accept the statement made by Mig as an honest evaluation.
>>To quote a statement later in the article, which qualifies your quote:
>>
>>"We surmise that today's top programs play consistently at a 2500-2600 level of
>>chess quality. The difference is that they instantly and mercilessly punish
>>every human mistake and almost never let a winning position slip. This
>>near-elimination of the margin for error pushes their practical performance up
>>toward the 2800 level."
>
>When I first read Mig's statement, I agreed with it as well. However, now I'm
>not so sure. I have these visions in my head...
>
>Humans talking about the way computers play chess:
>     Positionally, they consistently play at a 2500-2600 level, but tactically
>they play at more like 3000! In practice, this combination pushes them up
>towards 2800.
>
>Computers talking about the way humans play chess:
>     Tactically, they consistently play at a 2500-2600 level, but positionally
>they play at more like 3000! In practice, this combination pushes them up
>towards 2800.
>
>What's the big difference what combination of skills makes up the ultimate
>playing strength? Isn't strength strength?
>
>On re-reading Mig's article, I have to say it is very fair overall. I think
>there's an asymmetrical balance now in human/computer chess that makes these
>matches great events to watch!

I don't think strength is strength...strength is just an overall appraisal made
over many games. In general, computers are tactically superior, humans are
positionally superior, and occasionally, a situation arises in which one side is
able to humiliate the other with its skill set. That's what happened in Game 1.
But eventually the human makes a mistake and ends up busted and embarassed.

Roger



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