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Subject: Re: Congrats to Ruffian!

Author: Robert Hyatt

Date: 07:55:53 10/28/03

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On October 28, 2003 at 10:38:04, Djordje Vidanovic wrote:

>On October 28, 2003 at 09:42:48, Robert Hyatt wrote:
>
>
>>No.  If you look at _my_ history with Cray Blitz you will see that I
>>discovered that we played better with 1. d4 as white.  We had some
>>reasonable positional knowledge that helped in the more strategic
>>openings that arise from 1. d4.  I didn't do it because I thought I
>>was hurting my chances of winning...  I did it because I thought it
>>_helped_.
>>
>>I assume Jeroen did the same thing.  Perhaps some of his 1. e4 lines
>>led Sjeng into positions it didn't like or understand or play very well.
>>It would be natural to try to avoid them.
>>
>>I have this horrible tendency to believe that most people do their
>>very best when helping others.  I can't imagine him intentionally
>>preparing a book for Sjeng that would decrease its chances of winning.
>>
>>Now if you want to argue that one book author should not be allowed to
>>prepare an opening book for three different programs, there I agree 100%.
>>I can't contribute significant pieces of code to three different programs
>>and have them all play in ICCA events.  I don't see why someone can
>>contribute three significant opening books (which can go as deep as 20 moves
>>in a game that may only last 40 moves).  The ICCA is completely out of
>>touch with common sense here, mainly because of $$$ I assume.
>>
>>What is happening is wrong.  But it isn't wrong because Jeroen is trying to
>>make Sjeng lose.  It is wrong because one person is helping _three_ programs
>>to win.  That is bogus.  The ICCA _knows_ it is bogus.  But they let it
>>continue, for reasons only they have.
>
>
>Yes. What you said makes perfect sense.  I had problems understanding that:  I
>had always thought of Jeroen as the Rebel book author -- now you see him as the
>Tiger and Deep Sjeng book author as well.  I am not saying that it is dishonest
>on his part -- but it definitely puts him in a split personality kind of
>position.  Furthermore, I believe that he simply can't be as successful as he
>might be creating only one book.
>
>Strange in my opinion. And difficult to understand.
>
>Djordje

I don't think it has a thing to do with honesty.  I'd never question
Jeroen's honesty at all.

It does have a lot to do with fairness.  Bruce Moreland summed it up
best:  "why do I have to face the _same_ outstanding book twice in the
same tournament when I don't ever face the same _program_ twice?"

That's a good point.  A good book can be a significant advantage.  There
are complaints if an amateur tries to use a commercial program's opening
book.  Why not if two different commercial entries try to use the same
book?





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