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Subject: Re: why is open file code such a big deal for programmers?

Author: Robert Hyatt

Date: 10:04:18 11/17/03

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On November 17, 2003 at 12:38:44, Russell Reagan wrote:

>On November 17, 2003 at 09:21:36, Robert Hyatt wrote:
>
>>On November 16, 2003 at 20:08:45, K. Burcham wrote:
>>
>>>
>>>why do programs allow humans to control these openings?
>>>why do programs allow humans to set up these walls instead of exchange pawns for
>>>open files?
>>>why can't code be written to exchange pawns even when early in book?
>>
>>If you do that, you also get ripped.  You don't just open a file because you
>>can, you do it because you should, given the specific position.  Otherwise
>>you self-immolate by opening files against your own king, etc...  or when
>>your opponent can eventually take control of the file.
>
>I have a question regarding the blocked position issue. Is it possible to ensure
>either a blocked or open position? IE If a program is very good in open
>positions (like most programs are), it would be beneficial to open up the game
>and complicate it. If you could write your program to never allow the position
>to become blocked, that would be advantageous.

Maybe.  I do this at present, but I try to be careful with it.  But,
particularly with black, it is often advantageous to block things up rather
than let white blow through at will.  If you are cramped, it is better to
block than unblock, unless unblocking also uncramps you.  IE it isn't safe
to just blindly say "open 'er up" without any idea of what you are opening
up or why.


> On the other hand, it might be to
>your advantage to keep the position blocked up if you, say, need a draw, or are
>playing a superior human or program. In theory it sounds nice to just say,
>"never let the computer get into an open/closed position", but how realistic is
>it that the computer will be able to accomplish either consistently? It seems
>like it would be more realistic to be able to open up the position consistently,
>since it is kind of a one-way thing. IE Once you open up the position, it's very
>unlikely (impossible?) that it will be closed up again. I haven't been able to
>find a method that will consistently obtain a locked position against the
>computer. I think the computer has to give you a little help. You've done some
>of this with Crafty on ICC to prevent the intentional draws from humans. What do
>you think?

I think it is a hard problem.  It is not very hard to completely eliminate
blocked positions.  But then your opponent will exploit that to get you into
an open (but inferior) position where your chances are not good.  IE you
might have to choose between an isolated or a blocked pawn.  That's not
black and white...




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