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

Author: Robert Hyatt

Date: 13:06:42 11/17/03

Go up one level in this thread


On November 17, 2003 at 14:32:02, K. Burcham 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.
>
>
>Yes you are correct, but this is exactly what needs to be done. Programs cannot
>win against a 2800 GM in a closed position---so we should take our chances with
>exchanging pawns early, open files, and let the human try to beat the GM in
>middle game with two or more open files.

I'm not convinced of this.  IE I believe it is possible that programs _can_ win
closed positions.  But they need some work and tuning to reach that point.  IE
10 years ago everyone feared the endgame with GM vs computer.  I certainly don't
fear an endgame against any player today, as an example.

But to follow some pragma blindly invites exploitation.  IE if I know your
program is going to try to trade every time it gets a chance, I'm going to
work on exploiting that as a weakness, which it surely is.  I might even play
openings that tend toward closed positions, so that your program can wreck its
position by trying to open it when it should not.


>also, not against our own king---against both kings, and this is what needs to
>be done. If the GM can find a win with open files, then he beat the program at
>its best. In the third game the program has been crippled because the programmer
>does not understand this or does not have the ability to write the code.

It just didn't know how/why to avoid the long blocked pawn chain.


>>
>>
>>
>>>
>>>why stage these matches when so many know what needs to be done with opening
>>>code? I wish I knew why this was such a big deal to write code for.
>>>
>>>I am glad we have highly accomplished GM, but aggravating giving them easy win.
>>>I would prefer letting them outplay the program in an open position.
>>>
>>>kburcham



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