Author: Bob Durrett
Date: 08:27:40 01/11/04
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On January 11, 2004 at 05:43:04, Jouni Uski wrote: >[D]r1r3k1/4bp1p/1qp1b1p1/1p1n4/3PB3/P5N1/1BQ2PPP/R3R1K1 w - - 0 21 > >In this position Ruffian plays almost instantly Bxg6. Is this real sacrifice? >Is it correct? Actually Ruffian lost this game against Fritz... > >Jouni > >PS: I hope, that next Ruffian update gives the missing 70 points from promised >100 over 1.0.1 :-) Chess engines have long been able to find tactical combinations. Combinations often begin with a pseudosacrifice such as Bxg6. As noted in other threads, the so-called "true" sacrifice is merely an EXCHANGE of an advantage in material for an equivalent [or better] advantage in position. It seems to me that engines equipped with sophisticated position evaluation code [and compatible searching] should be able to recognize the equivalence of positional advantages to material advantages. The programmer, however, must "allow" his/her engine to play positional chess, including positional sacrifices. Too much "material-oriented" code may make positional chess impossible, I suspect. The chess programmer who plays chess at the 1500 level may not comprehend positional chess and positional sacrifices and as a result inadvertently put code into his/her engine which precludes the engine's playing positional chess. Chess engines will probably never play psychological sacrifices but may someday play sacrifices based on general strategic considerations. Hopefully. Bob D.
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