Computer Chess Club Archives


Search

Terms

Messages

Subject: Oh please!!

Author: Roger Brown

Date: 19:38:56 03/08/04

Go up one level in this thread


>     It seems to be very common that most chess programs are tested
>     at very very low time controls (I do not at all like) and this
>     is a pity and does not encourage me to try such programs at
>     longer time controls -:)
>     Kurt



Hello Kurt,

I hear and I understand but what to do?  Not all of us are in the enviable
position of having days and weeks of free machine time.  Should the five minute,
ten minute and fifteen minute (plus an increment in all cases)people just
shoulder arms and say nothing?

I quite understand the need for longer games but just for once I would like the
short timecontrol people to get a break without the condescending comments of
persons who have computer resources to spare.

No-one is claiming that their basement contest replaces the SSDF rating list.

Personally I am a fan of your long timecontrol contests and I think they offer
valid information.  However a game that takes two hours + to complete means that
for a day I could only run 12 such games.  Do you have any idea what the "it is
not enough games" crowd would say then?

All I am saying is to give the short timecontrol people a break and stop
slamming them.  For all persons, take all results posted anywhere with an
appropriately sized quantity of salt.

The fact that a program is tested at short timecontrols in no way reflects on
the efforts of beta testers (among others) who contribute their time and
computer resources free of effort.  I am bit weary of being hammered by persons
with duals, quads and an extra computer here and there (or access to same which
is just as good)who sneer at the games I can run.

I mean, one hundred games at two hours each is two hundred hours which is
somewhat over eight days!  Ugh!  All for free, unpaid labour which no-one will
appreciate in any event because:

(a)  Too few games
(b)  Too few opponents
(c)  The latest versio of ______ did not play
(d)  The gui is the limiting factor
(e)  The hardware is outdated

Use the program or do not use the program Kurt.  That is your right and I defend
your right to use the chess program of your choice.  I mean, if a man - or woman
- is not free to choose his or her own chess programs what other precious
freedom will be under attack next?

:-)

I am just getting the uncomfortable feeling that computerches is rapidly
becoming elitist as the owners of the mega hardware discuss their toys'
capacities.

As for me, I will continue to test with my timecontrol of 5 minutes and 2
seconds on my humble - but still going strong - Pentium III.  Oh, and for your
information Kurt, you *do* test and enjoy testing a number of engines I have
personally beta tested at that timecontrol.

Imagine that.

:-)

Just this man's point of view.

Later.



This page took 0 seconds to execute

Last modified: Thu, 15 Apr 21 08:11:13 -0700

Current Computer Chess Club Forums at Talkchess. This site by Sean Mintz.