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Subject: Re: Just an idea...

Author: Harald Faber

Date: 05:32:39 12/23/98

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On December 23, 1998 at 08:23:33, Nouveau wrote:

>>>difference), so why not trying another type of tournament ?
>>>
>>>Chess programs have different styles : they don't treat positions the same way,
>>>they don't "understand" chess the same way, so why not thematic tournaments ?
>>>
>>>For example, how do they deal with the Ruy Lopez ? Which one is the best
>>>Scottish player ? Which one defends best against the King's gambit ?
>>>
>>>I'm sure we could have interesting results. The point is not to have another war
>>>about strength, but to have a better idea of the way computer chess programs
>>>deal with different type of positions : it is a very rare subject here.
>>
>>This reminds me on the Nunn test which indeed is a thematic test. 10 (equal)
>>opening positions are taken out of the opening theory.
>>Indeed some try to test strength with this test...
>
>I understand the Nunn test as a "engine without opening library" test : it's a
>try to compare relative strength of engines. I think it's a good point to
>evaluate "pure" strength.
>
>That's not the direction I thought. The idea is to look at the way programs deal
>with different openings : some are complex, others positional or strategic, and,
>for the games I looked at, different programs have completly different evals for
>these positions.

The Nunn test has different openings. Could you specify your idea where the
difference is?

>Besides it would be interesting, for me (am I alone in the case ?) to know which
>programs play better (understand better ?) the King's gambit, the Schliemann
>gambit of the Ruy Lopez or the Fajarowicz gambit. Other may be interested in the
>Sicilian Dragon or the Giucco Piano. I'm sure we would find great difference
>between programs of a generally same strength.

I am sure but that is what opening book responsibles for commercial chess progs
do. They try to find out which openings are bad and which are good for the
program.

>I read once (was it you ?) that the French is a bad opening choice for computers
>maybe could we find one that has better results than others with this defense
>?

Such a difference will always be found in each opening. But I think French and
Kings Indian are 2 openings that won't be played well at least for the next 5
years.



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