Author: Stephen A. Boak
Date: 14:06:30 07/11/04
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No offense, Omid, but we used to play an Expert who had a great sense of humor. When we would lose to him and tell him "You were lucky!", he always replied (with humor) "Lucky I was playing you!" We laughed with him after that. In this particular game, the better program won. It might be different in another game, but this is the game that we are commenting on. In this particular game, the Crafty programming was better than the Falcon programming. Because it won, in the end, according to the rules of the competition. It might be different in another game, but this is the game that we are commenting on. So, for this particular game, congratulate your opponent (the programmer, not the program) on being the better programmer, and for the superior play of his program. This is not a confession that your program is worse overall than his program. This is gracious acceptance of having been outplayed (ultimately) and acknowledgement (if it is sincere) of the skills of your worthy opponent (the programmer, not the program). As a host, you should exhibit even greater than normal graciousness. Many times I have had winning OTB positions against far stronger players, and in the end I didn't have the time or technique to get the win--often I lost. Who was the stronger player? They were. Have I ever been bitter after a loss? Yes, since I am human, but mostly that was long ago. These days, I always take my gamescore home (even the losses) and have a wonderful time analyzing it with my friends and with my software. I take each and every loss (or win) as an opportunity to learn from my mistakes ... and the mistakes of my opponents so I don't do the same in the future. The joy of analyzing replaces any temporary sting from losing. I often admire the beauty of my opponent's play, even when I'm playing & losing, and sometimes after-the-fact when I analyze a loss at home. When you realize losses are just a normal part of the game, a normal part of strong competitions, they seldom sting after that. In many games, I was losing but played on, looking for any possible chances to save the game. Sometimes I set a trap, and my opponent fell into it and I won or drew. Othertimes the opponent made a mistake (like I had, earlier in the same game!), and I escaped with a draw or win. There are many kinds of mistakes in chess--no one mistake is automatically a lost game. No player/program is perfect--all players/programs make mistake. It is said (good philosophical comment) that the winner of a chess game is the player/program who makes the next to the last mistake. And that players make their own luck in chess. Your program played a great attack against the Crafty king position. Congratulations on having a great attacking program. I thought Falcon would win. But Crafty hung in there and refused to fold, refused to collapse. Falcon made a chess mistake, perhaps several, then lost. Crafty's engame skills eventually prevailed, and the Falcon attack came to naught. Crafty & its programmer *deserve* sincere respect for their accomplishments--in this case being doughty defenders of an extremely difficult position (how can we truly say 'lost'?). Cheer up! Your program has acquitted itself very well. It plays great attacking chess. A loss does not take that away from Falcon or its programmer. By the same token, thanks for helping arrange this computer chess competition. Your efforts deserve respect, even if some aspects could have been even better. Be modest in victory. Be gracious in defeat. Good luck with Falcon in the future. Best regards, --Steve
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