Computer Chess Club Archives


Search

Terms

Messages

Subject: Re: Who was the first computer chess programmer?

Author: Robin Smith

Date: 07:27:00 07/15/04

Go up one level in this thread


On July 15, 2004 at 08:52:59, steven blincoe wrote:

>perhaps the very first chess program was invented by Torres Y Quevedo from Spain
>in 1914 he programmed a machine(computer?) to play the endgame of KvsKR
>perfectly..
>his machine is still working and on exhibit in Madrid today:
>http://www.cs.us.es/~perer/publicac/ltq/ajedrez2.jpg
>
>what amazes me the most about this is that the machine still works
>i have chess computers i bought 5 years ago that no longer work
>:)
>
>Steve
>
>>
>>And.. Did he get any consolation prize?
>
>he was idependently wealthy
>:)
>
>Steve

Hi Steve,

Torres Y Quevedo's remarkable machine was in fact always able to win K vs KR
rook endings. Amazing considering the date and that it was all done
mechanically. And if being able to win is the only criteria for your definition
of "perfectly" then OK, but I would point out that his machine did not win in
the fewest possible number of moves, so tablebase perfect it was not.

-Robin



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.