Author: Melvin S. Schwartz
Date: 16:06:33 01/29/99
In your review of the Novag Diamond 11, you stated that Selective Search added about 100 points to the rating of that machine. You claimed that Novag stated that and that from your experience it was true. I own a Mephisto atlanta - which you haven't reviewed yet and has a Swedish ELO rating of 2280 which is higher than the Novag rating of 2220 - and when I contacted a Saitek tech guy in Hong Kong, he said that Brute Force was stronger than Selective Force and gives a higher rating. In the manual of my Mephisto, it states: "The program in this chess computer normally uses a Selective Search algorithm. This allows the computer to see combinations that would otherwise take much longer to compute. Turning this option off by choosing -SEL makes the program switch to a powerful Brute Force algorithm. This search method minimizes the risk of an occasional oversight. Note: The Problem Solving Levels always use the Brute Force method." Since the Novag Diamond 11 has both Selective Search and Brute Force, it would appear that someone is wrong! What is interesting is the fact that the Mephisto uses Brute Force in the Problem Solving Levels. However, that is not playing a game of chess from the start. But the manual does indicate that the Brute Force option takes longer but will minimize an occasional oversight and states that Selective Search computes faster. Since Brute Force spends MORE time analyzing the position, wouldn't it then seem logical that Brute Force is stronger and would produce a higher chess rating? Your comment or anyone elses would be appreciated. Thank you, Mel
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