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Subject: Re: The truth about chess programs

Author: Tony Nichols

Date: 02:20:31 04/22/05

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On April 22, 2005 at 05:16:29, Roman Hartmann wrote:

>On April 22, 2005 at 03:39:06, Tony Nichols wrote:
>
>> I know I might make some people mad by what I say but someone should say it.
>>Today's chess programs are not nearly as strong as the top human players. All
>>this hype about Hydra being 3000 elo is a joke. In fact, All the elo claims for
>>computers are a joke. We have seen many examples of class players drawing
>>against these programs. These same players would have no chance of drawing even
>>an average GM(no disrespect). These high level man vs machine matches are just
>>promotional gimmicks. The top players won't play anti-computer chess for many
>>reasons:
>>1. ego. The players want to beat the computer with normal(manly) chess. They
>>also don't want their achievement to be devalued.
>>2. money. If you show the weaknesses of the program and systematically beat it
>>you certainly will not get invited to another match.
>>I find it strange that people who approach computer vs. computer tournaments in
>>a very scientific way are the same people who scoff at posts made by players who
>>regularly draw against the top programs. Perhaps this information upsets their
>>fantasy? I don't know.
>>I for one am an avid user of chess programs and I find them invaluable. However,
>>even I (1850 elo)have to guide the programs along the right paths during
>>analysis. Could you imagine me telling Kasparov that he's missing the point! No.
>>The programs perform as well as they do because they are very good at tactics
>>and most importantly they have huge opening books. I know this is a
>>controversial topic but if we really want to test the strenght of programs, then
>>have them play against strong humans without opening books. Many here would not
>>even consider it.
>>I am interested in what others have to say!?
>>Regards
>>Tony
>
>I'm commenting mainly the anti-computer chess thing:
>
>I kibitzed quite a few of such anti computer games on playchess as well. Most
>(>90%) of them were lost for the human player, of course. But all of those games
>were played with the intention to reach a draw or to win the game on time. At
>the end of the games when the engines were running out of time some of the
>engines tried to tear the position open by sacrifying pawns, knights or bishops
>or even a rook (especially Ruffian seems to do that when running out of time).
>Once the position was opened _all_ the games I kibitzed were won by the engines.
>Often the 3 seconds left on the clock were more than enough time to crush the
>human opponents just easily.
>
>Now if the engines would be 'aware' that their opponent is not a strong computer
>or a strong engine but rather a mediocre player just trying to get away with a
>draw or to win on time the engine could avoid such dead draw positions by giving
>away some material earlier and get an open position. There wouldn't be much
>draws/wins on time against engines by mediocre human players anymore. But as
>most engines are programmed to win games against other strong engines or strong
>human opponents playing 'real chess' instead of stonewalling and moving the king
>back and forth a hundred times they can't deal with that properly, obviously.
>Still I don't think that strong engines in the future will have
>anti-stonewalling techniques implemented as it will hurt playing strength when
>playing other strong computers.
>
>Roman
>
>PS: I have certainly respect for those stonewalling and winning/drawing against
>Shredder/Fritz ... but I just don't care that much for it as it's not very
>attractive chess and it doesn't have a future. There won't be a multi million
>dollar match Hydra-"stonewalling/trying to win on time human X" :)

Hi, Roman
I agree with your post.I wonder what time control these games were?
Regards
Tony



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