Computer Chess Club Archives


Search

Terms

Messages

Subject: Re: The truth about chess programs

Author: Tony Nichols

Date: 02:32:09 04/22/05

Go up one level in this thread


On April 22, 2005 at 05:03:00, Odd Gunnar Malin 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
>
>Hi.
>
>In positional (or overall) play human are far above computers. It's easy to
>check with first go through something like 'How good is your chess' by Danial
>King or the guess the move lecture in Chessmaster. Then let the computer do the
>same. I bet you as an 1800 player would score better than the comp, even I do it
>in several games and I'm 1500. This messure the overall play and don't punish
>you enough for your misses like in a normal game.
>
>Even in deep tactics a GM is better than a computer, the computers tactical
>superior is in the speed to find short tactics (3-7 moves).
>
>So why do a computer win? It plays tacticaly at maybe 2400 level, the difference
>from a human is that it play at this level all the moves. A human player (even a
>GM) don't play at his highest level the hole game. Just go throug a game with a
>computer and you will se many small misses, and of course also many moves that
>the comp initialy say is bad but when you walk through the variation it start
>agreeing with the played move.
>
>Maybe you could say that a GM varies his play between 1800 and 2900 while the
>computer play steady at 2400.
>
>To conclude: A game of chess is a competition where the result is depended on
>several factors, tactics, positional understanding, full consentration through
>the hole game. And when you should judge a computers strengt messuered in either
>Elo or title (GM/IM strength) you have to look only at the result of the
>competition, this is what Elo and GM/IM norms are about.
>
>Just my thought.
>
>Odd Gunnar

Hi, Odd
I agree completely. Another way to look at it is that a computers main advantage
over humans is its power supply! I joke at the chess club that I have never seen
a position that I could not lose in 1 move.
Regards
Tony



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.