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Subject: Re: Is Larry Kaufman Qualified to Say What programs are grandmasters?Yes

Author: Don Dailey

Date: 11:47:10 02/28/99

Go up one level in this thread


On February 27, 1999 at 22:28:15, Matt Frank wrote:

>On February 27, 1999 at 15:36:22, Bruce Moreland wrote:
>
>>
>>A learning function has nothing to do with how "evolved" a chess program is.
>>Beyond a doubt it is a good thing to have in a program, but it says nothing
>>about the state of the rest of the program.  I'm sure it would have had a
>>learning function if it had to compete in an environment where a learning
>>function would  have added any strength.
>>
>>The strength comparison on a P2/450 is meaningless, it's like saying that a
>>Volkswagen Beetle is better than a dragster because if you put a Volkswagen
>>engine in the dragster, the Volkswagen would do a faster quarter mile.
>>
>>bruce
>
>Bruce:
>
>Although I agree that a learning function isn't the ONLY factor differentiating
>Deeper Blue from the best micro prog I still argue that Deeper Blue was
>handicapped by not fitting it's hardware as well as the best micro progs fit
>their respective hardware mates today. This factor (i.e., more chess playing
>power per computing speed) and newer algorithms have been extremely important in
>the "evolution" of programs recently. This is very influential in explaining why
>Deeper Blue isn't quite as far ahead as some assume (see the post that I
>responded to for the assumption that I disagree with).
>
>Sincerely,
>Matt

I think you are absolutely correct Matt.  But be careful, this is a
dangerous conversation.  I'm sure you are about due for the "you don't
know what you are talking about speech" or something similar.

I don't see your statement as taking anything away from the massive
effort the talented Deep Blue team put into their project.  I see
your statement as just plain common sense and logical.

Bruce is right too,  it's not fair to try to scale our programs
to their hardware.  I don't think the learning thing is very
relevant but I understand what you are saying,  I believe there
are dozens of little micro-engineered things (like this) that micro's
almost certainly do better.   I think you hit the nail on the
head when you say Deep Blue is not as far ahead as most assume.


- Don



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