Author: Marc Plum
Date: 18:08:42 03/13/99
Go up one level in this thread
(snip) >>To give only one example: As far as I know GM Kasparov is not able to >>win with a Queen against a Rook when you use Ken Thompson's endgame >>tablebases. Of course the position should not be mate in one of course, >>but let us take just a position with mate in 27, for example, which >>is quite a common thing. >>Well believe it or not, neither Kasparov nor Karpov can win. They are >>helpless! >> > >Have you asked Kasparov or Karpov this? I've never heard either of them admit >that they can't win Q vs. R. It is a difficult ending, but if a GM like Walter >Browne can win it (and he can) then I'm sure Karpov and Kasparov are up to the >task. > > >--Peter For that matter, there is at least one computer on ICC that allows players to practice various kinds of theoretically won endings. The Bishop and Knight mate. Queen vs. Knight, and Q vs R. Unrated of course. Comparatively slow blitz time controls with increments. The computer is using tablebases, and kibitzes the number of moves until mate on each move. I once watched an IM using this program to practice the Q vs R ending, which he won twice in a row (maybe more, but it wasn't *that* interesting to watch!). According to the kibitzing from the computer, he missed the fastest line once or twice, but he still did it without serious danger from the 50 move rule. I'm sure I couldn't win in under 50 against optimum resistance (unless there was already some obvious short range tactic), but for Kasparov, Karpov, Anand, Kramnik, and many lesser GMs, I think it would be a piece of cake. Marc
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.