Author: Bruce Moreland
Date: 08:31:25 04/21/99
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On April 21, 1999 at 10:16:24, KarinsDad wrote: >In the real world, there are FIDE rules, there are USCF rules, and there are >chess rules for a lot of other countries. > >However, is there an official body for chess rules for computer programs? > >Or, should a computer program be made aware by the operator as to which type of >tournament it is playing under (and the rules thereof) and therefore should play >accordingly? > >Is there any governing body on this? Has this been addressed before? > >Is there a standard by which the programs should be programmed? The governing body for computer chess is the International Computer Chess Association (ICCA). http://www.dcs.qmw.ac.uk/~icca/index.htm This organization was founded in cooperation with FIDE. The rules for live computer vs computer games are patterned after the rules for blind players. Before each WCCC they typically announce the rules in their journal. Basically you have a chessboard with pieces, a clock, two operators, and two computers. The monitors are placed where both operators can see them. The clock is the official time, and the board is the official position. Both operators record moves as in a human vs human game. The operators serve as proxies for the computers, they do what the computers tell them to do, and they tell the computers the condition of the board and clock (they relay moves and keep times current). A basic goal is that the operators not influence the game either way. There are rules about exactly when you can correct the computer's clock, but I think they are archaic and need a rewrite. If a program offers a draw and the other one accepts, it's a draw. If a program resigns, the game is over. The operators can offer draws, accept draws, and resign, with the approval of the tournament director, who typicall insists that things be pretty clear. Operator errors are corrected, as much as possible, without penalty. Some number of crashes or other stoppages are allowed, but if there is too much crashing the clock keeps running while the computer is restarted. An informal rule is that the clock is not started until one of the programs is out of book. That avoids a meaningless clock scuffle at the start of the game. Adjudications based upon best play are typically done after some period of time has elapsed. bruce
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