Author: Christopher R. Dorr
Date: 07:11:09 06/08/99
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It seems odd, but this is very logical. Several years ago, I wrote a *very* basic chess program (4 ply full width, no extensions, no pruning. basic opening book, and could only mate with Q or 2R, very primitive evaluation function [basically material count, with a few bonuses and penalties thrown in]) that should have played like crap. I played it (I'm about USCF 2200), and I thought it did, but played it as a guest on the old ICS (before it went commercial), and came up with a 40 game performance rating of about 1500 in blitz. It beat a *bunch* of 1200-1400 rated players, simply because they hung pieces outright, and FUBAR (my program) never did. It came up with simple 2 movers to win material. Many players resigned against it before they should have. I actually studied several hundred blitz games from players rated 500 to 2000 ICS blitz, as I was teaching chess to several students, and a couple schools back then. The chief error that players rated 1300 and below made was simple tactical blundering (hanging material outright, or within 4 ply). Even the *simplest* program will take advantage of this. I focused on this with my students who were rated below 1300 USCF. If you can avoid the dropping of material outright, it seems that you pick up 100-200 points in strength imm ediately. Actually, programs like this are a great benchmark. Once you start beating them (which you will), you know that you've been addressing the tactical problems, and are making progress. Chris
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