Author: Andreas Stabel
Date: 07:51:15 06/08/99
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On June 08, 1999 at 10:11:09, Christopher R. Dorr wrote: >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 Thank you for the encouragement. I think I am already starting to push this barrier, but at the moment it takes a lot of thinking and it is not possible for me in fast games like the ones I posted here. But the possibility of gaining 100-200 poins certainly looks encouraging and I hope to get there soon. Regards Andreas
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