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Subject: Re: Dr. Hsu @ Microsoft

Author: Dave Gomboc

Date: 03:20:28 10/16/99

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On October 15, 1999 at 23:34:39, Peter Kappler wrote:

>On October 15, 1999 at 22:18:00, Micheal Cummings wrote:
>
>>On October 15, 1999 at 16:21:22, Scott Gasch wrote:
>>
>>>Hi,
>>>
>>>Today Dr. Hsu (who recently left IBM / Deep Blue team) gave a talk at Microsoft
>>>research.  I went to hear what he had to say and ask him a few questions.
>>>
>>>The presentation was pretty much about the history of computer chess.  Bob he
>>>mentioned you.  Also Belle and Ken Thompson.  And then went on about his own
>>>work on Deep Thought / Deep Blue.
>>>
>>>The entire time I had the feeling he was selling something.  Towards the end he
>>>made a pitch for (private) support of his new effort which, as best I can tell,
>>>is a single processor chess card for a normal PC to take on Kasparov for the
>>>world title.  He seems to think that Kasparov would put the title on the line in
>>>a rematch.  Hsu just left IBM last week and has done no work on this yet but he
>>>is looking at a timeframe of 2001-2002 for the match.  Dr. Hsu believes he would
>>>have a better than 50% chance of winning this match.  He has also gotten
>>>permission from IBM to start with the deep blue chess chip and build upon it.
>>>
>>>I was able to ask some questions during and after the talk that may be
>>>interesting to you as well.  Here is what I learned:
>>>
>>>1) His new project will optionally use NULL move pruning and other pruning.  He
>>>wants to be able to turn it on and off.  He believes that with proper selective
>>>extension you do not need NULL move pruning at all if you have enough speed,
>>>though.
>>>
>>>2) The eval hardware on Deep Blue was 2/3 of the chip and his eval function has
>>>about 3000 terms which they tuned by hand.  He is thinking about different ways
>>>to automatically "train" the eval function now.
>>>
>>>Scott
>>
>>Kasparov has enough trouble letting his fellow human players try to get the
>>world title off him, do you really think he would let a PC card get the chance.
>>
>>No one, let alone Kasparov would put up a title in that way.
>
>
>Actually, Kasparov's problem is that he can't find sponsors (with enough money)
>to fund his matches.  I think he would play anyone or anything if the money was
>right.
>
>--Peter

Kasparov?  Have a tough time finding sponsors from the computing industry.

Gee, I wonder why.  <snort>

Dave



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