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Subject: Re: Positional Play

Author: James Robertson

Date: 16:33:13 10/20/99

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On October 20, 1999 at 19:12:34, Peter Kappler wrote:

>On October 20, 1999 at 16:31:42, Joshua Lee wrote:
>
>>What positionally don't chessprograms understand yet?
>
>
>Lots.
>
>Give most micros a position devoid of tactics, requiring slow maneuvering and
>repositioning of pieces, and they will play at or below 2200 ELO.

If it is devoid of tactics, I'll bet closer to 1500 ELO. :)

James

>The trick for
>a human is to get this kind of position, and then accurately convert it, which
>almost always requires some type of tactical breakthrough.
>
>Here's a few things I think all programs have trouble understanding (unless
>there is an immediate tactical consequence):
>
>pawn-sacrifices to gain time in the opening
>pawn-sacrifices to open a file or secure a square for attacking purposes
>pawn-sacrifices to improve piece activity
>outside passers in certain endgames
>attacks based on pawn-storms
>bad bishops
>
>I could probably think of others - these are the first that come to mind.
>
>Different programs handle these problems with varying success, I think.  I know
>that Bob does a lot of things in Crafty to try to *avoid* closed positions
>altogether, and I think he has spent a lot of time on the outside passer
>problem.
>
>Probably the most famous example of how badly a strong program can botch
>positional play is game 6 of the first Kasparov - Deep Blue match.
>
>
>--Peter



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