Author: KarinsDad
Date: 14:46:36 11/18/99
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On November 18, 1999 at 16:38:41, Bella Freud wrote: [snip] > >I think there is a counter to your argument about this. > >I agree that with a sequence > >a x b y c z d > >that if d is a bad move that only manifests itself over the horizon, then it is >dangerous to have backed that best line and score back to the root. > >If d loses then there is a danger that a loses. > >The shorter the line the greater the danger and the longer the line the less the >danger, since side 'a' can deviate from b,c,d,e,f,g,h in the move sequence. > >Or, that the deeper the line, the less chance there is that the position at d is >so important, thus causing a to lose. > >Depth therefore helps bad evaluation functions to play better chess, in the >sense that search applied at the next few moves allows for escapes from the >consequent trouble. Such a system is just playing obstructionist chess. > > >Bella > Yes, but wouldn't that imply that all programs play obstructionist chess until we get to the level that chess is solved (or up to the point that they hit the tablebases)? In other words, trouble for most programs can come in one of three basic ways: loss of game, loss of material, loss of positional factor (regardless of whether the program is able to determine that). So, no matter how far you search and no matter how good your evaluation is, there will always be a horizon effect. This in turn implies that any program within any given game could always be walking towards a cliff and not know it, just due to the peculiarities of the given game/position and although a program (just like a human) might be capable of avoiding a given cliff once it comes within view, even the act of avoiding it may and most likely will be sending the game towards another cliff (i.e. the positional/material factors of the game may have a great likelihood of resulting in many cliffs or landmines in a given direction, not just one). KarinsDad :)
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