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Subject: Re: Unfriendly computer blitz

Author: Ricardo Gibert

Date: 09:52:49 12/08/99

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On December 08, 1999 at 12:10:03, Dan Ellwein wrote:

>On December 07, 1999 at 21:21:48, Ricardo Gibert wrote:
>
>>On December 07, 1999 at 20:11:03, Robert Hyatt wrote:
>>
>>>On December 07, 1999 at 18:55:59, Chuck wrote:
>>>
>>>>On December 07, 1999 at 16:54:15, Ricardo Gibert wrote:
>>>>
>>>>>On December 07, 1999 at 14:22:19, Robert Hyatt wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>>On December 07, 1999 at 00:01:08, Ricardo Gibert wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>>On ICC, I often see computers winning games against strong players by
>>>>>>>"unfriendly" means. Consider what happens when the position is dead drawn, >>>but the computer player does not realize this and makes an unending series of
>>>>>>>aimless moves that drains the human opponent of time on his clock. It isn't >>>any secret that computers have "faster reflexes". This is boring and inflates >>>the apparent strength of the program.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>I propose that computer programs should offer/accept draws when the following
>>>>>>>conditions hold:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>1) There have been no pawn moves or captures played by
>>>>>>>   either side over the past 10 ply played. Of course
>>>>>>>   the 50 move rule counter is perfect for this.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>This is total nonsense.  I have seen _many_ games where no pawn move or
>>>>>>capture was played over a 5 move (10 ply) stretch.  This has _nothing_ to
>>>>>>do with the game called "chess".
>>>>>
>>>>>Please explain why you consider this to be total nonsense. It is clear that >this >is reliable indicator of whether substantive change has taken place on >the >chessboard.
>>>>
>>>>I'm afraid I have to agree with Ricardo on this issue. It is certainly true that
>>>>alot of drawn games are won "inappropriately" by computers. Think for a moment
>>>>of such a game (we've all seen them) and how you'd react if you were the human
>>>>and some other human were on the other side of the board being so stupid. If it
>>>>were I, I'd be upset. I'm sure we'd have words. I don't think it's enough to
>>>>give computers the excuse that they can't recognize the draw. Our goal should be
>>>>to make them recognize the draw first. And actually, in real tournaments these
>>>>days you CAN do something about, you can claim your opponent has insufficient
>>>>winning chances. This should be implemented in programs, in some way, and it may
>>>>vary considering the program and it's eval. But it should be done, 1st because
>>>>it's not really fair or right, but even moreso, because it's really poor
>>>>etiquette.
>>>>
>>>>And as far as the game of chess goes, when I start a game, I expect both myself
>>>>and my opponent to obey certain rules of etiquette.
>>>
>>>
>>>And this includes your opponent looking over at the clock and saying "Hmmm...  I
>>>have 4 minutes left, my opponent has 15 seconds left, I suppose I ought to offer
>>>him a draw..."
>>>
>>>That's never happened in any fast game _I_ have ever played, on a server or at
>>>a club...
>>>
>>>You get that far behind, you lose...
>
>I agree... chess is not for the faint of heart... for that matter... neither is
>life... - PilgrimDan

This is a non-issue. If you don't like the feature, you can turn it off.

>>
>>That's fine. You can add another condition to cover this if you like. It does
>>not invalidate the basic idea.



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