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Subject: Re: Computers have greatly aided my chess progress and the fun of chess

Author: Aloisio Ponti Lopes

Date: 01:35:09 12/12/99

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On December 12, 1999 at 03:28:17, Timothy J. Frohlick wrote:

>Saying that chess programs retard the developement of critical thinking and
>blunt the progress in chess playing ability is like saying that a medical
>database/expert system impedes the practice of medicine.
>
Chess programs can improve your tactics dramatically!
Chess programs play better chess than 95% (or more) of the human beings!
(but a medical database/expert system is not a better doctor than a 3rd. year
resident on a residency specialist program, but makes less gross errors than the
2nd and 1st. year resident!).

>Computers are data-regurgitation devices.
Fortunately.

> If we see that nonsense is coming out
>of them then we merely have to engage our own brain and solve the problem.
>Depending on a computer for total validation in any field of knowledge is and
>always will be a path to failure.
>
>There is no evidence that playing games on a computer turns ones' brain to mush.
>There is no evidence that watching television turns ones' brain to mush.  There
>is no evidence that playing Doom or Quake or Duke Nukem will turn you into a
>special forces commando or a homocidal maniac.
>
I agree with you, but maybe many, many psychologists don't.

>I have been playing chess for over 35 years now and play at an expert level.  I
>know that I will never be a master.  I have reached my plateau and don't think
>that I will progress.  This is a common finding in most players of the game.

Yes, it is, but it isn't impossible to improve (although the effort might be
tremendous...).

>The use of computers has taken me from a mediocre player to one who appreciates
>the fine nuances in "positional chess" .  It is certainly true that computer
>chess programs are not as good as the grandmasters at positional finesse.  It
>is, however, a great aid to have massive databases that you can search in a few
>seconds
...hmm... is it helpful to have massive databases if you don't understand enough
chess theory?

>instead of poring over old books and magazines for hours.

...Bobby Fischer did that (and maybe every chess master in the world)... I think
it is still the best method to improve!

>
>Chess computers do not limit your progress in chess--YOU DO!!!!
>
>
>Tim Frohlick

You're absolutely right.
A. Ponti



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