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Subject: Computer chess and quantum technology

Author: Arshad Syed

Date: 19:23:28 01/08/00


Quantum technology seems to be the next big leap in the field of computing. From
my understanding, it supposedly will be relatively much faster than todays
semi-conductor technology. Probably even a PC based on this method would be much
faster and powerful than todays supercomputers (DEEP BLUE??). Would it be
possible that such a computer would finally play 'perfect' chess - losing no
games, probably drawing a few in worst case scenario?

Here are just my opinions:

1.) A chess program/computer is only as good as its evaluation function gets.
While monsters like DB are good at calculations - tactical play, their
positional knowledge - light squares/dark squares, mobility etc. - is below that
of a GM. DB for instance in an earlier version (DEEP THOUGHT?) lost convincingly
to Kasparov. It was only after a year of programming by Joel Benjamin that it
managed to defeat Kasparov. I feel that computers at quantum speed, would find
more time to do extensive positional analysis in the eval function at the nodes,
which would help plug the holes in the program, which currently seem to me to be
more due to deficiencies in positional analysis.

2.) Even the most powerful computers now are unable in the middle game to search
every single position. As a result some moves are ignored due to horizon effect.
With the new technology, maybe this will no longer be an issue. Add the improved
positional analysis, and the PC programs would be playing at the level of a
World Champion.

3.) With ply-depth no longer a programming issue, programmers would be able to
focus on other issues such as AI - I mean genuine machine learning, which would
allow programs to even simulate human styles based on methods other than
weights.

Just my 2 cents....

Regards,
Arshad



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