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Subject: Re: I'm withdrawing from the Deep Blue discussion.

Author: Brian Richardson

Date: 07:09:49 01/24/00

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On January 23, 2000 at 19:55:08, Tom Kerrigan wrote:

>It doesn't look like I can change Bob Hyatt's mind about Deep Blue, so there's
>really no point in arguing. I have other things to do with my time.
>
>I still firmly believe that Hyatt has overhyped DB, but there's nothing I can do
>about it.
>
>I would be happy to discuss DB via private e-mail, if anybody is still
>interested.
>
>-Tom

Until now I have not voiced an opinion on the DB issue.  However, I hope Bob
Hyatt is not alone as a proponent of DB!  I was at game two of the 2nd match.
My chess is mediocre, but in the group at the hotel were many chess experts.  It
was clear that "something" had changed since the first game, but not clear that
it was DB, his opponent, or whatever.  Perhaps some eval function, or book, or
whatever changes were made.  No matter.  What was clear is that the program was
"patient" and that GK was "ground down" by the unrelenting machine.

Again, my chess (and my program Tinker) are just beginners, but I got the
distinct impression from the audience (understandably somehwat pro IBM), that DB
was awsome.  Could DB beat anyone?  Who knows.  It DID beat GK rather
convincingly.  Did he take it "seriously".  I think yes, until it was clear he
could not win.  His statements after the last game (also "unfortunate" to be
there) were insulting.

I defer to Bob's technical knowledge of speeds and feeds.  But again, just think
about the predecessor's capabilities given the technology of the day.  Also
think about the parallelism and nps and hardware eval.  I shudder.

My personal OPINION is that a 2002/03 technology-based version of DB would be
world champion.  However, until the $$$ is there, nobody will build it.  I have
spoken to the head of R&D at HP, and senior folks at other vendors.  They won't
bother because "IBM has been there done that".   Any future progress I think
will have to come from within the chess community.  Perhaps enough visceral
statements will goad a sponsor into underwriting a new implementation.

Whew, I feel better now.

Respectfully,
Brian Richardson

PS  Tom and Bob: I greatly admire both of your contributions to comp chess.
Without you (and Tim Mann) as "mentors" I probably would not have stayed with
it.  Thank you VERY much.  It is somewhat startling that for such a cold
calculating game (of complete information), that there is so much emotion in
chess...at least amongst the non (C) players :)



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