Author: Marc Plum
Date: 18:25:07 02/04/00
I've just been reading the "drawn position" thread relating to a game between Nimzo and Shredder in Enrique Irazoqui's tournament. One sub-thread concerned a possible KPvsknn ending. This position was not forced, I believe, but was a plausible variation. Although tablebases showed it to be a mate in 62, application of the 50 move rule would make it a draw. The rules of chess, however, do not require the 50 move rule to be applied in all situations, although this has become the norm. Rule 10.12 of the FIDE laws of chess permits the number of moves to be increased for certain positions, if these positions and the extra number of moves required has been announced in advance of the tournament. I have not heard of this being done in practice, but the possibility is there. It seems to me that a sensible special rule for computer tournaments would be to extend the 50 move rule for any position where a program's tablebases showed a clear win. The reason for the 50 move rule is most likely to keep a player from torturing his opponent endlessly in a drawn positions. Ideally, however, this should not affect the outcome of a provably winning position. The main problem I see with this is that some programs would simply refuse to continue past the 50 move mark. I have looked at some tablebase endings with Shredder 4.0, and I have to go into the options and increase the number of moves until a draw if I want to see a really long mate. Other programs cannot be set to recognize exceptions. Still, such games could be adjudicated in accordance with common-sense rules. If a program has a winning position, tablebases, and the ability to use them, then adjudicate the game as a win. The use of tablebases may also have implications for the 50 move rule in human vs computer contests, but that is a whole different topic. Marc
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