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From: davet@oakhill.UUCP (Dave Trissel)
Newsgroups: net.games.chess
Subject: Re: computer chess
Message-ID: <623@oakhill.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 19-Dec-85 03:39:26 EST
Article-I.D.: oakhill.623
Posted: Thu Dec 19 03:39:26 1985
Date-Received: Sun, 22-Dec-85 01:25:20 EST
References: <3199@hplabsb.UUCP>
Reply-To: davet@oakhill.UUCP (Dave Trissel)
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In article <3199@hplabsb.UUCP> bl@hplabsb.UUCP (Bruce T. Lowerre) writes:
>In case you haven't seen it, there was an article in the October
>28 issue of Time about the latest computer chess machine, Hitech.
>
>The machine is currently rated at about 2250 which is master level
>but Hans feels its actual rating is about 2500.  The machine will
>be entered in more turnaments to determine its actual rating and
>to find the level of player that can consistently beat it.  In
>the mean time, its weaknesses are being patched.
>

I find the 2500 claim a little hard to believe.  As the ratings get higher
the more chess knowlege is required to be embedded in the program.  (Just
examine how large the opening libraries have grown from year to year in the
best programs.)  And, after leaving opening book the more chess knowlege
embedded in the evaluation algorithms the slower which means fewer moves
examined which leads to weak tactical play blundering.

One obvious method of attack is to so specialize the program that it has
a well defined goal decided at the time of exit from the opening book.
But this would take a substantial effort and the results would still be
inflexible.  Anyone know any details of Hans system?

Skeptically - Dave Trissel  {ihnp4,seismo}!ut-sally!im4u!oakhill!davet