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From: derek@uwvax.UUCP (Derek Zahn)
Newsgroups: net.games.chess
Subject: Computer Chess
Message-ID: <496@uwvax.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 2-Jan-86 11:41:49 EST
Article-I.D.: uwvax.496
Posted: Thu Jan  2 11:41:49 1986
Date-Received: Fri, 3-Jan-86 04:28:26 EST
Organization: U of Wisconsin CS Dept
Lines: 28

After seeing the impressive HiTech results, and thinking a bit
about possible ramifications, I have a question for you net-
people.  It seems clear that chess computers are getting better
and better; to the point where I will bet that within 5 years
there will be one that will play at true Grandmaster strength,
and may be unbeatable by a human being.

I was wondering what effect you think this will have upon the
game of Chess.  There are computers now that play better than
I probably ever will, and I am not sure how I feel about that.

To begin with, though, I don't think that computers belong in
human chess tournaments.  Special tournaments set up to test a
computer's playing strength are fine, but I don't think that
they belong in "opens" (the last one I played in was open to
computers, although none entered).  My reason for this is 
simple.  By analogy, a robot could probably be built that could
run faster than a human being, but that does not mean that
we allow them in marathons.  Tournaments and competitions are
for humans vs humans.  If computers started taking top prizes in
our tournaments, I think it would delete greatly from the 
excitement of tournament play.  I am not a chess-computerphobe;
I have one at home and think it is a valuable training aid,
but I have little desire to fight it for points at a tournament.

Any opinions?

derek