Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: $Revision: 1.6.2.16 $; site haddock.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!ucbvax!decvax!haddock!trb
From: trb@haddock.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.games.chess
Subject: Re: Computer Chess
Message-ID: <102100003@haddock.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 3-Jan-86 12:21:00 EST
Article-I.D.: haddock.102100003
Posted: Fri Jan  3 12:21:00 1986
Date-Received: Sun, 5-Jan-86 01:08:59 EST
References: <496@uwvax.UUCP>
Lines: 30
Nf-ID: #R:uwvax:-49600:haddock:102100003:000:1605
Nf-From: haddock!trb    Jan  3 12:21:00 1986


> I was wondering what effect you think this [computer chess players] 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.

I like the fact that computers are working on the game of chess.  I
don't see any problem with computers "solving" the game of chess.
Even if a computer crunched for an eon and spat out "white always
wins," perhaps accompanied by reams of data, what effect should that
have on human chess players?  None.

I own a computer that, under fast time controls, almost always thrashes
me.  I'm about a 1650, and the computer is USCF rated a shade over
2000.  (I think it has a 4MHz Z80 in it, talk about humiliating.  Then
again, if I put as much effort into chess study as went into my chess
box, my rating would be over 2000 too.)  It beats me 90% of the time at
about a minute a move.  I don't see the difference between that and a
better computer beating a better human chess player.  I still play
chess.  LONG before machines play perfect chess, they're merely going
to play better chess then humans will.

There are many endeavors at which machines excel.  Machines can travel
faster than humans, lift more than humans, cut down trees faster, work
out math problems faster, etc.  Humans still compete at all these
endeavors, but at some point, it became ridiculous for humans to
compete with machines in them.  And some day, so it will be with
chess.  But for now, computers and humans are worthy competitors for
each other.

	Andrew Tannenbaum   Interactive   Boston, MA   617-247-1155