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From: plw@panda.UUCP (Pete Williamson)
Newsgroups: net.startrek
Subject: Re: Chess, Kirk and Spock
Message-ID: <1542@panda.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 21-Mar-86 10:04:57 EST
Article-I.D.: panda.1542
Posted: Fri Mar 21 10:04:57 1986
Date-Received: Wed, 26-Mar-86 02:30:06 EST
References: <222@copper.UUCP>
Reply-To: plw@panda.UUCP (Pete Williamson)
Organization: GenRad, Inc., Concord, Mass.
Lines: 30
Keywords: Most human

>pull some wacko stunt like that and seriously goof up my whole game.
>He had no qualms about giving me the superior pieces in a trade.  And he
>had no consistency either.  A blatently irrational move every now and then
>can really screw up a chess game.

A blatently irrational move should not screw up a chess game.  It should
merely shorten it.

>I can understand how Kirk could beat Spock with such tactics.  Only if the
>"rational" chess player is substantially better than his "irrational" opponent, 
>could he easily overcome such play.  Maybe Spock only lost once in a while to
>these tactics.

Chess has rules.  Unless Kirk can change the rules, he should NEVER be able
to beat Spock, given what we "know" about the two characters.  You can't
bluff in Chess.  Illogical moves are weak moves.  Spock would crush Kirk.
Kirk might beat Spock in Poker, but I wouldn't even bet on that. (Think of
the POKER face that Spock could give you !!)  However,
in an unknown "game" or Command situation, give me Kirk EVERY TIME.

>The question actually comes down to whether or not Spock was willing or able
>to keep every game tree in his head during each move of the game.  I think to
>do so would have been impossible even for Spock.  Spock probably used a subset
>based on the logical move for Kirk to make.  And Kirk could therefore throw him
>a surprise every now and then.

The subset is based on move strength, not on "rationality index".
-- 
						Pete Williamson
"By hook or by crook, we will !!" ... #2