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From: ray@rochester.ARPA (Ray Frank)
Newsgroups: net.micro.amiga,net.games.chess
Subject: Re: Places in Vancouver? Really Chess programs.
Message-ID: <21549@rochester.ARPA>
Date: Mon, 13-Oct-86 14:27:37 EDT
Article-I.D.: rocheste.21549
Posted: Mon Oct 13 14:27:37 1986
Date-Received: Tue, 14-Oct-86 06:12:17 EDT
References: <2440@garfield.UUCP> <363@ur-cvsvax.UUCP> <3890@amdahl.UUCP> <3845@ism780c.UUCP>
Organization: U of Rochester, CS Dept., Rochester, NY
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Xref: watmath net.micro.amiga:5372 net.games.chess:552

In article <3845@ism780c.UUCP>, tim@ism780c.UUCP (Tim Smith) writes:
> 
> I don't really understand why there are not any really good chess
> programs available for home computers.  Fidelity has a machine
> with an official USCF rating of 2100 for 200 bucks.  I am pretty
> sure that this has an 8 bit processor.  Someone should be able to
> come up with a 68k program that is better than this!
> 
> I would certainly rather get crushed by a 68k!
> -- 

  One of the reasons dedicated computers play better chess than home computers
is that they are faster, given the clock speed for both is the same.
The chess machines have very little over-head.  There are very few interupts
to be serviced, no screen to worry about, etc.
  Also, the expertise needed to program home computers to play chess well is
not there to the extent it is at companies who make it their business to
produce and sell chess computers.  Kathy and Dan Spraklen for example, have
made writting chess programs their life.  They've written mostly for Fidelity,
and their current brain child is the 2100 rated machine.
  Finally, the 6502 is currently the hit of the computer chess manufacturers.
They've chosen this one over the Z80 series for a number of reasons, one being
the 6502 running at 2mhz is as fast as a Z80A running at about 4mhz.
  Don't feel too badly about being crushed by an 8 bit machine, most 68k based
machines are being crushed by them also.
  Bottom line here is, if you want a good chess playing machine, go out and by
a good chess playing machine, and if you want a good home computer, go out and
by a good home computer, but don't confuse the two.
  By the way, you can get one of them 2100 rated machines (Par Excellence) for
under $150.00 from most mail order houses.

ray