Computer Chess Club Archives


Search

Terms

Messages

Subject: Re: Strength of the engine in chess programs

Author: Robert Hyatt

Date: 13:44:50 05/20/02

Go up one level in this thread


On May 20, 2002 at 15:36:52, James Vance wrote:

>On May 20, 2002 at 12:48:05, Robert Hyatt wrote:
>
>>On May 20, 2002 at 12:13:51, Rolf Tueschen wrote:
>>
>>>On May 20, 2002 at 11:17:47, Timothy J. Frohlick wrote:
>>>
>>>>Dear Mr. Tueschen,
>>>>
>>>>I can't give you percentages for engines without EGTBs or Opening Books.  I do
>>>>think that the knowledge of endgames and openings is crucial in human chess
>>>>progression.  A chess master has openings stored in his/her memory. What is
>>>>wrong with the chess program having the same information?
>>>>
>>>>The specialized knowledge of today's chess programs is what makes them more fun
>>>>to play.  It is no fun playing a machine that computes an opening line for three
>>>>minutes that is on record as being a lousy line.  I prefer all the added
>>>>information.
>>>>
>>>>Computers have no intelligence on their own.  They simulate intelligence.  You
>>>>know that Rolf.
>>>>
>>>>Tim Frohlick
>>>
>>>To prevent that we begin talking at cross purposes, let me please add, Tim, that
>>>I like playing the programs too with all that integrated. The question about
>>>strength of the engine is often confused with wrong comparisons. Here are some
>>>of them I met in earlier discussions.
>>>
>>>- Humans learn theory by heart so why books are wrong in computer programs?
>>>- The design of a computer program was always a combination of engine and book.
>>>- Also human players learn by heart without necessarily understanding each move.
>>>
>>>All these arguments are false. But it's not so at first sight. And therefore we
>>>discuss all the time.
>>>
>>>With human players we mean weak amateurs or masters? It begins with such trivial
>>>questions. Ok, a weak amateur learns by heart a few lines. The opponent, also a
>>>weak amateur makes a weaker reply and our first weak amateur cannot exploitate
>>>it, although the move is weaker than the book move.
>>>Or the line ends and the weak amateur all on his own begins to blunder. Ah, he
>>>had studied typical master games of that opening? Again the answer from above.
>>>It's a total gamble. If the variation is played like it should, our amateur
>>>might win in the end or lose or the other way round.
>>>
>>>A master, and that is difficult to understand as I have seen, does _not_ simply
>>>play learned moves or lines. Simply because it wouldn't help him. He can only
>>>play line he has analysed high up into the middle game. It's a capital error to
>>>think that masters play chess with learning by heart lines they don't analyse.
>>>Of course they must learn by heart their analyses.
>>>
>>>Now, what chapter should be discussed for our engines? I take for granted the
>>>master chapter. So here comes my crucial argument: book doctors do nothing else
>>>but preventing the machine play something that could lead into disadvantages.
>>>But the machines would play these lines if they could. They are blind and can't
>>>foresee the dangers. So far about master play by machines. I am not talking
>>>about training games or my own fun games against engines with all power books
>>>etc. Here the question was, what is the strength of the engine. Would you anwer
>>>me, that the machine is very strong, if the book doctor has done a good work? Do
>>>you think that the average master could only prevent opening traps if he learned
>>>them by heart or does he understand the content and the context of a trap? So,
>>>this is how long it takes to discuss only a few aspects of only the first
>>>argument.
>>>
>>>Let me add the next two points in short.
>>>
>>>The design was defined/ found in the old days of CC when the machines couldn't
>>>play chess without a minimum of moves. So this should not be an argument for the
>>>actual machines. The engine should have enough chess knowledge to be able to
>>>play reasonable opening moves.
>>>
>>>Then the point learning by heart without understanding. Well, that's an easy
>>>one. This is how weaker amateurs must play chess. Still it makes fun, as I know.
>>>Masters would not be masters if they played chess like this. Masters and their
>>>big brothers write the theory weaker amateurs then must learn by heart.
>>>
>>>Of course I know the simulating thing, Tim, but I cannot understand why "we",
>>>computerchess people, programmers and their programs should try to simulate
>>>being GM without respecting the normal FIDE rules of chess! Why human
>>>chessplayers can't read out of books during a game of chess too? Because, I got
>>>the answer, opening books are not books, they are integral constituent of a
>>>machine. Ahar...
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>>Please take this argument _elsewhere_.  It is old.  It is repetitive.  And
>>it serves absolutely no purpose.
>
>
>
>I am relatively new to this forum and computer chess. I must admit that I find
>this argument fascinating and wonder if there are more members with the same
>view. I do not really understand your objection to these posts because, as far
>as I can see, it is about computer chess. Is this not a computer chess forum?
>
>I am also surprised to note the barely disguised hostility to Mr. Tueschen's
>very reasonable and polite posts. It makes me wonder if there is some sort of
>clique in CCC that tries to suppress a particular line of thought.

Rolf was _the_ reason CCC was created.  Just go back a few years and poke
around in Deja News.  You will see why.  And then you might feel a bit
differently about his obvious "troll" post here and what he is really trying
to accomplish (note that it has nothing to do with "computer chess").



>
>Of course, I won't fall into the trap of thinking that there is something in the
>past which you don't want brought up and are using your position as a moderator
>to suppress it. I realize that you are a respected academic and would never do
>such a thing.
>
>James Vance
>


I also don't particularly appreciate such innuendo-type posts.  Please do
your homework _first_. And only then join in after you know the background.




>
>
>
>  And it has nothing to do with current
>>computer chess approaches or rules.
>>
>>Or perhaps it _does_ serve your purpose of stirring acrimonious debate.
>>
>>CCC is not the place for such nonsense.  Tread lightly...
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>>For me the development of computerchess took a wrong course. For me a
>>>self-learning system playing chess could be a better symbol of AI than the
>>>package which is simply not following the FIDE rules of chess. I'm talking about
>>>games between human players and comps. What were the reasons for the programmers
>>>to take the forbidden short cut?
>>>
>>>Rolf Tueschen
>>
>>There is no "forbidden shortcut" being taken.  Feel free to cite the rule
>>that is being broken.  Many will then feel free to show you how your
>>interpretation of said rule is mistaken.



This page took 0 seconds to execute

Last modified: Thu, 15 Apr 21 08:11:13 -0700

Current Computer Chess Club Forums at Talkchess. This site by Sean Mintz.