Topic awaiting preservation: Chess: man vs. machine yet again

http://www.cnn.com/2003/TECH/fun.games/01/24/chess.kasparov.reut/index.html

I'll put my money on man this time around. What are your predictions?

Cell Number: 494 / Inkstick

Go Kasparov! The modern version of John Henry!

I don't think there's any shame that a computer can beat a human in a game purely based on logic. =)

Nonetheless, I find it interesting that this article says it can only calculate 1/100th of the number of moves that Deep Blue could in a given amount of time, yet it's programmed to be "smarter" about the decisions that it makes. I wish I knew what that meant exactly.

Normally, chess playing programs check every move that they can make and consider all of the posibilities and consequences of the move. The number of possibilities to check skyrockets, since they have to consider each of their opponent's possible moves, and then each of their own again, etcetera for X number of moves ahead (the amount of combinations of moves grows *very* fast exponentially). Eventually they have to stop thinking towards the future, and decide whether the current situation is "good" or "bad" for them.

Apparently this program somehow does a better job of making that decision?

quote:

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Among chess programs, Deep Junior's style and vision of the game is unique. Its daring and enterprising style of play is considered the antithesis of the mechanical style usually expected of machines and has caught many opponents, computer and human, off-guard. In fact, Deep Junior often seemingly plays on a hunch … Its games are also highly respected for their entertaining and esthetic value.

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from http://www.x3dworld.com/Entertainment/CI_X3DEvnt_DeepJunior.html

Or how about: http://www.chessbase.com/catalog/product.asp?pid=93

Cell Number: 494 / Inkstick