OT: Chess

[WraithLord]

I just recently started playing chess online (@ chess.com). Quite enjoyable actually. So I thought I'd ask who here also plays chess?

I wonder if we have a master or GM among us? ;)

[Bwaha]

http://www.uchess.com/

Speed chess...

O.o

:doh:

[Excist]

Me.

[GFSnl]

Me too.

Have been playing chess for about eight years in the Dutch competition.

[WraithLord]

Cool.

GFSnl, what is the Dutch competition?- Is it a FIDE event?

[GFSnl]

Yeah I've played in FIDE competition for two years my ELO back then was something between 2000-2100. Could probably have been higher if I didn't play openings like the Blackmar-Diemer Gambit :).

But the last couple of years I don't have much time and play mostly in the regional competition.

[WraithLord]

Oh, so you're nearly a master. impressive.

I'm only just getting to seriously learn the game (thanks to internet's wealth of information). Chess.com actually has an ELO system and after 22 games my ELO is at 1565. Probably the highest I'll ever have w/o studying in a school or something :)

BTW, did you use to follow the BDG with f3 on the 3rd move?

[Executor]

Huh, I really got into chess some years back but never really had a chance to play it against many people so I dropped it eventually, never tried online chess tho.

Anyway, I used to play chess-master fanatically for a while, it had all those great learning lessons and what not, tried going at it a few months back again but unfortunately the CD wasn't functional anymore. If you guys know any similar editions please share.

[WraithLord]

Try registering at chess.com. I think you'll enjoy chess MP, much more straightforward than dom :)

[GFSnl]

Oh, so you're nearly a master. impressive.

Well, the difference between 2100 and 2400 for an international master title or 2600 for Grand master title is still very large.

BTW, did you use to follow the BDG with f3 on the 3rd move?

No, the sequence 1.d4 d5 2.e4 de4 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.f3 is much better. I think becasue black can play 3.f3 f5 and keep the pawn with an advanteous position.

[WraithLord]

I meant candidate master (ELO > 2200).

[JonBrave]

I used to play as a kid, but with all the modern rules changes it's changed like NFL or soccer, or table-tennis.....

[thejeff]

I used to play as a kid, but with all the modern rules changes it's changed like NFL or soccer, or table-tennis.....

Wait. The rules of chess have changed since you were a kid? How old are you?

[krpeters]

I used to play chess when I was younger, then got fed up with the lack of random starts. Memorizing series of opening moves is critical to playing the game, and a computer can do that better than people can.

Chess AIs would get brutalized by humans in a random starting position game.

[JonBrave]

I used to play as a kid, but with all the modern rules changes it's changed like NFL or soccer, or table-tennis.....

Wait. The rules of chess have changed since you were a kid? How old are you?

Well, like I said, look at what's changed in NFL (or even soccer), it's the same stuff. In the good old days, the Queen could jump over your own blocking piece on an even numbered move, now I gather they've taken that away.......

[JonBrave]

I used to play chess when I was younger, then got fed up with the lack of random starts. Memorizing series of opening moves is critical to playing the game, and a computer can do that better than people can.

Chess AIs would get brutalized by humans in a random starting position game.

Yes, "memorizing" openings is not much of an issue for computers.

I believe there always have been "variants", wherein the positions of the pieces in the first rank are randomized. I doubt an computer chess would "adapt" to that, but on the grand scales of things, unless you're really good, I would guess they wouldn't get "brutalized", they'd do well enough after the first few moves.

[GFSnl]

I don't think a human is able to consistently outplay a computer anymore. Even with randomized openings.

Computers are notably weaker in closed positions. But even great chess players with an affinity for closed positions, like Kramnik, got their *** handed to them a couple of years ago.

Computers continue to double processing power every 2 years or so.
And with endgame tables now almost up to 8 pieces I'd say computers have soundly beaten the carbon based life forms on this planet :).

[WraithLord]

Yes, but are the AI having fun?

Seriously, chess is a game and for normal human beings (& animals) games are a way to have fun while improving some skills. For AI, it's all just number crunching.

[GFSnl]

:up: Your right of course.

Wish we had such A.I. available to sup in MP or to play against in SP in Dom 3 :).

[Scaramuccia]

I think AI had fun analysing my game. I was playing French as black and done a stupid error allowing white 4 turn attack to take a queen. Both me and opponent missed this variation. Analyse looked like (computer suggestions to each player turn, by turn):
1)Bxg6 and white owns.
2)Defend against Bxg6 or you will be owned.
3)Bxg6 and you own, moron.
4)Idiot defend.
5)Bxg6, Bxg6.
6)Hey you have great chances but you must defend against Bxg6.
7)Now it is 3-turn combo maybe you will see it??
8)Or maybe you?
9)3 turn queen win, don't you forget it?
10)Ok I stop following this game. White ended this option by himself.

[krpeters]

...on the grand scales of things, unless you're really good, I would guess they wouldn't get "brutalized", they'd do well enough after the first few moves.[/QUOTE]


I had in mind against expert humans. You're right that against ordinary players they'd do well enough, although I do think they would have trouble initially.

[Knai]

Yes, but are the AI having fun?

Seriously, chess is a game and for normal human beings (& animals) games are a way to have fun while improving some skills. For AI, it's all just number crunching.

Given that the AI isn't actually sentient, it can't have fun. That's like asking if your calculator has fun when you punch numbers in it, it's a tool, not a being. Large scale automated production facilities don't have fun either, it still makes them better at what they do than assembly line workers.

[GFSnl]

Well, me and my calculator get all snuggly when I've been pushing her buttons all day :ghug:

[Scaramuccia]

Large systems (automated production line, big computer program) are not far from beings.
It is easy for factory(or car) to be in bad mood. Why they couldn't have fun?

[WraithLord]

Knai, I wasn't saying they aren't better at chess. They are, but you miss the point. chess is a game and you play it in order to have fun. Imagine you could auto win every chess game for some moderate effort (not playing - just calculating and querying tables) would you enjoy "playing" like this?

Scaramuccia, perhaps that day will come. It will then be clear that we have created a better race than we are :p

[Deathblob]

I used to play as a kid, but with all the modern rules changes it's changed like NFL or soccer, or table-tennis.....

Wait. The rules of chess have changed since you were a kid? How old are you?

Well, like I said, look at what's changed in NFL (or even soccer), it's the same stuff. In the good old days, the Queen could jump over your own blocking piece on an even numbered move, now I gather they've taken that away.......

AFAIK the Queen can still jump over the blocking pieces in the NFL. In fact, there is photographic evidence:

http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=11519&stc=1&d=1323146857

[Scaramuccia]

Scaramuccia, perhaps that day will come. It will then be clear that we have created a better race than we are :p

We've done it. Books (or texts in general) are better race than we are.

[Knai]

Knai, I wasn't saying they aren't better at chess. They are, but you miss the point. chess is a game and you play it in order to have fun. Imagine you could auto win every chess game for some moderate effort (not playing - just calculating and querying tables) would you enjoy "playing" like this?

I probably would. However, the point is that fun is an alien and completely irrelevant concept to a tool. It doesn't have thoughts, or emotions, or anything like that, and as such doesn't matter.

[WraithLord]

I'm just saying I don't envy (nor aspire to be) a hammer for being better than me at putting nails to walls ;)

We are the masters of the machines muhahahaha :mean:

or are we now???

[JonBrave]

AFAIK the Queen can still jump over the blocking pieces in the NFL. In fact, there is photographic evidence:

http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=11519&stc=1&d=1323146857

Nice one! I can't quite see, is that Oakland (or even LA) Raiders @ Chiefs? Looks like older jerseys to me.

In the old days, she wouldn't even have got there, you could hit her in the air before the ball even got to her ;)