Re: Chessmaster 2100

[aa382@freenet.carleton.ca (Marc Sira)]

In our last episode, nandu@anest4.anest.ufl.edu (Nandu S. Shah) said:

>Chessmaster, without a doubt.  First of all, it's better (I think), but more 
>importantly, if you back it into a corner it cheats like a *bitch* (at least 
>the //gs version does)...

Actually, I do have a bit more info now regarding the cheating behaviour.
It seems you may be able to make it go away by simply playing at a higher
level. I don't have a sufficient understanding of the algorithm to say
why this might be the case, but it seems to work, and does make a certain
odd kind of sense, considering the fact that the only real difference
between levels is the amount of time to think the computer gives itself.

The reason a lot of people report having seen cheating behaviour may be
that most people never get past playing it on level 1. ;)

I believe the docs said something about a computer-chess playoff, btw,
in which CM2100 did win, or at least placed very highly. Dunno if Sargon
was in there; those playoffs occur at least yearly, though.

-- 
Marc Sira                  |
aa382@freenet.carleton.ca  |  "Your god drinks...p-p-peach nectar."
toh@micor.ocunix.on.ca     '