So sick of all the computer-backed experts

Submitted by mis3u on Sat, 02/21/2009 at 10:37am.

Just watching the Kamsky-Topalov match at the moment on playchess, and all the commentary I can see in the kibitzers' window is people arguing between themselves about what their computers tell them about the game, stuff like "my Rybka says that move A was half a pawn better than move B" versus "but I am running my engine on a Toga II processor and the line it recommends is :(and then a sequence of 10 computer moves from each side)". Nobody seems to be willing to flex their own brain trying to UNDERSTAND what is happening on the board. They don't talk about the specifics of the position, strategical or tactical possibilities that may arise, only the evals they get from their engines. Good thing is that at least the players at the board are the ones involved in THINKING.

» posted in mis3u's Blog

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Comments:

by BrooklynFatso - 9 months ago
New York United States

Member Since: Sep 2008
Member Points: 47

I think the whole issue has a lot to do with the fact that the chess culture has changed a great deal in the last 20 years (I don't want to use the word 'degraded'). Due to fierce competition between Kasparov and Karpov the game has transformed from something at the crossroads of art, science and sport to pure sport. Computers were brought in to make a so elusive win sure. And so have changed the kibitzer minds. They no longer discuss possible game plans, they mostly engage in comparing the precision of their chess engines!

The problem is that they were brought up that way. There are not too many quality chess books nowadays which dissect the games of top-level GMs, from the opening to the endgame. David Bronstein died last year, and who can remember when his wonderful book 'Zurich International Chess Tournament' was published for the last time. According to the Barnes and Noble web site, it was back in 1979. How about his fabulous work '200 Open Games'? - 1991.

by mis3u - 9 months ago
Brooklyn United States

Member Since: Dec 2007
Member Points: 153

I'm not saying all that involves computers in chess is wrong. They are a tool which can help you, just like the above commenter said. Players use them for preparation, but this is not merely about memorization. If they choose to play a move, their judgement is not entirely based on a fact that some computer engine's evaluation is a bit higher than the others, unlike the morons in the kibitzers' chat trying to show others how smart they are.

by BrooklynFatso - 9 months ago
New York United States

Member Since: Sep 2008
Member Points: 47

Well, guess what? The players at the board spend quite some time trying to recall their computer-analyzed lines in the opening which may last for 20-30 moves nowadays. Our special kudos to talented Mr. Kasparov.

by batgirl - 9 months ago
NC United States

Member Since: Jun 2007
Member Points: 4358

Amen.
Computers are double-edged swords. They can help us improve our game. They can also give us the fantasy or the illusion. A four year old child can add a half dozen 8-digit numbers in seconds using a calculator, but that doesn't reflect, in the least, on his understanding of mathmatics.

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