Computer Chess

1
Computer Chess
2
Humble beginnings

• The Turk
• Ajeeb
• Mephisto
• El Ajedrecista

3
Brute force vs selective search

• Advantages of selective search
• The possibility of not wasting calculations
• The Horizon Problem
• Disadvantages of selective search
• Takes time itself to select
• Difficult to select well
• Advancement of computer technology

4
Human vs computer chess abilities

• Humans
• 40-50 positions
• Masters use pattern matching
• Can make mistakes
• Anti-computer tactics

• Computers
• With dedicated hardware, many billions of
  positions
• Does not make mistakes
• Strong against aggressive play

5
Human-computer chess matches

• 1997 Kasparov vs Deep Blue
• Kramnik vs Deep Fritz matches

6
Endgame tablebases

• Endgames traditionally been a weakness for
  computers
• Stored endgame solutions, solved by computers
• 50-move rule

7
Implementation issues

• Board representation
• Search techniques
• Leaf evaluation

8
Questions?