[(Computers, Chess and Long-range Planning * * )] [Author: M. M. Botvinnik] [Jan-1970]

by Mikhail Botvinnik

Excellent Book

Genres: Chess

Paperback

First published July 8, 1970

Reviews

[Manny · Rating 1 out of 5]

Mikhail Botvinnik was one of the greatest chess players of all time, and famous for his logical, scientific approach to the game. He was also an expert on electrical engineering, with a doctorate to his credit. So he should be the ideal person to develop a computer chess program?

Alas, the answer appears to be no. When I first read this book, as a teenager, I assumed I was just not smart enough to get it. When I read it again, in my 20s, I knew a little about AI, and was disappointed that it still didn't make any sense. But when I read it the third time, I had to admit defeat. I suppose it's conceivable that there is some incredibly deep point I'm still missing. But then everyone else is missing it too, and, as far as I know, none of the many World Championship level chess programs that have now been developed use Botvinnik's ideas.

As Drew McDermott says in his famous checklist of common AI traps to watch out for: the fact that you can see your way though the search space doesn't mean that the machine can too.

[Liquidlasagna · Rating 1 out of 5]

Basically a World Champion with an Electrical Engineering background that just plays up the Soviet Hype about chess and computers

all promise and sizzle

[Benm · Rating 5 out of 5]

Refreshing antidote to the modern obsession with brute-force in chess computing. Still thinking about it.