If opponents in a game differ greatly in their strengths, the weaker player might be quite satisfied to split the point, while the stronger player might be unwilling to do so, except as a last resort.
Chess-playing programs have to take this into account: given that most of their opponents will be weaker than them, how ready should they be to accept a draw? It would be the height of absurdity if a human could open a game, for example, with 1.e4 and an offer of a draw – and the computer, seeing itself as worse off (even slightly, Black's fate) would agree to cease hostilities...
Programming a level of resistance to accepting draws is called setting its "contempt" level. Set it high enough, and the computer will play on, down a Rook or a Queen. That's contempt!
Recently I found myself away from home, staying in a hotel. While checking my email on the available computer, I noticed that it had the Chess Titans program. Time, I thought, for a quick Jerome Gambit game!
I've posted a Chess Titans game in the past (see "Artificial Ignorance" Parts 1 and 2) and the silicon beast appeared to be the perfect foil for such an offbeat gambit.
Kennedy - Chess Titans
casual game, 2011
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Nc3 Bc5 5.Bxf7+
The Italian Four Knights Jerome Gambit.
5...Kxf7 6.Nxe5 Nxe5 7.d4 Bb4
See "Casually" for my most recent game against this line, or "Coffee Break" for a fuller treatment. As the titles suggest, Black's defense is not the most strenuous.
8.dxe5 Bxc3+ 9.bxc3 Nxe4 10.Qd5+
10...Kg6 11.Qxe4+ Kf7
White has recovered his sacrificed material, but his pawn advantage is almost meaningless. He has to use the open lines against Black's King.
12.Qd5+
Hoping to drive the King back.
12...Kg6 13.Qe4+
At this point I was not interested in forcing a draw by a three-fold repetition of position; I was simply curious as to how the computer would see things.
13...Kh5
Wow, no draw now!
That's serious contempt.
14.Qf5+ Kh4 15.g3 checkmate
No comments:
Post a Comment