Monday, November 28, 2011

Contempt?!

If two chess players are equally matched and have fought hard in a game against each other, a draw might be a reasonable outcome.

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


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