I've experimented this weekend with Fritz6. I did this in an endgame
which I'll be losing (most likely) anyway. So, no harm done, no
cheating. The move-explanator gave me following hints:
* b5-b4: Black threatens... what?
* Nc6 and also Nd7: Brings the Knight into play
* Kg8-f8: Black threatens Kf8-g8
* Ra8-a7: Rook likes it better there
I let the 'thing think' for 8 hrs 11' 17". Guess what happened, when I
asked it to suggest what should be the best move-proposal?
b4... of all moves! (see Fritz' comment above).
In another (finished) game I asked it to suggest a move in a critical
situation in the beginning of the middlegame. It kept not being able
to make up its mind between Re1 & Rd1. I didn't 'listen', because I
wanted my Bishop from c1 on a3. This gave me TWO Bishops on long
diagonals aiming at Black's King's shelter. I liked that. Saw in secs.
Ba3 proved to be the winning move (or at least giving me the position
that enabled me to employ winning tactical play).
However, I played several rapid (25'😉 games against Fritz6 and... lost
all of them.
Any comments on the use of a chess-programme are welcome.
Thanks.
Well, for ethical reasons, a computer chess-playing program should
not be used for active games. This should go without saying.
Besides, if one does use such a program, a win no longer belongs to
the human player. Also, the use of a chess-playing program robs the
player, not only of the skills needed to play a reasonable game of
chess, but the personal satisfaction felt when successful at bettering
the opponent.
Fritz6 makes a great opponent, and is good at analyzing ones
finished games, especially loses. I’ve played Fritz6 several games at
a handicap setting because the master level blows me away in blitz.
It’s a lot of fun and I can set Fritz’ strength higher as my skill
increases. So, you see, I use Fritz6 mostly as a sparing partner.
I agree with you, also on the ethical point, of course. It's silly to use
it. It has been said here many times before: you're cheating your
opponent, but also yourself. Why should you pretend to be stronger
than you really are? There's so much fun in playing chess with
opponents appr. same strength.
I will use it too as an 'opponent', if and when I find the time. The
most positive facility I found up to now, is its opening database.
There's nothing wrong in using that, since one can consult opening
encyclpaedias as well. It has always been done in CC.
But as I said in my first post: you can't even trust the thing to finde
the correct move. This, of course, apart from the ethical part.
So, let's sweat it out at the board.