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Freestyle Chess Tournament

Freestyle Chess Tournament

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The Freestyle Chess Tournament has finished on the Playchess server. Bascially anything goes in terms of assistance; computer engines, database use, friendly GM's etc.

The winner was the user ZackS. The team consisted of two people (1685 and 1389 USCF respectively) and three computers running Fritz, Shredder, Junior and Chess Tiger. In the final they beat out GM Vladimir Dobrov and his 2600+ companion (and the obvious computer help) in the final.

A startling result to be sure.

There were two hydra entries however they were both knocked out early on as were all other teams running engines without strong human help.

Check out the whole tournament at http://www.chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=2461.

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Interesting result but not sure what it means:

1. The amateurs' platform was better

2. Amateurs can interpret computer analysis as well as an expert

3. The computers take care of the tactics and amateurs can beat experts at the intuition.

4. Something else

What do you think?

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I think actually that a computer with a GM backing it up will be superior to one without. I think ZackS's win is somewhat of an aberration. Not to discredit as an achievement however.
The use of multiple engines on multiple computers (so they can analyse a position at the same time) and judicious choosing between the different preferred moves helped the team considerably.

Remember of course that anti-computer chess is a different beast than normal chess. Perhaps if the V_Dobrov had realized this and played accordingly they would have won.