Engines in limited mode are crap. It is not at all like playing a human. In fact I would go so far as to say it probably does more harm to ones game than good.
I have once beaten Fritz at full strength but I was playing under correspondence rules (Must move every 3 days and books and databases are allowed) and it had 30 minutes a move.
EDIT: It was a database surprise and then a long slow mistake free finish.
Originally posted by kmac27Dude, you're not getting it. Engines don't play like humans. Engines don't get positional chess, humans do. So no, it's not like playing "someone" rated 2000, rather "something" rated 2000.
how would it harm your play rather than better it? doesn't it make moves that someone rated 2000 would make when you set it to 2000?
Originally posted by kmac27Not at all. Basically engines that are throttled play like the full strength engine for a little while and then throw the game. An engine playing at 1400 will find tactics that I wouldn't spot and then leave a queen en prise next move.
how would it harm your play rather than better it? doesn't it make moves that someone rated 2000 would make when you set it to 2000?
As a general rule of thumb.
1) MAN (elo 1900) vs.. PC (elo 1900)
2) MAN (2200) vs PC (2200)
etc, etc
In both cases the human will win the majority of games...Why? because humans have an edge - a strategical one. - and because humans are devoius we can plan ahead, and play to the computers weakness.
As for myself, On my PC I can barely beat fritz at 1800 level (blitz) as for longer time controls, Not sure.
Originally posted by kmac27No. That's not what I said (however they do follow database lines no matter the play level). They will find tactics beyond the scope of the player level they are emulating and then try to account for it by dropping pieces.
so they play the best strength they can from their database and when you go out of a line they struggle?
Originally posted by kmac27I beat Fritz 8 on full strength at 1+0.
just wondering i watched my dad play fritz on 2100 and he beat him then he tried 3000 and he finally lost a pawn on the 30th move and after that it was hell. just wondering if anyone ever beat it at its highest level and if not what did u beat it at.
(Once.)
Originally posted by TommyCI beat Fritz at full strength once every 50 or so games, 4 games are drawn and it wins the remaining 45 but you do need to take it slowly as at Blitz time limits you are more likely to make a tactical mistake than Fritz.
I beat Fritz 8 on full strength at 1+0.
(Once.)
But it is boring. Human games are more exciting due to their unpredicability. Mistakes or small tactical inaccuracies (rather than major blunders) add spice and Fritz doesn't tend to do such things.
Don't cramp any program by putting it at a lower strength with a bogus rating level, just play it at normal settings at 5 seconds per move and you take all the time you need. If you can beat that, increase the time, but Fritz at 5 seconds is strong enough to beat most any normal player.