do computers have a positive impact on chess
Inha Choi, Remove NB: It is recommended that one understands the chess annotation symbols and chess algebraic notation prior to reading the article. An easy explanation can be found in https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Algebraic_notation_(chess) Chess is an ancient game, played from 6th century AD (Wikipedia, n.d.), which is now played prominently around the world1. Due the recent developments of computers and, more specifically, chess engines, in Chess, now, computers play an irreplaceable role. All chess books inevitably are verified with engines before being published, and there is not a single grandmaster who does not verify his opening preparation with a chess engine. Despite these positive effects that the development of computers had brought upon chess, it can be argued that chess engines are negatively impacting chess for a few reasons. This can include factors such as cheating, or excessive opening preparation, which clearly is harmful to the game. Considering a variety of effects the computer has had on the game, and evaluating its significance, we will conclude whether computers are beneficial to the game. Perhaps the most significant role that computers play in modern day chess is its role in opening preparation. Opening preparation is the process anticipating the opening moves of the opposing player in advance of the game, through a chess database2, and preparing for it in advance. This usually allows the players to play the best moves in the beginning of the game, drawing the opponent into a position in which the player with more opening preparation is more comfortable and most likely better objectively, leading to a practical, and theoretical advantage. This, in itself, is not inherently harmful. Opening preparation for the games is natural given the intrinsic competitive spirit of the game. However, due to the excessive usage of computers in preparation, some games finish without a single original move being played, especially in theoretical and doubleedged openings such as the ‘Sicilian Defence’ or the ‘Benko Gambit’, in which the calculative prowess of computers becomes most apparent. The game below is an example of this happening: 3In this game, the two players played until move 20 solely with opening preparation, from a very double-edged variation of the Sicilian Najdorf, a variation of the Sicilian Defence. In this position, after 21. Nxc8+, Black played 21..Kf6??, which was the first original move of the game. Following this mistake, the white player, who clearly had been better prepared, exploited the mistake and the game concluded in 4 more moves (all of which were part of White’s preparation). In games like such, chess becomes a battle of computers and memory, rather than a game of original ideas and calculation. It can be argued that, when considering games such as this, opening preparation is devaluing the qualities we value the game for. Figure 1 Position after 21. Nxc8+
25-30 million people according to recent polls (Winter, 2009) This is easily accessible by everyone and thus done by all strong players (e.g. https://www.chessgames.com/index.html a free chess database) 1 2
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Paris 1999 I. Timmermans – P.Chomet (1-0)
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