Friday, July 20, 2007

And the winner is...

Checkers has been solved! It's really an amazing feat, though it was done by calculating every possible position and creating a database for it. Was it easy? Well, if you consider having several computers do nothing but this task for 13 years easy, then yeah! The article makes a chess comparison which I, of course, find very intriguing. If a computer could solve checkers in 1 nanosecond, that computer would take 3000 years to solve chess! Wow!

Oh yes, and the result... with perfect play checkers is a draw! Here's the complete article:

http://www.chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=3997

Happy Friday!

Ed.

Monday, July 09, 2007

Back at One

It's been an interesting year to say the least. I'll spare you the details, at least for tonight, but suffice it to say that I feel a hint of normalicy slowly returning to my life. Tonight... I didn't play WOW! I know.

Last night I ordered a new dvd. It's by Alexei Shirov and it's called "My best games in the Slav and Semi-Slav". I'm hoping it's good! I can feel the chess bug slowly returning. It's about damn time.

Speaking of the chess bug, I went to the club for a little while on Saturday night. I ended up playing 2 games against Paul Spatarella. They were without a clock, with the 2nd of the 2 being played quickly. The first one was an interesting struggle where I gave up a knight and bishop for a rook and 2 pawns. My extra pawn proved decisive. During the second game Paul faultered early in a tactical slugfest. Since we were trying to play quick because it was someone else's set we were using and they needed to leave, I'm sure Paul was a bit flustered. Though his rating is about 650 points lower than mine, Paul always gives me a great game. He's taught me a few lessons over the years as well. Look out!

I'm trying to get back to studying for my next chess tournament. I'm planning to play in Sturbridge at the Continental Open from August 9-12. I may play in one of the accelerated schedules so I don't have to take time off from work. We'll see.

For now I think I'll get some sleep.

Until next time,

Ed.