The Champions 2012 8CPU - round 53..

[Mike S.]

From a general viewpoint, I think the draw ratio is an indicator of chess quality. Had there been the same tournament among 14 of the best engines, or chess computers, in 1982 - the draw ratio would have been MUCH smaller. Maybe not even 25%.

The reason is that the blunder rate got much smaller (I mean decisive blunders). That's clearly visible if you watch evaluation profiles often, from such strong tournaments. Hardly ever you'll see a big jump. For me, most of the time it's impossible to tell where the losing side went wrong, backed up by conclusive analysis. It's all inside an absurd fog of billions of positions and variations.

Sooner or later, this will be a problem for computer chess, if no clear explanations for the moves the engines recommend, can be given.

[Houdini]

From a general viewpoint, I think the draw ratio is an indicator of chess quality. Had there been the same tournament among 14 of the best engines, or chess computers, in 1982 - the draw ratio would have been MUCH smaller. Maybe not even 25%.

The reason is that the blunder rate got much smaller (I mean decisive blunders). That's clearly visible if you watch evaluation profiles often, from such strong tournaments. Hardly ever you'll see a big jump. For me, most of the time it's impossible to tell where the losing side went wrong, backed up by conclusive analysis. It's all inside an absurd fog of billions of positions and variations.

Sooner or later, this will be a problem for computer chess, if no clear explanations for the moves the engines recommend, can be given.

In 1982 engines played 1000 Elo weaker than today, it's hardly relevant to Graham's tournament. Compared to human GM tournaments a draw rate around 50% is not exceptionally high.
It will become a problem when the winner of the tournament makes 80% draws and the middle of the table 90%, but we're still very far from this "nearly perfect chess" situation.

[lech]

It will become a problem when the winner of the tournament makes 80% draws and the middle of the table 90%, but we're still very far from this "nearly perfect chess" situation.

I was watching lots wonderful draw games. The direction of Houdini (leader!) makes it impossible to be bored watching games.