Rybka v Ehlvest rematch

[Graham Banks]

Larry Kaufman on the Rybka forum:

I've made my choice for the 11,000 dollar challenge match (see "match offer" for details) in which Rybka will play only Black and without book after move three. It will be GM Ehlvest (again), FIDE rating 2643. He is currently #4 in the U.S. and #70 in the world, and has been as high as World #5 around 1990. Although he lost the previous pawn-handicap match to Rybka, he showed great mental toughness and character in scoring 2 out of the last 3 games in that match despite having already lost the match and all chance for a money prize. He learned a great deal from that match, and will fully understand the difficulty of the current challenge. The dates for the match are set for July 5 thru July 9, with the precise schedule to be decided later. Unless something changes, the match will be played from my home in Potomac, Maryland. Internet coverage will be arranged as soon as is practical. The version used will be 2.3.2 with whatever improvements we can make in the intervening weeks, possibly with some special "anti-human" features added.
Some people might say, if Ehlvest couldn't win with an extra pawn, how can he win this match with even material? There is some truth to this, and indeed Vas and I expect Rybka to win this match, but here I'd like to make the case that Ehlvest does have some important advantages as compared to the pawn-odds match.
1. He will have twice as much basic time, and three times as much increment time as in that match. This should make a big difference. Rybka will only get half of his time (the previous match was played with equal time).
2. He will get all White pieces, whereas in that match he played all Black pieces, also a big factor at high level.
3. He will be playing a position (the normal opening position) which he has played thousands of times in top level competition for over thirty years, whereas in the previous match he was playing positions he had never before faced.
4. He has the benefit of extensive knowledge of five hundred years of opening theory, while the computer will be totally on her own resources after move three.
5. He has the experience of the first match behind him.

In view of all of these factors, I think it is at least likely that he will improve on his 31% score in the first match. The big unknown is the three move book. Rybka must either play main lines, hoping to find her way through them without falling into known theoretical traps, or play inferior defenses that will leave White with a substantial advantage right from the start. Either way, it's a big burden.

Thanks again to the main sponsors (I got the ball rolling, but others put up most of the prize fund). I'm looking forward to an exciting match, and to learning the answer to the question "How well can computers play without opening books?".

[Steve B]

hi Graham

so they are wheeling out Elhvest yet again?

reminds me of Alekhine dusting off Bogoljubov whenever he needed money to defend his Title

or Fischer coming out of self imposed exile and
choosing Spassky again as his opponent in 1992


let see..
Ehlvest got creamed by Zap in a match in 2005(he lost 1-3)

and he basically got shellacked in the rather bizarre pawn odds match just recently concluded
even though the spin on it is he drew the match after losing the first three games
which to be honest is not quite accurate because he was given a "Mercy" draw in game 4 after 13 moves

final score of Elhvest's show of talent there was a loss 2.5-5.5


i notice also when going to the web site that most of the comments about the match announcement are of course gushing applause, accolades and praise for the choice of Ehlvest as the Human GM

all except our Uri..


im guessing that since the match will be held in Kaufmans home in Maryland that the proximity of Elhvest to Kaufman at least is a factor in his been chosen once again

i guess they could have also Chosen Mickey (.5-5.5) Adams
probably too hard for him to make it to Maryland though..

seriously though...

if they really want matches like this to be meaningful they ought to try to get other Gm's involved
otherwise ,IMHO it just takes on the air of a sort of a circus side show spectacle

surely they can find another GM with a 2500 Elo who is eager and willing to play for $11,000 ?




Telling It LIke It Is Regards
Steve

[Jim Walker]

Steve maybe you could offer to pay the expenses of ANY GM that applies. Just cover transportation,food,lodging and the number of GMs applying might increase. Since only 6 applied and he selected one of the top two ratings wise, I think they did the best they could. Maybe you can figure out why the world champion did not accept and then personally agree to fix whatever problem he cites for turning down a shot at $11,000. I'm sure you have all the answers on how to better set up this match so the top 100 GMs will be standing in line for a shot at Rybka.
If you go to work on it right now I expect we will see the match by labor day weekend.
Life is too long to spend it complaining about things you don't really understand.

[Terry McCracken]

Steve maybe you could offer to pay the expenses of ANY GM that applies. Just cover transportation,food,lodging and the number of GMs applying might increase. Since only 6 applied and he selected one of the top two ratings wise, I think they did the best they could. Maybe you can figure out why the world champion did not accept and then personally agree to fix whatever problem he cites for turning down a shot at $11,000. I'm sure you have all the answers on how to better set up this match so the top 100 GMs will be standing in line for a shot at Rybka.
If you go to work on it right now I expect we will see the match by labor day weekend.
Life is too long to spend it complaining about things you don't really understand.

I don't see a need for this post, berating Steve.

[Steve B]

Steve maybe you could offer to pay the expenses of ANY GM that applies. Just cover transportation,food,lodging and the number of GMs applying might increase. Since only 6 applied and he selected one of the top two ratings wise, I think they did the best they could. Maybe you can figure out why the world champion did not accept and then personally agree to fix whatever problem he cites for turning down a shot at $11,000. I'm sure you have all the answers on how to better set up this match so the top 100 GMs will be standing in line for a shot at Rybka.
If you go to work on it right now I expect we will see the match by labor day weekend.
Life is too long to spend it complaining about things you don't really understand.

actually Jim
i am not complaining only making my humble comments
nothing that ever is posted here is worthy of "complaint " status (except charter violations i guess)

to your point though..
actually there is no need for any travel expenses or meals or even lodging for that matter

there is something new called the "Internet"
perhaps you have heard of it?
where two players from around the world can play against each other without even moving an inch

i would imagine it would be a a simply matter to agree on having a neutral party present at the Gm''s home to insure he/she wasnt using a chess engine to help him
of the $11,000 in prize money a small amount could be set aside for this neutral observer and i am sure there would be many starving GM's willing to do act as a neutral party
although i think using an engine would probably favor Rybka

Have A pleasant day Regards
Steve

[Steve B]

Steve maybe you could offer to pay the expenses of ANY GM that applies. Just cover transportation,food,lodging and the number of GMs applying might increase. Since only 6 applied and he selected one of the top two ratings wise, I think they did the best they could. Maybe you can figure out why the world champion did not accept and then personally agree to fix whatever problem he cites for turning down a shot at $11,000. I'm sure you have all the answers on how to better set up this match so the top 100 GMs will be standing in line for a shot at Rybka.
If you go to work on it right now I expect we will see the match by labor day weekend.
Life is too long to spend it complaining about things you don't really understand.

I don't see a need for this post, berating Steve.

its funny isnt it Terry
as soon as anything is posted here that is not considered pro-Rybka there always seems to be some personal attack

even coming from those that i would have considered friends in the past

i wonder why that is??

Amazed Actually Regards
Steve

[Nid Hogge]

It's really simple actually. Rybka marketing = not much. it's popularity among top guns is still .... shy. Nothing to do about it. Deep Fritz\Junior would get that much for half the price. If only chessbase wanted to do. But they are not in a situation where they need to get more publicity.

Kinda reminds me the Linux thread below regards,

[Terry McCracken]

Steve maybe you could offer to pay the expenses of ANY GM that applies. Just cover transportation,food,lodging and the number of GMs applying might increase. Since only 6 applied and he selected one of the top two ratings wise, I think they did the best they could. Maybe you can figure out why the world champion did not accept and then personally agree to fix whatever problem he cites for turning down a shot at $11,000. I'm sure you have all the answers on how to better set up this match so the top 100 GMs will be standing in line for a shot at Rybka.
If you go to work on it right now I expect we will see the match by labor day weekend.
Life is too long to spend it complaining about things you don't really understand.

I don't see a need for this post, berating Steve.

its funny isnt it Terry
as soon as anything is posted here that is not considered pro-Rybka there always seems to be some personal attack

even coming from those that i would have considered friends in the past

i wonder why that is??

Amazed Actually Regards
Steve

I think Rybka is a great piece of software genius, but I see no need to get in a snit about it everytime it's mentioned.

You're right Steve, we need to get top GM's to play these matches, but there needs to be more money, a lot more money and Vasik can't afford it, unfortunately, unlike ChessBase.

Best,
Terry

[Graham Banks]

hi Graham

so they are wheeling out Elhvest yet again?

reminds me of Alekhine dusting off Bogoljubov whenever he needed money to defend his Title

or Fischer coming out of self imposed exile and
choosing Spassky again as his opponent in 1992

Telling It LIke It Is Regards
Steve

Hi Steve,

I look forward to any match that pits a GM against a top engine, regardless of who is involved.

Regards, Graham.

[Terry McCracken]

hi Graham

so they are wheeling out Elhvest yet again?

reminds me of Alekhine dusting off Bogoljubov whenever he needed money to defend his Title

or Fischer coming out of self imposed exile and
choosing Spassky again as his opponent in 1992

Telling It LIke It Is Regards
Steve

Hi Steve,

I look forward to any match that pits a GM against a top engine, regardless of who is involved.

Regards, Graham.

Wouldn't you like the very best, if that were possible?

Terry