GM Kaufman v.Novag Constellation 3.6 QR Odds (Moves 1-40)

[lkaufman]

Connie answers with the pretty much forced ..
21..Bc8

[d] r1br2k1/p1p1nppp/1pn5/4P2q/3p4/Q2B1N1P/P4PPK/2B1R3 w - - 0 22

Interestingly ..in this position both Q's have a combined total of 3 "safe" squares they can move to without being captured

All dressed up with no place to go regards
Steve

I play 22.Re4, threatening to trap the queen. This should force Black to return something (piece for two pawns or a pawn or queen for rook and piece), though I'll still remain as far down as I was at the beginning of the game. Connie certainly hasn't played like any "B" player I know; I stand by my assessment that she would be about 1950 USCF. The low ratings on current lists are pretty irrelevant because the lists have been lowered by hundreds of points over the years in order that the ratings at the top look right. If anyone still has any rating lists published in the 1980s (Computer Chess Reports, Eric Hallsworth, SSDF) let us know what Constel. 3.6 was rated then.

[Terry McCracken]

This may be of interest.

For an additional $50.00, everyone opted for the Novag Constellation 3.6 (‘Connie 3.6’ $250) and the slower verson is now discontinued Programmer Kittinger’s emphasis has always been on speed, and now not only were the heuristics designed to play exceptionally well at fast speeds but the chip speed was running faster. The speed chess level was almost 2000 strength (based on human opponent spending as much time, moving as quickly as the machine), while the tournament level strength was low Class A (1800+).
All these statistics were taken at the time the machines appeared and continued to hold up in tournament competition throughout the world, against humans and against other chess micros. Of course the manufacturers still get a litlle excited about their own products. For instance, both the Constallation 3.6 and Fidelity Elite A/S (Budapest) claim to be rated over 2000 by their manifacturers. Well, perhaps the Constallation 3.6 is close at speed chess, but at 40/2 both had just entered Class A. Even so it seems now that rating claims are overstated much less to than years before.

http://www.schaakcomputers.nl/hein_veld ... puters.pdf

I expect 22..Ng6 and after 23. g4..Bxg4 24. Rxg4..Ncxe5 25. Nxe5..Nxe5 26. Rg3..Nxd3 27. Qxd3..c5!-+

Black's c & d pawns will prove decisive.

[Steve B]

I play 22.Re4, threatening to trap the queen. This should force Black to return something (piece for two pawns or a pawn or queen for rook and piece), though I'll still remain as far down as I was at the beginning of the game. Connie certainly hasn't played like any "B" player I know; I stand by my assessment that she would be about 1950 USCF. The low ratings on current lists are pretty irrelevant because the lists have been lowered by hundreds of points over the years in order that the ratings at the top look right. If anyone still has any rating lists published in the 1980s (Computer Chess Reports, Eric Hallsworth, SSDF) let us know what Constel. 3.6 was rated then.

Well the earliest Hallsworth list i have is his first
it was called the "News Sheet" back then
on News Sheet #1(Sept.1985) Connie 3.6 (released in 1984)is shown at 1881 elo
of course chess computers were always rated higher when they first appeared on any list and tend to go down as more games are played

scanning ahead just a couple of years ... to News sheet #13(Spring 87)she is shown as 1830 Elo and one more jump of two years to News sheet #24 (Sept.89) she clocks in at 1741
this last rating was based upon 803 games
also on #24 Hallsworth show a rating for her against humans of 1861 bases upon only 17 games

the SSDF adjusted downward all of their ratings in the year 2000 by 100 Elo to adjust for ratings inflation
i think i recall they were following an adjustment made by Fide for human players
not sure when/if Hallsworth adjusted down his ratings as well but i think he might have

it should be noted however that the German dedicated chess computer site has ratings for the dedicated computers which are independent of the SSDF and Hallsworth
their current day "Tournament" rating for Connie is 1786 elo(based upon only 20 games)
http://www.schachcomputer.info/html/bod ... liste.html

anyway...

Connie's move coming up next and it is certainly an eye opener

Regards
Steve

[Steve B]

http://www.schaakcomputers.nl/hein_veld ... puters.pdf

Actually the link and quote from Heins web-site is from the ..Players Chess News(PCN) Nov.1986
Rianer Rickford -publisher
GM Larry Christiansen was the Consulting Editor
our GM Larry Kaufman makes an appearance in that issue(pg.7) with an article about "speedups in dedicated computers..(faster clock speeds)

Archival Regards
Steve

[Steve B]

I play 22.Re4, threatening to trap the queen. This should force Black to return something (piece for two pawns or a pawn or queen for rook and piece), though I'll still remain as far down as I was at the beginning of the game.

Connie finds a novel way of providing a flight square for her Q with...

22..Bf5

[d] r2r2k1/p1p1nppp/1pn5/4Pb1q/3pR3/Q2B1N1P/P4PPK/2B5 w - - 0 23

Cramped Regards
Steve

[gerold]

I play 22.Re4, threatening to trap the queen. This should force Black to return something (piece for two pawns or a pawn or queen for rook and piece), though I'll still remain as far down as I was at the beginning of the game.

Connie finds a novel way of providing a flight square for her Q with...

22..Bf5

[d] r2r2k1/p1p1nppp/1pn5/4Pb1q/3pR3/Q2B1N1P/P4PPK/2B5 w - - 0 23

Cramped Regards
Steve

Nice game Steve. Now Connie will be put to the test.
Will Black go for the big trades.Will Larry trade the Queens.
As long as Larry holds on to his Bishops there is a slim
chance for a draw. Depends on Connie's end game
knowledge.

Best,
Gerold.

[Terry McCracken]

I play 22.Re4, threatening to trap the queen. This should force Black to return something (piece for two pawns or a pawn or queen for rook and piece), though I'll still remain as far down as I was at the beginning of the game.

Connie finds a novel way of providing a flight square for her Q with...

22..Bf5

[d] r2r2k1/p1p1nppp/1pn5/4Pb1q/3pR3/Q2B1N1P/P4PPK/2B5 w - - 0 23

Cramped Regards
Steve

Better was 22..Ng6 but this works too. Connie must have wanted development rather than move the Monster Night to g6 where it and it's Evil Twin would both Wreck Havoc on e5.

23. g4..Bxg4 24. Rxg4..Nxe5 25. Nxe5..Qxe5+ etc.

[Terry McCracken]

I play 22.Re4, threatening to trap the queen. This should force Black to return something (piece for two pawns or a pawn or queen for rook and piece), though I'll still remain as far down as I was at the beginning of the game.

Connie finds a novel way of providing a flight square for her Q with...

22..Bf5

[d] r2r2k1/p1p1nppp/1pn5/4Pb1q/3pR3/Q2B1N1P/P4PPK/2B5 w - - 0 23

Cramped Regards
Steve

Nice game Steve. Now Connie will be put to the test.
Will Black go for the big trades.Will Larry trade the Queens.
As long as Larry holds on to his Bishops there is a slim
chance for a draw. Depends on Connie's end game
knowledge.

Best,
Gerold.

It's endgame knowledge would be weak I'd think. But it needs to really undervalue passed pawns. If it makes a Dummy Move, say 23..Qg6? after g4 and the follow it up after 24. gf with Qxf5?? then Larry could turn this game around.

[Terry McCracken]

http://www.schaakcomputers.nl/hein_veld ... puters.pdf

Actually the link and quote from Heins web-site is from the ..Players Chess News(PCN) Nov.1986
Rianer Rickford -publisher
GM Larry Christiansen was the Consulting Editor
our GM Larry Kaufman makes an appearance in that issue(pg.7) with an article about "speedups in dedicated computers..(faster clock speeds)

Archival Regards
Steve

I didn't look at it in great detail, I'm sure you knew this nearly as rote memory.

[Steve B]

http://www.schaakcomputers.nl/hein_veld ... puters.pdf

Actually the link and quote from Heins web-site is from the ..Players Chess News(PCN) Nov.1986
Rianer Rickford -publisher
GM Larry Christiansen was the Consulting Editor
our GM Larry Kaufman makes an appearance in that issue(pg.7) with an article about "speedups in dedicated computers..(faster clock speeds)

Archival Regards
Steve

I didn't look at it in great detail, I'm sure you knew this nearly as rote memory.

these days ..i am more then happy that i could remember where i kept my copy of the PCN issue


Senior Moment Regards
Steve