On.. A Day In The Life Of the Hardcore Collector

[Robert Weck]

Hi Steve,


i just read about your comparison Miami and Explorer; good idea to justifiy, if they are clones or not!

But i am afraid, it is more difficult than expected...

i pitted them against the CM9K Josh age 9 personality ( 1800 USCF) with pondering OFF

both computers had Pondering OFF,Books OFF , Random OFF and Selective Search ON
Time control was Game 30 Minutes..
the Mephistos had White..

Ok, i set up my Miami and its successor, the Advanced Travel Chess (same case, only silver colored) to the same settings.

[White "Mephisto Miami/Explorer"]
[Black "Josh - Age 9 #2"]
[Time Control "Game/30 Min.]

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 d5 3.e3 c5 4.dxc5 e5 5.Nxe5 Bxc5 6.Nd2 Nc6 7.Bb5 O-O
8.Nxc6 bxc6 9.Bxc6 Rb8 10.Nb3 Qb6 11.Bxd5 Nxd5 12.Qxd5 Bd6 13.O-O Rd8 14.Qh5 Bb7 15.Nd4 Bf8 16.c4 Rbc8 17.b3 Qg6 18.Qxg6 hxg6 19.Rd1 Be7 20.Bb2 Bf6 21.Rd3 Rd7 22.Rad1 a5 23.h3 a4 24.Kf1 axb3 25.axb3 Ra8 26.b4 Ra2 27.R1d2 Rc7 28.Rc3 Ra4 29.b5 Rcxc4 30.Rxc4 Rxc4 31.Rd1 Rc5 32.b6 Rd5

First, both refused to play 1.d4 after hitting "Enter"; they always played 1.g3 (without book), so i interrupted the thinking process, when they had 1.d4 in mind

i let them both show the following info: first move (+rd:1), Eval, depth, nodes. Especially the nodes shown were very interesting!

At most of the moves the nodes were slightly different between the Miami and the ATC (about +/- 20 nodes), but at some moves the nodes were absolutely identical (shown about 3-5 times per move)

Nevertheless they both played the same as your Miami resp. Explorer until move 20 were your Miami/Explorer and my ATC played 20. Bb2, but my Miami played 20.h3.

So i am afraid, even with random off, there is a slight factor of randomness left...

Or there is more than one Miami version?

BTW.: Richard Lang's Genius has a comparable behaviour. Even with "Random off" it sometimes plays different moves, when running test positions repeatedly...


best regards,
Robert

P.S.: sorry for this late reply to your post, but i don't read here so often at the moment...

[Steve B]

First, both refused to play 1.d4 after hitting "Enter"; they always played 1.g3 (without book), so i interrupted the thinking process, when they had 1.d4 in mind

iNevertheless they both played the same as your Miami resp. Explorer until move 20 were your Miami/Explorer and my ATC played 20. Bb2, but my Miami played 20.h3.

So i am afraid, even with random off, there is a slight factor of randomness left...

Or there is more than one Miami version?

Hi Robert
its quite possible that there are different Miami Versions
especially because mine will play 1.d4 quite happily

it is probably not a good idea for collectors to say that one computer has the same engine as another unless we can somehow prove there is only one version of a computer ever released
i have no idea how we can determine that with any level of confidence now that all or most of these companies are no longer in existence today

Nice to see you at least reading here a bit regards
Steve

[Steve B]

The world renown Paris Dedicated Chess Computer Tournament is already in the planning stage
the tournament ..held each spring in Gay Paris ..brings together collectors from around the world to compete with the great dedicated chess computers of yesteryear
this year the Elo of the computers competing has been limited to a maximum of 2000
the time control is 30 seconds per move average

here is a preliminary list of the computers that will be competing
the list is not finalized and can change
http://www.zanchetta.net/echecs/Paris2009/

choosing a computer is never easy task but all in a days work for the ...

Hardcore Collector regards
Steve

[Steve B]

I am often contacted by Email and now even by PM from members and collectors searching for missing instruction manuals for their chess computers

imagine having a chess computer and not being able to set the different level options or know all of a computers features and bells and whistles?

without a doubt the single greatest source for chess computer manuals in the world is this site ..faithfully maintained and updated by Alain Zanchetta (CE Board author)
collectors the world over send Alain manuals in several languages to be included on his site
all of the manuals are freely downloadable

http://www.zanchetta.net/echecs/documentations.aspx

Knowledge Is Power Regards
Steve

[Sean Evans]

Steve

Hi Steve, how many computer chess units and what types of units would consider to be a good collection?

Thanks,

Sean

[Steve B]

Hi Steve, how many computer chess units and what types of units would consider to be a good collection?
Thanks,
Sean

Interesting question Sean
i can say for certain that it would not take many computers for a good collection
IMHO the best criteria would be the engine authors themselves
there are only about 10 main engine authors for the stronger computers (2000 Elo and above)
with perhaps another 10 for the lower rated computers
so at least one chess computer from these programmers mixed between perhaps 1/2 in table tops and 1/2 portables
of the table tops perhaps 1/2 in wood and 1/2 in plastic
toss in a Robot(Self moving pieces) or two and i imagine a good collection could be had with about 20-25 computers

Minimalist Regards
Steve

[Steve B]

The tender loving care and trouble the XXX Hardcore collector goes through to insure that the collection proper is maintained in the best possible condition sometimes knows no limits

the Mephisto Bavaria is one of only two dedicated chess computers ever released for sale that offered piece recognition
that is to say..the board could recognize the color and type of piece that was on any square ..making problem and position setup a snap

the Bavaria also came with two "capped" or promoted pawns which the board could recognize as any piece that the owner wanted to promote to

here is a custom made wooden carry case for the Bavaria promoted pawns only:




Extreme Collecting Regards
Steve

[Sean Evans]

Hi Steve, do you have a detailed inventory list of all your computers? If so, go ahead and post it, if you care to!

[Steve B]

Hi Steve, do you have a detailed inventory list of all your computers? If so, go ahead and post it, if you care to!

Yes i do Sean but the list is very boring and too long containing about 500+ computers
however every computer i own can be seen in my web site..
the first 13 Albums contain my entire collection
these are all photos of the exact computers i own

albums 14-16 are of general dedicated chess computer interest and also contain photos of some chess computers owned by other collectors
Album 17 shows my collection of computer chess books(including the very first review of a dedicated chess computer.. written by none other then Bobby Fischer himself)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/10261668@N05/sets/

Best Regards
Steve

[mhull]

Hi Steve, do you have a detailed inventory list of all your computers? If so, go ahead and post it, if you care to!

Yes i do Sean but the list is very boring and too long containing about 500+ computers
however every computer i own can be seen in my web site..
these are all photos of the exact computers i own
the first 13 Albums contain my entire collection
albums 14-16 are of general dedicated chess computer interest and also contain photos are some chess computers owned by other collectors:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/10261668@N05/sets/

Best Regards
Steve

Of the various big auto-sensory models, which ones seem to have the best auto-sensory reliability? I'd like to have a full-sized auto-sensory chess computer, but I want one that's known for reliable function over a long time. Is there a rating list for this?