HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: Ron_Kownacki@transarc.com
Newsgroups: rec.games.chess
Subject: Re: USCF Lifetime Titles Question
Date: 28 Dec 92 09:42:14 GMT
Article-I.D.: transarc.8fDpWKz0BwxKQ0nHAt
Organization: Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh, PA

>>...
>>Background: Before the US G/60 Championship, my label showed 1889/B4,
>>...
>>I did pretty well in the G/60, gaining about 30 rating points and making a
>>1900 norm.  This should give me 2 norm points toward A (1900) and 5 toward
>>a (1800), giving me a total of 9 toward a.  So far so good--my new label
>>shows 1920/B9.
>>
>>HOWEVER...it was my understanding that achieving an established rating in
>>any 100-point level automatically gave one the title one level below that.
>>... expect my
>>label to show 1920/a2.
>>
>>Am I wrong, or is the labelling software wrong?
>
>I think you are right, but can't lay my hands on a printed description
>of the title system to check.  If you really care, send a letter to New
>Windsor and see what they have to say about it.
>
>[Elliott?  Are you listening?  Can you get an official response? Is
>1920/a2 a legitimate rating listing?]

I had exactly the same situation when I crossed 2000.  I called USCF and
explained the situation, and they sent me the crosstables with a letter
showing that the numerical rating calcuation was in fact correct.  Which was
quite true and quite irrelevant.  Apparently, the person on the phone was
unable to understand that I was talking about the title, although I did make
the facts clear.

On the theory that nobody except Bill Goichberg cares about these things
anyway, I decided not to waste any more time.  Besides, this is only the
title/rating system change du jour.  Next year we'll all be trying to figure
out how the new, undocumented froobie point change works.  The conversation
will probably go something like: "You mean I played an even number of games
and I only get +12 froobie points because my third round opponent was a
provisional player with a foreign title?.  Isn't that deflationary?  This is
simply outrageous."

A few months later, the title corrected itself automagically.  So the
problem seem to be that the administrative software components aren't
integrated, and you'll just waste your time talking with USCF.

My question: Why did they adopt that silly new display format of xxxx+xxxx?
Sure looks like it came right out of the bowels of the rating program.  The
unofficial/offical label made a lot more sense, and it seemed to leave the
door open for true monthly processing.  Now they've kind of institutionalized
the lag.  Maybe they plan on going to semi-annual updates for 93?

Ron
Newsgroups: rec.games.chess
From: Peter_Stockhausen@mindlink.bc.ca (Peter Stockhausen)
Subject: British Columbia Closed
Organization: MIND LINK! - British Columbia, Canada
Date: Fri, 1 Jan 1993 22:53:35 GMT

British Columbia Closed Championship.

The BC Closed will commence tomorrow (Jan 2, 1993) in Vancouver. The
competitors are as follows :

   L. Piasetski         IM      2429
   J. Berry             FM/CGM  2406
   G. Basanta           FM      2395
   H. Moore                     2336
   J. Ozvald                    2306
   C. Storey                    2236
   M. Nabi                      2226
   G. Neufahrt                  2200

Absent for a number of reasons are GM Duncan Suttles, FM Bruce Harper and
FM Bob Zuk as well as Nigel Fullbrook.

--

----------------------------------------------------------------
   Peter_Stockhausen@mindlink.bc.ca         Vancouver, Canada
----------------------------------------------------------------


Newsgroups: rec.games.chess
From: mzabel@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (Mark A Zabel)
Subject: Re: TO THE GM's/IM's FROM DON
Organization: The Ohio State University
Date: Tue, 22 Dec 1992 17:17:27 GMT

In article <1992Dec22.015033.596@uoft02.utoledo.edu> dcrosgr@uoft02.utoledo.edu
 writes:

>Your hobby is chess...my profession is arguing.

Herein lie the problems:

1. This is REC.GAMES.CHESS - not rec.bullshit.about.whatever.i.want.
   Apparently there are no penalties for talking about whatever
   comes to mind in any news group, but usually it's kept to a
   minimum, as people are generally considerate.  It would be
   okay if you argued about chess, but you do not.  The fact that
   Fischer is part (a very small part) of your discussions is
   meaningless.  It is no more relevant than discussing urology,
   as Kasparov has (presumably) a penis.

2. When replying to Mr. Pope you state, "your hobby is chess
   ...my profession is arguing."  If you really are a law
   STUDENT, as you have written, then your profession is
   NOT arguing - not any more than Mr. Pope's profession
   is chess.  Your implication that chess is a "hobby" to
   someone as strong as Mr. Pope shows a certain naivete.
   I have never known any serious players who consider
   their chess playing and studies to be a hobby.  GM Benjamin,
   IM Ginsburg, and probably a good many others who have
   replied to you are indeed professionals.

Hey, it's okay if you want to argue about chess.  However,
if you just want to argue about the meaning of meaning just
to practice sophistry, I would suggest that you go somewhere
else to do it.

-Mark

p.s.  I know where you live!
p.p.s. Just kidding!

For anybody who's still left at this point and plays the
Nimzoindian, I'm thinking about switching to it.  What are 
your results against players lower, equal, and better than
you?  What are some of the practical problems with the defence?

-Thanks, Mark
Newsgroups: rec.games.chess
From: sje@xylos.ma30.bull.com (Steven J. Edwards)
Subject: _Advances in Computer Chess 6_ arrives!
Reply-To: sje@xylos.ma30.bull.com
Organization: Bull HN, Worldwide Information Systems, Billerica, Mass., USA
Distribution: rec
Date: 22 Dec 92 14:00:44

I am happy to report that my long awaited copy of _Advances in
Computer Chess 6_ arrived in this morning's mail.

_Advances in Computer Chess 6_
edited by D. F. Beal
Ellis Horwood Limited, 1991
Market Cross House, Cooper Street
Chicester, West Sussex, PO19 1EB, England
(A division of Simon & Schuster International Group)
(A Paramount Communications Company)
ISBN 0-13-006537-4

"All things come to he who waits."

 [The above opinions expressed are my own; not necessarily held by others.]
      == Steven J. Edwards           Bull HN Information Systems Inc. ==
      == (508) 294-3484              300 Concord Road         MS 820A ==
      == sje@xylos.ma30.bull.com     Billerica, MA 01821          USA ==
"That Government which Governs the Least, Governs Best." -- Thomas Jefferson
Newsgroups: rec.games.chess
From: hau4@ellis.uchicago.edu (sven  hauptfeld)
Subject: Re: Pardon Fischer?
Reply-To: hau4@midway.uchicago.edu
Organization: University of Chicago Computing Organizations
Date: Mon, 28 Dec 1992 05:25:13 GMT

In article <1992Dec22.011249.594@uoft02.utoledo.edu> dcrosgr@uoft02.utoledo.edu writes:
>In article <4471@cvbnetPrime.COM>, fdeming@cvbnet@prime.com (Frank Deming {x6088}) writes:
>> 
>> I believe no one has indicated Bobby Fischer is the property of the US
>> goverment.
>
>Then how do they exercise jurisdiction over him when he is NOT within US
>borders? What claim do they have to control his actions?

This is really idiotic. Do you think that government having jurisdiction over
its people mean that those people are its property? And do you think that a US
citizen who kills somebody in another country would be immune of a trial by a
US court?

You must be either kidding or totally ignorant.

>
>Last time I checked, the U.S. constitution did NOT extend to Yugoslavia,
>but maybe I have been studying the abridged version.

However, the UN Charter DOES extend to Yugoslavia, which signed it and thus
gave the UN the right to enforce it. The same applies to the US, which, in this
case, is playing by the rules.

If you think the rules are stupid and should be abandoned, you must also think
that the US had no jurisdiction over the Nazi WWII criminals, or no right to
prevent nuclear missiles deployment in Cuba, or whatever... (I am not saying
that those are exact analogies and any attempt to misinterpret them as such
will be ignored).

	Sven

Newsgroups: rec.games.chess
From: hau4@ellis.uchicago.edu (sven  hauptfeld)
Subject: Re: A game of chess with dmc!?
Reply-To: hau4@midway.uchicago.edu
Organization: University of Chicago
Date: Thu, 31 Dec 1992 07:29:53 GMT

In article <19028@mindlink.bc.ca> Bruce_Harper@mindlink.bc.ca (Bruce Harper) writes:
>This should be a fun tournament.  Your play!
>
>[Sven - wait your turn].

Well, in the meantime I read dmc's response to this (and so on) and it seems
that my turn won't come because he'll never make a move.

Interesting - he is just like Fischer, except for a minor :-) difference that
he lacks the chess talent...

	Sven

Newsgroups: rec.games.chess
From: reynolds@physics.ucla.edu (Reynolds)
Subject: Re: Nice Pieces!
Organization: UCLA Department of Physics
Date: Thu, 31 Dec 92 01:00:54 GMT

In article <1992Dec29.155525.5809@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu> mzabel@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (Mark A Zabel) writes:
>In article <1992Dec28.083303.179@ipact.com> pals@ipact.com writes:
>>I received one of the Kasparov chess sets that USCF sells (Garry-6) for
>>Christmas.  It is a beautiful set - the nicest I've ever used, which
>>includes the Jacques imitation set that USCF used to sell (although that
>>was a nice set, too).  All pieces are one-piece carved, and HEAVY.  At $89,
>>the light-dark brown boxwood set is a bargain, IMHO.  If you insist, for
>>another $110 you can get the light-black set where the black pieces are
>>ebony, but the dark pieces are plenty dark in the cheaper set.
>
>I've never liked ordering things from USCF.  I suppose it's
>mostly because I like to support smaller operations.  Fred
>Lindsay's Chess Supplies is my personal favorite, 'cause
>Fred has a cool mustache!  He sells a very very nice set
>for $80, and also some other not-quite-as-nice sets for
>about $50-$60.
>
>-Mark

Speaking of chess sets, I just got the lastest Chess House catalog,
and he's selling a triple-weighted boxwood and ebony set from India
for $120.  

I tend to think that most sets are too light, and I've only found
one that I thought was heavy enough.  Has anyone played with
this set, and what do you think of it?

I've played with an earlier version of the Kasparov set, and 
it didn't seem that heavy to me.

Anthony Reynolds
reynolds@physics.ucla.edu
From: dcrosgr@uoft02.utoledo.edu
Newsgroups: rec.games.chess
Subject: Re: Pardon Fischer?
Date: 29 Dec 92 23:02:46 EST
Organization: University of Toledo, Computer Services

In article <1hqfroINNb0u@shelley.u.washington.edu>, monaghan@cac.washington.edu (Tracy Monaghan ) writes:
> In article <92364.122435RCE365@MAINE.MAINE.EDU> <RCE365@MAINE.MAINE.EDU> writes:
>>
>>If in U.S. court's eye, the judicial system in the foreign countryis
>>competent enough, then the U.S. law will not interfere with the that
>>matter. That however doesn'tforbid anybody from filing a case.
>>
>>At this jucture I would like topoint out Bhopal gas tragedy case. The
>>Indian government tried to file the case in US, as it is a known fact
>>that the US courts give large comensations ( The figure they were talking
>>was over a billion $.) However they presented the case on the ground that
>>the indian judicial system hasn't been exposed to such cases. The Union
>>carbide wanted the case to be tried in India for the same monetery reason
>> The US judge opined that the Indian courts arecompetent enough and so
>>the case should be tried in INDIA and not US
>>
>>(finally the victims got around 500 million $ as a comp.)
>>
>>Abhay
> 
> And what, if anything, does this have to do with CHESS???
> 

Nothing. But, you have got to admit he is one of the three of us who are
posting anything based on facts...

Of course, maybe others have facts, but just don't have time to post them while
they are hurling insults...



Newsgroups: rec.games.chess
From: Bruce_Harper@mindlink.bc.ca (Bruce Harper)
Subject: Re: this has got to stop
Organization: MIND LINK! - British Columbia, Canada
Date: Fri, 1 Jan 1993 17:05:02 GMT

Agreed.  Even better, don't read any of it, then there's no temptation to
reply.  (A good New Year's Resolution).
Newsgroups: rec.games.chess
From: hyatt@cis.uab.edu (Robert Hyatt)
Subject: Re: Wanted: details of (computer) evaluation functions
Keywords: evaluation, position, positional, judgment
Organization: University of Alabama at Birmingham
Date: Wed, 30 Dec 1992 03:40:32 GMT

In article <1992Dec29.133014.13406@fccc.edu> vanderli@orion.fccc.edu (Michel van der List) writes:
>In article <1992Dec29.035140.12403@cis.uab.edu>,
>	hyatt@cis.uab.edu (Robert Hyatt) writes:
>> I would recommend the following:
>> 
>> 1.  Chess Skills in Man and Machine, Springer-Verlag.  A chapter on chess 4.0
>> tells a lot.
>> 
>> 2.  Computers, Chess and Cognition, edited by Marsland and Schaeffer, 
>> Springer-Verlag.  It has chapters on Cray Blitz, Hitech, Deep Thought, and
>> others.  The Cray Blitz chapter completely spells out it's evaluation
>> function, search extensions, etc.  I can give you an electronic summary
>> of the chapter if you would like.  You will need a unix-like troff
>> formatter.
>
>First off let me say that I always enjoy Mr Hyatt's posts on computer
>chess. His insights are always very interesting. Secondly I have two
>questions:
>  - Could you post the above mentioned summary, I am sure there would be
>    quite a bit of interest in it.
>  - A few weeks ago you mentioned Sparc Blitz (I think thats what you
>    called it). Could you comment on it's strength?
>

First, and I hope either Jonathan or Tony reads this, is there any problem
with nroff'ing part of the chapter I wrote and then posting that here?  I
know that it could possibly lose a few sales, but maybe it might also cause
some readers to purchase the book to get the data on HiTech and Deep Thought
after seeing what I wrote on Cray Blitz.  Comments Tony or Jonathan?

Second, "sparc blitz" is nothing more than the pure fortran version of Cray
Blitz (it has about 15,000 lines of Cray assembly language that really speeds
things up by a factor of five (5) over the pure fortran) running on a sparc.
I have a sparc-2 on my desk and S-B searches about 1,000 nodes per second.
Yeah, I know that's not very fast.  Especially when we do 200,000 per sec on
a YMP 8 and over 500,000 on a C90.  The real problem with "sparc blitz" is
that it't search extensions have been set up for the 9-10 plies we get on a
YMP8.  Running on a sparc, the current code simply extends too many lines
too deeply and as a result, doesn't search as deep on average as I would like.
Not having played any games, I don't know what to expect, but I suspect 6-7
plies at 3 mins per move.

It does work, although a few Cray-specific features (dealing with memory
allocation, etc.) don't function.  I occasionally use it to test problems
I see in here, but don't expect to use it in a tournament.  I have been
working on converting to C for a year or so, very sporadically, and would
expect that version to be somewhat better on a sparc after I optimize it
away from the cray-specific things we do now.  (some 64bit arithmetic
dealing with hashing is a real pain and is slow as it is written in
fortran.)

Bob

-- 
!Robert Hyatt                    Computer and Information Sciences   !
!hyatt@cis.uab.edu               University of Alabama at Birmingham !
From: mginsbur@rnd.GBA.NYU.EDU (Mark Ginsburg)
Newsgroups: rec.games.chess
Subject: Last Round - US Championship
Date: 23 Dec 92 17:14:50 GMT
Distribution: rec.games.chess
Organization: NYU Stern School of Business


A little drama:  the TD was making announcements before the last
round (I think this was Carol Jarecki) and Alex Sherzer is introduced
as leading the tournament, having made the GM norm, will achieve the
GM title soon...

and Fedorowicz says in a loud voice, "Yeah, and I'm gonna kick his
ass."

Then lo and behold that exact thing happens (but in not such a simple
game; a King's Indian where Sherzer, as black, had what many players
felt to be the upper hand for some time).  The result?  Wolff wins
the tournament.

A little confrontational psychology at work?

-aries
Newsgroups: rec.games.chess
From: smmurthy@comet.lerc.nasa.gov (PLN Murthy)
Subject: Re: Mchess Pro
Organization: NASA Lewis Research Center
  I would like to know, if Mchess -Pro or any other stronger program like DT has
    has inbuilt knowledge to avoid meaning less variations (serach them all!) 
    and only concentrate on the promissing ones!
  Also, in simple endings for ex. Kand King Pawn vs King all three on original
  squares, does a program like Mchess-Pro know not move the pawn first or does i  it have to search 8/9 plies deep to figure that out! Will a program go for a
  standard "greek's gift sac" if opportunity arises ( a forced mate can not be s  shown here if king chooses to come outside through Kh7,Kg6 etc .. and it will
  be only a positional compensation). A normal chess player even a class D proba  probably rotinely plays correctly in these positions!
  Murthy (ICS falcon)
Date: Wed, 23 Dec 1992 12:50:01 GMT

-- 

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
PLN Murthy			|     phone: 216-433-4000
NASA Lewis Research Center     	|    
Cleveland, Ohio  44135         	|     email: smmurthy@comet.lerc.nasa.gov 
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: hwr@intercal.com (Hanon W. Russell)
Newsgroups: rec.games.chess
Subject: Book Review: Stonewall, Colle & Torre Systems by Soltis
Date: Mon, 4 Jan 1993 00:33:45 GMT
Organization: Chessnews list (chessnews-request@tssi.com)
NNTP-Posting-Host: helios.unl.edu


WHITE OPENING SYSTEM COMBINING STONEWALL ATTACK, COLLE ATTACK, 
TORRE ATTACK, by IGM Andrew Soltis, 1992 Chess Digest, 
Softcover, English Algebraic Notation, 129pp., $16.50

We have not been ambiguous in our admiration for the chess books 
turned out by American Grandmaster Andy Soltis. They are well 
researched and usually contain good explanations and original 
suggestions. Indeed, he achieved a notoriety of sorts when 
Fischer employed a move in the recent match with Spassky, which 
move was apparently suggested by Soltis in his book published in 
the spring on the Ruy Lopez Exchange Variation.

This time, he presents material in a form which essentially 
links three White systems, the Stonewall Attack, the Colle 
System and the Torre Attack. However, in contrast to most of his 
other opening books, this one is geared for the lower rated 
(below 1900 Elo).

Each system is introduced and discussed with the help of 
illustrative games. Key and recurrent strategic themes in the 
opening are explained. The emphasis here is on understanding the 
opening in question, not simply playing it by rote. In that 
regard, Soltis does a fine job.

The author looks at and discusses plainly the choice of move 
order, opening and middlegame objectives and underlying 
strategy. There is no question that the subject matter could 
have been covered in much more depth. But that is precisely the 
point. The hair-splitting, twenty-move-deep opening meisters is 
not the group best suited for this book.

There are separate books available for each opening which the 
student may wish to obtain eventually. As a matter of fact, 
Soltis himself wrote a solid book on the Stonewall Attack a few 
years back. Until such time, however, as the student wants to 
explore the depths of these openings, this work by Soltis will 
do just fine, thank you.

It is nice to see a respected grandmaster and author 
occasionally directing his writing efforts toward the club 
player. Soltis scores again!

***************************************************************
The books which are reviewed by Mr. Russell are furnished 
courtesy of the United States Chess Federation. The views 
expressed are those of Mr. Russell and do not necessarily 
reflect the views of the United States Chess Federation. You may 
order this book and/or obtain the latest catalog of chess books 
and equipment from the U.S.C.F., 186 Rt. 9W, New Windsor, NY 
12553 or call toll-free 1-800-388-5464.

Copyright 1992 Hanon W. Russell
All Rights Reserved
***************************************************************


Newsgroups: rec.games.chess
From: hwr@intercal.com (Hanon W. Russell)
Subject: This Week In Chess History
Organization: Chessnews list (chessnews-request@tssi.com)
Date: Tue, 22 Dec 1992 02:55:26 GMT


                    THIS WEEK IN CHESS HISTORY
                       December 24-30, 1992

December 24
1868 - Emanuel Lasker born
1868 - Richard Teichmann born
1951 - Leon Piasetski born

December 25
Christmas
1847 - William Shinkman born
1958 - Rachael Crotto

December 26
Boxing Day (CDN)
1883 - Carl Ahues born

December 27
1851 - Max Judd born
1882 - A. Rueb born
1918 - Carl Schlechter died

December 28
1858 - Morphy defeats Anderssen at Paris 8-3
1888 - Norbert Lederer born
1947 - Miguel Quinteros born

December 29
1969 - Kurt Richter died

December 30
1923 - Moore Hanham died
1935 - Manuel Aaron born
1941 - Bruno Parma born
1946 - Bruce Amos born

Copyright 1992 Hanon W. Russell
All Rights Reserved

Newsgroups: rec.games.chess
From: mzabel@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (Mark A Zabel)
Subject: Columbus Championship
Organization: The Ohio State University
Date: Thu, 31 Dec 1992 19:13:15 GMT

****** ANNOUNCEMENT for COLUMBUS CHAMPIONSHIP *******

     Hi y'all!
Just wanted to post this little blurb.  I'm running
the next Columbus Closed Championship, which is coming
up in March (5th,6th,7th,13th,14th).  If you're interested
in playing in it ( and you're within driving distance I
suppose ) you'll probably have to qualify.  Two qualifying
tournaments will be held in late January though February.
I'll give more specific details when I have them myself!

If you're interested just give me a call!
The number is (614) 268-4018.

Chuck Diebert(2356) is the defending champ.  Will
someone unseat him this year?

Also, if you are rated over 2150 - or know someone who is
and you think he/she would be interested - please call me
and let me know, as that person might be able to be seeded.

Tournament books have been made available in the past.  Some
people find the drama, excitement, and bloodiness of this level
of chess to be more interesting than "perfect" GM games!  With
some interest, I'm sure things can be arranged.  Food for thought
anyway.

-Mark
From: lim@toadflax.cs.ucdavis.edu (Lloyd Lim)
Newsgroups: rec.games.chess
Subject: Re: Bratko-Kopec Test
Date: 24 Dec 92 06:21:13 GMT
Organization: Department of Computer Science, University of California, Davis

In article <1992Dec22.130726.6299@ghost.dsi.unimi.it> broglia@ghost.dsi.unimi.it (marco broglia) writes:
>
>Is there anybody that has the opportunity to read
>    "Advances in Computer Chess 3", 1982
>and that would help me ? Okay, go to page 57-72 and check if the article is
>    "The Bratko-Kopec Experiment: A Comparison of Human and
>     Computer Performance"
>written by Bratko and Kopec.

Yes, you have the correct reference.  However, there is a newer article
in Advances in Computer Chess 4, with more results.  There might even be
newer articles that I missed.

>If so, can he send me a brief explanation about the method to compute
>the score (for how many minutes the machines think ?) ?
>In which way Bratko and Kopec determine the second (third, fourth)
>choice (after how much time ?) ?

Page 62:
"Subjects were given a total of two minutes for each position to select
their preferred move(s) and to write down up to four choices in order
of preference on the answer sheet provided."

"...if the "preferred move" selected by a subject for a given test
position is the correct move, one full point credit is given; if the
subject's second choice is the correct move, then 1/2 point credit is
given; third choice correct give 1/3 point credit, and fourth choice
gives 1/4."

They don't say how they get a program's second, third, and fourth
choices.  Presumably there is some way to look at how a program
ranks the alternative moves.

Hope this helps.

+++
Lloyd Lim                    Internet: lim@cs.ucdavis.edu
Lim Unlimited                America Online: LimUnltd
330 W. Iris Ave.             AppleLink: LimUnltd
Stockton, CA  95210-3738     CompuServe: 72647,660