🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <714509485@romeo.cs.duke.edu> trt@duke.cs.duke.edu (Tom Truscott) writes:
>>I don't understand the discussion about what move is best. Any position can
>>be classified as follows: [6 classes are given]
>
>It is not necessarily that simple.
>At one extreme there are only 3 classes (won, drawn, lost).
>
>But surely a position that wins in 4 more moves is "better"
>than one that wins in 30 more moves?
>And even among positions that win in 4 more moves
>surely some are more aesthetically pleasing than others?
>(I prefer the ones where the pieces are in alphabetical order!)

I prefer boy, girl,..., but that's difficult with so many guys!

>
>At the other extreme every distinct position has a distinct ranking,
>so no two positions are considered equally "good".

Of course, there are a number of position pairs which must be assign
equivalent value.

There are symetrical properties of the board that lead to positions
of equivalent value.  Think a bit, you'll find one. (Hint: end games!)

>
>Current computer chess play makes the above rather academic, however.
>GNUchess does not "know" that it can win with an extra queen,
>let alone with a mere bishop.

How so?  It really depends on how near the end of the game it is.
Even I can see a one move mate, from time-to-time! Once she drops
the bra, that's usually a good indication! :)