Topalov’s manager issued a press release today noting that “out of 5 games – 78% of GM Kramnik’s moves match with the first line of Fritz9.”
I do not find it very surprising that, for a high fraction of moves, a strong GM would agree with a strong computer program about which move to play. It seems to me that the press release follows a traditional statistical fudging technique – failing to present the base rate for comparison. How does Fritz9 match up in move choices with Topalov, for example, or the population of very strong GMs?
Sheesh.
3 Comments
As far as I can tell, this is just to cause doubt in the minds of the non-chess playing public. Clearly this isn’t going to surprise or upset anyone who is familiar with the game.
In other realms, you’re in the Boston area, right? Are you going to play in the tournament over the weekend of 10/21 (the one that used to be the northeast chess getaway but is now run by some other club?)
I’m planning to hit that one and the BU open in early November. If you’re going to be at either one I think it would be neat to introduce ourselves to one another.
Steve – I am thinking about playing in the 10/21 weekend tournament, but I’m not sure yet. I don’t like spending an entire weekend away from my family, and we have a number of outdoor projects we’re trying to get done before the weather turns bad. I’d enjoy meeting you in person; hopefully we’ll have a chance soon.
Yeah, I don’t do the all weekend thing that often either. The BU tournament is just a Saturday, which makes it a little easier to work in though.