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Article: The checkers challenge: a checker-playing computer program contends for the world title. (Chinook) (Cover Story)
- Article from:
- Science News
- Article date:
- July 20, 1991
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1991 Science Service, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Like many chess players, computer scientist Jonathan Schaeffer had a condescending attitude toward the game of checkers. Its childishly simple rules and its image as a sedate pastime for elderly gentlemen put checkers deep in the shadow of chess, it smore prestigious rival.
It was natural, then, for computer programmers to ignore checkers and to focus instead on the challenge of creating machines that could master chess. Schaeffer himself spent many years perfecting a chess program named Phoenix. In 1986, this program tied for first place at the world computer chess championship.
Despite that success, Schaeffer felt frustrated. Without ready access ...