One Jump Ahead: Challenging Human Supremacy in Checkers"Playing chess is like looking out over a limitless ocean; playing checkers is like looking into a bottomless well." Marion Tinsley, World checkers champion This extraordinary book tells the story of the creation of the world champion checkers computer program, Chinook. From its beginnings in 1988, Chinook became a worthy opponent to the world champion by 1990 and by 1992 had defeated all the world's top human players. In this fascinating account, Jonathan Schaeffer, the originator and leader of the Chinook team, provides an engrossing story of failures and successes. He describes the human story behind the program and his own feelings in learning from mistakes and technical problems in a continuous effort to improve Chinook's performance. Over the ten year period beginning in 1988, we follow the development of Chinook from an innocent question asked over lunch through to the final match against the then world champion, Marion Tinsley. As the story unfolds, readers are introduced to the rules of checkers and the basics of computer game programs, as well as to the key figures of the story. As a result, all those interested in computing and games will enjoy this book. " Schaeffer's personal involvement in the Chinook project, along with his engaging and open story-telling makes the book surprisingly gripping." A.K. Dewdney |
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Common terms and phrases
advantage artificial intelligence Asa Long asked Basic Checkers better Black Boston challenge championship match chance checkers player checkers program chess program Chinook played Chinook project Chinook team Colossus computer chess Computer Olympiad deep Derek Oldbury Don Lafferty Edmonton eight-piece databases Elbert Lowder endgame databases error evaluation function event final Fortman going grandmaster happened human Jonathan Jonathan Schaeffer Ken Thompson king knew knowledge Lafferty match line of play London look losing lost Lowder machine Marion Tinsley Martin Bryant minutes mistake move Norm opening book opponent Paul Paul Lu pieces plies points position problem quickly Raymond Keene resigned result Ron King Samuel Schaeffer score seemed Silicon Graphics solve started Steph surprise things thought three-move ballot Tinsley match Tinsley's tournament Tupelo U.S. championship Walker wanted week White world champion world championship