What are good strategy tips for playing chess against a computer?

Question

Something instinctively tells me that a computer can't play with the measured aggression and strategic and tactical surprises of a strong human player, though clearly computers are very strong.

Surely a computer bases its game entirely upon the mathematics of the position, but should be easy to leave with a weakness even where material is even (eg doubled pawns, isolated pawns, bad bishop etc.)

What is the best way to coax a computer into making a series of tiny tactical mistakes like this?

Do they have a "preference" for open games, closed games, long opening book moves etc? Are there any of these they prefer not to encounter?

Answer 1

This will sound stupid, but it is true.

Computers are great when there is something to do.  Humans are better when there is nothing to do.

Avoid tactics like the plague.

They have no preferences, but don't go playing any hairy gambits.:)

For the one referencing deeper blue, um I could have beat Kasparov in that last game.  No, I'm not that good.  Kasparov threw that game.  Why?  I think he saw deeper blue was much better and he did not want to risk losing legitimately.

Answer 2

Pour a bucket of water over the pc! I'd like to see the pc think it's smart then! :D

Answer 3

Unpredictability is the key. Computers are programmed with set moves for set situations. If your tactics keep swithcing you should win. I highly doubt any chess computers are as strong as the one that beat Kasparov but I think he lost due to the computer being programmed with his moves.

Answer 4

1) Get out of its opening "book" as quickly as possible

2) Get closed positions

3) As William B said, avoid all tactical positions/complications (even if you think they'll turn out good for you, they probably won't)

The main thing to remember is computers are TERRIBLE at openings.  If you can get an overwhelming position by move 20 (say), you ought to be able to win.  Oh yeah, and those aren't "tactical mistakes" you are talking about--they are strategical (computers never make tactical mistakes).

Answer 5

Well, would have to disagree with the first part of your statement :-)

The computer system dubbed "Deep Blue" was the first machine to win a chess game against a reigning world champion (Garry Kasparov) under regular time controls. This first win occurred on February 10, 1996. Deep Blue - Kasparov, 1996, Game 1 is a famous chess game. However, Kasparov won three games and drew two of the following games, beating Deep Blue by a score of 4–2. The match concluded on February 17, 1996.

Deep Blue was then heavily upgraded (unofficially nicknamed "Deeper Blue") and played Kasparov again in May 1997, winning the six-game rematch 3½–2½, ending on May 11, finally ending in game six. Deep Blue thus became the first computer system to defeat a reigning world champion in a match under standard chess tournament time controls.

Answer 6

get a life and find a real friend to play with