25,161
edits
Changes
Created page with "'''Home * People * Alexander Szabo''' '''Alexander (Alex) Szabo''',<br/> a computer scientist, physicist, chess player, at times professional computer chess..."
'''[[Main Page|Home]] * [[People]] * Alexander Szabo'''
'''Alexander (Alex) Szabo''',<br/>
a computer scientist, physicist, chess player, at times professional computer chess programmer, in the 80s, along with [[Barbara Szabo]],
active in computer chess business and research. [[Szabo Software]] located in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borrego_Springs,_California Borrego Springs, California], distributed their commercial chess program [[TechMate]] for the [[Atari ST]].
Alex Szabo defended his M.Sc. in physics in 1980, and his M.Sc. in CS in 1984, both from [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_British_Columbia University of British Columbia], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vancouver Vancouver], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Columbia British Columbia], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canada Canada].
=Tech 3=
In his 1984 thesis ''Computer-Chess Tactics and Strategy'', Alex Szabo elaborates on [[Tactics|tactics]] and [[Strategy|strategy]] exemplified by his thesis chess program [[Tech#Tech3|Tech 3]].
In the spirit of the original [[Tech]] program by [[James Gillogly]], he claimed that [[Knowledge|knowledge]] is best applied at the top of the [[Search Tree|search tree]] as positional presort rather than at the [[Leaf Node|leaf nodes]] using complex [[Evaluation|evaluation]].
Tech3's performance on [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_Reinfeld Reinfeld's] [[Win at Chess]] (WAC) problem set is 274/300,
which compares favourable with [[Belle|Belle's]], considering machine power. He developed a '''Technology Curve'' as a tool for measuring the effectiveness of knowledge encoding, and found in this respect [[Nuchess]] as the best chess program of that time <ref>[[Alexander Szabo]] ('''1984'''). ''[https://circle.ubc.ca/handle/2429/24780 Computer-Chess Tactics and Strategy]''. M.Sc. Thesis, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_British_Columbia University of British Columbia]</ref>.
<span id="TechMate"></span>
=TechMate=
During the mid 80s, Alex Szabo developed [[TechMate]] for the [[Atari ST]]. It was derived from [[Tech#Tech3|Tech 3]] with the addition of a simple strategic component, a more profound [[Evaluation Function|evaluation function]]. TechMate was commercially market by [[Szabo Software]] <ref>[http://www.linkedin.com/in/greggpearlman Gregg Pearlman] ('''1986'''). ''[http://www.atarimagazines.com/v5n8/STNewProducts.html ST New Products]''. [http://www.atarimagazines.com/index/?issue=v5n8 Antic Vol. 5, No. 8]</ref>.
=The Technology Curve=
As published in their 1988 [[ICGA Journal|ICCA Journal]] paper <ref>[[Alexander Szabo]], [[Barbara Szabo]] ('''1988'''). ''The Technology Curve Revisited''. [[ICGA Journal#11_1|ICCA Journal, Vol. 11, No. 1]]</ref>, Alex and Barbara Szabo revisited the '''Technology Curve''' by playing 6882 games between copies of TechMate set at different time rates, with the conclusion that the advantage of improved technology rapidly decreases when [[Hardware|machines]] and [[Algorithms|algorithms]] become more powerful. [[Ernst A. Heinz]] in his self-play memo on the experiment of the Szabos <ref>[[Ernst A. Heinz]] ('''2000'''). ''A New Self-Play Experiment in Computer Chess''. [[Massachusetts Institute of Technology]], Laboratory of Computer Science, Technical Memo No. 608, [http://supertech.lcs.mit.edu/~heinz/ps/new_exp.ps.gz zipped ps], [http://bitsavers.trailing-edge.com/pdf/mit/lcs/tm/MIT-LCS-TM-608.pdf pdf]</ref>:
The Szabos determined the technology curve of their chess program TechMate that self-played 6,882 games on two Atari ST computers. The number of games per match between longer and shorter searching versions of the program varied strongly from a minimum of 32 to a maximum of 1367. The gain in playing strength averaged at 156 rating points per doubling of available search time (computing power). The experimental data indicated slight [[Depth#DiminishingReturns|diminishing returns]] at longer search times. However, the Szabos simply did not play enough games at long times to draw reliable conclusions.
<span id="WAC230"></span>
=WAC 230=
In a 2001 [[CCC]] forum post, Alex Szabo proposed several corrections on [[Win at Chess]], in particular that in WAC 230, a position from [[Hans Kmoch]] vs [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aron_Nimzowitsch Aron Nimzowitsch] <ref>[http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1102423 Hans Kmoch vs Aron Nimzowitsch (1927)] from [http://www.chessgames.com/index.html chessgames.com]</ref>, [http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niendorf_%28Ostsee%29 Bad Niendorf], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_strong_chess_tournaments#1920.E2.80.931929 1927] <ref>[http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/Bad_Niendorf_1927 Bad Niendorf 1927 - 365Chess.com Tournaments]</ref>, 50... Rb4 does not win <ref>[https://www.stmintz.com/ccc/index.php?id=163035 WAC Corrections] by [[Alexander Szabo|Alex Szabo]], [[CCC]], April 12, 2001</ref>:
: <fentt border="double" style="font-size:18pt">2b5/1r6/2kBp1p1/p2pP1P1/2pP4/1pP3K1/1R3P2/8</fentt>
2b5/1r6/2kBp1p1/p2pP1P1/2pP4/1pP3K1/1R3P2/8 b - -
<pre>
#230 [Rb4 does not win. The main line is, 1... Rb4!? 2.cxb4 a4
3.b5+ Kxb5 4.Ba3 c3 5.Re2! Kc4 6.f4 Kxd4 7.f5 exf5 8.e6 Kd3
9.e7 Bd7 10.Kf3 d4 11.Rh2 Kc4 12.Rh8 b2 13.Rb8 d3
14.Bxb2 cxb2 15.Rxb2 a3 16.Rb7 Be8 17.Ra7 Kb3 18.Ke3 a2
19.Kxd3 Kb2 20.Rb7+ Kc1 21.Ra7 =]
Ra7, Rb6, Rb5, Rd7, Rf7, Rg7, Rh7, Bd7, Kd7, Kb6, Kb5, a4, and Rc7
are just as good as the book solution Rb4 -- they all hold the game.
</pre>
In August 2010, [[Dann Corbit]] posted an allegedly refutation of Szabo's refutation found by [[Stockfish|Stockfish 1.8]] <ref>[http://www.talkchess.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=35669 Stockfish 1.8 demolishes WAC.230] by [[Dann Corbit]], [[CCC]], August 02, 2010</ref>.
=Selected Publications=
<ref>[http://ilk.uvt.nl/icga/journal/docs/References.pdf ICGA Reference Database] (pdf)</ref>
* [[Alexander Szabo]] ('''1980'''). ''The Co Distribution Around l=30°, b=0°''. M.Sc. Thesis, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_British_Columbia University of British Columbia], [https://circle.ubc.ca/bitstream/handle/2429/22558/UBC_1980_A6_7%20S93.pdf?sequence=1 pdf]
* [[Alexander Szabo]] ('''1984'''). ''[https://open.library.ubc.ca/cIRcle/collections/ubctheses/831/items/1.0051870 Computer-Chess Tactics and Strategy]''. M.Sc. Thesis, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_British_Columbia University of British Columbia], [https://circle.ubc.ca/bitstream/handle/2429/24780/UBC_1984_A6_7%20S98.pdf?sequence=1 pdf]
* [[Alexander Szabo]], [[Barbara Szabo]] ('''1988'''). ''The Technology Curve Revisited''. [[ICGA Journal#11_1|ICCA Journal, Vol. 11, No. 1]]
=Forum Posts=
* [https://www.stmintz.com/ccc/index.php?id=163035 WAC Corrections] by [[Alexander Szabo|Alex Szabo]], [[CCC]], April 12, 2001
* [https://www.stmintz.com/ccc/index.php?id=439525 WAC 230 and Alexander Szabo's refutation revisted] by [[Dann Corbit]], [[CCC]], August 01, 2005
* [http://www.talkchess.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=28900 WAC.230 revisited yet again] by [[Dann Corbit]], [[CCC]], July 11, 2009
* [http://www.talkchess.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=35669 Stockfish 1.8 demolishes WAC.230] by [[Dann Corbit]], [[CCC]], August 02, 2010
=External Links=
* [http://www.365chess.com/players/Alexander_Szabo Alexander Szabo chess games - 365Chess.com]
=References=
<references />
'''[[People|Up one level]]'''
[[Category:Chess Player|Szabo]]
[[Category:Chess Programmer|Szabo]]
'''Alexander (Alex) Szabo''',<br/>
a computer scientist, physicist, chess player, at times professional computer chess programmer, in the 80s, along with [[Barbara Szabo]],
active in computer chess business and research. [[Szabo Software]] located in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borrego_Springs,_California Borrego Springs, California], distributed their commercial chess program [[TechMate]] for the [[Atari ST]].
Alex Szabo defended his M.Sc. in physics in 1980, and his M.Sc. in CS in 1984, both from [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_British_Columbia University of British Columbia], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vancouver Vancouver], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Columbia British Columbia], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canada Canada].
=Tech 3=
In his 1984 thesis ''Computer-Chess Tactics and Strategy'', Alex Szabo elaborates on [[Tactics|tactics]] and [[Strategy|strategy]] exemplified by his thesis chess program [[Tech#Tech3|Tech 3]].
In the spirit of the original [[Tech]] program by [[James Gillogly]], he claimed that [[Knowledge|knowledge]] is best applied at the top of the [[Search Tree|search tree]] as positional presort rather than at the [[Leaf Node|leaf nodes]] using complex [[Evaluation|evaluation]].
Tech3's performance on [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_Reinfeld Reinfeld's] [[Win at Chess]] (WAC) problem set is 274/300,
which compares favourable with [[Belle|Belle's]], considering machine power. He developed a '''Technology Curve'' as a tool for measuring the effectiveness of knowledge encoding, and found in this respect [[Nuchess]] as the best chess program of that time <ref>[[Alexander Szabo]] ('''1984'''). ''[https://circle.ubc.ca/handle/2429/24780 Computer-Chess Tactics and Strategy]''. M.Sc. Thesis, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_British_Columbia University of British Columbia]</ref>.
<span id="TechMate"></span>
=TechMate=
During the mid 80s, Alex Szabo developed [[TechMate]] for the [[Atari ST]]. It was derived from [[Tech#Tech3|Tech 3]] with the addition of a simple strategic component, a more profound [[Evaluation Function|evaluation function]]. TechMate was commercially market by [[Szabo Software]] <ref>[http://www.linkedin.com/in/greggpearlman Gregg Pearlman] ('''1986'''). ''[http://www.atarimagazines.com/v5n8/STNewProducts.html ST New Products]''. [http://www.atarimagazines.com/index/?issue=v5n8 Antic Vol. 5, No. 8]</ref>.
=The Technology Curve=
As published in their 1988 [[ICGA Journal|ICCA Journal]] paper <ref>[[Alexander Szabo]], [[Barbara Szabo]] ('''1988'''). ''The Technology Curve Revisited''. [[ICGA Journal#11_1|ICCA Journal, Vol. 11, No. 1]]</ref>, Alex and Barbara Szabo revisited the '''Technology Curve''' by playing 6882 games between copies of TechMate set at different time rates, with the conclusion that the advantage of improved technology rapidly decreases when [[Hardware|machines]] and [[Algorithms|algorithms]] become more powerful. [[Ernst A. Heinz]] in his self-play memo on the experiment of the Szabos <ref>[[Ernst A. Heinz]] ('''2000'''). ''A New Self-Play Experiment in Computer Chess''. [[Massachusetts Institute of Technology]], Laboratory of Computer Science, Technical Memo No. 608, [http://supertech.lcs.mit.edu/~heinz/ps/new_exp.ps.gz zipped ps], [http://bitsavers.trailing-edge.com/pdf/mit/lcs/tm/MIT-LCS-TM-608.pdf pdf]</ref>:
The Szabos determined the technology curve of their chess program TechMate that self-played 6,882 games on two Atari ST computers. The number of games per match between longer and shorter searching versions of the program varied strongly from a minimum of 32 to a maximum of 1367. The gain in playing strength averaged at 156 rating points per doubling of available search time (computing power). The experimental data indicated slight [[Depth#DiminishingReturns|diminishing returns]] at longer search times. However, the Szabos simply did not play enough games at long times to draw reliable conclusions.
<span id="WAC230"></span>
=WAC 230=
In a 2001 [[CCC]] forum post, Alex Szabo proposed several corrections on [[Win at Chess]], in particular that in WAC 230, a position from [[Hans Kmoch]] vs [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aron_Nimzowitsch Aron Nimzowitsch] <ref>[http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1102423 Hans Kmoch vs Aron Nimzowitsch (1927)] from [http://www.chessgames.com/index.html chessgames.com]</ref>, [http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niendorf_%28Ostsee%29 Bad Niendorf], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_strong_chess_tournaments#1920.E2.80.931929 1927] <ref>[http://www.365chess.com/tournaments/Bad_Niendorf_1927 Bad Niendorf 1927 - 365Chess.com Tournaments]</ref>, 50... Rb4 does not win <ref>[https://www.stmintz.com/ccc/index.php?id=163035 WAC Corrections] by [[Alexander Szabo|Alex Szabo]], [[CCC]], April 12, 2001</ref>:
: <fentt border="double" style="font-size:18pt">2b5/1r6/2kBp1p1/p2pP1P1/2pP4/1pP3K1/1R3P2/8</fentt>
2b5/1r6/2kBp1p1/p2pP1P1/2pP4/1pP3K1/1R3P2/8 b - -
<pre>
#230 [Rb4 does not win. The main line is, 1... Rb4!? 2.cxb4 a4
3.b5+ Kxb5 4.Ba3 c3 5.Re2! Kc4 6.f4 Kxd4 7.f5 exf5 8.e6 Kd3
9.e7 Bd7 10.Kf3 d4 11.Rh2 Kc4 12.Rh8 b2 13.Rb8 d3
14.Bxb2 cxb2 15.Rxb2 a3 16.Rb7 Be8 17.Ra7 Kb3 18.Ke3 a2
19.Kxd3 Kb2 20.Rb7+ Kc1 21.Ra7 =]
Ra7, Rb6, Rb5, Rd7, Rf7, Rg7, Rh7, Bd7, Kd7, Kb6, Kb5, a4, and Rc7
are just as good as the book solution Rb4 -- they all hold the game.
</pre>
In August 2010, [[Dann Corbit]] posted an allegedly refutation of Szabo's refutation found by [[Stockfish|Stockfish 1.8]] <ref>[http://www.talkchess.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=35669 Stockfish 1.8 demolishes WAC.230] by [[Dann Corbit]], [[CCC]], August 02, 2010</ref>.
=Selected Publications=
<ref>[http://ilk.uvt.nl/icga/journal/docs/References.pdf ICGA Reference Database] (pdf)</ref>
* [[Alexander Szabo]] ('''1980'''). ''The Co Distribution Around l=30°, b=0°''. M.Sc. Thesis, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_British_Columbia University of British Columbia], [https://circle.ubc.ca/bitstream/handle/2429/22558/UBC_1980_A6_7%20S93.pdf?sequence=1 pdf]
* [[Alexander Szabo]] ('''1984'''). ''[https://open.library.ubc.ca/cIRcle/collections/ubctheses/831/items/1.0051870 Computer-Chess Tactics and Strategy]''. M.Sc. Thesis, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_British_Columbia University of British Columbia], [https://circle.ubc.ca/bitstream/handle/2429/24780/UBC_1984_A6_7%20S98.pdf?sequence=1 pdf]
* [[Alexander Szabo]], [[Barbara Szabo]] ('''1988'''). ''The Technology Curve Revisited''. [[ICGA Journal#11_1|ICCA Journal, Vol. 11, No. 1]]
=Forum Posts=
* [https://www.stmintz.com/ccc/index.php?id=163035 WAC Corrections] by [[Alexander Szabo|Alex Szabo]], [[CCC]], April 12, 2001
* [https://www.stmintz.com/ccc/index.php?id=439525 WAC 230 and Alexander Szabo's refutation revisted] by [[Dann Corbit]], [[CCC]], August 01, 2005
* [http://www.talkchess.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=28900 WAC.230 revisited yet again] by [[Dann Corbit]], [[CCC]], July 11, 2009
* [http://www.talkchess.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=35669 Stockfish 1.8 demolishes WAC.230] by [[Dann Corbit]], [[CCC]], August 02, 2010
=External Links=
* [http://www.365chess.com/players/Alexander_Szabo Alexander Szabo chess games - 365Chess.com]
=References=
<references />
'''[[People|Up one level]]'''
[[Category:Chess Player|Szabo]]
[[Category:Chess Programmer|Szabo]]
