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Created page with "'''Home * Engines * Boris''' FILE:4-0 and 4-2.Boris_Electronic_Chess_Computer.Applied_Concepts.1977.102647279.lg.jpg|border|right|thumb|link=http://www.co..."
'''[[Main Page|Home]] * [[Engines]] * Boris'''
[[FILE:4-0 and 4-2.Boris_Electronic_Chess_Computer.Applied_Concepts.1977.102647279.lg.jpg|border|right|thumb|link=http://www.computerhistory.org/chess/full_record.php?iid=art-431614f43ad74|Boris <ref>[http://www.computerhistory.org/chess/full_record.php?iid=art-431614f43ad74 Boris Electronic Chess Computer], [[Applied Concepts]], from [[The Computer History Museum]]</ref> ]]
'''Boris''',<br/>
an early [[Dedicated Chess Computers|dedicated chess computer]], which appeared in February 1978, designed and manufactured by [[Applied Concepts]] <ref>''Patent Application filed 2nd March 1978 Inventors: Rod Barclay, John A. Cunningham, [[Alan Mead|Alan B. Mead]], Joseph T. Spaits for [[Applied Concepts|Applied Concepts, Inc.]]'' from [http://www.chesscomputeruk.com/html/patents.html Patents] from [http://www.chesscomputeruk.com/index.html Chess Computer UK] by [[Mike Watters]]</ref> and marketed by primary distributor [[Chafitz]]. Already in March 1978, Boris played [[MCCT 1978|Second West Coast Computer Faire Microcomputer Chess Tournament]] in the "microcomputers with less than 8K of memory class" <ref>[[Larry Wagner]] ('''1978'''). ''Results of First Microcomputer Chess Tournament''. [http://www.computerhistory.org/collections/accession/102686281 Silicon Gulch Gazette], Vol. 2, No. 4, May 10, 1978, pg. 9</ref>. Boris ran on a [[Fairchild F8]] 8-bit microprocessor with only 2.5 KiB [[Memory#ROM|ROM]] and 256 byte [[Memory#RAM|RAM]]. [[David Lindsay]] was hired to program the machine <ref>[http://www.hiarcs.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=1122 Collectors Corner. Chafitz Chess Computers..The Early Years] by [[Steve Blincoe|Steve B]], [[Computer Chess Forums|Hiarcs Forum]], March 30, 2008</ref>, and two further Boris models with Lindsay programs appeared in 1979, the first travel chess computer ''Boris Diplomat'' <ref>[http://www.schaakcomputers.nl/hein_veldhuis/database/files/04-1979%20%5BC-7926%5D%20Applied%20Concepts%20-%20Boris%20Diplomat%20%28I%29%20%28bleu%20housing%29.pdf Applied Concepts - Boris Diplomat] (pdf) by [[Hein Veldhuis]]</ref> <ref>[http://www.schach-computer.info/wiki/index.php/Chafitz_Boris_Diplomat Chafitz Boris Diplomat] from [http://www.schach-computer.info/wiki/index.php/Hauptseite_En Schachcomputer.info Wiki] (German)</ref>, where Lindsay holds a patent <ref>[http://www.patentbuddy.com/Patent/Profile/7650390/4804112 Professional Profiles for Innovators of D255247, Lindsay, David including employment histories, technology specializations, innovator rankings/ratings, residence addresses, co-workers, Chess piece font] from [http://www.patentbuddy.com/home.jsf PatentBuddy]</ref> on the [[Pieces#Drawing|Chess piece font]] <ref>[http://www.borischesscomputer.com//Carateres%20speciaux%20Diplomat.jpg Boris Diplomat character's] from [http://www.borischesscomputer.com/ Boris is King] by Daniel Collin</ref>, and the ''Boris Master'' <ref>[http://www.schach-computer.info/wiki/index.php/Chafitz_Boris_Master Chafitz Boris Master] from [http://www.schach-computer.info/wiki/index.php/Hauptseite_En Schachcomputer.info Wiki] (German)</ref>.
=Photos=
[[FILE:ChafitzBoris.jpg|none|border|text-bottom|link=http://www.flickr.com/photos/10261668@N05/2376896939/in/set-72157600923816639]]
[[Arleen Chafitz|Arleen]] and [[Steve Chafitz]], Boris is King <ref>[http://www.flickr.com/photos/10261668@N05/2376896939/in/set-72157600923816639 Ft.Boris | Flickr - Fotosharing] by [[Steve Blincoe|Chewbanta]]</ref> <ref>[http://www.borischesscomputer.com//homepage.htm Boris is King] by Daniel Collin</ref>
=Bobby Fischer calling=
[[Steve Chafitz]] on a call from [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bobby_Fischer Bobby Fischer] <ref>[http://www.eendusa.com/history.php e-End – Secure Electronic Data Destruction and Computer Electronics Recycling, Frederick MD]</ref>:
Just to rewind a bit, one evening when I was home having dinner, I got a call from Bobby Fischer. He was excited about our electronic chess game "Boris" and I realized that if he was interested in our electronic chess game that there was a major market out there. We increased our development of electronic games and yes, we hired the brightest and the best programmers in the country to develop programs for our games.
The name of the computer was likely in dependence on the given name of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boris_Spassky Boris Spassky], who lost the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Chess_Championship_1972 Chess World Championship 1972] from [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bobby_Fischer Bobby Fischer] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reykjavik Reykjavik].
=Co-Author=
The [[ICGA]] site mentions [[Rex Kent]] as author of ''Boris Experimental'' which played the [[WMCCC 1980|1st World Microcomputer Chess Championship]] 1980 in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London London] <ref>[https://www.game-ai-forum.org/icga-tournaments/person.php?id=485 Rex Kent's ICGA Tournaments]</ref>. However, ''Boris X'' was already the work of [[Kathe Spracklen|Kathe]] and [[Dan Spracklen]], and additionally with modifications by [[John Aker]] and [[Terry Fredrick]]. Rex Kent operated ''Boris'' at the [[PCW-MCC 1978]] <ref>[[David Levy]] ('''1978'''). ''The PCW Microcomputer Chess Championships'', [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personal_Computer_World Personal Computer World] 11/78, [http://www.chesscomputeruk.com/PCW-MCC_1978.pdf pdf] from [http://www.chesscomputeruk.com/index.html Chess Computer UK] by [[Mike Watters]]</ref>. It is a bit unclear whether Kent was operator or co- or book-author of the early ''Boris'' otherwise credited to [[David Lindsay]].
<span id="2.5"></span>
=Boris 2.5=
In 1979, following the development of the original Boris when more advanced programs were required, [[Arleen Chafitz|Arleen]] and [[Steve Chafitz]] contracted [[Kathe Spracklen|Kathe]] and [[Dan Spracklen]] to be their chess programmers for their [[Chafitz Modular Game System|Chafitz modular game system]] as well the [[Applied Concepts]] [[Great Game Machine]] <ref>[http://www.great-game-machine.com/ Welcome to the Great-Game Machine Workshop]</ref>. Their [[Sargon|Sargon 2.5]] program appeared as ''Chafitz Sargon 2.5'' MGS [[Module|module]] <ref>[http://www.schach-computer.info/wiki/index.php/Chafitz_Sargon_2.5 Chafitz Sargon 2.5] from [http://www.schach-computer.info/wiki/index.php/Hauptseite_En Schachcomputer.info Wiki] (German)</ref>, and in 1980, as [[Chafitz ARB Sargon 2.5]] <ref>[http://www.spacious-mind.com/html/arb_sargon_2_5.html Chafitz ARB Sargon 2.5 Electronic Chess Computer] from [[The Spacious Mind]]</ref>, also called ''Boris Sargon 2.5'' <ref>[http://tluif.home.xs4all.nl/chescom/BorSarg.html Boris Sargon 2.5] by [http://www.xs4all.nl/%7Etluif/ Tom Luif]</ref> or simply dubbed ''Boris 2.5''. [[John Aker]] and [[Terry Fredrick]], affiliated with Applied Concepts, were involved in improving the Sargon and Boris program <ref>[http://terryfrederick.com/resume.htm Terry M. Fredrick - Resume]</ref>.
<span id="Handroid"></span>
=Boris Handroid=
[[FILE:Handroid.jpg|border|right|thumb|link=http://www.schachcomputer.at/handroid.htm| Handroid <ref>[http://www.schachcomputer.at/handroid.htm Boris Handroid] from [http://www.schachcomputer.at/ Kurt´s Schachcomputer Homepage] by [[Kurt Kispert]] (German), Photo by Rolf Bühlers</ref> ]]
''Boris Handroid'' was the first but very rare electronic [[Robots|chess robot]] from 1980 <ref>[http://www.schachcomputer.at/schachroboter.htm Schachroboter] from [http://www.schachcomputer.at/ Kurt´s Schachcomputer Homepage] by [[Kurt Kispert]] (German)</ref>, with 64 [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hall_effect_sensor Hall effect sensors] to recognize pieces, and three [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Servomechanism servomechanisms] to control the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cartesian_coordinate_robot cartesian] [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robotic_arm robotic arm]. The Handroid program, adapted by [[Terry Fredrick]] <ref>[http://terryfrederick.com/resume.htm Terry M. Fredrick - Resume]</ref> was also based on [[Sargon|Sargon 2.5]] by [[Kathe Spracklen|Kathe]] and [[Dan Spracklen]].
<span id="X"></span>
=Boris Experimental=
''Boris Experimental'' (Boris X) was the further development of the ''Boris 2.5'' aka ''Sargon 2.5'' program, but no longer by the Spracklens, who after their [[Chafitz#ChafitzExperience|experience]] no longer worked for [[Chafitz]], but for [[Sidney Samole|Samole's]] [[Fidelity Electronics]]. [[John Aker]] continued the job.
==WMCCC 1980==
The Sargon based ''Boris Experimental'' played the [[WMCCC 1980|1st World Microcomputer Chess Championship]], September 4-9, 1980, in London, where it only lost versus later champion and Sargon based [[Chess Challenger|Challenger X]], blundering an endgame a piece up <ref>[https://www.game-ai-forum.org/icga-tournaments/round.php?tournament=13&round=3&id=1 London 1980 - Chess - Round 3 - Game 1 (ICGA Tournaments)]</ref>, and became second with 4 out of 5!
<pre>
[Event "WMCCC 1980"]
[Site "London, United Kingdom"]
[Date "1980.09.05"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Chess Challenger"]
[Black "Boris Experimental"]
[Result "1-0"]
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 b5 5.Bb3 Bc5 6.c3 Nf6 7.d4 exd4 8.e5 Qe7 9.cxd4 Bb4+
10.Kf1 Ng8 11.Bf4 Na5 12.a3 Nxb3 13.Qxb3 Ba5 14.Nc3 Bb7 15.d5 O-O-O 16.Rc1 f6 17.exf6
Nxf6 18.d6 Qe6 19.Qxe6 dxe6 20.dxc7 Rd7 21.Ng5 Re8 22.Re1 h6 23.Nxe6 Rde7 24.b4 Bb6
25.a4 Rxe6 26.Rxe6 Rxe6 27.axb5 axb5 28.Be3 Bxc7 29.Bd4 Bc6 30.f3 Bd6 31.Na2 Bd5
32.Nc3 Bc4+ 33.Kf2 Bxb4 34.Rb1 Bd6 35.Nxb5 Bxh2 36.Nc3 Bd6 37.g3 Kd7 38.f4 g6 39.Kf3
Nd5 40.Ne4 Be7 41.Rb7+ Kc6 42.Rb2 h5 43.Rc2 Kb5 44.Rb2+ Bb4 45.Be5 Bd3 46.Nd6+ Kc5
47.Rb3 Bc2 48.Nb7+ Kb6 49.Rb2 Rc6 50.Nd6 Bd1+ 51.Ke4 Kc5 52.f5 Nc3+ 53.Kd3 gxf5
54.Nxf5 Nd5 55.Bd4+ Kb5 56.Be5 Kc5 57.Bd4+ Kb5 58.Be5 Ka4 59.Ra2+ Ba3 60.Kd4 Nc3
61.Ra1 Nb5+ 62.Ke3 Bc2 63.Kf4 Rc4+ 64.Kg5 Rg4+ 65.Kf6 Rc4 66.Kg5 Rg4+ 67.Kf6 Kb3
68.Rh1 Bxf5 69.Kxf5 Nd6+ 70.Ke6 Rg6+ 71.Kd5 Nc4 72.Bf4 Rb6 73.Ke4 Rb5 74.Rd1 Bb2
75.Re1 Be5 76.Rb1+ Bb2 77.Re1 Be5 78.Rb1+ Ka4 79.Rxb5 Bxf4 80.Rc5 Kb4 81.Rxc4+ Kxc4
82.Kxf4 Kd5 83.Kg5 Ke4 84.Kxh5 Kf5 85.g4+ Ke4 86.g5 Kf5 87.g6 Ke6 88.Kh6 Kf6 89.g7
Kf7 90.Kh7 Ke6 91.g8=Q+ Ke5 92.Kg6 Ke4 93.Qc4+ Ke5 94.Kg5 Kd6 95.Kf6 Kd7 96.Qc5 Kd8
97.Ke6 Ke8 98.Qe7# 1-0
</pre>
<span id="Controversy"></span>
==Controversy==
===ACM 1980===
Boris X was also registered for the [[ACM 1980]]. A brief description is given in the tournament booklet with [[Applied Concepts]] CEO [[Alan Mead]] as representative <ref>[http://www.computerhistory.org/chess/full_record.php?iid=doc-431614f6cdeeb The Eleventh ACM's North American Computer Chess Championship], [http://archive.computerhistory.org/projects/chess/related_materials/text/3-1%20and%203-2%20and%203-3.1980_11th_ACM_NACCC/The_Eleventh_ACMs_North_American_Computer_Chess_Championship.1980.062303015.sm.pdf pdf] from [[The Computer History Museum]]</ref> :
<u>BORIS EXPERIMENTAL</u>, Alan Mead, Applied Concepts, Garland, Texas
The program uses [[Alpha-Beta|alpha-beta]] pruning with recently developed and improved search heuristics. The program runs in 8k of program space and has nine levels of play including two tournament levels. The tournament level play is expected to be 100 points stronger than the present BORIS 2.5 program.
But ''Boris X'', despite registered, finally did not play the [[ACM 1980]]. [[Kathe Spracklen]] had filed a protest, claiming ''Boris X'' is too similar to ''Sargon 2.5'', and requested mutual comparison of the source code. After John Aker admitted that ''Boris X'' was a revamped ''Sargon 2.5'', ''Boris'' was rejected <ref>[http://www.schaakcomputers.nl/hein_veldhuis/database/files/01-1981%20%5BE-4701%5D%20Applied%20Concepts%20-%20Morphy%20Edition%20Master%20Chess%20%28module%29.pdf Applied Concepts - Morphy Edition Master Chess (module)] (pdf) by [[Hein Veldhuis]]</ref> <ref>[[Evan Katz]] ('''1981'''). ''[https://archive.org/stream/PersonalComputing198102/Personal%20Computing%201981-02#page/n85/mode/1up The Eleventh North American Computer Chess Championship]''. [[Personal Computing#5_2|Personal Computing, Vol. 5, No. 2]], pp. 87</ref>.
===ACM 1981===
At the 12th [[ACM 1981]], ''Boris X'' was mentioned in the booklet again, now with a long list of its authors and Applied Concepts representatives <ref>[http://www.computerhistory.org/chess/full_record.php?iid=doc-431614f6ce737 The Twelfth ACM's North American Computer Chess Championship], [http://archive.computerhistory.org/projects/chess/related_materials/text/3-1%20and%203-2%20and%203-3.1981_ACM_NACCC/1981_ACM_NACCC.sm.062303017.pdf pdf] from [[The Computer History Museum]]</ref>, but again, did not participate, likely also because [[David Slate]] was already competing with [[Nuchess]]:
<u>BORIS EXPERIMENTAL</u>, [[John Aker]], [[Alan Mead]], [[Terry Fredrick]], [[John Jacobs]], [[David Slate]], [[Larry Atkin]] (c/o AM, Applied Concepts, Inc. 207 N. Kirby, Garland, Texas 75042), [[Great Game Machine]] (at site)
=See also=
* [[Applied Concepts]]
* [[Chafitz]]
* [[Various Classifications#ChessLegend|Chess Legends]]
* [[Various Classifications#GivenName|Given Name]]
=Publications=
* [http://alain.zanchetta.free.fr/docs/AppliedConcepts/BorisKitAssemblyManualUS.pdf Boris assembly manual] (pdf) hosted by [[Alain Zanchetta]]
* Editor ('''1978'''). ''[http://www.computerhistory.org/chess/full_record.php?iid=doc-431614f6d74a1 What's New? Computer chess; Microchess 1.5; Boris]'', [[Byte Magazine#BYTE310|BYTE, Vol. 3, No. 10]], pp. 193, [http://archive.computerhistory.org/projects/chess/related_materials/text/4-1%20and%204-2.Whats_New_Byte_Magazine/Whats_New.Microchess_1-5.Boris.Byte_Magazine.Oct-1978.062303032.pdf pdf] from [[The Computer History Museum]] » [[MicroChess]]
* Editor ('''1978'''). ''Black-box war''. [[Personal Computing#2_11|Personal Computing, Vol. 2, No. 11]], pp. 17 » [[Chess Challenger]]
* [[Harry Shershow]] ('''1979'''). ''Chafitz' Big Move in Computer Chess''. [[Personal Computing#3_9|Personal Computing, Vol. 3, No. 9]], pp. 59 » [[Sargon]]
* Michael Ham ('''1980'''). ''Modular Game System and Boris / Sargon 2.5''. [[Personal Computing#4_7|Personal Computing, Vol. 4, No. 7]], pp. 79 » [[Chafitz Modular Game System|Modular Game System]]
* Editor ('''1980'''). ''Boris on the Move''. [[Personal Computing#4_8|Personal Computing, Vol. 4, No. 8]], pp. 77 » [[Applied Concepts]]
* [[David E. Welsh]] ('''1980'''). ''Rating Boris 2.5''. [[Personal Computing#4_10|Personal Computing, Vol. 4, No. 10]], pp. 78
* Editor ('''1980'''). ''The battle of Boris 2.5 vs Sargon 2.5'' [[Personal Computing#4_10|Personal Computing, Vol. 4, No. 10]], pp. 83 » [[Applied Concepts]], [[Chafitz]]
* [[David E. Welsh]] ('''1980'''). ''Rating Boris 2.5 - Part II''. [[Personal Computing#4_11|Personal Computing, Vol. 4, No. 11]], pp. 87
* [[Harry Shershow]] ('''1981'''). ''Two New Units In Aktion''. [[Personal Computing#5_2|Personal Computing, Vol. 5, No. 2]], pp. 91 » [[MCC 1980]], [[John Aker]], [[Morphy]]
* [http://www.schaakcomputers.nl/hein_veldhuis/database/files/04-1979%20%5BC-7926%5D%20Applied%20Concepts%20-%20Boris%20Diplomat%20%28I%29%20%28bleu%20housing%29.pdf Applied Concepts - Boris Diplomat] (pdf) by [[Hein Veldhuis]]
=Forum Posts=
* [http://groups.google.com/group/rec.games.chess.computer/browse_frm/thread/5902ace64977d952 The old Boris chess computer] by [[Truman Collins]], [[Computer Chess Forums|rgcc]], January 25, 1996 <ref>[[Truman Collins]] ('''1995'''). ''A Trip Down Chess Computer Memory Lane''. [[Computer Chess Reports]], Vol. 5, No. 3-4 Addendum, pp. 33</ref>
* [http://www.hiarcs.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=1122 Collectors Corner. Chafitz Chess Computers..The Early Years] by [[Steve Blincoe|Steve B]], [[Computer Chess Forums|Hiarcs Forum]], March 30, 2008
=External Links=
* [https://www.game-ai-forum.org/icga-tournaments/program.php?id=458 Boris Experimental ICGA Tournaments]
* [http://www.computerhistory.org/collections/catalog/102647279 Boris Electronic Chess Computer]], [[The Computer History Museum]]
* [http://www.borischesscomputer.com/homepage.htm Boris is King] by Daniel Collin <ref>[http://www.hiarcs.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=8419 Boris is King website address has been changed !] by Boris is King, [[Computer Chess Forums|Hiarcs Forum]], May 31, 2017</ref>
* [http://www.chesscomputeruk.com/html/applied_concepts_boris.html Applied Concepts Boris] from [http://www.chesscomputeruk.com/index.html Chess Computer UK] by [[Mike Watters]]
* [http://www.spacious-mind.com/html/boris.html Chafitz Boris] from [[The Spacious Mind]]
* [http://www.schach-computer.info/wiki/index.php/Chafitz_Boris Chafitz Boris] from [http://www.schach-computer.info/wiki/index.php/Hauptseite_En Schachcomputer.info Wiki] (German)
* [http://www.schach-computer.info/wiki/index.php/Chafitz_Boris_Master Chafitz Boris Master] from [http://www.schach-computer.info/wiki/index.php/Hauptseite_En Schachcomputer.info Wiki] (German)
* [http://www.schach-computer.info/wiki/index.php/Chafitz_Boris_Diplomat Chafitz Boris Diplomat] from [http://www.schach-computer.info/wiki/index.php/Hauptseite_En Schachcomputer.info Wiki] (German)
* [http://www.seanriddle.com/f8.html Other F8 games - Boris Diplomat] by [[Sean Riddle]] - playable in [http://www.mess.org/ MESS]
* [http://chesseval.com/ChessEvalJournal/ANDROID/ChessEvalJournal.htm Directly coming from the 21st Century: the Boris HANDroid] by [[Rob van Son]], [http://www.chesseval.com/index.html ChessEval], February 2014
=References=
<references />
'''[[Engines|Up one level]]'''
[[FILE:4-0 and 4-2.Boris_Electronic_Chess_Computer.Applied_Concepts.1977.102647279.lg.jpg|border|right|thumb|link=http://www.computerhistory.org/chess/full_record.php?iid=art-431614f43ad74|Boris <ref>[http://www.computerhistory.org/chess/full_record.php?iid=art-431614f43ad74 Boris Electronic Chess Computer], [[Applied Concepts]], from [[The Computer History Museum]]</ref> ]]
'''Boris''',<br/>
an early [[Dedicated Chess Computers|dedicated chess computer]], which appeared in February 1978, designed and manufactured by [[Applied Concepts]] <ref>''Patent Application filed 2nd March 1978 Inventors: Rod Barclay, John A. Cunningham, [[Alan Mead|Alan B. Mead]], Joseph T. Spaits for [[Applied Concepts|Applied Concepts, Inc.]]'' from [http://www.chesscomputeruk.com/html/patents.html Patents] from [http://www.chesscomputeruk.com/index.html Chess Computer UK] by [[Mike Watters]]</ref> and marketed by primary distributor [[Chafitz]]. Already in March 1978, Boris played [[MCCT 1978|Second West Coast Computer Faire Microcomputer Chess Tournament]] in the "microcomputers with less than 8K of memory class" <ref>[[Larry Wagner]] ('''1978'''). ''Results of First Microcomputer Chess Tournament''. [http://www.computerhistory.org/collections/accession/102686281 Silicon Gulch Gazette], Vol. 2, No. 4, May 10, 1978, pg. 9</ref>. Boris ran on a [[Fairchild F8]] 8-bit microprocessor with only 2.5 KiB [[Memory#ROM|ROM]] and 256 byte [[Memory#RAM|RAM]]. [[David Lindsay]] was hired to program the machine <ref>[http://www.hiarcs.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=1122 Collectors Corner. Chafitz Chess Computers..The Early Years] by [[Steve Blincoe|Steve B]], [[Computer Chess Forums|Hiarcs Forum]], March 30, 2008</ref>, and two further Boris models with Lindsay programs appeared in 1979, the first travel chess computer ''Boris Diplomat'' <ref>[http://www.schaakcomputers.nl/hein_veldhuis/database/files/04-1979%20%5BC-7926%5D%20Applied%20Concepts%20-%20Boris%20Diplomat%20%28I%29%20%28bleu%20housing%29.pdf Applied Concepts - Boris Diplomat] (pdf) by [[Hein Veldhuis]]</ref> <ref>[http://www.schach-computer.info/wiki/index.php/Chafitz_Boris_Diplomat Chafitz Boris Diplomat] from [http://www.schach-computer.info/wiki/index.php/Hauptseite_En Schachcomputer.info Wiki] (German)</ref>, where Lindsay holds a patent <ref>[http://www.patentbuddy.com/Patent/Profile/7650390/4804112 Professional Profiles for Innovators of D255247, Lindsay, David including employment histories, technology specializations, innovator rankings/ratings, residence addresses, co-workers, Chess piece font] from [http://www.patentbuddy.com/home.jsf PatentBuddy]</ref> on the [[Pieces#Drawing|Chess piece font]] <ref>[http://www.borischesscomputer.com//Carateres%20speciaux%20Diplomat.jpg Boris Diplomat character's] from [http://www.borischesscomputer.com/ Boris is King] by Daniel Collin</ref>, and the ''Boris Master'' <ref>[http://www.schach-computer.info/wiki/index.php/Chafitz_Boris_Master Chafitz Boris Master] from [http://www.schach-computer.info/wiki/index.php/Hauptseite_En Schachcomputer.info Wiki] (German)</ref>.
=Photos=
[[FILE:ChafitzBoris.jpg|none|border|text-bottom|link=http://www.flickr.com/photos/10261668@N05/2376896939/in/set-72157600923816639]]
[[Arleen Chafitz|Arleen]] and [[Steve Chafitz]], Boris is King <ref>[http://www.flickr.com/photos/10261668@N05/2376896939/in/set-72157600923816639 Ft.Boris | Flickr - Fotosharing] by [[Steve Blincoe|Chewbanta]]</ref> <ref>[http://www.borischesscomputer.com//homepage.htm Boris is King] by Daniel Collin</ref>
=Bobby Fischer calling=
[[Steve Chafitz]] on a call from [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bobby_Fischer Bobby Fischer] <ref>[http://www.eendusa.com/history.php e-End – Secure Electronic Data Destruction and Computer Electronics Recycling, Frederick MD]</ref>:
Just to rewind a bit, one evening when I was home having dinner, I got a call from Bobby Fischer. He was excited about our electronic chess game "Boris" and I realized that if he was interested in our electronic chess game that there was a major market out there. We increased our development of electronic games and yes, we hired the brightest and the best programmers in the country to develop programs for our games.
The name of the computer was likely in dependence on the given name of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boris_Spassky Boris Spassky], who lost the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Chess_Championship_1972 Chess World Championship 1972] from [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bobby_Fischer Bobby Fischer] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reykjavik Reykjavik].
=Co-Author=
The [[ICGA]] site mentions [[Rex Kent]] as author of ''Boris Experimental'' which played the [[WMCCC 1980|1st World Microcomputer Chess Championship]] 1980 in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London London] <ref>[https://www.game-ai-forum.org/icga-tournaments/person.php?id=485 Rex Kent's ICGA Tournaments]</ref>. However, ''Boris X'' was already the work of [[Kathe Spracklen|Kathe]] and [[Dan Spracklen]], and additionally with modifications by [[John Aker]] and [[Terry Fredrick]]. Rex Kent operated ''Boris'' at the [[PCW-MCC 1978]] <ref>[[David Levy]] ('''1978'''). ''The PCW Microcomputer Chess Championships'', [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personal_Computer_World Personal Computer World] 11/78, [http://www.chesscomputeruk.com/PCW-MCC_1978.pdf pdf] from [http://www.chesscomputeruk.com/index.html Chess Computer UK] by [[Mike Watters]]</ref>. It is a bit unclear whether Kent was operator or co- or book-author of the early ''Boris'' otherwise credited to [[David Lindsay]].
<span id="2.5"></span>
=Boris 2.5=
In 1979, following the development of the original Boris when more advanced programs were required, [[Arleen Chafitz|Arleen]] and [[Steve Chafitz]] contracted [[Kathe Spracklen|Kathe]] and [[Dan Spracklen]] to be their chess programmers for their [[Chafitz Modular Game System|Chafitz modular game system]] as well the [[Applied Concepts]] [[Great Game Machine]] <ref>[http://www.great-game-machine.com/ Welcome to the Great-Game Machine Workshop]</ref>. Their [[Sargon|Sargon 2.5]] program appeared as ''Chafitz Sargon 2.5'' MGS [[Module|module]] <ref>[http://www.schach-computer.info/wiki/index.php/Chafitz_Sargon_2.5 Chafitz Sargon 2.5] from [http://www.schach-computer.info/wiki/index.php/Hauptseite_En Schachcomputer.info Wiki] (German)</ref>, and in 1980, as [[Chafitz ARB Sargon 2.5]] <ref>[http://www.spacious-mind.com/html/arb_sargon_2_5.html Chafitz ARB Sargon 2.5 Electronic Chess Computer] from [[The Spacious Mind]]</ref>, also called ''Boris Sargon 2.5'' <ref>[http://tluif.home.xs4all.nl/chescom/BorSarg.html Boris Sargon 2.5] by [http://www.xs4all.nl/%7Etluif/ Tom Luif]</ref> or simply dubbed ''Boris 2.5''. [[John Aker]] and [[Terry Fredrick]], affiliated with Applied Concepts, were involved in improving the Sargon and Boris program <ref>[http://terryfrederick.com/resume.htm Terry M. Fredrick - Resume]</ref>.
<span id="Handroid"></span>
=Boris Handroid=
[[FILE:Handroid.jpg|border|right|thumb|link=http://www.schachcomputer.at/handroid.htm| Handroid <ref>[http://www.schachcomputer.at/handroid.htm Boris Handroid] from [http://www.schachcomputer.at/ Kurt´s Schachcomputer Homepage] by [[Kurt Kispert]] (German), Photo by Rolf Bühlers</ref> ]]
''Boris Handroid'' was the first but very rare electronic [[Robots|chess robot]] from 1980 <ref>[http://www.schachcomputer.at/schachroboter.htm Schachroboter] from [http://www.schachcomputer.at/ Kurt´s Schachcomputer Homepage] by [[Kurt Kispert]] (German)</ref>, with 64 [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hall_effect_sensor Hall effect sensors] to recognize pieces, and three [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Servomechanism servomechanisms] to control the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cartesian_coordinate_robot cartesian] [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robotic_arm robotic arm]. The Handroid program, adapted by [[Terry Fredrick]] <ref>[http://terryfrederick.com/resume.htm Terry M. Fredrick - Resume]</ref> was also based on [[Sargon|Sargon 2.5]] by [[Kathe Spracklen|Kathe]] and [[Dan Spracklen]].
<span id="X"></span>
=Boris Experimental=
''Boris Experimental'' (Boris X) was the further development of the ''Boris 2.5'' aka ''Sargon 2.5'' program, but no longer by the Spracklens, who after their [[Chafitz#ChafitzExperience|experience]] no longer worked for [[Chafitz]], but for [[Sidney Samole|Samole's]] [[Fidelity Electronics]]. [[John Aker]] continued the job.
==WMCCC 1980==
The Sargon based ''Boris Experimental'' played the [[WMCCC 1980|1st World Microcomputer Chess Championship]], September 4-9, 1980, in London, where it only lost versus later champion and Sargon based [[Chess Challenger|Challenger X]], blundering an endgame a piece up <ref>[https://www.game-ai-forum.org/icga-tournaments/round.php?tournament=13&round=3&id=1 London 1980 - Chess - Round 3 - Game 1 (ICGA Tournaments)]</ref>, and became second with 4 out of 5!
<pre>
[Event "WMCCC 1980"]
[Site "London, United Kingdom"]
[Date "1980.09.05"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Chess Challenger"]
[Black "Boris Experimental"]
[Result "1-0"]
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 b5 5.Bb3 Bc5 6.c3 Nf6 7.d4 exd4 8.e5 Qe7 9.cxd4 Bb4+
10.Kf1 Ng8 11.Bf4 Na5 12.a3 Nxb3 13.Qxb3 Ba5 14.Nc3 Bb7 15.d5 O-O-O 16.Rc1 f6 17.exf6
Nxf6 18.d6 Qe6 19.Qxe6 dxe6 20.dxc7 Rd7 21.Ng5 Re8 22.Re1 h6 23.Nxe6 Rde7 24.b4 Bb6
25.a4 Rxe6 26.Rxe6 Rxe6 27.axb5 axb5 28.Be3 Bxc7 29.Bd4 Bc6 30.f3 Bd6 31.Na2 Bd5
32.Nc3 Bc4+ 33.Kf2 Bxb4 34.Rb1 Bd6 35.Nxb5 Bxh2 36.Nc3 Bd6 37.g3 Kd7 38.f4 g6 39.Kf3
Nd5 40.Ne4 Be7 41.Rb7+ Kc6 42.Rb2 h5 43.Rc2 Kb5 44.Rb2+ Bb4 45.Be5 Bd3 46.Nd6+ Kc5
47.Rb3 Bc2 48.Nb7+ Kb6 49.Rb2 Rc6 50.Nd6 Bd1+ 51.Ke4 Kc5 52.f5 Nc3+ 53.Kd3 gxf5
54.Nxf5 Nd5 55.Bd4+ Kb5 56.Be5 Kc5 57.Bd4+ Kb5 58.Be5 Ka4 59.Ra2+ Ba3 60.Kd4 Nc3
61.Ra1 Nb5+ 62.Ke3 Bc2 63.Kf4 Rc4+ 64.Kg5 Rg4+ 65.Kf6 Rc4 66.Kg5 Rg4+ 67.Kf6 Kb3
68.Rh1 Bxf5 69.Kxf5 Nd6+ 70.Ke6 Rg6+ 71.Kd5 Nc4 72.Bf4 Rb6 73.Ke4 Rb5 74.Rd1 Bb2
75.Re1 Be5 76.Rb1+ Bb2 77.Re1 Be5 78.Rb1+ Ka4 79.Rxb5 Bxf4 80.Rc5 Kb4 81.Rxc4+ Kxc4
82.Kxf4 Kd5 83.Kg5 Ke4 84.Kxh5 Kf5 85.g4+ Ke4 86.g5 Kf5 87.g6 Ke6 88.Kh6 Kf6 89.g7
Kf7 90.Kh7 Ke6 91.g8=Q+ Ke5 92.Kg6 Ke4 93.Qc4+ Ke5 94.Kg5 Kd6 95.Kf6 Kd7 96.Qc5 Kd8
97.Ke6 Ke8 98.Qe7# 1-0
</pre>
<span id="Controversy"></span>
==Controversy==
===ACM 1980===
Boris X was also registered for the [[ACM 1980]]. A brief description is given in the tournament booklet with [[Applied Concepts]] CEO [[Alan Mead]] as representative <ref>[http://www.computerhistory.org/chess/full_record.php?iid=doc-431614f6cdeeb The Eleventh ACM's North American Computer Chess Championship], [http://archive.computerhistory.org/projects/chess/related_materials/text/3-1%20and%203-2%20and%203-3.1980_11th_ACM_NACCC/The_Eleventh_ACMs_North_American_Computer_Chess_Championship.1980.062303015.sm.pdf pdf] from [[The Computer History Museum]]</ref> :
<u>BORIS EXPERIMENTAL</u>, Alan Mead, Applied Concepts, Garland, Texas
The program uses [[Alpha-Beta|alpha-beta]] pruning with recently developed and improved search heuristics. The program runs in 8k of program space and has nine levels of play including two tournament levels. The tournament level play is expected to be 100 points stronger than the present BORIS 2.5 program.
But ''Boris X'', despite registered, finally did not play the [[ACM 1980]]. [[Kathe Spracklen]] had filed a protest, claiming ''Boris X'' is too similar to ''Sargon 2.5'', and requested mutual comparison of the source code. After John Aker admitted that ''Boris X'' was a revamped ''Sargon 2.5'', ''Boris'' was rejected <ref>[http://www.schaakcomputers.nl/hein_veldhuis/database/files/01-1981%20%5BE-4701%5D%20Applied%20Concepts%20-%20Morphy%20Edition%20Master%20Chess%20%28module%29.pdf Applied Concepts - Morphy Edition Master Chess (module)] (pdf) by [[Hein Veldhuis]]</ref> <ref>[[Evan Katz]] ('''1981'''). ''[https://archive.org/stream/PersonalComputing198102/Personal%20Computing%201981-02#page/n85/mode/1up The Eleventh North American Computer Chess Championship]''. [[Personal Computing#5_2|Personal Computing, Vol. 5, No. 2]], pp. 87</ref>.
===ACM 1981===
At the 12th [[ACM 1981]], ''Boris X'' was mentioned in the booklet again, now with a long list of its authors and Applied Concepts representatives <ref>[http://www.computerhistory.org/chess/full_record.php?iid=doc-431614f6ce737 The Twelfth ACM's North American Computer Chess Championship], [http://archive.computerhistory.org/projects/chess/related_materials/text/3-1%20and%203-2%20and%203-3.1981_ACM_NACCC/1981_ACM_NACCC.sm.062303017.pdf pdf] from [[The Computer History Museum]]</ref>, but again, did not participate, likely also because [[David Slate]] was already competing with [[Nuchess]]:
<u>BORIS EXPERIMENTAL</u>, [[John Aker]], [[Alan Mead]], [[Terry Fredrick]], [[John Jacobs]], [[David Slate]], [[Larry Atkin]] (c/o AM, Applied Concepts, Inc. 207 N. Kirby, Garland, Texas 75042), [[Great Game Machine]] (at site)
=See also=
* [[Applied Concepts]]
* [[Chafitz]]
* [[Various Classifications#ChessLegend|Chess Legends]]
* [[Various Classifications#GivenName|Given Name]]
=Publications=
* [http://alain.zanchetta.free.fr/docs/AppliedConcepts/BorisKitAssemblyManualUS.pdf Boris assembly manual] (pdf) hosted by [[Alain Zanchetta]]
* Editor ('''1978'''). ''[http://www.computerhistory.org/chess/full_record.php?iid=doc-431614f6d74a1 What's New? Computer chess; Microchess 1.5; Boris]'', [[Byte Magazine#BYTE310|BYTE, Vol. 3, No. 10]], pp. 193, [http://archive.computerhistory.org/projects/chess/related_materials/text/4-1%20and%204-2.Whats_New_Byte_Magazine/Whats_New.Microchess_1-5.Boris.Byte_Magazine.Oct-1978.062303032.pdf pdf] from [[The Computer History Museum]] » [[MicroChess]]
* Editor ('''1978'''). ''Black-box war''. [[Personal Computing#2_11|Personal Computing, Vol. 2, No. 11]], pp. 17 » [[Chess Challenger]]
* [[Harry Shershow]] ('''1979'''). ''Chafitz' Big Move in Computer Chess''. [[Personal Computing#3_9|Personal Computing, Vol. 3, No. 9]], pp. 59 » [[Sargon]]
* Michael Ham ('''1980'''). ''Modular Game System and Boris / Sargon 2.5''. [[Personal Computing#4_7|Personal Computing, Vol. 4, No. 7]], pp. 79 » [[Chafitz Modular Game System|Modular Game System]]
* Editor ('''1980'''). ''Boris on the Move''. [[Personal Computing#4_8|Personal Computing, Vol. 4, No. 8]], pp. 77 » [[Applied Concepts]]
* [[David E. Welsh]] ('''1980'''). ''Rating Boris 2.5''. [[Personal Computing#4_10|Personal Computing, Vol. 4, No. 10]], pp. 78
* Editor ('''1980'''). ''The battle of Boris 2.5 vs Sargon 2.5'' [[Personal Computing#4_10|Personal Computing, Vol. 4, No. 10]], pp. 83 » [[Applied Concepts]], [[Chafitz]]
* [[David E. Welsh]] ('''1980'''). ''Rating Boris 2.5 - Part II''. [[Personal Computing#4_11|Personal Computing, Vol. 4, No. 11]], pp. 87
* [[Harry Shershow]] ('''1981'''). ''Two New Units In Aktion''. [[Personal Computing#5_2|Personal Computing, Vol. 5, No. 2]], pp. 91 » [[MCC 1980]], [[John Aker]], [[Morphy]]
* [http://www.schaakcomputers.nl/hein_veldhuis/database/files/04-1979%20%5BC-7926%5D%20Applied%20Concepts%20-%20Boris%20Diplomat%20%28I%29%20%28bleu%20housing%29.pdf Applied Concepts - Boris Diplomat] (pdf) by [[Hein Veldhuis]]
=Forum Posts=
* [http://groups.google.com/group/rec.games.chess.computer/browse_frm/thread/5902ace64977d952 The old Boris chess computer] by [[Truman Collins]], [[Computer Chess Forums|rgcc]], January 25, 1996 <ref>[[Truman Collins]] ('''1995'''). ''A Trip Down Chess Computer Memory Lane''. [[Computer Chess Reports]], Vol. 5, No. 3-4 Addendum, pp. 33</ref>
* [http://www.hiarcs.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=1122 Collectors Corner. Chafitz Chess Computers..The Early Years] by [[Steve Blincoe|Steve B]], [[Computer Chess Forums|Hiarcs Forum]], March 30, 2008
=External Links=
* [https://www.game-ai-forum.org/icga-tournaments/program.php?id=458 Boris Experimental ICGA Tournaments]
* [http://www.computerhistory.org/collections/catalog/102647279 Boris Electronic Chess Computer]], [[The Computer History Museum]]
* [http://www.borischesscomputer.com/homepage.htm Boris is King] by Daniel Collin <ref>[http://www.hiarcs.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=8419 Boris is King website address has been changed !] by Boris is King, [[Computer Chess Forums|Hiarcs Forum]], May 31, 2017</ref>
* [http://www.chesscomputeruk.com/html/applied_concepts_boris.html Applied Concepts Boris] from [http://www.chesscomputeruk.com/index.html Chess Computer UK] by [[Mike Watters]]
* [http://www.spacious-mind.com/html/boris.html Chafitz Boris] from [[The Spacious Mind]]
* [http://www.schach-computer.info/wiki/index.php/Chafitz_Boris Chafitz Boris] from [http://www.schach-computer.info/wiki/index.php/Hauptseite_En Schachcomputer.info Wiki] (German)
* [http://www.schach-computer.info/wiki/index.php/Chafitz_Boris_Master Chafitz Boris Master] from [http://www.schach-computer.info/wiki/index.php/Hauptseite_En Schachcomputer.info Wiki] (German)
* [http://www.schach-computer.info/wiki/index.php/Chafitz_Boris_Diplomat Chafitz Boris Diplomat] from [http://www.schach-computer.info/wiki/index.php/Hauptseite_En Schachcomputer.info Wiki] (German)
* [http://www.seanriddle.com/f8.html Other F8 games - Boris Diplomat] by [[Sean Riddle]] - playable in [http://www.mess.org/ MESS]
* [http://chesseval.com/ChessEvalJournal/ANDROID/ChessEvalJournal.htm Directly coming from the 21st Century: the Boris HANDroid] by [[Rob van Son]], [http://www.chesseval.com/index.html ChessEval], February 2014
=References=
<references />
'''[[Engines|Up one level]]'''
