MovieChat Forums > Game Over: Kasparov and the Machine (2004) Discussion > Why did Kasparov do this to himself !?

Why did Kasparov do this to himself !?

posted 12 years ago by ObservationBlogger
1 reply | jump to latest

Lesson 1 do not play against an unknown quantity like an IBM computer especially at the onset of the information age boom!

If I was a world champion or a grand master ..I would never put my reputation on the line as representing the face of human kind playing an unknown quantity and quality especially an IBM super computer. You will notice after the 1st game, the project people at IBM said (or words to the effect) we will tinker with 'Deep Blue' tonight and get it working properly. What is that?!

This whole controversy about the human interference aspect is totally irrelevant, since the computer was developed and maintained by humans, so it was always going to be about human interference. Without humans the computer would not exist or could be maintained to compete and beat the best in the world. And why did IBM pack it up after all this? Doesn't make sense except to show this was all about PR and to win this match and nothing more.

Considering the overwhelming security they had about every aspect of the machine, how could you possibly put yourself in a position in a game (which is essentially about calculations) playing one of the the biggest technology companies in the world with a corporate image to protect and project. In whatever way you see it Kasparov was set up to lose for that brand. It was a key stroke of marketing genius and it worked.

But besides this, my point is Kasparov didn't need this. Did he not realise that all sorts could be going on behind the scenes to match his style of play. Did he trust that IBM would be more open about the computer? He could have happily kept playing as he was. IBM could have chased another GM. Kasparov should have known better than to put such pressure on himself. Was it greed, arrogance or misguided courage on his part? Or is there more to Kasparov's part than meets the eye?

My 120 favorite movies http://www.imdb.com/list/Uvw_F2_GMx8/
What would you add?

[–] YuunofYork 7 years ago

As others have said, the whole media circus surrounding these matches was predicated on the mistaken belief that anything was at risk, or that any possible use could come of it. Computers only calculate, chess is a game about calculation, so in a round-about way we can call a match like this playing chess. Of course - eventually - these games would become unwinnable.

Not a huge surprise now and it honestly shouldn't have been back then, but it was. Today humans still get to enjoy playing chess against other humans: absolutely nothing has been lost, not even Kasparov's reputation.

Chess calculators like Deep Blue are not grandmasters, they do not have a rating, and most people wouldn't see the point in playing them. Kasparov was led on unjustifiably to believe he should care very deeply about the outcome of those games.

Et ses mains ourdiraient les entrailles du prêtre
Au défaut d'un cordon pour étrangler les rois