Computer Chess

by Hla Min

Updated : June 2025

Video Broadcast on November 19, 2020

David Levy

1968 : David Levy’s wager with Don Michie (Pioneer in Machine Intelligence, U of Edinburgh) joined by two other Computer Experts from the USA

Levy beat several Chess Programs / Computers

1978 : Levy won the wager

World Champion Programs

Belle : by Ken Thompson, UNIX co-creator

Deep Thought (CMU) : Received Master Rating; Beat Levy

Deep Thought Team

• Ph.D students : Designed special chips for Chess. Improved Search & Processing of Decision Tree
• Chess experts : Created Data base of Chess Strategies. Analyzed Chess Games. Suggested improvements for hardware and software
• The team was recruited by IBM to develop Deep Blue. Three remained for the Challenge to be the Human World Champion

Show down

1997 : Garry Kasparov (then World Champion) beat Deep Blue by 4 – 2

1998 : Deep Blue beat Kasparov by 3.5 – 2.5
Kasparov made unexpected errors (especially in the final game)

IBM retired Deep Blue

Computer History Museum

Exhibit on “History of Computer Chess”

I attended the Panel Discussion at CHM by (Prof Ed Feigenbaum / Expert Systems, Monty Newborn / Organizer of Computer Chess Tournaments, Murray / Member of Deep Thought and Deep Blue, …)

Remarks

• After retirement, Kasparov became Coach of Magnus Carlsen (Triple World Champion for Classic Chess, Rapid Chess and Blitz Chess).
• Most Champions have Mentors & Coaches.

My Videos on YouTube