Retrograde Analysis and Two Computerizable Definitions of the Quality of Chess Games

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Althöfer, Ingo

Affiliations: University of Bielefeld, West Germany

Abstract: This paper deals with a twofold problem: first, that of the realistic content of chess problems. Second, retrograde analysis is shown to have fundamental questions of its own: notably, given two configurations A and B, is there a legal chess game leading from A to B? No program seems to be available to decide the matter. As a research question, it is proposed to implement if possible a definable quality, modulo X, where X is a machine. In turn, this gives rise to the question: ‘Is there a fair procedure to evaluate the strength of a player, P, from the moves played, disregarding the rating of P’s opponents?’. The paper intentionally proposes research questions without furnishing specific answers.

DOI: 10.3233/ICG-1989-12204

Journal: ICGA Journal, vol. 12, no. 2, pp. 74-78, 1989