Could you tell a computer from a human?

Was thinking about this earlier today, thought it was quite interesting...

Say you had a human playing against a computer, both at ~2700 standard. Would you be able to tell which one was the human and which was the computer just from the moves they made?

And if so, how high would the human's ELO have to be to be indistinguishable from a computer?

If a player is much stronger than you, then you wont understand the finer points of their moves.  Most people on chess.com wouldn't be able to tell the difference between a 2000 rated player and a 3000 rated computer.

But I guess you're saying the engine is made to play at roughly the same elo as the human.  In that case it just depends on the position.  Sometimes it will be obvious, and sometimes not.  Going for precise tactical variations instead of safe and easy ways to win is a big tip off.  Pointless maneuvering in closed positions and endgames is another.  Playing "ugly" or "anti-positional" moves that nevertheless work out tactically is another.

Without these big clues, you'd need to be rated within a few hundred points to really notice.

I know this is a relatively old thread, but I actually kinda want to test this out.

if the human and coputer are both 2700 it would be easy.

It's a sort of chess Turing test, I think you should be able to. As mentioned above computers will always go for complication if the position assessment indicates marginally better, this and the "ugly" nature of some of the moves may be give aways.

Interestingly, I was reading an article that was suggesting the style of the top players has changed over the last decade to resemble computer style. Sorry forgotten where I read this.

"I was reading an article that was suggesting the style of the top players has changed over the last decade to resemble computer style."

Also their shoe design went through a dramatic change and they begun to wear glasses with thick frames. A lot of things have changed in the last decade in top level chess we must admit.

:) watcha, that is very true, but I don't think their clothing style has been influenced by computers. Or you think it has?

Admittedly, I'm not supporting my assertion, if that's whats bothering you.

A human is a computer until it is proven otherwise