Has anyone downloaded and played the latest version of the HAL9000 Chess program? I am trying to get a fairly accurate measure of the playing strength (numeric Chess rating) of the most recent release of the program when played at level 7 or 8 (its most difficult levels). I would also like to get an accurate assessment of its playing strength when played at tournament level (level 9).

If anyone can approximate HAL's USCF or FIDE rating fairly accurately, it would be appreciated. If you would like to try rating the latest version of the program (Vr. ...7.2) you can download it from the download section of Chess.com. It's a free download, and the program source code and documentation is included.

A bit of background: HAL (heuristic associative linear-algorithm) was developed as part of a doctoral research paradigm in Artificial Intelligence (hence its name HAL from the Chess playing A.I. computer from the screen play, 2001: a space odyssey). It is true A.I. and therefore does not utililize an opening book. It also incorporates a natural language processing component to simulate intelligent interactive dialogue.

So I was looking up HAL9000, and came across this video:

"2001: A Space Odyssey explained"

It's kind of cool to watch Here's the link...

http://www.kubrick2001.com/

Yeah, I saw that video some years ago  (maybe lots of years I was a kid)!!!

Presentation has changed much though

First time I've ever seen it or heard about it! I really liked it.

there are still loose ends, I think it is not possible to give a closed, consistent, self-contained interpretation

Thanks to give me this back

I'm not sure what you mean? I just saw it as one interpretation.

I just read that HAL is the letters IBM shifted backward once.

I have just downloaded your HAL program but haven't figured how to play it yet.

it doesn't mind, things of mine, did you already manage to get kid support? :)

The HAL chess program is the CP3.EXE file in the Zipped files. To execute the program, extract the files to a folder or your desktop and double-click on the file icon named CP3.EXE. The program will then run in a DOS window in text-mode. The program understands English so you can communicate with it in free-form English or in long algebraic notation. However, you have to designate board squares in letter-number notation. 

When HAL askes if there are any instructions, say (type) something like "Set the skill level at 7, please HAL." HAL will then ask "Acknowledged. What else?" to which you can respond something like "Show the board after each move, please HAL. " The program will show the moves that it is considering as a line of numbers at the bottom of the screen. If you don't want to see this, just type something like "HAL don't plot the game-tree on the screen please. " when HAL asks "What else?" After you have finished instructing HAL as to the desired level of play, etc., when HAL asks "What else?" just type something like "Nothing else, HAL." at which point HAL will ask which pieces you want: White or Black. After that the game will start.

You are playing in a DOS window so you have to type-in your moves rather than using your mouse. There are several documentation files included in the Zipped download that explain this. They are hal.html and hal.doc.

 Right; HAL is an experiment in Artificial Intelligence to make it seem more "human-like" in its manner of play.

Thanks very much, Rich! I estimated HAL's playing strength to be somewhere between 1800 and 1900 at level 7 myself, although your assessment is probably the more accurate one. I was very impressed by your Chess history and tournments in which you have competed. Thanks again for your feedback and game log!

Thanks for explaining everything. I will give it a try...

Have started a game which is going ok, but can't maximise the board. Can this be done?

That was a nice game to watch. It seemed to break away from standard lines that we are all so used to. Thanks for sharing it Schachgeek. This is getting quite interesting.

If HAL is executing in an XP OS you can right-click on the blue top boarder of the DOS window in which HAL is running and select full-screen, but if you are running Windows Vista or Windows 7 you cannot increase the screen size.