
Besting the Silicon "Beasts" - Redux
I've always enjoyed playing computers. Or, rather, I enjoyed it much more 20 years ago when you stood a fighting chance against them. Ah, 'twas the best of times -- a time when you could bring strong programs on their metaphorical knees by launching KID attacks.... With surprising frequency they would actually bring themselves to their knees by imploding in the endgame.
I have a fondness for those machines of yore, and still play against them on occasion; I love the challenge, and I've never liked the dumbed-down options on modern engines. It feels like they've mainly reduced the search depth, which still does not make for very human-like opposition, whereas some of the old machines have a surprisingly human style.
So without further ado, here are some recent games between your truly and olden hard- and software. These games were played under tournament-like conditions -- that is, I don't use takebacks. Having said that, I should perhaps add that I don't post the games where the machines made mincemeat out of me.
The first is a G15 against GK2100, with a 1979 ELO according to this German wiki. When I was a kid, this computer would beat be mercilessly. A few years ago, I found it in the closet when visiting my mom and decided to have a go...
And here's one more G15 from yesterday. No takebacks, but I did spend more than 15 minutes (perhaps 20) so technically I ran out of time: