Computers have Solved Checkers: Is Chess Next?
After roughly 1,000 years of total computing time (~50 computers working for last 20 years), the game of checkers is no longer a game: it is simply a puzzle. Professor Jonathan Schaeffer has proven that with perfect play from both sides, checkers is a draw. What this means is that if you can store all 50 billion billion (yes, double billion as in 5x1020) possible positions in your head, then you will never lose a game of checkers again!
What does that mean for chess players like us? Will computers solve chess? YES. Will it be soon? Probably not. There are more possible chess moves than there are atoms in the universe (read more here).
My question is, will this make me less interested in chess? Will it suddenly change the way everyone plays? I'm going to say NO. If Bill Wall can still beat me when opening with 1. h4, then I have a long way to go before I lose interest in chess... how about you?
(To play against the perfect checkers computer, click here!)
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Yes, I am the guy who started Chess.com (along with Jay, Igor, Piotr, and many others). I have 3 amazing daughters, one wild son, and a wonderful, patient wife! I learned chess when I was 8 years old. Since then I have been playing, studying, and enjoying it regularly. I prefer semi-open and closed positions that blow up tactically (like the Closed Sicilian, King's Indian, Glek etc).
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