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0 pointsrocqua3y ago0 comments

It isn't known theoretically whether perfect play is enough for black to force a draw. It is also an infinitesimal probability that white starts off in zugzwang (i.e. all possible moves are bad).

However the consensus guess is that perfect play yields a draw.

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Gehinnn3y ago

Why is that the consensus guess? I could imagine that a perfect play completely contradicts common chess theory.

Just like we can efficiently find approximate solutions for the traveling salesman problem (that are at most 50% longer than the optimal solution), these heuristics have not much to do with the optimal solution.

bluGill3y ago

Because when great players realize they have a position that they connect win are still able to figure out how to force a draw so they don't lose.

> I could imagine that a perfect play completely contradicts common chess theory.

So can anyone. Nobody knows what perfect chess play is. Our best guess though is that whatever your opponent plays you can always force a draw before they can win.

bee_rider3y ago

That's an interesting point.

Unfortunately it leaves us in the position of not having much to go by, if expert experience doesn't help analyze the game.

I wonder how different a chess engine and optimal play look for the reduced sized boards.

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