I'll be able to sleep well tonight! The mystery is finally solved!

[u4ic]

Alberta researchers solve checkers: you can't win unless opponent makes mistake

EDMONTON (CP) - It's taken dozens of computers humming away for almost 18 years, but a University of Alberta team has finally solved every possible game of checkers and concluded that as long as no mistakes are made, the game will end in a draw.

The popular game may be simple to play, but it holds a potential 500 billion billion positions. That's one million times more complicated than any other game solved before, says Jonathan Schaeffer, the computer science professor who began the project in 1989.

http://www.cbc.ca/cp/Oddities/070719/K071925AU.html



:eyes:





18 years? How much electricity was wasted for that stupid research?

[pitohui]

1. wow what was their first clue?

even i a lowly blackjack player knew THAT fucking much!!!!

[u4ic]

6. And how many years did that first clue take?

:dunce:

[ironflange]

2. It's obvious that winning ANYTHING requires an opponent's mistake

They took 18 years, eh? Oh wait, that's the U. of A., that's exciting stuff to those guys.

How you doing? I'm in Port Angeles, WA, at this moment, ready to leave tomorrow on our homeward bound leg. Don't really want to end this, but we miss the pussy cats. Been raining for a few days, but it miraculously cleared up this evening so we drove up to Hurricane Ridge to enjoy the nice scenery. I'll try to update that flickr thing tomorrow, I know it's been a long time but we've been without wifi most of the trip.

[u4ic]

4. Be nice to them

you may need to get transferred there one day when those witch doctors in Calgary don't have the right medicine wand for you. :P


I can't wait to see the pics! Sounds like you've had a great vacation. :toast:

It's been 30 for the past 2 weeks - and the lows have been the early-mid 20's. I'd love a bit of relief from the heat. At least it's not -30, so I'll take some comfort in that. I'm enjoying the summer - because I know all too well winter's not far away again...

10:30 and it's almost nightfall. Last week it was 11. Summer can't be slowing down this soon...:cry:

[Random_Australian]

14. Nope, there are lots of games that can be force-won.

No opponent mistakes needed. :)

[northzax]

17. not true

winning many things can be either a function of luck, or superior ability. Both contestants can play perfectly, but the luck of the draw or the roll makes the difference.

just a point. Checkers is a simpler game, and therefore can be simplified to this point. (remember tic-tac-toe with Joshua in War Games? same deal) an interesting question, is there a chess strategy that leads to a draw everytime? probably. they'll find it.

[Fire Walk With Me]

3. I want a research grant too!

http://www.theonion.com/content/news/unemployed_scientists_prove_dog

[u4ic]

5. Sorry

it's not been peer-reviewed yet.

[Oeditpus Rex]

7. In 2025

they'll reveal the secrets of tic tac toe.

[u4ic]

8. I'll be holding my breath for that one...

[ghostsofgiants]

9. Three corners.

That's all I'm sayin'.

[Oeditpus Rex]

10. Shhh!

You'll give it away! x(

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

11. next they take on tic-tac-toe

I guess.

or did Professor Falken already get that grant?

[Guava Jelly]

12. canadians

:eyes:

[ForrestGump]

13. 500 billion billion positions?

Cool.

Those Canadians know how to keep warm, eh?




:hide:

[realisticphish]

20. The Canada Sutra

:evilgrin:

[meegbear]

15. Thank you Canada! What's next "eh?" technology?

[Dragonbreathp9d]

16. up next SCRABBLE!

then chess!

[DS1]

18. can a computer reach across the board and slap its opponent in the face?

I think not. Stupid waste of time and energy.

[skygazer]

19. And the benefit to mankind of that research is......?

I've always said that the way to make money in this world is to figure out how to write grant proposals for stupid projects. :banghead: