Junior (chess)
Encyclopedia
Junior is a computer chess
program authored by the Israel
i programmers Amir Ban and Shay Bushinsky. Grandmaster Boris Alterman
assisted, in particular with the opening book. Junior can take advantage of multiple processors
, taking the name Deep Junior when competing this way in tournaments.
According to Bushinsky, one of the innovations of Junior over other chess programs is the way it counts moves. Junior counts orthodox, ordinary moves as two moves, while it counts interesting moves as only one move, or even less. In this way interesting variations are analyzed more meticulously than less promising lines. This seems to be a generalization of search extensions already used by other programs.
Another approach its designers claim to use is 'opponent modeling'; Junior might play moves that are not objectively the strongest but that play more towards the weaknesses of the opponent.
with a score of 10/11.
Junior won the World Microcomputer Chess Championship in 1997 and 2001 and the World Computer Chess Championship
in 2002, 2004, 2006, and 2011; both organised by the International Computer Games Association
.
In 2003 Deep Junior played a six-game match against Garry Kasparov
that resulted in a 3-3 tie. It won a 2006 match with Teimour Radjabov
.
Computer chess
Computer chess is computer architecture encompassing hardware and software capable of playing chess autonomously without human guidance. Computer chess acts as solo entertainment , as aids to chess analysis, for computer chess competitions, and as research to provide insights into human...
program authored by the Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
i programmers Amir Ban and Shay Bushinsky. Grandmaster Boris Alterman
Boris Alterman
Boris Alterman is an Israeli chess Grandmaster, FIDE Senior Trainer , advisor of the Junior chess program....
assisted, in particular with the opening book. Junior can take advantage of multiple processors
Multiprocessing
Multiprocessing is the use of two or more central processing units within a single computer system. The term also refers to the ability of a system to support more than one processor and/or the ability to allocate tasks between them...
, taking the name Deep Junior when competing this way in tournaments.
According to Bushinsky, one of the innovations of Junior over other chess programs is the way it counts moves. Junior counts orthodox, ordinary moves as two moves, while it counts interesting moves as only one move, or even less. In this way interesting variations are analyzed more meticulously than less promising lines. This seems to be a generalization of search extensions already used by other programs.
Another approach its designers claim to use is 'opponent modeling'; Junior might play moves that are not objectively the strongest but that play more towards the weaknesses of the opponent.
Results
In June 2007, Deep Junior won the "ultimate computer chess challenge" organized by FIDE defeating Deep Fritz 4-2. These programs opted out of the World Computer Chess Championship, which was held at the same time and won by RybkaRybka
Rybka is a computer chess engine designed by International Master Vasik Rajlich. , Rybka is one of the top-rated engines on chess engine rating lists and has won many computer chess tournaments...
with a score of 10/11.
Junior won the World Microcomputer Chess Championship in 1997 and 2001 and the World Computer Chess Championship
World Computer Chess Championship
World Computer Chess Championship is an annual event where computer chess engines compete against each other. The event is organized by the International Computer Games Association...
in 2002, 2004, 2006, and 2011; both organised by the International Computer Games Association
International Computer Games Association
The International Computer Games Association was founded as the International Computer Chess Association in 1977 by computer chess programmers to organise championship events for computer programs and to facilitate the sharing of technical knowledge via the ICCA Journal.Renamed the 'ICGA' in...
.
In 2003 Deep Junior played a six-game match against Garry Kasparov
Garry Kasparov
Garry Kimovich Kasparov is a Russian chess grandmaster, a former World Chess Champion, writer, political activist, and one of the greatest chess players of all time....
that resulted in a 3-3 tie. It won a 2006 match with Teimour Radjabov
Teimour Radjabov
Radjabov's knight sacrifice, 21. ... Ngxe5, was praised by several strong players for its bravery, including English grandmaster Nigel Short. Said Short of the move, "Radjabov plays very imaginatively... he just won't give up, he is extremely tenacious and will always find a way to muddy the...
.