I have read quite a few posts about Sumerian, the S.M.I.R.F. program, the topic of the prize money, and the numerous comments about "cheating".

First, I am happy to pay Reinhard the $25 for winning his section. If you divide this by all of the hours he has put into his program, this is really pennies per hour.

Second, I get the sense that some people think programs are really invincible. This is clearly not the case, even if you let them think for days on end.

I have played a Janus game against Caissus where I had a mate in 27. It took me about 6 hours to go through it all and verify it before I sacrificed first my knight, then my janus (Archbishop).

I play on two boards. One has the current position, the other is how I analyze.

I play every move of every game down to the endgame before I make a move.

You get much more insight into the game that way than any computer program can provide.

Thetype of game does not matter: chess, checkers, Gothic Chess. A good player with the proper motivation using this technique will never be defeated by a computer, and he can also beat a computer in this fashion.

In my Gothic Chess game against WhiteShark, I was able to announce mate in 31. It required sacrificing a Chancellor for an Archbishop, then losing a Knight for just a pawn very early in the game!


I could let Gothic Vortex search for 6 months and it would not make these moves.

Just something to consider.