Computers Master Checkers

The best outcome human players can hope for against program is a draw
By Sam Biddle,  Newser Staff
Posted Jul 19, 2007 6:25 PM CDT
Computers Master Checkers
Cookie Checkers, starting out   ((c) oskay)

After 18 years of number-crunching, a checkers-playing computer program has conquered the game. Checkers is the most complicated game computers have mastered, Scientific American reports, beating Connect Four by a factor of a million. "I was a bit obsessed," says the lead researcher. "My wife would say more than a bit obsessed."

University of Alberta researchers "solved" checkers by examining which arrangement of pieces and moves would result in a win, loss, or draw. They concentrated on openings and endgames; the total number of possible permutations is 50 billion billion. No word on whether the computer's little brother scatters the pieces across the sunporch when he realizes he can't win. (More games stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X