TEASER - 21
WHITE ALWAYS WINS
Two computers C1 & C2, with identical capabilities are pitted against each other in a game of chess. If C1 starts with white pieces first and both make no mistakes, who will win match in a best of 5 (five) games ?
THE EXPLANATION:
Theoretically, the game should end in a draw as both have equal capabilities and both make no mistakes. However, simple commonsense logic proves it otherwise.
The game of chess in its present form is highly complicated. There is multiplicity of pieces and there are tens of moves and whole game thrives on mistakes committed by opponents.
It is a well known fact that in the game of chess, the balance is tilted in favor of white. This aspect is very difficult to see in complicated and long winding moves. Therefore in order to analyse game of a chess in a transparent and convincing manner, the chess board and pieces can be scaled down to: a) 36 squares (6 x 6) with 24 pieces or to b) 16 squares (4 x 4) with 8 pieces.
36 SQUARES 16 SQUARES
24 PIECES 8 PIECES
The simplified version will have less complicated moves and will be easily understandable even to a layman. This is required to see and magnify the inherent flaws in a game of chess. In the strip down version the positions and movements of each piece remain same.
As the number of moves become very less and short it becomes easy to foresee future best moves. Any body can easily understand the move and see himself whether game ends in a draw or in favor of either of one. Let us imagine that C1 with white and C2 with black pieces play the game:
(a) First move by white: White Queen to B3
(b) First move by black: Black Queen to B2.
(c) Second move by white: White rook to D1 (Game is over)
In this simplified game, it is very evident that C1 (white) attacks from the word go and is always one step ahead of C2 (black).
It is evident here that C1 (white), getting the first opportunity to move always goes for best move and inflicts maximum damage and if no mistake is done, as would happen in case of competing machines, C2 (black) would never win. C1 (white) would en-cash best move and will go for a kill. C2 (black) is left with no option but to be content with second best move and is always busy defending C1(white) and never gets to attack The game of chess is unique in the way that it is like a battle field where every move kills pieces (soldiers) and reduces opponent’s ability to fight from the word go. Unlike many other sports where both opponents are allowed to fight at same time, in chess opponents are allowed to hit alternatively and white getting first opportunity it unleashes best move. Black is left with second best move and always remains behind white. Black receives the first lethal blow and never recovers thereafter.
For that matter any one who starts (attacks) first in any game has some advantage, but in chess white starting first, has 100% advantage.
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