Interview with IM Vasik Rajlich, author of Rybka chess program
Vasik Rajlich is an International Master and the author of Rybka chess playing program. Rybka is one of the strongest chess playing programs in the world, Rybka won the recently held 15th World Computer Chess Championship also Rybka beat GM Joel Benjamin very convincingly with 4.5 – 1.5 score. Vasik’s wife, Iweta is also an International Master, she helps him with the development of Rybka.
In this interview Vasik Rajlich, he tells us about Rybka chess playing program, updates on Rybka vs Fritz match, anti-computer chess etc.We hope our readers would enjoy reading the interview with interesting snaps of IM Vasik Rajlich.
LatestChess :- Hello Vasik, congratulations for the success at 15th World Computer Chess Championship. Before we start the interview, could you introduce yourself and Rybka chess program?
Vasik Rajlich :- Sure. My name is Vasik Rajlich, I am the author of Rybka, which leads all of the computer chess rating lists by huge margins. The project started in March 2003 and has been my full-time occupation since October 2005.
LatestChess :- In the recently held World Computer Chess Championship, every computer has different hardware configuration. To find out the best program, during the match it is necessary to provide them the same hardware configuration (equal conditions). What would you like to say about it? (http://www.grappa.univ-lille3.fr/icga/tournament.php?id=173)
Vasik Rajlich :- These tournaments are too short to tell us which program is the best. This task is best accomplished by independent ratings lists such as CEGT, CCRL, CSS and SSDF. These ratings are based on hundred of games played under controlled conditions.
LatestChess :- Any updates on “Rybka $100,000 challenge to FIDE President” matter? Can we see Junior vs Rybka match in Mexico between 12 September – 1 October 2007, during the FIDE World Chess Championship?
Vasik Rajlich :- Discussions are being held, but nothing is signed yet. If things conclude well, there will be an update soon.
LatestChess :- In couple of years computer technologies will further advance. Do you think Computers will surely beat everyone including the most celebrated Grand Masters and World Champions? Do you think the playing style matters when you play against computers, computers find it hard against positional players?
Vasik Rajlich :- It’s pretty clear that all of the top chess engines are better than the best human players. There is no indication from past results that positional or tactical players perform better when playing against computers, although the theory that positional players would fare better does make some sense.
Here is the full interview on LatestChess.com
Congratulations! Great program!
Thank you for giving us this great engine! I use it on my Chess Assistant and Fritz interfaces.
I do not know who wrote the intro to the interview, but it contains 2 errors.
1. Rybka scored 4.5-1.5 against GM Jaan Ehlvest, and not against GM Joel Benjamin, as it is written. The match against GM Benjamin is scheduled for Aug 6-8, 2007.
2. There will be a possible match Rybka vs Junior, and not Rybka vs Fritz. The match is the outcome of the challenge that Vas put against the winner of the Fritz vs Junior match, and that winner was Junior.
Rybka is a wonderful program that is far superior to Fritz or Junior. I applaud GM Ehlvest and GM Benjamin for playing Rybka, though, I think it should be on even terms. Nevertheless, I’m happy that there are a few well known GM’s willing to play Rybka publicly.
It will not be many more years before the top (I mean WCC and #1,2,3 ranked ) players will not even be able to draw against the best programs.
Rather than see Rybka continually defeat GM’s in odds matches, I hope to see some commentary/books/or articles on how the strongest chess softwary has changed chess theory.
Since (I’m quite sure) all the super-elite GM’s have copies of Rybka, Shredder, Fritz, Junior, etc surely they train with them and analyze with them. As a result, it seems their play would improve over the years. Yet, I don’t see it.
Maybe I’m missing something but, other than a tool for quick analysis, I don’t see a great improvement in human players abilities even though they have access to programs stronger than they are. It stands to reason they should improve.
I must be missing something.
Anyway, computer vs computer matches are quite interesting. It’s amazing to fathom what chess computers will be like in 75-100 years!
I think at this stage it is clear that the best computer programs will defeat the best human players and this trend will only increase.
Personally I would like to see programmers concentrating on making engines that will play to a specific level (Elo) with different styles and approaches.
Why would the average class player care whether the program they are playing against is rated 2950 or 3000 Elo (or 3500 in a few years time). In all cases it will give you a severe beating in every game.
Currently in order to dumb down the machines you can use certain controls to make them weaker but these apparently function to make the computer play a kind of odds game where it blunders you a piece (or more)and then plays hard for the rest of the game. This is not very satisfactory. I would like to see development in the area of making computers play more like humans with the occasional tactical oversight or positional misconception.
Is this the same Vasik Rajlich that was at U of M in Ann Arbor, Michigan several years ago? He used to play Tuesday night bltiz…
Can never get an answer on this one.
Yes, that is the same Vas Rajlich, who lived in Ann Arbor, MI
He worked in Ann Arbor, at a computer firm, not as a student at U of M. He has a Comp Sci degree from MIT.
Ben Finegold