Computer Chess

Re “Computers Cast a Long Shadow on Chessboard,” May 1:

Forty-five years ago, in the early days of computers, creating computerized chess and checkers games was a very important learning tool. It was one thing to use a computer to simulate the interception of an enemy aircraft penetrating Los Angeles airspace and something else, short of a real enemy attack, to determine if it was done right. Using chess and checkers games provided the means to determine if proper decisions were being made in an interactive environment. It was possible to observe the results of players with differing skills competing against the computer program, then modify the program and try again. An early use of computer simulation was for training of members of the Air Defense Command.

These days, I am waiting for someone to tell me something that is more useful than just interesting about computer chess.

JAMES T. HUMBERD

La Quinta

* Humans will tell you that the computer is unfair because it has unlimited access to information and results of past events. Chess grandmasters will be crushed that all the fun has been taken out of the game, and more important, taken from them. To them, there will be no more challenges. The weaker players, like myself, who make up the rest of the chess world don’t care how many grandmasters lose to machines, and will continue playing.

MIKE ZIPETO

Los Angeles