Lateral Computing - Logical Thinking and Artificial Intelligence

Logical Thinking and Artificial Intelligence

Chess position analysis can be used to illustrate the logical thinking. The following board position describes a chess problem which has to be solved with 2 moves.

a b c d e f g h
8 8
7 7
6 6
5 5
4 4
3 3
2 2
1 1
a b c d e f g h

The white has several options to make a move and checkmate the black. The move Rd5 × Rd7 or Rf7 × Rd7 will immediately provide material advantage to white. There are similar moves which capture pieces and provide immediate material advantages to the white. But a knight move Nc6 which does not provide any material advantage, provides a solution for checkmate for black in two moves.

.. Nc6
1 ... Kxf7 2 g8Q++
1 ... Kxd5 2 Qa2++
1 ... Rdxd5 2 Re7++
1 ... Rfxd5 2 Rf6++
1 ... Rdxf7 2 Rd6++
1 ... Rfxf7 2 Re5++

This is an example which illustrates the use of logical thinking. The logical thinking in chess progresses by evaluating the immediate material gain in each move. This will result in a solution which will require more number of moves or failure to checkmate. However, the not so obvious move of knight results in a very powerful checkmate. Even though this move does not look logical, it is the solution to 2 move check mate problem. A computer programmed to play chess might miss out some good opportunities if it does a material-based search to find moves. Several attempts have been made to build the powerful chess computers in history. But these chess computers have been defeated by Grandmaster human chess players.

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