Why There Is No Best Chess Opening: The Limitations of Supercomputers and Logical Criteria
Despite the incredible power of today's supercomputers, which can simulate hundreds of moves ahead, chess remains a game that resists the definitive solution by even the most powerful machines. This article explores the reasons behind this limitation, highlighting the role of logical criteria in decision-making and discussing the complexity of chess as a game.
Supercomputers and the Complexity of Chess
It's often a misconception that supercomputers can think hundreds of moves ahead and thus solve the game of chess. However, the sheer number of possible moves and positions that arise from each turn makes this virtually impossible. Chess engines, like supercomputers, cannot calculate every possible move sequence from move one to one hundred; instead, they use logical criteria to filter out less promising moves and focus on the most likely paths.
Logical Criteria and Limitations
Chess engines, much like human players, apply logical criteria to determine the best moves. These criteria, while sophisticated, are not infallible. Sometimes these criteria can lead to errors that only become apparent after a significant number of moves, making them irreversible. As a result, the ability to reliably predict the best opening move is still beyond our current technological capabilities.
The Nature of Chess and Perfect Play
Chess is inherently a game of perfect play, where the game can often end in a draw, even with theoretically perfect moves from both sides. This robust nature of the draw means that a single suboptimal move does not irreparably harm a position. In fact, it's an open question as to whether Black can force a loss on the very first move with White playing a typical opening like 1.f4. This implies that no matter the opening move, White is unlikely to fall into a losing position if both sides play optimally.
Role of Computers and Players
Chess computers are not capable of genuine "thinking" in the human sense. Instead, they execute carefully programmed algorithms designed to select the best move for a given board position. Therefore, when a top computer player plays against another top player, the opening moves are similar to those played in regular tournaments. The game is seen as a learning opportunity where players can derive valuable insights from each move and position.
Despite the capabilities of modern supercomputers, the complexity of chess means that it would take an extraordinarily long time—likely centuries—to compute the best opening move. Even if every computer on Earth were devoted to this task, the sheer number of possibilities far outweighs the computing power available.
Conclusion
While supercomputers and chess engines have made significant advancements in our understanding of the game, the limitations of logical criteria and the inherent complexity of chess mean that there is no single "best" opening. Chess remains a game of imperfect information and strategy, where the best opening varies depending on the players' characteristics and the evolving nature of the game.