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Vista chess frustrations
I would have to admit that I'm no great chess player, but it seems that Vista makes up for any deficiencies in a different way, forcing a draw.
This was discovered by our editor. Thinking he had managed to checkmate the computer, the message above appeared saying the game was a draw.
The board appeared as below. There are two queens because he managed to get a pawn to the other side of the board. All the more convincing a win you would think.
Someone else in the office pointed out that this is not actually checkmate because the King is not actually in check, it just cannot move without going into check. I would call that a winning situation but perhaps the computer is willing to wait for the human player to leave game and default (in the manner of Rimmer in Red Dwarf when playing draughts with the ship robots - Series 2 episode 5).
No, this is indeed a draw:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stalemate
posted-by George | December 3, 2008 2:51 PM
It is called a stalemate, when the the king cannot move without going into check, and any other piece cannot move. To actually checkmate the king, you will have to be attacking the king and be able to attack in any direction the king goes.
It is NOT a win, it's a bad move you made. It is a draw.
posted-by Daniel | December 4, 2008 12:28 AM
Chess rules! I learned so much from this!
posted-by James | December 4, 2008 1:03 AM
I am not sure what the problem here is. If you cannot move without being in check then the game is a "stalemate". Thus the computer is correct in naming it a draw.
posted-by Warning Spyware Detected On Your Computer | December 4, 2008 3:51 AM
Yeah, the stalemate comments are right.
Us pitiful humans should stop trying to win against computers. Didn't Deep Blue teach us our lesson when it defeated the great Gary Kasporav? :)
posted-by Amy Waterman | December 4, 2008 8:06 AM
Forget computer games and PlayStation, chess is the game/sport of kings.
posted-by Kids Soccer | December 4, 2008 9:09 AM
I knew its not checkmate, but I thought if the King cannot move you declare the other a winner. I guess I was wrong as everyone is saying its a stalemate, which makes sense.
posted-by Mike | December 4, 2008 6:23 PM
I love chess, can't beat the computer even on level one. Microsoft must come out with something much easier us non-linear types.
posted-by Guardian Angels For Everybody | December 4, 2008 10:26 PM
how many possible millions of moves to make on the first move?? some outrageous number...
posted-by Lizzie | December 5, 2008 7:11 AM
As a beginner chess player I can never beaten this game. They need to give me a chance to win ever once in a while!
posted-by Mike Anderson | December 8, 2008 8:56 PM
Yes. As pointed out in the WikiPedia reference this is a draw and in tournaments each player would rack up 1/2 a point.
The other significance in tournament chess would be that the whether a player wins or draws can determine which player they play in the next round depending on which tournament system is used (round robin, swiss...).
Even though I played a lot of USCF (United States Chess Federation) tournaments as a kid I just learned something from that WikiPedia entry that I've had WRONG in my head forever.
I always thought "zugzwang" was the same as a draw - but according to WikiPedia and some other chess sites it actually means that you just don't have any good move.
Also of interest was that up until the 19th century if you put someone into stalement you'd be declared the winner!
posted-by Paul Schlegel | December 12, 2008 12:52 AM
You can win if there the king is the only piece on the board... however, as long as a move is made by your opponent, then the game will continue.
posted-by Cozandeffect | December 15, 2008 1:21 AM
Stalemate! Try again!
posted-by computer freezes | December 17, 2008 3:05 AM
I think what we need here is some one to step in from the official chess league and clear this all up (if it exists). In any event, I have to agree with the stalemate comment. This appears to be a definite stalemate.
posted-by free games | December 25, 2008 5:37 AM
I love the intellectual challenge of chess, but what I’ll probably never understand is why people want to play the computer. It’s like a clean boxer looking for an opponent that’s on steroids. Weird.
posted-by kenneth | December 28, 2008 5:54 PM
i think it's pretty good but the difficulty level seems to vary.i play on level 4 and one minute it's too easy then it's pulling off moves at grand master level it's very inconsistent.what do you think.is there any 3d chess games that you can play online.
posted-by Chris McGee | December 30, 2008 2:21 AM
i being playing chess since when i was 18 , now i am 31 and never being good player, i think the reason way i never focus when i am playing.
posted-by sam | December 31, 2008 6:40 AM
I think it's not a checkmate,it should be draw.I always think that why we people always try to play chess with computer rather than play with colleuges.
no one can't beat the computer because Boss is always Boss.
It's just like a clean boxer.
posted-by neha | January 1, 2009 5:39 PM
Checkmate for sure. No other move left
posted-by Website Traffic | January 8, 2009 11:48 AM
Technically this is a stalemate, but in reality I would just say the person won the game with a sort of checkmate.
posted-by Eco Pro Services Burlington | January 18, 2009 8:59 PM
@ kenneth:
So you think a computer is smarter than a human being? Think again buddy!
posted-by Queen | February 12, 2009 12:32 AM
It's a draw folks jeez! If there are not any moves left it's a stalemate not a checkmate. You must capture the king!
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posted-by Jack | February 16, 2009 10:15 PM