Psyched out
Sir: In his chess column of 17 May Ray- mond Keene rightly points out that Deep Blue's recent win is too small a sample of its prowess for IBM to declare a victory over the human brain.
This match fascinated all of us, even non- chess-players, because of the epic quality of the occasion. ICasparov took on the titanic task of playing not for himself or Russia, but for the world. Probably the only paral- lels to be found are in fairy stories or Greek mythology — Atlas holding the world on his shoulders, for instance. That kind of responsibility is enough to cause any mortal to stumble. Surely the human brain must be allowed another chance? Perhaps IBM Should sponsor an annual event where vari- ous grandmasters enter the lists like Arthurian knights and pit their wits against the monster for a cash prize. There is always the possibility that ICasparov was the wrong player to challenge Deep Blue on behalf of the human race. Though few would doubt his invincibility against other grandmasters, it has to be said that part of his technique involves 'psyching' the oppo- nent, something you simply can't do to a computer, unless you're Uri Geller, that is.
Fiona Pitt-Kethley
7 Ebenezer Road, Hastings, East Sussex
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