Can God beat a computer at chess?

Question

If you think about this question, it is not, I propose, a simple answer. Computers (Cray, IBM) have beat the best human players the world has to offer. If a computer can reduce a game to a mere exercise in logic, and God has to follow the same deterministic rules of the universe that the computer does, at best, any game would end in a draw. God does not get to fool with the computer. You may think "Who cares?", however, and even though this may be a "how many angels fit on the end of a pin" question, it's interesting to think about. Or, for the philosophers out there, is there some easy explanation for why this doesn't seem, upon reflection, to be an easy "Yes"?

Answer 1

The answer has less to do with the properties of God and more to do with how well do chess computers play. It is true that the best chess computers are just about as good (if not better than) the best human chess players. However, this does not imply that the best chess computers play perfectly - they don't, they just play extremely well. On the other hand, if we assume that God exists and that God is all knowing, then we must conclude that God is capable of playing chess perfectly.

In the chess world, it is the general consensus that in a game played between two opponents, each of whom plays perfectly, the game will end in a draw everytime. If this hypothesis is correct, then we can conclude that the chess computer can never win. So, the only question remaining is: Would God win every game against the chess computer or would the game occasionally end in a draw? The answer to this question depends upon how close to perfect the chess computer plays. At present, even though they are pretty good, they are also still pretty far from perfect, so the answer to your question right now is an emphatic "Yes."

However, please consider the following question. If you were to challenge God in a game of tic-tac-toe and God accepted the challenge, what would be the result? We know that in tic-tac-toe, when both opponents play perfectly, the game ends in a draw. Since (I assume) you do play tic-tac-toe perfectly, we must conclude that the game would end in a draw. Tic-tac-toe is what is called a "solved game". It is possible that at some point in the future, chess may become a "solved game", i.e. computers will be capable of playing perfectly. If that occurs, then a game between God and a computer will end in a draw. But, there is no reason to believe that chess will be solved anytime soon.

Finally, I would point out that while chess is not very close to being a solved game, checkers is. The best checkers programs play almost perfectly. So, if we substitute "checkers" for "chess" in your original question, the answer is not so clear.

Answer 2

Oh man, I am so ready for this discussion. I've had a long talk with my dad about it, and also my theology teacher (who would make a phylosopher look like a bimbo) I'm sorta bad at explaining, so try to bare with me. Anyway...God cannot make a computer chess game he can't beat because that is a contridiction. Think of it this way...Can God make a four wheeled trycicle? No, because by our human defintion a tricycle has three wheels. (Here's where people ask "But can't God do anything?") Yes, he can, but if a trycicle had four wheels it would no longer be a trycicle. It's defining feature are its three wheels. Therefore God cannot create a four wheeled trycicle. God cannot create a computer game so difficult even he can not beat it beacause he can beat any chess game. That is a definition of God. Asking if he can make a chess game He can't beat is like asking Him to create a four wheeled trycicle. By definition, it is not possible. You might have to think about this for awhile before you understand it. I know it took me forever to understand it. I hope you understood at least a little of what I said.

Answer 3

Ok, I'll try and approach this question as if it were not an easy yes.

I think in order to have a computer that could be in God's league it would have to be one that could calculate every possible move that could be made. Our present computers are nowhere near capable of this. In fact, there are so many possible moves that could be made in a chess game that it would take more energy than exists in the entire known universe to execute all of the calculations required to do so.

But lets assume that we "got around" that limitation and built this ultimate computer. Then perhaps, you may be correct that every game would end in a draw. But God being the "magic chicken" that he is, he could probably create some paradox that allows him to follow all the rules and still win. So, I hate to say it, but I would probably put my money on God.

Answer 4

Assumption: That God would play by deterministic rules. In my experience she likes bending, breaking and rewriting the rules at her own pleasure. And this assumes that she'd want to win rather than just screw with our imperfect brains.

Now, assuming that she wouldn't change the nature of the universe, and assuming she played for keeps (which is usually a given, since she continually beats me at Yatzee) she might be forced into a draw. I say might because this universe was made for loopholes.

Assuming an all powerful and all knowing being would try and beat a computer made by imperfect beings, she'd get a clear victory if she wanted one.

Answer 5

The answer to this question is actually pretty simple. See, if we assume the existence of God, God does not exist on a linear plane. The computer does. The computer can strategise, and "guess" the flow of the game, but God can actually see how the game is happening from start to end at every move. If you get into the Quantum physics of it all, God exists on a higher dimension than we do.

Win goes to GOD

Answer 6

Well, first of all---computers are only as smart as those that program them. And I would assume that God is smarter than even the smartest of humans. Point one.

If God exists outside of time (one theory) then God would already know what moves you were going to make and could easily 'beat' you.... Point two.

Answer 7

Definitely.

Answer 8

Considering God created the men who wrote the programs, I'd have to say yes... in all of His supremacy, he would kick the computer's virtual butt!

Answer 9

if i can beat a computer at chess, God would destroy teh weak try of the not so smart computer of chess.
i be but a man of great wisdom

Answer 10

who do you think invented computer? Where ideas coming from?The same Source which invented chess...oh...and players by the way...So , what the question was?