Chess aesthetics
Encyclopedia
Aesthetics
or beauty in chess
is generally appreciated by both players and composers. This is evident, for example, in brilliancy prizes awarded to some games in certain tournaments and also in the world of chess composition. There are many books published featuring chess problems or puzzles that emphasize its aesthetic aspect. One of the earliest is from the 9th century AD. Aesthetics in chess can be both a source of pleasure for humans and also instruction as compositions or games featuring it typically illustrate original ideas or new instantiations of old ones. A good chess problem composer, however, is not necessarily a good player.
Factors about a game or move sequence (also referred to as a 'combination
') that might cause it to be regarded as 'brilliant' by most players include, among other things: expediency, disguise, sacrifice, correctness, preparation, paradox, unity and originality. ‘Preparation’ refers to aesthetics perceived - say, in a particular combination - in great part due to the strategic play preceding it. ‘Unity’ typically refers to a 'cooperation' of all the pieces toward a particular goal (e.g. checkmate
, winning material, controlling more space on the board). Composition conventions such as not having any checks or captures in the first (i.e. key) move, and the use of variations to illustrate a particular theme (e.g. zugzwang
, pin
) also play a role in the aesthetics of the game.
Conceptually, a 'common ground' of aesthetics between the domains of real (e.g. tournament) games and compositions can be established. These are beauty characteristics that apply approximately equally to both domains; examples include heuristic
violations, economy and material sacrifice. This common ground is useful in computational models of aesthetics in the game because it helps in experiments comparing the beauty of compositions (on average, considered more beautiful) against the beauty of real games (on average, considered less beautiful). Some factors that pertain solely to real games (e.g. pressure under time control) or compositions (e.g. avoidance of castling moves) may be conflated with aesthetics in the game - and perhaps to some degree this is justifiable - however, they would lie outside the common ground described above.
Two prototype computer programs have been developed that are able to detect and evaluate aesthetics in three-move mate problems and endgame studies
. They are called CHESTHETICA and CHESTHETICA ENDGAME , respectively. They are not, at present, commercially available. These programs incorporate an experimentally-validated computational aesthetics model that uses formalizations of seventeen carefully selected aesthetic features, stochastic
techniques (i.e. some randomness) and variations (to the main line played). The computational aesthetic evaluations correlate positively and well with competent human player/composer aesthetic assessment. From a psychological
or aesthetic perception standpoint, the experimental results suggest that humans look at only 5 or 6 of the most prominent aesthetic features in a move sequence and 5 or 6 randomly selected variations (in addition to the main line) when evaluating beauty in the game.
Aesthetics
Aesthetics is a branch of philosophy dealing with the nature of beauty, art, and taste, and with the creation and appreciation of beauty. It is more scientifically defined as the study of sensory or sensori-emotional values, sometimes called judgments of sentiment and taste...
or beauty in chess
Chess
Chess is a two-player board game played on a chessboard, a square-checkered board with 64 squares arranged in an eight-by-eight grid. It is one of the world's most popular games, played by millions of people worldwide at home, in clubs, online, by correspondence, and in tournaments.Each player...
is generally appreciated by both players and composers. This is evident, for example, in brilliancy prizes awarded to some games in certain tournaments and also in the world of chess composition. There are many books published featuring chess problems or puzzles that emphasize its aesthetic aspect. One of the earliest is from the 9th century AD. Aesthetics in chess can be both a source of pleasure for humans and also instruction as compositions or games featuring it typically illustrate original ideas or new instantiations of old ones. A good chess problem composer, however, is not necessarily a good player.
Factors about a game or move sequence (also referred to as a 'combination
Combination (chess)
In chess, a combination is a sequence of moves, often initiated by a sacrifice, which leaves the opponent few options and results in tangible gain. At most points in a chess game, each player has several reasonable options from which to choose, which makes it difficult to plan ahead except in...
') that might cause it to be regarded as 'brilliant' by most players include, among other things: expediency, disguise, sacrifice, correctness, preparation, paradox, unity and originality. ‘Preparation’ refers to aesthetics perceived - say, in a particular combination - in great part due to the strategic play preceding it. ‘Unity’ typically refers to a 'cooperation' of all the pieces toward a particular goal (e.g. checkmate
Checkmate
Checkmate is a situation in chess in which one player's king is threatened with capture and there is no way to meet that threat. Or, simply put, the king is under direct attack and cannot avoid being captured...
, winning material, controlling more space on the board). Composition conventions such as not having any checks or captures in the first (i.e. key) move, and the use of variations to illustrate a particular theme (e.g. zugzwang
Zugzwang
Zugzwang is a term usually used in chess which also applies to various other games. The term finds its formal definition in combinatorial game theory, and it describes a situation where one player is put at a disadvantage because he has to make a move when he would prefer to pass and make no move...
, pin
Pin (chess)
In chess, a pin is a situation brought on by an attacking piece in which a defending piece cannot move without exposing a more valuable defending piece on its other side to capture by the attacking piece...
) also play a role in the aesthetics of the game.
Conceptually, a 'common ground' of aesthetics between the domains of real (e.g. tournament) games and compositions can be established. These are beauty characteristics that apply approximately equally to both domains; examples include heuristic
Heuristic
Heuristic refers to experience-based techniques for problem solving, learning, and discovery. Heuristic methods are used to speed up the process of finding a satisfactory solution, where an exhaustive search is impractical...
violations, economy and material sacrifice. This common ground is useful in computational models of aesthetics in the game because it helps in experiments comparing the beauty of compositions (on average, considered more beautiful) against the beauty of real games (on average, considered less beautiful). Some factors that pertain solely to real games (e.g. pressure under time control) or compositions (e.g. avoidance of castling moves) may be conflated with aesthetics in the game - and perhaps to some degree this is justifiable - however, they would lie outside the common ground described above.
Two prototype computer programs have been developed that are able to detect and evaluate aesthetics in three-move mate problems and endgame studies
Endgame study
An endgame study, or just study, is a composed chess position—that is, one that has been made up rather than one from an actual game—presented as a sort of puzzle, in which the aim of the solver is to find a way for one side to win or draw, as stipulated, against any moves the other side...
. They are called CHESTHETICA and CHESTHETICA ENDGAME , respectively. They are not, at present, commercially available. These programs incorporate an experimentally-validated computational aesthetics model that uses formalizations of seventeen carefully selected aesthetic features, stochastic
Stochastic
Stochastic refers to systems whose behaviour is intrinsically non-deterministic. A stochastic process is one whose behavior is non-deterministic, in that a system's subsequent state is determined both by the process's predictable actions and by a random element. However, according to M. Kac and E...
techniques (i.e. some randomness) and variations (to the main line played). The computational aesthetic evaluations correlate positively and well with competent human player/composer aesthetic assessment. From a psychological
Psychology
Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
or aesthetic perception standpoint, the experimental results suggest that humans look at only 5 or 6 of the most prominent aesthetic features in a move sequence and 5 or 6 randomly selected variations (in addition to the main line) when evaluating beauty in the game.