Summary of Magnus Carlsen Explains Why He Won't Play Again Neural Net Chess Engines

Storyline and Key Points

Personal Experience with chess engines: Carlsen recounts a past experience where he played against a weaker chess program and won by employing a strategy that limited the engine's options, making it a more strategic game rather than a tactical one.
Recent Matches Against neural networks: He mentions a notable match where a grandmaster played against Leela, a top neural network engine, starting with a knight advantage and still managed to win, highlighting the surprising capabilities of human players against advanced technology.
Perception of chess engines: Carlsen expresses a reluctance to play against engines because they make him feel inferior and can lead to a sense of frustration. He views engines more as tools for learning rather than opponents.
Impact of neural networks on Chess Understanding: The introduction of neural networks like AlphaZero has significantly advanced players' understanding of chess. Carlsen reflects on how players who adapted to these technologies gained an advantage, especially during his championship match against Fabiano Caruana.
Differences in Calculation: Carlsen explains that neural networks calculate positions and moves much faster than humans, which allows them to avoid blunders that traditional engines might make. He acknowledges that while he can often make similar moves, the engine's understanding may surpass his own.

anti-computer strategy: Limiting the position's complexity to reduce the engine's advantage.
Learning from Engines: While engines can make players feel inadequate, they also provide insights into the game that can enhance understanding.

Avoiding Overreliance on Engines: Carlsen suggests that while engines can be helpful, they can also create a sense of defeat when losing to them.
Understanding Engine Moves: Recognizing that some moves made by engines may seem illogical to humans but are based on deeper calculations.

— 03:30 — « It's almost counterintuitive that you wouldn't want to play the computer because the computer makes you look stupid. »

— 04:51 — « Chess is a very lonely game; when you lose, it's because you're worse than your opponent. »

— 05:16 — « Imagine losing to somebody who you know is like completely stupid, which traditional chess computers are. »

— 05:33 — « First of all, it's infinitely faster; there will be certain possibilities that I will rule out because of my intuition. »

— 07:01 — « One of them is constantly calculating based on sort of what humans have taught them. »