Like most people, I was captivated by the NetFlix series “The Queen’s Gambit” recently. I have fond memories of playing my dad as a kid, but I was never really a good player. Which is strange, because I have always heard that programmers usually make good chess players. But I was the exception to this particular rule (or maybe I am a bad programmer too? 🤔).
But a couple of years ago, I made the decision to try and improve my chess playing skill. To become more strategic and long term in my thinking. I subscribed to a paid plan on Chess.com and started watching several YouTube channels regularly to learn what the grand masters do.
Happily last week, I discovered that Chess.com has introduced the ‘Beth Harmon Bot’ to their list of computer players, so I can now play against (the totally fictitious character, by the way) Beth at the various stages of her storyline, from a young girl starting to learn the game with the janitor at her orphanage, to the 22 year old Grand Master slayer.
I like that the bot has the unique playing style that Beth demonstrates in the show. Playing very quietly at the start, then launching a devastating attack during the middle game. Take for instance, the Queen’s Gambit opening that the show is named after. Most of the other bots I play on Chess.com will usually accept the gambit, however the Beth Bot always exercises caution that early on and declines it in order to position her troops for the overwhelming attack to come.
I love the fact that some of that personality is built into the Bot. I can almost imagine I am looking into Beth’s doe like, yet penetrating eyes across the board. Every unexpected move make me feel a nervous twinge, exactly as I would when playing another human player.
So far, I am managing to beat 9 year old Beth regularly, but 10 year old Beth has me struggling sometimes (I have yet to beat her playing black), and 15 year old Beth simply hands me my ass with alarming regularity (by that I mean: Every. Single. Time).
Here is a game analysis against 9 year old Beth (click on the image to go to the full analysis). I was particularly proud of this game because while it wasn’t elegant, I did manage to restrict her usual broad development and entrap her King by sheer force of will.
I will try and do another update in a few months to see how my game has improved!