Playing scientific games

Backgammon, EinStein würfelt nicht! Go, Draughts, Chinese Dark Chess; how smart are computers when playing board games? Scientists from all over the world will travel to Tilburg University to compete in the 16th Computer Olympiad this weekend.

During the Computer Olympiad computer software programs, designed by researchers, will play various board games against each other. The championship will help the international group of researchers to find the strongest software program. For them it is not just fun but also an academic exercise in artificial intelligence.

In addition to the Olympiade, the International Computer Games Association (ICGA) will hold the 9th World Computer-Chess Championship and the 3rd World Chess Software Championship in Tilburg from November 18 to 26.

The championships take place at The Red Brick in the Professor Verbernelaan, but can also be wathed live via ICGA 2011 on UStream