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Chinook (computer program)
open-in-new
<p>Chinook is a <a href="/facts/Computer_program/e38jH9N9">computer program</a> that plays <a href="/facts/Checkers/zrzKMsyu">checkers</a> (also known as draughts). It was developed between the years 1989 to 2007 at the <a href="/facts/University_of_Alberta/08ERvE5c">University of Alberta</a>, by a team led by <a href="/facts/Jonathan_Schaeffer/nmHc66VI">Jonathan Schaeffer</a> and consisting of Rob Lake, Paul Lu, <a href="/facts/Martin_Bryant_(programmer)/lTQRtUbf">Martin Bryant</a>, and Norman Treloar. The program's <a href="/facts/Algorithm/fnl5NmRt">algorithms</a> include an opening book which is a library of opening moves from games played by checkers grandmasters; a deep search algorithm; a good move evaluation function; and an end-game database for all positions with eight pieces or fewer. All of Chinook's knowledge was programmed by its creators, rather than learned using an <a href="/facts/Artificial_intelligence/lJGauQwX">artificial intelligence</a> system. </p>