Scientists play war games

THOSE familiar with Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone would know just how important a game of chess can be.

The Defence Science and Technology Organisation has also recognised the game’s value. It has completed a two-year study into how strategic advantages can translate into success on the battlefield by using the centuries-old strategic game of chess and its more modern counterpart, checkers.

The team of scientists, led by Dr Greg Calbert, played thousands of computer-generated games using a wide range of alternatives of play combinations to model the fog and friction of war, the effects of manoeuvres and the planning and networks involved.

Their aim was to determine the range of characteristics including command and control that would give commanders the decisive advantage on future battlefields.

Dr Calbert said chess had been recognised for centuries as the ultimate test of intellect, strategic thinking and tactical know-how.

“For centuries, military theorists have used the game to improve leadership skills and explore different notions of attack, defence and counterattack,” he said.

The team used a battery of powerful computers to generate variations that extended far beyond the scope of the standard games and to handle the massive number crunching needed to analyse hundreds of games being played simultaneously.

“We examined a range of scenarios including the impact of material advantages, for example an extra rook or starting the game with no queen. We looked at tempo, such as one player being allowed multiple moves for each turn,” Dr Calbert said.

The research will provide a better understanding of the future battlefield, he said.

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