The Turing test and intelligence - abelard Don't click the link yet.

I once lived in a bedsit that was made up of 12 different 'sits'.
The bedsit on the ground floor front (always the worst - you end up answering the door) was filled by a scottish guy, several years my younger. He had been placed there by the probation service (his crimes unknown). I thought he was a waste of space until one night he invited me in to his abode.

The room was filled with 4 of his mates, and on the bed lay a chess board. We had a smoke and then one of them asked me if I played chess. I rose to the challenge, and despatched his king in about 20 moves, then the scottish guy offered a re-match.

I was decimated, about 7 moves if I recall correctly. It was only then that he told me that he had been the Scottish youth chess champion several years in a row.

Two morals:

1) Never judge people by their appearance
2) Chess can only teach you so much

Now you can click the link above.  ¶ Sunday, September 19, 2004