Some Studies in Machine Learning Using the Game of Checkers

Abstract:

Two machine-learning procedures have been investigated in some detail using the game of checkers. Enough work has been done to verify the fact that a computer can be programmed so that it will learn to playa better game of checkers than can be played by the person who wrote the program.

Furthermore, it can learn to do this in a remarkably short period of time 18 or 10 hours of machine-playing time) when given only the rules of the game, a sense of direction, and a redundant and incomplete Jist of parameters which are thought to have something to do with the game, but whose correct signs and relative weights are unknown and unspecified.

The principles of machine learning verified by these experiments are, of course, applicable to many other situations.

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