WINNER OF THE ENGLISH CHESS FOUNDATION 2019 BOOK OF THE YEAR - THE MOST
PRESTIGIOUS CHESS BOOK AWARD IN THE WORLD - AND WINNER OF THE
AVERBAKH-BOLESLAVSKY AWARD 2019, THE BOOK AWARD OF THE FIDE, THE
INTERNATIONAL CHESS FEDERATION. It took AlphaZero only a few hours of
self-learning to become the chess player that shocked the world. The
artificial intelligence system, created by DeepMind, had been fed
nothing but the rules of the Royal Game when it beat the world's
strongest chess engine in a prolonged match. The selection of ten games
published in December 2017 created a worldwide sensation: how was it
possible to play in such a brilliant and risky style and not lose a
single game against an opponent of superhuman strength? For Game
Changer, Matthew Sadler and Natasha Regan investigated more than two
thousand previously unpublished games by AlphaZero. They also had
unparalleled access to its team of developers and were offered a unique
look 'under the bonnet' to grasp the depth and breadth of AlphaZero's
search. Sadler and Regan reveal its thinking process and tell the story
of the human motivation and the techniques that created AlphaZero. Game
Changer also presents a collection of lucidly explained chess games of
astonishing quality. Both professionals and club players will improve
their game by studying AlphaZero's stunning discoveries in every field
that matters: opening preparation, piece mobility, initiative, attacking
techniques, long-term sacrifices and much more. The story of AlphaZero
has a wider impact. Game Changer offers intriguing insights into the
opportunities and horizons of Artificial Intelligence. Not just in
solving games, but in providing solutions for a wide variety of
challenges in society. With a foreword by former World Chess Champion
Garry Kasparov and an introduction by DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis.
