#20 I believe the original antichess should still be played. It may not let Prof. Watkins feel too good if his efforts only led to an exodus from the game, nor will long term fans of antichess.
I would like to see atomic solved myself and hopefully contribute to this solution but it is not an attempt to ruin the game.
Update:
Prof. Watkins made new progress last night.
http://magma.maths.usyd.edu.au/~watkins/LOSING_CHESS/e3b6.htmlLet's wait for the outcome. Either he ends up with a possible draw/black win and has to change his line a little bit, or more likely another line of black resistance is crushed once and for all.
I think we will see another update in at most a week (more likely 1-3 days).
#21 4 Billion people don't believe what scientists say about a sky fairy creating life so I think it'll be alright.
The line has been solved.
Only one line of black resistance exists for Antichess, now.
I think we may have to make antichess unrated for life if it is full solved.
Antichess is likely to be solved within a month. Now Prof. Watkins is attacking the last line of black resistance, which still has not been proven to be white win. And even in this line there is a nontrivial white advantage.
#23 No amount of science can ever falsify theism since it is always possible that atheism turns out to be wrong. On the other hand, a white victory in Antichess is almost certain.
#25 We may force people to play as both white and black in Antichess, instead. People should not be allowed to play white alone since the game is almost proven to be victory for white.
Also anyone that play only using Watkins' lines will be considered cheaters. Then I believe the game can still continue.
I disagree. Just because people play according to certain lines doesn't make them cheaters. Just because someone plays 20 perfect memorised moves in the opening/middlegame giving them an advantage in orthodox chess doesn't make them a cheater (but it is very impressive they could memorise that far in one variation).
Similarly, forcing people to play both as white and black isn't the solution. At best, you'll be annoying people, and at worst, having permanent 1 - 1 results.
I'd agree with Hellball. Make it unrated for life, only possible to play casually if it's solved. There is no point in playing a game with a 100% solution competitively. I'd personally advocate relegating it off the active list, as well, and putting a non-solved variant there, in its place. Bughouse is always attractive (but of course, has major technical hurdles).
