Danny Kopec

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Danny Kopec [1] Danny Kopec, (February 28, 1954 – June 12, 2016 [2])

was an American computer scientist, associate professor at the Brooklyn College [3], international chess master, chess and computer chess writer and assistant tournament director and reporter of various ACM North American Computer Chess Championships [4] , chess programmer and opening book author [5] . Along with Larry Harris et al., Danny Kopec was co-author of Dartmouth CP [6], competing the ACM 1973 [7]. In 1975 Kopec graduated from Dartmouth College and later wrote his Ph.D. in Machine Intelligence at the University of Edinburgh, Thesis: Human and Machine Representations of Knowledge, supervisor Donald Michie [8] . In 1982 Danny Kopec and Ivan Bratko designed the Bratko-Kopec Test [9] [10].

Danny Kopec died on June 12, 2016 from pancreatic cancer [11].

Chess Endgames#

Quote by Maarten van Emden in I remember Donald Michie [12] :

In 1980 I spent another summer in Edinburgh as a guest of [Donald Michie](Donald_Michie "Donald Michie"). Since the low point of 1975, thanks to assiduous and inventive joint pursuit of funding possibilities by Donald and [Jean](http://www.informatik.uni-trier.de/%7Eley/db/indices/a-tree/m/Michie:Jean_Hayes.html), the Machine Intelligence Research Unit was alive with work focused on [chess endgames](Endgame "Endgame"). There were students, including [Tim Niblett](Tim_Niblett "Tim Niblett") and [Alen Shapiro](Alen_Shapiro "Alen Shapiro"). Danny Kopec was there, perhaps formally as a student, but de facto as the resident chess consultant. [Ivan Bratko](Ivan_Bratko "Ivan Bratko") visited frequently. Alen was the administrator of the dream computing environment of that time: a small [PDP-11](PDP-11 "PDP-11") running [Unix](Unix "Unix"). 

Selected Publications#

[13] [14] [15]

1977 …#

• Danny Kopec (1977). Recent developments in computer chess. Firbush News 7 Edinburgh: Machine Intelligence Research Unit, University of Edinburgh (ed. Donald Michie), pdf
• Ivan Bratko, Danny Kopec, Donald Michie (1978). Pattern-Based Representation of Chess Endgame Knowledge. The Computer Journal, Vol. 21, No. 2, pp. 149-153. pdf
• Danny Kopec (1979). Rook v knight by Computer. Research Memorandom MIP-R-125, Machine Intelligence Research Unit, University of Edinburgh. Also published in Chess (1983). Vol. 47, Nos. 895-896, pp. 288-295. Sutton Coldfield, England. pdf

1980 …#

• Danny Kopec, Tim Niblett (1980). How Hard is the Play of the King-Rook-King-Knight Ending? Advances in Computer Chess 2, pdf
• Ivan Bratko, Danny Kopec (1982). A Test for Comparison of Human and Computer Performance in Chess. Advances in Computer Chess 3, pdf
• Danny Kopec, Ivan Bratko (1982). The Bratko-Kopec experiment: a comparison of human and computer performance in chess. Advances in Computer Chess 3
• Danny Kopec, Donald Michie (1983). Mismatch between machine representations and human concepts: dangers and remedies. FAST series No. 9 report. European Community, Brussels. pdf
• Danny Kopec, Enrique Irazoqui, Ivan Bratko (1983). The Updated Bratko-Kopec Test. Computer Chess Digest Annual pp. 45-63
• Danny Kopec (1983). Human and Machine Representations of Knowledge. Ph.D. thesis, University of Edinburgh, supervisor: Donald Michie
• Danny Kopec (1984). Report from New York - The 4th World Computer Chess Championship. Computer Chess Digest Annual 1984 » WCCC 1983
• Danny Kopec (1984). The Canadian Computer Chess Invitational Championship (CCCIC) 1984. ICCA Journal, Vol. 7, No. 3
• Danny Kopec, Monroe Newborn (1985). ACM’s Fifteenth North American Computer Chess Championship. Communications of the ACM, Vol. 28, No. 7, reprinted in The Sixteenth ACM North American Computer Chess Championship, Denver Colorado, October 13-15, 1985, pdf from The Computer History Museum
• Danny Kopec (1985). Chess Computers - A critical descriptive Analysis of the currently available commercial Chess Computers. Abacus Vol. 2 No. 4, Editor-shortened version as pdf, pdf » Super Constellation, Elite
• Danny Kopec, Monroe Newborn, Winston Yu (1986). Experiments in Chess Cognition. Advances in Computer Chess 4, pdf
• Danny Kopec, Monty Newborn (1986). Belle and Mephisto Dallas Capture Computer Chess Title at the FJCC. reprinted in The ACM’s Eighteenth North American Computer Chess Championship from The Computer History Museum, pdf
• Monty Newborn, Danny Kopec (1988). Results of ACM’s Eighteenth Computer Chess Championship. Communications of the ACM, Vol. 31, No. 8, pdf
• Danny Kopec, Mike Valvo (1988). Report on The ACM 19th North American Computer-Chess Championship. ICCA Journal, Vol. 11, No. 4 » ACM 1988
• Danny Kopec, Ed Northam, David Podber, Yehya Fouda (1989). The Role of Connectivity in Chess. Workshop on New Directions in Game-Tree Search, pdf
• Monty Newborn, Danny Kopec (1989). Results of The Nineteenth ACM North American Computer Chess Championship. Communications of the ACM, Vol. 32, No. 10, pdf, reprinted in The Twentieth ACM North American Computer Chess Championship from The Computer History Museum, pdf

1990 …#

• Danny Kopec (1990). Advances in Man-Machine Play. Computers, Chess, and Cognition, pp. 9-32, pdf
• Monroe Newborn, Danny Kopec (1990). The Twentieth ACM North American Computer Chess Championship. in The 21st Annual ACM North American Computer Chess Championship from The Computer History Museum, pdf » ACM 1989
• Monty Newborn, Danny Kopec (1991). The 21st ACM North American Computer Chess Championship. Communications of the ACM, Vol. 34, No. 11, online » ACM 1990
• Hans Berliner, Danny Kopec, Ed Northam (1991). A taxonomy of concepts for evaluating chess strength: examples from two difficult categories. Advances in Computer Chess 6, pdf
• Danny Kopec, Monroe Newborn, Michael Valvo (1992). The 22d Annual ACM International Chess Championship. in The 23rd ACM International Computer Chess Championship from The Computer History Museum, pdf » ACM 1991
• Danny Kopec, Michael Valvo (1993). The 23rd ACM International Computer-Chess Championship. ICCA Journal, Vol. 16, No. 1 » ACM 1993
• Shawn Benn, Danny Kopec (1993). The Bratko-Kopec Test Recalibrated. ICCA Journal, Vol. 16, No. 3, pdf [16]
• Christopher Chabris, Danny Kopec (1993). The 4th Harvard Cup Human versus Computer Chess Challange. ICCA Journal, Vol. 16, No. 4 » Harvard Cup 1993
• Danny Kopec, Monroe Newborn, Michael Valvo (1994). The 23rd ACM NACCC in Indianapolis. in The 24th ACM International Computer Chess Championship from The Computer History Museum, pdf » ACM 1993
• Danny Kopec (1994). The Fifth Harvard Cup Human Versus Computer Intel Chess Challenge. pdf
• Christopher Chabris, Danny Kopec (1994). Report on the Fifth Harvard Cup Human versus Computer Intel Chess Challenge. ICCA Journal, Vol. 17, No. 4 » Harvard Cup 1994
• Danny Kopec, Hal Terrie (1998). Test, Evaluate, and Improve your Chess. 1st Edition

2000 …#

• Danny Kopec, Hal Terrie (2003). Test, Evaluate, and Improve your Chess. 2nd Edition
• Danny Kopec, Daniel Cox, Tony Marsland (2004). Chapter 63: Search. in The Computer Science and Engineering Handbook, 2nd Edition, Allen B. Tucker (editor), CRC Press, 2004, 63-1 to 63-26. pdf (Draft 2003)
• Jill Cirasella, Danny Kopec (2006). The History of Computer Games. CUNY Academic Works

2010 …#

• Stephen Lucci, Danny Kopec (2011). Artificial Intelligence in the 21st Century. Mercury Learning and Information
• Danny Kopec, Hal Terrie (2013). Test, Evaluate, and Improve your Chess: A Knowledge-Based Approach. 3rd Edition, CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, Barnes & Noble, NIC, Schach Niggemann
• Danny Kopec, Shweta Shetty, Christopher Pileggi (2014). Artificial Intelligence Problems and Their Solutions. Mercury Learning and Information

External Links#

• Danny Kopec from Wikipedia
• Kopec Chess Services
• About International Master Dr. Danny Kopec
• Danny Kopec’s Academic Resume (Brooklyn College)
• The Kopec System KidsChess
• Test, Evaluate and Improve Your Chess, a Knowledge-Based Approach by IM Danny Kopec and Hal Terrie
• Danny Kopec - How to Visualize Chess Combinations Promo, YouTube Video » Tactics, Combination, Strategy

References#

1. ↑ About International Master Dr. Danny Kopec
2. ↑ International Master Danny Kopec, 1954-2016 - US Chess by Frank Niro, June 22, 2016
3. ↑ Dr. Danny Kopec Associate Professor Brooklyn College
4. ↑ The 21st Annual ACM North American Computer Chess Championship 1990, pdf from The Computer History Museum
5. ↑ Danny Kopec - Summary of Qualifications and Education 1991; Developer of Opening Book for Sargon V chess computer as Consultant for Mediagenic Inc., Menlo Park, California.
6. ↑ Danny Kopec. (1977). Recent developments in computer chess. Firbush News 7 Edinburgh: Machine Intelligence Research Unit, University of Edinburgh (ed. D. Michie), pdf
7. ↑ 4th North American CC Championship, Aug. 1973, Atlanta USA from CSVN Computerschaak Computer Chess History Pages
8. ↑ Danny Kopec - Summary of Qualifications and Education
9. ↑ The Kopec Chess Services - The Bratko-Kopec Test
10. ↑ Sanny: Some test positions for you post in rec.games.chess.misc August 18, 2008
11. ↑ International Master Danny Kopec, 1954-2016 - US Chess by Frank Niro, June 22, 2016
12. ↑ I remember Donald Michie (1923 – 2007) « A Programmers Place by Maarten van Emden, June 12, 2009
13. ↑ ICGA Reference Database
14. ↑ Publications
15. ↑ Publications prior to the year 2000
16. ↑ Revised version of the paper Comparison and Testing of Six Commercial Computer Chess Programs, presented at the WCCC 1992 - Workshop: The Impact of Computer Chess on AI Research by Tony Marsland

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