Boris

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|| [[image:4-0 and 4-2.Boris_Electronic_Chess_Computer.Applied_Concepts.1977.102647279.lg.jpg link="http://www.computerhistory.org/chess/full_record.php?iid=art-431614f43ad74"]] ||~   || **Boris**,
an early [[Dedicated Chess Computers|dedicated chess computer]], which appeared in February 1978, designed and manufactured by [[Applied Concepts]] <ref>//Patent Application filed 2nd March 1978 Inventors: Rod Barclay, John A. Cunningham, [[Alan Mead|Alan B. Mead]], Joseph T. Spaits
for [[Applied Concepts|Applied Concepts, Inc.]]// from [[http://www.chesscomputeruk.com/html/patents.html|Patents]] from [[http://www.chesscomputeruk.com/index.html|Chess Computer UK]] by [[Mike Watters]]</ref> and marketed by primary distributor [[Chafitz]]. Already in March 1978, Boris played [[MCCT 1978|Second West Coast Computer Faire Microcomputer Chess Tournament]] in the "microcomputers with less than 8K of memory class" <ref>[[Larry Wagner]] (**1978**). //Results of First Microcomputer Chess Tournament//. [[http://www.computerhistory.org/collections/accession/102686281|Silicon Gulch Gazette]], Vol. 2, No. 4, May 10, 1978, pg. 9</ref>.

The name was likely in dependence on the given name of [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boris_Spassky|Boris Spassky]], who lost the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Chess_Championship_1972|Chess World Championship 1972]] from [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bobby_Fischer|Bobby Fischer]] in [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reykjavik|Reykjavik]]. Boris ran on a [[Fairchild F8]] 8-bit microprocessor with only 2.5 KiB [[Memory#ROM|ROM]] and 256 byte [[Memory#RAM|RAM]].

[[David Lindsay]] was hired to program the machine <ref>[[http://www.hiarcs.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=1122|Collectors Corner. Chafitz Chess Computers..The Early Years]] by [[Steve Blincoe|Steve B]], [[Computer Chess Forums|Hiarcs Forum]], March 30, 2008</ref>, and two further Boris models with Lindsay programs appeared in 1979, the first travel chess computer //Boris Diplomat// <ref>[[http://www.schaakcomputers.nl/hein_veldhuis/database/files/04-1979%20%5BC-7926%5D%20Applied%20Concepts%20-%20Boris%20Diplomat%20%28I%29%20%28bleu%20housing%29.pdf|Applied Concepts - Boris Diplomat]] (pdf) by [[Hein Veldhuis]]</ref> <ref>[[http://www.schach-computer.info/wiki/index.php/Chafitz_Boris_Diplomat|Chafitz Boris Diplomat]] from [[http://www.schach-computer.info/wiki/index.php/Hauptseite_En|Schachcomputer.info Wiki]] (German)</ref>, where Lindsay holds a patent  <ref>[[http://www.patentbuddy.com/Patent/Profile/7650390/4804112|Professional Profiles for Innovators of D255247, Lindsay, David including employment histories, technology specializations, innovator rankings/ratings, residence addresses, co-workers, Chess piece font]] from [[http://www.patentbuddy.com/home.jsf|PatentBuddy]]</ref> on the [[Pieces#Drawing|Chess piece font]] <ref>[[http://www.borischesscomputer.com//Carateres%20speciaux%20Diplomat.jpg|Boris Diplomat character's]] from [[http://www.borischesscomputer.com/|Boris is King]] by Daniel Collin</ref>, and the //Boris Master// <ref>[[http://www.schach-computer.info/wiki/index.php/Chafitz_Boris_Master|Chafitz Boris Master]] from [[http://www.schach-computer.info/wiki/index.php/Hauptseite_En|Schachcomputer.info Wiki]] (German)</ref>. ||
|| Boris <ref>[[http://www.computerhistory.org/chess/full_record.php?iid=art-431614f43ad74|Boris Electronic Chess Computer]], [[Applied Concepts]], from [[The Computer History Museum]]</ref> ||~   ||^   ||
[[toc]]
=Photos=
|| [[image:ChafitzBoris.jpg link="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10261668@N05/2376896939/in/set-72157600923816639"]] ||
|| [[Arleen Chafitz|Arleen]] and [[Steve Chafitz]], Boris is King <ref>[[http://www.flickr.com/photos/10261668@N05/2376896939/in/set-72157600923816639|Ft.Boris | Flickr - Fotosharing]] by [[Steve Blincoe|Chewbanta]]</ref> <ref>[[http://www.borischesscomputer.com//homepage.htm|Boris is King]] by Daniel Collin</ref>   ||
=Bobby Fischer calling=
[[Steve Chafitz]] on a call from [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bobby_Fischer|Bobby Fischer]] <ref>[[http://www.eendusa.com/history.php|e-End – Secure Electronic Data Destruction and Computer Electronics Recycling, Frederick MD]]</ref>:
|| {{Just to rewind a bit, one evening when I was home having dinner, I got a call from Bobby Fischer. He was excited about our electronic chess game "Boris" and I realized that if he was interested in our electronic chess game that there was a major market out there. We increased our development of electronic games and yes, we hired the brightest and the best programmers in the country to develop programs for our games.}} ||
=Co-Author=
The [[ICGA]] site mentions [[Rex Kent]] as author of //Boris Experimental// which played the [[WMCCC 1980|1st World Microcomputer Chess Championship]] 1980 in [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London|London]] <ref>[[http://www.grappa.univ-lille3.fr/icga/person.php?id=485|Rex Kent's ICGA Tournaments]]</ref>. However, //Boris X// was already the work of [[Kathe Spracklen|Kathe]] and [[Dan Spracklen]], and additionally with modifications by [[John Aker]] and [[Terry Fredrick]]. Rex Kent operated //Boris// at the [[PCW-MCC 1978]] <ref>[[David Levy]] (**1978**). //The PCW Microcomputer Chess Championships//, [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personal_Computer_World|Personal Computer World]] 11/78, [[http://www.chesscomputeruk.com/PCW-MCC_1978.pdf|pdf]] from [[http://www.chesscomputeruk.com/index.html|Chess Computer UK]] by [[Mike Watters]]</ref>. It is a bit unclear whether Kent was operator or co- or book-author  of the early //Boris// otherwise credited to [[David Lindsay]].
[[#2.5]]
=Boris 2.5= 
In 1979, following the development of the original Boris when more advanced programs were required, [[Arleen Chafitz|Arleen]] and [[Steve Chafitz]] contracted [[Kathe Spracklen|Kathe]] and [[Dan Spracklen]] to be their chess programmers for their [[Chafitz Modular Game System|Chafitz modular game system]] as well the [[Applied Concepts]] [[Great Game Machine]] <ref>[[http://www.great-game-machine.com/|Welcome to the Great-Game Machine Workshop]]</ref>. Their [[Sargon|Sargon 2.5]] program appeared as //Chafitz Sargon 2.5// MGS [[Module|module]] <ref>[[http://www.schach-computer.info/wiki/index.php/Chafitz_Sargon_2.5|Chafitz Sargon 2.5]] from [[http://www.schach-computer.info/wiki/index.php/Hauptseite_En|Schachcomputer.info Wiki]] (German)</ref>, and in 1980, as [[Chafitz ARB Sargon 2.5]] <ref>[[http://www.spacious-mind.com/html/arb_sargon_2_5.html|Chafitz ARB Sargon 2.5 Electronic Chess Computer]] from [[The Spacious Mind]]</ref>, also called //Boris Sargon 2.5// <ref>[[http://tluif.home.xs4all.nl/chescom/BorSarg.html|Boris Sargon 2.5]] by [[http://www.xs4all.nl/%7Etluif/|Tom Luif]]</ref> or simply dubbed //Boris 2.5//. [[John Aker]] and [[Terry Fredrick]], affiliated with Applied Concepts, were involved in improving the Sargon and Boris program <ref>[[http://terryfrederick.com/resume.htm|Terry M. Fredrick - Resume]]</ref>.
[[#Handroid]]
=Boris Handroid= 
|| [[image:Handroid.jpg link="http://www.schachcomputer.at/handroid.htm"]] ||~  || //Boris Handroid// was the first but very rare electronic [[Robots|chess robot]] from 1980 <ref>[[http://www.schachcomputer.at/schachroboter.htm|Schachroboter]] from [[http://www.schachcomputer.at/|Kurt´s Schachcomputer Homepage]] by [[Kurt Kispert]] (German)</ref>, with 64 [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hall_effect_sensor|Hall effect sensors]] to recognize pieces, and three [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Servomechanism|servomechanisms]] to control the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cartesian_coordinate_robot|cartesian]] [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robotic_arm|robotic arm]]. The Handroid program, adapted by [[Terry Fredrick]] <ref>[[http://terryfrederick.com/resume.htm|Terry M. Fredrick - Resume]]</ref> was also based on [[Sargon|Sargon 2.5]] by [[Kathe Spracklen|Kathe]] and [[Dan Spracklen]]. ||
|| Handroid <ref>[[http://www.schachcomputer.at/handroid.htm|Boris Handroid]] from [[http://www.schachcomputer.at/|Kurt´s Schachcomputer Homepage]] by [[Kurt Kispert]] (German), Photo by Rolf Bühlers</ref> ||~   ||^   ||
[[#X]]
=Boris Experimental= 
//Boris Experimental// (Boris X) was the further development of the //Boris 2.5// aka //Sargon 2.5// program, but no longer by the Spracklens, who after their [[Chafitz#ChafitzExperience|experience]] no longer worked for [[Chafitz]], but for [[Sidney Samole|Samole's]] [[Fidelity Electronics]]. [[John Aker]] continued the job. 

==WMCCC 1980==
The Sargon based //Boris Experimental// played the [[WMCCC 1980|1st World Microcomputer Chess Championship]], September 4-9, 1980, in London, where it only lost versus later champion and Sargon based [[Chess Challenger|Challenger X]], blundering an endgame a piece up <ref>[[http://www.grappa.univ-lille3.fr/icga/round.php?tournament=13&round=3&id=1|London 1980 - Chess - Round 3 - Game 1 (ICGA Tournaments)]]</ref>, and became second with 4 out of 5! 
[[code]]
[Event "WMCCC 1980"]
[Site "London, United Kingdom"]
[Date "1980.09.05"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Chess Challenger"]
[Black "Boris Experimental"]
[Result "1-0"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 b5 5. Bb3 Bc5 6. c3 Nf6 7. d4 exd4 
8. e5 Qe7 9. cxd4 Bb4+ 10. Kf1 Ng8 11. Bf4 Na5 12. a3 Nxb3 13. Qxb3 Ba5 
14. Nc3 Bb7 15. d5 O-O-O 16. Rc1 f6 17. exf6 Nxf6 18. d6 Qe6 19. Qxe6 dxe6 
20. dxc7 Rd7 21. Ng5 Re8 22. Re1 h6 23. Nxe6 Rde7 24. b4 Bb6 25. a4 Rxe6 
26. Rxe6 Rxe6 27. axb5 axb5 28. Be3 Bxc7 29. Bd4 Bc6 30. f3 Bd6 31. Na2 Bd5 
32. Nc3 Bc4+ 33. Kf2 Bxb4 34. Rb1 Bd6 35. Nxb5 Bxh2 36. Nc3 Bd6 37. g3 Kd7 
38. f4 g6 39. Kf3 Nd5 40. Ne4 Be7 41. Rb7+ Kc6 42. Rb2 h5 43. Rc2 Kb5 44. Rb2+ 
Bb4 45. Be5 Bd3 46. Nd6+ Kc5 47. Rb3 Bc2 48. Nb7+ Kb6 49. Rb2 Rc6 50. Nd6 Bd1+ 
51. Ke4 Kc5 52. f5 Nc3+ 53. Kd3 gxf5 54. Nxf5 Nd5 55. Bd4+ Kb5 56. Be5 Kc5 
57. Bd4+ Kb5 58. Be5 Ka4 59. Ra2+ Ba3 60. Kd4 Nc3 61. Ra1 Nb5+ 62. Ke3 Bc2 
63. Kf4 Rc4+ 64. Kg5 Rg4+ 65. Kf6 Rc4 66. Kg5 Rg4+ 67. Kf6 Kb3 68. Rh1 Bxf5 
69. Kxf5 Nd6+ 70. Ke6 Rg6+ 71. Kd5 Nc4 72. Bf4 Rb6 73. Ke4 Rb5 74. Rd1 Bb2 
75. Re1 Be5 76. Rb1+ Bb2 77. Re1 Be5 78. Rb1+ Ka4 79. Rxb5 Bxf4 80. Rc5 Kb4 
81. Rxc4+ Kxc4 82. Kxf4 Kd5 83. Kg5 Ke4 84. Kxh5 Kf5 85. g4+ Ke4 86. g5 Kf5 
87. g6 Ke6 88. Kh6 Kf6 89. g7 Kf7 90. Kh7 Ke6 91. g8=Q+ Ke5 92. Kg6 Ke4 
93. Qc4+ Ke5 94. Kg5 Kd6 95. Kf6 Kd7 96. Qc5 Kd8 97. Ke6 Ke8 98. Qe7# 1-0
[[code]]
[[#Controversy]]
==Controversy== 
===ACM 1980=== 
Boris X was also registered for the [[ACM 1980]]. A brief description is given in the tournament booklet with [[Applied Concepts]] CEO [[Alan Mead]] as representative <ref>[[http://www.computerhistory.org/chess/full_record.php?iid=doc-431614f6cdeeb|The Eleventh ACM's North American Computer Chess Championship]], [[http://archive.computerhistory.org/projects/chess/related_materials/text/3-1%20and%203-2%20and%203-3.1980_11th_ACM_NACCC/The_Eleventh_ACMs_North_American_Computer_Chess_Championship.1980.062303015.sm.pdf|pdf]] from [[The Computer History Museum]]</ref> :
|| {{__BORIS EXPERIMENTAL__, Alan Mead, Applied Concepts, Garland, Texas}}

{{The program uses [[Alpha-Beta|alpha-beta]] pruning with recently developed and improved search heuristics. The program runs in 8k of program space and has nine levels of play including two tournament levels. The tournament level play is expected to be 100 points stronger than the present BORIS 2.5 program.}} ||

But //Boris X//, despite registered, finally did not play the [[ACM 1980]]. [[Kathe Spracklen]] had filed a protest, claiming //Boris X// is too similar to //Sargon 2.5//, and requested mutual comparison of the source code. After John Aker admitted that //Boris X// was a revamped //Sargon 2.5//, //Boris// was rejected <ref>[[http://www.schaakcomputers.nl/hein_veldhuis/database/files/01-1981%20%5BE-4701%5D%20Applied%20Concepts%20-%20Morphy%20Edition%20Master%20Chess%20%28module%29.pdf|Applied Concepts - Morphy Edition Master Chess (module)]] (pdf) by [[Hein Veldhuis]]</ref> <ref>[[Evan Katz]] (**1981**). //[[https://archive.org/stream/PersonalComputing198102/Personal%20Computing%201981-02#page/n85/mode/1up|The Eleventh North American Computer Chess Championship]]//. [[Personal Computing#5_2|Personal Computing, Vol. 5, No. 2]], pp. 87</ref>.

===ACM 1981=== 
At the 12th [[ACM 1981]], //Boris X// was mentioned in the booklet again, now with a long list of its authors and Applied Concepts representatives <ref>[[http://www.computerhistory.org/chess/full_record.php?iid=doc-431614f6ce737|The Twelfth ACM's North American Computer Chess Championship]], [[http://archive.computerhistory.org/projects/chess/related_materials/text/3-1%20and%203-2%20and%203-3.1981_ACM_NACCC/1981_ACM_NACCC.sm.062303017.pdf|pdf]] from [[The Computer History Museum]]</ref>, but again, did not participate, likely also because [[David Slate]] was already competing with [[Nuchess]]:
|| {{__BORIS EXPERIMENTAL__, [[John Aker]], [[Alan Mead]], [[Terry Fredrick]], [[John Jacobs]], [[David Slate]], [[Larry Atkin]] (c/o AM, Applied Concepts, Inc. 207 N. Kirby, Garland, Texas 75042), [[Great Game Machine]] (at site)}} ||

=See also=
* [[Applied Concepts]]
* [[Chafitz]]
* [[Various Classifications#ChessLegend|Chess legends]]
* [[Various Classifications#GivenName|Given Name]]

=Publications= 
* [[http://alain.zanchetta.free.fr/docs/AppliedConcepts/BorisKitAssemblyManualUS.pdf|Boris assembly manual]] (pdf) hosted by [[Alain Zanchetta]]
* Editor (**1978**). //[[http://www.computerhistory.org/chess/full_record.php?iid=doc-431614f6d74a1|What's New? Computer chess; Microchess 1.5; Boris]]//, [[Byte Magazine#BYTE310|BYTE, Vol. 3, No. 10]],  pp. 193, [[http://archive.computerhistory.org/projects/chess/related_materials/text/4-1%20and%204-2.Whats_New_Byte_Magazine/Whats_New.Microchess_1-5.Boris.Byte_Magazine.Oct-1978.062303032.pdf|pdf]] from [[The Computer History Museum]] » [[MicroChess]]
* Editor (**1978**). //Black-box war//. [[Personal Computing#2_11|Personal Computing, Vol. 2, No. 11]], pp. 17 » [[Chess Challenger]]
* [[Harry Shershow]] (**1979**). //Chafitz' Big Move in Computer Chess//. [[Personal Computing#3_9|Personal Computing, Vol. 3, No. 9]], pp. 59 » [[Sargon]]
* Michael Ham (**1980**). //Modular Game System and Boris / Sargon 2.5//. [[Personal Computing#4_7|Personal Computing, Vol. 4, No. 7]], pp. 79 » [[Chafitz Modular Game System|Modular Game System]]
* Editor (**1980**). //Boris on the Move//. [[Personal Computing#4_8|Personal Computing, Vol. 4, No. 8]], pp. 77 » [[Applied Concepts]]
* [[David E. Welsh]] (**1980**). //Rating Boris 2.5//. [[Personal Computing#4_10|Personal Computing, Vol. 4, No. 10]], pp. 78
* Editor (**1980**). //The battle of Boris 2.5 vs Sargon 2.5// [[Personal Computing#4_10|Personal Computing, Vol. 4, No. 10]], pp. 83 » [[Applied Concepts]], [[Chafitz]]
* [[David E. Welsh]] (**1980**). //Rating Boris 2.5 - Part II//. [[Personal Computing#4_11|Personal Computing, Vol. 4, No. 11]], pp. 87 
* [[Harry Shershow]] (**1981**). //Two New Units In Aktion//. [[Personal Computing#5_2|Personal Computing, Vol. 5, No. 2]], pp. 91 » [[MCC 1980]], [[John Aker]], [[Morphy]]
* [[http://www.schaakcomputers.nl/hein_veldhuis/database/files/04-1979%20%5BC-7926%5D%20Applied%20Concepts%20-%20Boris%20Diplomat%20%28I%29%20%28bleu%20housing%29.pdf|Applied Concepts - Boris Diplomat]] (pdf) by [[Hein Veldhuis]]

=Forum Posts=
* [[http://groups.google.com/group/rec.games.chess.computer/browse_frm/thread/5902ace64977d952|The old Boris chess computer]] by [[Truman Collins]], [[Computer Chess Forums|rgcc]], January 25, 1996 <ref>[[Truman Collins]] (**1995**). //A Trip Down Chess Computer Memory Lane//. [[Computer Chess Reports]], Vol. 5, No. 3-4 Addendum, pp. 33</ref>
* [[http://www.hiarcs.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=1122|Collectors Corner. Chafitz Chess Computers..The Early Years]] by [[Steve Blincoe|Steve B]], [[Computer Chess Forums|Hiarcs Forum]], March 30, 2008

=External Links= 
* [[http://www.grappa.univ-lille3.fr/icga/program.php?id=458|Boris Experimental ICGA Tournaments]]
* [[http://www.borischesscomputer.com/homepage.htm|Boris is King]] by Daniel Collin <ref>[[http://www.hiarcs.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=8419|Boris is King website address has been changed !]] by Boris is King, [[Computer Chess Forums|Hiarcs Forum]], May 31, 2017</ref>
* [[http://www.chesscomputeruk.com/html/applied_concepts_boris.html|Applied Concepts Boris]] from [[http://www.chesscomputeruk.com/index.html|Chess Computer UK]] by [[Mike Watters]]
* [[http://www.spacious-mind.com/html/boris.html|Chafitz Boris]] from [[The Spacious Mind]]
* [[http://www.schach-computer.info/wiki/index.php/Chafitz_Boris|Chafitz Boris]] from [[http://www.schach-computer.info/wiki/index.php/Hauptseite_En|Schachcomputer.info Wiki]] (German)
* [[http://www.schach-computer.info/wiki/index.php/Chafitz_Boris_Master|Chafitz Boris Master]] from [[http://www.schach-computer.info/wiki/index.php/Hauptseite_En|Schachcomputer.info Wiki]] (German)
* [[http://www.schach-computer.info/wiki/index.php/Chafitz_Boris_Diplomat|Chafitz Boris Diplomat]] from [[http://www.schach-computer.info/wiki/index.php/Hauptseite_En|Schachcomputer.info Wiki]] (German)
* [[http://www.seanriddle.com/f8.html|Other F8 games - Boris Diplomat]] by [[Sean Riddle]] - playable in [[http://www.mess.org/|MESS]]
* [[http://chesseval.com/ChessEvalJournal/ANDROID/ChessEvalJournal.htm|Directly coming from the 21st Century: the Boris HANDroid]] by [[Rob van Son]], [[http://www.chesseval.com/index.html|ChessEval]], February 2014

=References= 
<references />
=What links here?= 
[[include page="Boris" component="backlinks" limit="40" ]]
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