Apr 19, 2022
Checkers. Backgammon. Chess. Go. Poker. Scrabble. Bridge. These
seven games, ancient and modern, fascinate millions of people
worldwide. In his book Seven Games, game theorist Oliver
Roeder charts their origins and historical importance, the
delightful arcana of their rules, and the ways their design makes
them pleasurable.
Roeder introduces thrilling competitors, such as evangelical
minister Marion Tinsley, who across forty years lost only three
games of checkers; Shusai, the Master, the last Go champion of
imperial Japan, defending tradition against “modern rationalism”;
and an IBM engineer who created a backgammon program so capable at
self-learning that NASA used it on the space shuttle. He delves
into the history and lore of each game: backgammon boards in
ancient Egypt, the Indian origins of chess, and how certain shells
from a particular beach in Japan make the finest white Go
stones.
Beyond the cultural and personal stories, Roeder explores why
games, seemingly trivial pastimes, speak so deeply to the human
soul. He tells the compelling story of how humans, pursuing
scientific glory and competitive advantage, have invented AI
programs better than any human player, and what that means for the
games—and for us. Funny, fascinating, and profound, Seven
Games is a story of obsession, psychology, history, and how
play makes us human.
Moderated by Matt Bongiovi.
Visit YouTube.com/TalksatGoogle to watch the video.