Deep Thought is a computer, first in a line of chess computers that included Deep Blue, the computer that defeated Garry Kasparov in a six-game chess match. Deep Thought was easily defeated in both games of a 2-game match with Kasparov in 1989.

It was named after Deep Thought, a fictional computer in Douglas Adams' series, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.

The naming of chess computers has continued in this vein with Deep Fritz, Deep Junior, etc. ("Deep" here generally refers to the special ability to use multiple processing units.)

Deep Thought was a machine chess champion in the year 1988, and its rating, according to FIDE was 2551. Compare this to beginners at chess whose rating is around 1000, and chess grandmasters whose ratings vary at around 2700.

In 1994, Deep Thought 2 was a machine chess champion, with its rating estimated at around 2600. It was sponsored by IBM. Some engineers who designed Deep Thought also worked in the design of Deep Thought 2. Its algorithms are quite simple evaluation functions, but it can examine half a billion chess positions per move, which is sufficient to reach depth of 10 or 11 moves ahead. Despite that, it can also follow lines of forced moves that reach even further, which is how it once found checkmate in 37 moves.

The next version of Deep Thought 2 is Deep Blue.

See also

• Computer chess
• Deep Blue

Computer chess | Deep Thought