Hydra Chess Computer

Which is superior when it comes to RANDOM chess . . . the human mind or a computer? Most tend to immediately discount a human in ANY game of strategy, random or classical. But one thing is certain: in both classical and Chess960, all pieces are in known positions on the board from the start, and that leads to a computer having an edge (no errors).

HYDRA (short-board random chess) is a whole different animal, as the cavalry of either side can come riding onto the board to flank their opponent at any moment – unseen by human or computer. It’s a serious question: how can you strategically maneuver pieces when you don’t know their locations? Or when (if at all) they will appear and completely change the board dynamic? Bobby Fischer said such play requires “spontaneous talent and creativity.”