THE REAL MATRIX

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THE REAL MATRIX

by H.T.Dearden

Matrix: (Maths) A rectangular array of quantities or symbols arranged in rows and columns.

The Matrix is in fact an [8x8] array: A virtual reality microcosm where the forces of black and white do battle. We enter the Matrix and are absorbed by it; we succumb to the hallucination. The likes of Morphy and Capablanca are the Neos of this world. They see how others are susceptible to the perceived hallucination. They operate in `bullet time'; they can immediately react to the possibilities in a position, whereas we fumble towards a level of understanding. They have `sight of the board'. They see the code running and can manipulate it; they can fly whilst we remain earthbound.

(Lewis Carroll pre-empted the film `The Matrix' by some 128 years in his chess-themed fantasy `Through the Looking Glass.'(1871) Having entered `The Matrix' by passing through the looking glass, Alice says of the country she finds herself in “I declare it's marked out just like a large chessboard!…..It's a great game of chess that's being played - all over the world - if this is the world at all you know”. The final line of the book; `Life, what is it but a (digital?) dream?' There is tacit acknowledgement of this in the film, with repeated references to `Alice' `white rabbits' and `Wonderland').


	Llandudno Chess Club \| home WHY PLAY CHESS? \| MANHANDLING; \| BOARD MEETINGS \| ACHIEVEMENT SCORING; \| DESCRIPTIVE NOTATION; A LOST ENDGAME? \| THE CHESS UNIVERSE PART 1 \| THE CHESS UNIVERSE PART 2 \| CHESS COMBAT \| THE REAL MATRIX THE REAL MATRIX by H.T.Dearden Matrix: (Maths) A rectangular array of quantities or symbols arranged in rows and columns. The Matrix is in fact an [8x8] array: A virtual reality microcosm where the forces of black and white do battle. We enter the Matrix and are absorbed by it; we succumb to the hallucination. The likes of Morphy and Capablanca are the Neos of this world. They see how others are susceptible to the perceived hallucination. They operate in `bullet time'; they can immediately react to the possibilities in a position, whereas we fumble towards a level of understanding. They have `sight of the board'. They see the code running and can manipulate it; they can fly whilst we remain earthbound. (Lewis Carroll pre-empted the film `The Matrix' by some 128 years in his chess-themed fantasy `Through the Looking Glass.'(1871) Having entered `The Matrix' by passing through the looking glass, Alice says of the country she finds herself in “I declare it's marked out just like a large chessboard!…..It's a great game of chess that's being played - all over the world - if this is the world at all you know”. The final line of the book; `Life, what is it but a (digital?) dream?' There is tacit acknowledgement of this in the film, with repeated references to `Alice' `white rabbits' and `Wonderland').