Research breakthrough · curated entry
Samuel's checkers program learns from self-play
Some Studies in Machine Learning Using the Game of Checkers
- Date
- July 1959
- Category
- Research breakthrough
- Organization / Model
- IBM
- Evidence
- 1 source · 1 evidence family
The program kept adjusting its evaluation function through games against itself and reached a level that beat its author. It was among the first complete demonstrations of improving a policy from experience, making machine learning a direction that could be tested in engineering.
Curator's note: Cross-checked against the IBM Journal paper DOI.
Curated sources · 1
-
Original paper · IBM Journal of Research and Development1959-07-01
Some Studies in Machine Learning Using the Game of Checkers
doi.org
Cite this page
This page is a curated static snapshot and can be cited directly. Preferred format GB/T 7714—2025 (electronic resource [EB/OL]); the other 5 styles open below, together with the machine-readable files.
GB/T 7714—2025 (electronic resource [EB/OL])
AI 纪年. Samuel 的跳棋程序从自我对弈中学习，机器学习获得工程演示[EB/OL]. (1959-07)[2026-11-03]. https://aihist.net/e/samuel-checkers-1959.html.
APA 7 · American Psychological Association
AI 纪年. (1959, July). Samuel 的跳棋程序从自我对弈中学习，机器学习获得工程演示 [Web page]. https://aihist.net/e/samuel-checkers-1959.html
MLA 9 · Modern Language Association
"Samuel 的跳棋程序从自我对弈中学习，机器学习获得工程演示." AI 纪年, July 1959, aihist.net/e/samuel-checkers-1959.html. Accessed 3 Nov. 2026.
Chicago 17 · notes-bibliography
AI 纪年. "Samuel 的跳棋程序从自我对弈中学习，机器学习获得工程演示." Published July 1959. Accessed Nov. 3, 2026. https://aihist.net/e/samuel-checkers-1959.html.
IEEE · citation-reference list
"Samuel 的跳棋程序从自我对弈中学习，机器学习获得工程演示," AI 纪年, July 1959. [Online]. Available: https://aihist.net/e/samuel-checkers-1959.html. [Accessed: 3 Nov. 2026].
ACM · author-date variant
AI 纪年. July 1959. Samuel 的跳棋程序从自我对弈中学习，机器学习获得工程演示. Retrieved November 3, 2026 from https://aihist.net/e/samuel-checkers-1959.html.
All six styles come from one template and can be compared word for word. [引用日期], Accessed, urldate and Y2 all carry this page's build date, 2026-11-03 — a static page is an immutable snapshot, so substitute the date you actually consulted it. The address in every style is the archive's canonical page: this English page translates the same snapshot, and the work keeps its name, so one record cites both. For one-click copying use the same entry in the timeline, which takes the day you opened it. Expand the other styles before printing.