How to use Artificial Intelligence in Computer Chess

Question

In some (historical) papers, chess has been referred to as the drosophila of artificial intelligence. While I suppose that in current research, the mere application of a search algorithm is at best advanced computer science, I believe that there are still area's where can apply (and practice) AI-techniques.

A simple example would be opening book learning where one can teach the program whether to use or to not use certain moves in the opening because the program is unsuited to certain types of position. We can use a form of re-inforcement learning and automate this: I suppose I could play the program against itself and increase the probability of winning lines and decrease the probability of losing lines.

The more complex example is to use a learning evaluation function (for example, one could tweak the values of piece-square tables). However, I'm thinking:

• given all the noise due to there being an enormous amount of realistic positions (as opposed to the amount of realistic opening lines)
• and with the cost (duration) of a computer chess game, and the need to play loads.

How can one do this effectively? (or should I look at other techniques, for example neural networks.)