Knuth and Moore: analysis of alpha-beta pruning

What changed

Proved correctness and analyzed bounded search effort and optimality under specified game-tree models.

Scientific scope

The record is the exact two-author 1975 analysis. Alpha-beta ideas and implementations predate this paper; its optimality and complexity conclusions depend on the search model, data and ordering assumptions, and do not establish performance for every game or heuristic.

Evidence

The linked sources identify this contribution and its scope. WRS has not independently reconstructed the scientific claims. The record is the exact two-author 1975 analysis. Alpha-beta ideas and implementations predate this paper; its optimality and complexity conclusions depend on the search model, data and ordering assumptions, and do not establish performance for every game or heuristic.

Contributors

• Donald E. Knuth · SCIENCE: Named source author of the scoped work; individual effort shares are not measured.
• Ronald W. Moore · SCIENCE: Named source author of the scoped work; individual effort shares are not measured.

• ScienceDirect page for alpha-beta analysis
• University of Alberta-hosted copy of alpha-beta paper

Provisional WRS assessment, edition 2026-10-16.1. Independent expert calibration is pending. This grade does not certify correctness or assign ownership.

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