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Date: 07 Jul 2006 23:17:09
From: Fred Hapgood
Subject: software recommendations

I'm looking for some chess playing software that understands about swapping down
when you're ahead and defending against such swaps when you're behind. Is any
program out there st enough??
http://www.pobox.com/~hapgood




 
Date: 08 Jul 2006 18:20:40
From:
Subject: Re: software recommendations
Fred Hapgood wrote:
> I notice that chess playing software is in a transition to architectures
> compatible with multicore processors. This is a confusion I'd just as soon not
> have to sort out now. (It's a confusion because I expect to be upgrading my
> computer in a few months and now I have to think about whether to delay my
> purchase till and then and what kind of hardware works best with this new
> category of sw. Etc.) Is there a blog somewhere that supports conversations
> about commercial chess playing software???
> http://www.pobox.com/~hapgood

The top engines already made the transition. In the WCCC 2006 Rybka,
Shredder, Junior, Spike, Crafty, Diep, and Ikarus all took advantage of
multiple processors with multiple cores.



 
Date: 07 Jul 2006 22:46:25
From:
Subject: Re: software recommendations

Fred Hapgood wrote:
> I'm looking for some chess playing software that understands about swapping down
> when you're ahead and defending against such swaps when you're behind. Is any
> program out there st enough??
> http://www.pobox.com/~hapgood

All top-level programs "understand" this, in the sense they count the
ratio between the values of the two armies. For example, if it's KRPP v
KRP (a ratio of 7 to 6), any engine will be able to understand that
this is better than KPP v KP (a ratio of 2 to 1).

jm



  
Date: 08 Jul 2006 15:20:52
From: Fred Hapgood
Subject: Re: software recommendations
On 7 Jul 2006 22:46:25 -0700, in rec.games.chess.computer you wrote:


>All top-level programs "understand" this, in the sense they count the
>ratio between the values of the two armies. For example, if it's KRPP v
>KRP (a ratio of 7 to 6), any engine will be able to understand that
>this is better than KPP v KP (a ratio of 2 to 1).


I have Tiger 13.0 and it routinely swaps down even when it is behind by
a piece. This is by far the weakest area of its play perceptible to me.
Anyway, I'd like to buy a program that can do better.

I notice that chess playing software is in a transition to architectures
compatible with multicore processors. This is a confusion I'd just as soon not
have to sort out now. (It's a confusion because I expect to be upgrading my
computer in a few months and now I have to think about whether to delay my
purchase till and then and what kind of hardware works best with this new
category of sw. Etc.) Is there a blog somewhere that supports conversations
about commercial chess playing software???
http://www.pobox.com/~hapgood


 
Date: 07 Jul 2006 17:09:28
From:
Subject: Re: software recommendations
Fred Hapgood wrote:
> I'm looking for some chess playing software that understands about swapping down
> when you're ahead and defending against such swaps when you're behind.

> Is any program out there st enough??

Are you seeking the stest engine, or the stest engine that
follows that rule?

Zappa, Rybka, Shredder, and Junior all rate over 2800 ELO. Crafty,
Chessmaster, and Spike rate over 2700 ELO. I'm not sure how they each
evaluate piece swaps, but it wouldn't surprise me if they evaluated
them correctly based on their ratings. Of course, they'll skip general
rules if a specific move leads to a faster win.

Nimzo 8 is only rated 2512, but it knows piece-swapping logic.



  
Date: 08 Jul 2006 15:11:33
From: Fred Hapgood
Subject: Re: software recommendations
On 7 Jul 2006 17:09:28 -0700, [email protected] wrote:

>Fred Hapgood wrote:
>> I'm looking for some chess playing software that understands about swapping down
>> when you're ahead and defending against such swaps when you're behind.
>
>> Is any program out there st enough??
>
>Are you seeking the stest engine, or the stest engine that
>follows that rule?

The latter. Basically I am looking for a program that knows how to play with a
handicap.
http://www.pobox.com/~hapgood