Rodent 1.7 is out

[PK]

It can be downloaded from:

http://www.pkoziol.cal24.pl/rodent/rodent_download.htm

Source code is viewable at:

https://github.com/nescitus/rodent_rewrite

two 64-bit versions are enclosed (one for new machines, one for old ones). 32-bit version has a glitch - it does not display principal variation. It seems I have broken compatibility with MSVC2010 somewhere. Can someone confirm or deny it? No Linux compile, Linux folks should be savvy enough to create it for themselves or perhaps supply me with it.

As for changes, I have fixed another ugly bug causing time losses. It dates all the way back to Sungorus, but it takes much more sophisticated search to uncover it. Also the pawn evaluation has changed massively. This release includes pawn chain detection which should help a lot in King's Indian Defence and in related positions. Also lazy eval is no more, resulting in much more interesting playing style.

There are several new parameters to play with, so feel free to create new personalities for Rodent. A short pdf document describing all the options is included, as well as a couple of sample personalities.

As for search, move sorting algorithm has been changed to something ressembling butterfly boards, quiescence search deals with check evasions and is much more careful with the exchanges leading to the endgame.

Strength improvement is rather small, perhaps 20 Elo.

I have also come to detest the current code so thoroughly that the new version will definately be a rewrite, going back all the way to original Sungorus code. I have already done some preliminary work, perhaps 2% of what is needed, and it is going to take an awful lot of time, but I see no other way to have reasonably clean code.

Until then, have fun!

[Dann Corbit]

You have undefined behavior because of your use of the castle flag.
Several arrays are 4 units too small (you read and write from the location: "Naughty-no-no"). There are also some format statements that are not correct.

Here are the arrays:
F:\project\dcorbit\rodent_rewrite-master\data.h(37): int pstMg[2][6][64+4]; // Castle case eats 4 extra slots
F:\project\dcorbit\rodent_rewrite-master\data.h(38): int pstEg[2][6][64+4]; // ditto
F:\project\dcorbit\rodent_rewrite-master\rodent.h(154): int pc[64+4]; // piece type on a given square (castle case adds 4 slots)
F:\project\dcorbit\rodent_rewrite-master\rodent.h(265):extern U64 zobPiece[12][64+4];
F:\project\dcorbit\rodent_rewrite-master\data.c(47):U64 zobPiece[12][64+4];

Here is a tweaked version that runs without crashing:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/j071rex6nhute ... er.7z?dl=0

I guess that the zobrist initializations cannot be correct so it probably is not really right yet.

There are 32 and 64 bit binaries in the file, along with the code modifications.

I also had to add the chess programming wiki getfirstbit routine for 32 bit operations.

[Werner]

Hi,
I am not sure if the setup personalities works correct. UCI options are:
"
id name Rodent 1.7 build 1
id author Pawel Koziol (based on Sungorus by Pablo Vazquez)
option name Strength type combo var GM var IM var Master var Expert var League v
ar Club var Amateur var Moderate var Weak var Novice var Helpless
default GM
option name FirstBookFile type string default guide.bin
option name SecondBookFile type string default rodent.bin
option name PersonalityFile type string default rodent.txt
option name Verbose type check default false
option name Analyse type check default false
option name UseBook type check default true
option name PositionLearning type check default false
option name Hash type spin default 16 min 1 max 4096
option name Clear Hash type button
uciok"

there is no file like rodent.txt - and inside SHREDDER GUI I can see no personality setting.

I want to play with default settings against engines:
How is the correct setting?

Thanks for the engine!

Werner

[cdani]

You have undefined behavior because of your use of the castle flag.
Several arrays are 4 units too small (you read and write from the location: "Naughty-no-no").

Hi!
Have you found this using some special software or plugin? or just by hand?
Thanks.

[Dann Corbit]

You have undefined behavior because of your use of the castle flag.
Several arrays are 4 units too small (you read and write from the location: "Naughty-no-no").

Hi!
Have you found this using some special software or plugin? or just by hand?
Thanks.

The jillion dollar version of Visual Studio has it. I don't know if the free one has it too or not. It's called "Code analysis" and I set it for "All Rules".

[Werner]

Hi,
I am not sure if the setup personalities works correct. UCI options are:
"
option name PersonalityFile type string default rodent.txt
option name Verbose type check default false[/i]

there is no file like rodent.txt - and inside SHREDDER GUI I can see no personality setting.
Werner

Ok - found it out: inside Arena I can choose a Personality File like GM.txt.
This seems to be default.

[supersharp77]

Thanks Pawel Koziol !! Thx Dann C.!! Cheers AR......

[cdani]

The jillion dollar version of Visual Studio has it. I don't know if the free one has it too or not. It's called "Code analysis" and I set it for "All Rules".

Thanks! Visual studio 2013 community edition has it also. I will use it on Andscacs

[cdani]

And thanks for the new Rodent!!
Do you have an idea of the strength win?

[Graham Banks]

It can be downloaded from:

http://www.pkoziol.cal24.pl/rodent/rodent_download.htm

Will start a gauntlet next week.
Thanks,