ChessV 2.0 - open source GUI and engine for chess variants

[Evert]

Here's a variant definition for SjaakII:

Code: Select all

Variant: funny
Board: 8x8
FEN: "2b1kb2/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/2N1KK2 w - -"
XBoard pieces: "PNBRQKpnbrqk"
Zone: rank8 = a8,b8,c8,d8,e8,f8,g8,h8
Zone: rank7 = a7,b7,c7,d7,e7,f7,g7,h7
Zone: rank2 = a2,b2,c2,d2,e2,f2,g2,h2
Zone: rank1 = a1,b1,c1,d1,e1,f1,g1,h1

Piece: Knight
Move: leap (2,1)
Symbol: "N", "N,n"
Value: 320

Piece: Bishop
Move: slide (D,A)
Symbol: "B", "B,b"
Value: 325

Piece: Rook
Move: slide (H,V)
Symbol: "R", "R,r"
Value: 500

Piece: Queen
Move: slide (D,A,H,V)
Symbol: "Q", "Q,q"
Value: 950

Piece: King
Move: leap (0,1)|(1,1)
Symbol: "K", "K,k"
Value: 275
Flags: royal

Piece: Pawn
Move: step N
Capture: step NE,NW
Initial: step 2N
Symbol: " ", "P,p"
Flags: set_ep,take_ep
Promotion: rank8, rank1, "QRBN"
Value: 100

Rule: checkmate = win
Rule: stalemate = draw
Rule: repeat3 = draw

Just change the name "funny" to whatever you want to call it. Safe the definition to a file of your choice. Load SjaakII in X/WinBoard and go to "Engine->Engine #1 Settings" and point the "Variant configuration file" to where you stored the variant. Now it should show up in the "new variant" dialog box. Make sure you turn legality testing off in X/WinBoard before playing (or it will get confused by having two kings on the board).

Actually, you don't even need to define a new variant for it in SjaakII: just pasting the position "2b1kb2/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/2N1KK2 w - -" int X/WinBoard should do it. The only advantage of making a variant for it is that you get to assign a piece value to the King (which otherwise ends up with something stupidly large).

EDIT: first impression is that the game is indeed roughly equal.

[hgm]

ote that in the Fairy-Max implementation I did define King and Commoner as separate piece types. I though the question was for a regular Commoner, not for some 'dynamic royalty' as in TwoKings.

As for setting up positions in WinBoard: you either paste a FEN (Edit->Paste Position, or just Ctrl-V), or you select Edit Position, clear the board by clicking the active closk, and right-click the square you want to put pieces on, sweeping the mouse down until you see the piece you need before releasing.

[Nordlandia]

ote that in the Fairy-Max implementation I did define King and Commoner as separate piece types. I though the question was for a regular Commoner, not for some 'dynamic royalty' as in TwoKings.

As for setting up positions in WinBoard: you either paste a FEN (Edit->Paste Position, or just Ctrl-V), or you select Edit Position, clear the board by clicking the active closk, and right-click the square you want to put pieces on, sweeping the mouse down until you see the piece you need before releasing.

Do you consider implement TwoKings into fairy max at some point?

I found out how to edit pieces, just hold and drag mouse.

Evert Glebbeek: which king is royal in that variation?

What happends if both kings is under attack at the same time !?

[Evert]

ote that in the Fairy-Max implementation I did define King and Commoner as separate piece types. I though the question was for a regular Commoner, not for some 'dynamic royalty' as in TwoKings.

Oh, that could be. That would be this:

Code: Select all

Variant: funny 
Board: 8x8 
FEN: "2b1kb2/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/2N1KM2 w - -" 
XBoard pieces: "PNBRQ.....MKpnbrq.....mk" 
Zone: rank8 = a8,b8,c8,d8,e8,f8,g8,h8 
Zone: rank7 = a7,b7,c7,d7,e7,f7,g7,h7 
Zone: rank2 = a2,b2,c2,d2,e2,f2,g2,h2 
Zone: rank1 = a1,b1,c1,d1,e1,f1,g1,h1 

Piece: Knight 
Move: leap (2,1) 
Symbol: "N", "N,n" 
Value: 320 

Piece: Bishop 
Move: slide (D,A) 
Symbol: "B", "B,b" 
Value: 325 

Piece: Rook 
Move: slide (H,V) 
Symbol: "R", "R,r" 
Value: 500 

Piece: Queen 
Move: slide (D,A,H,V) 
Symbol: "Q", "Q,q" 
Value: 950 

Piece: King 
Move: leap (0,1)|(1,1) 
Symbol: "K", "K,k" 
Flags: royal 

Piece: Man 
Move: leap (0,1)|(1,1) 
Symbol: "M", "M,m" 
Value: 275

Piece: Pawn 
Move: step N 
Capture: step NE,NW 
Initial: step 2N 
Symbol: " ", "P,p" 
Flags: set_ep,take_ep 
Promotion: rank8, rank1, "QRBN" 
Value: 100 

Rule: checkmate = win 
Rule: stalemate = draw 
Rule: repeat3 = draw 

[Nordlandia]

Code: Select all

Piece: Man
Move: leap (0,1)|(1,1)
Symbol: "M", "M,m"
Value: 275

The mann reaches its peak strength during the endgame, in which its value is slightly more than a knight, despite being slightly less than a knight in the opening.

Evert Glebbeek: Considering the man is worth slightly more in the endgame. What about adjusting piece value to 3.35. The piece excels in the endgame.

[Evert]

Code: Select all

Piece: Man
Move: leap (0,1)|(1,1)
Symbol: "M", "M,m"
Value: 275

The mann reaches its peak strength during the endgame, in which its value is slightly more than a knight, despite being slightly less than a knight in the opening.

Evert Glebbeek: Considering the man is worth slightly more in the endgame. Isn't it wise to adjust the value to 3+

I doubt you'll see any difference with SjaakII, which is rather crude, but sure: tweak the value to what seems right.

[hgm]

Do you consider implement TwoKings into fairy max at some point?

No.

[Evert]

Evert Glebbeek: which king is royal in that variation?

In the first one both kings are royal (but you don't lose until both are gone, so effectively you can't be checked at all).

What happends if both kings is under attack at the same time !?

Nothing. Presumably you want to save one of them, but you could also just let the opponent decide which one to capture. If the "duplecheck" rule is enabled you would be in check and required to save one of them.

[Nordlandia]

Do winboard support more than 1 CPU?

I've tried adjusting the CPU number but without any effect

CPU restriction on Fairy Max & SjaakII?

[hgm]

WinBoard supports up to 2 billion cores.

Fairy-Max is not SMP, however. It cannot even ponder.