I have been doing some tinkering with my old chess program, Francesca.
Think I might release a new version, soon. Stuff I've been doing:
- fixed a *horrible* bug in the SEE (meant that SEE was completely broken..)
- minor fix to eval for queens and rooks - relating to king proximity
- more aggressive pruning. This is the stuff that people call 'static null move pruning' these days, but has been around forever.
- lmp implemented (although I'm not happy with it yet)
- draw code improved
- PVS finally implemented
Hello to all the old-timer computer chess folks who are still around and involved
Regards,
Tom
After an 8 year break..
Moderators: hgm, Rebel, chrisw
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Re: After an 8 year break..
Great news Tom! Still 'MAD' after all those years?silentshark wrote: ↑Sun Dec 30, 2018 3:12 pm I have been doing some tinkering with my old chess program, Francesca.
Think I might release a new version, soon. Stuff I've been doing:
- fixed a *horrible* bug in the SEE (meant that SEE was completely broken..)
- minor fix to eval for queens and rooks - relating to king proximity
- more aggressive pruning. This is the stuff that people call 'static null move pruning' these days, but has been around forever.
- lmp implemented (although I'm not happy with it yet)
- draw code improved
- PVS finally implemented
Hello to all the old-timer computer chess folks who are still around and involved
Regards,
Tom
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Re: After an 8 year break..
Well, I came up with the 'MAD' acronym waaaay back, as a tip of the hat to doing something dynamic in the eval function (prior to that, back in the 1990's, everything was basically PST values).
When I added some dynamic king safety, it felt like a big deal (at the time). So I came up with MAD (manic, aggressive, dynamic). That king safety stuff is tuned back a bit these days, as it was fun, but weak.
When I added some dynamic king safety, it felt like a big deal (at the time). So I came up with MAD (manic, aggressive, dynamic). That king safety stuff is tuned back a bit these days, as it was fun, but weak.
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Re: After an 8 year break..
Welcome back Tom!
Version 0.19 was the strongest version tested here:
Francesca MAD 0.19 2381
good luck and all the best for 2019
Version 0.19 was the strongest version tested here:
Francesca MAD 0.19 2381
good luck and all the best for 2019
Werner
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Re: After an 8 year break..
That's great news Tom. Francesca may be 8 years older but so are we so she doesn't have to worry.
Gabor Szots
CCRL testing group
CCRL testing group
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Re: After an 8 year break..
Hi Tom,
Welcome back! Looking forward to testing your new creation!
Steve
Welcome back! Looking forward to testing your new creation!
Steve
http://www.chessprogramming.net - Maverick Chess Engine
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Re: After an 8 year break..
Indeed. In fact, Francesca must be about 28 years old nowGabor Szots wrote: ↑Sun Dec 30, 2018 9:28 pm That's great news Tom. Francesca may be 8 years older but so are we so she doesn't have to worry.
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Re: After an 8 year break..
Thanks, Steve, hopefully release the new version soon. It's showing as over 60 elo up on the last version - the bugfixes gave quite a lot of thatSteve Maughan wrote: ↑Sun Dec 30, 2018 9:32 pm Hi Tom,
Welcome back! Looking forward to testing your new creation!
Steve
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Re: After an 8 year break..
Fantastic news Tom!silentshark wrote: ↑Sun Dec 30, 2018 3:12 pm I have been doing some tinkering with my old chess program, Francesca.
Think I might release a new version, soon. Stuff I've been doing:
- fixed a *horrible* bug in the SEE (meant that SEE was completely broken..)
- minor fix to eval for queens and rooks - relating to king proximity
- more aggressive pruning. This is the stuff that people call 'static null move pruning' these days, but has been around forever.
- lmp implemented (although I'm not happy with it yet)
- draw code improved
- PVS finally implemented
Hello to all the old-timer computer chess folks who are still around and involved
Regards,
Tom
Looking forward to including a new Francesca in my Amateur Series.
gbanksnz at gmail.com
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Re: After an 8 year break..
Good news
Looking forward to the new version
Looking forward to the new version
Taking ideas is not a vice, it is a virtue. We have another word for this. It is called learning.
But sharing ideas is an even greater virtue. We have another word for this. It is called teaching.
But sharing ideas is an even greater virtue. We have another word for this. It is called teaching.