Smarthink 1.20

[tomgdrums]

I love analyzing with this engine!

It OFTEN picks moves that other engines dismiss. Usually very interesting moves.

And since it is not as "strong" as the big dogs I always do a dummy check against it's choices with either Houdini 2, Hiarcs or Critter 1.2 AND Smarthink's moves are hardly ever refuted. NOW, sometimes it's move choice might be a centipawn or so weaker then what Houdini, Hiarcs or Critter would choose BUT they rarely out and out refute Smarthink.

This is great to have when trying to learn from OTB games and trying to improve. When there is not much difference in eval Smarthink's moves often seem like they might cause more problems for an opponent OTB. (at least one at the club level...)

Does anyone else enjoy this engine?

[rbarreira]

I don't have experience with this engine, but it seems odd to say that a 2800+ elo engine is rarely out refuted by a 3300+ engine.

[tomgdrums]

I don't have experience with this engine, but it seems odd to say that a 2800+ elo engine is rarely out refuted by a 3300+ engine.

The big boys do often give moves that are slightly better but still they are not often refuting Smarthink. By refute I mean making Smarthink's suggesting null and void.

If a move is only slightly better but clearer or more challenging for a human opponent I do feel that it is very instructive to look at those moves.

[Steve Maughan]

Hi,

I've always found Smarthink to be original. Sergei Markoff, the author, seemed to try a raft of different, and imaginative, search techniques. And he quite often posted them here. He was one of the early pioneers of LMR (called History Reduction at the time). He also came up with Markoff Extensions, where you extend if the null move is refuted by the same move on two consecutive turns.

So I found it fun - a bit like Junior. I haven't used it for a while due to the copy protection and I don't think the Sergei is actively developing it anymore - a pity.

Steve

[tomgdrums]

Hi,

I've always found Smarthink to be original. Sergei Markoff, the author, seemed to try a raft of different, and imaginative, search techniques. And he quite often posted them here. He was one of the early pioneers of LMR (called History Reduction at the time). He also came up with Markoff Extensions, where you extend if the null move is refuted by the same move on two consecutive turns.

So I found it fun - a bit like Junior. I haven't used it for a while due to the copy protection and I don't think the Sergei is actively developing it anymore - a pity.

Steve

Why don't you use it because of copy protection? If you purchased it everything should be fine.

And I agree that is Junioresque, sometimes even more so than Junior!

[Steve Maughan]

Hi Tom,

I did purchase it (of course!). But I'm not sure where the setup file is. I'm not even sure I have the codes as they may have been on an older machine. I'll dig around.

Cheers,

Steve

[tomgdrums]

Yeah I have lost a few programs due to a computer crash myself!

Now I always back up the set up files.

I wish the developer of Smarthink would update it at some point.

[Kirk]

Hi,

I've always found Smarthink to be original. Sergei Markoff, the author, seemed to try a raft of different, and imaginative, search techniques. And he quite often posted them here. He was one of the early pioneers of LMR (called History Reduction at the time). He also came up with Markoff Extensions, where you extend if the null move is refuted by the same move on two consecutive turns.

So I found it fun - a bit like Junior. I haven't used it for a while due to the copy protection and I don't think the Sergei is actively developing it anymore - a pity.

Steve

.17 is still free

http://www.aigroup.narod.ru/indexe.htm

http://www.aigroup.narod.ru/st017a.rar