Rodent II 0.9.33

[PK]

Available for download at: http://www.pkoziol.cal24.pl/rodent/download.htm

I guess it is 2850 Elo on the CCRL scale again (previous version has dived down to 2812). I worked mainly on endgame performance, stabilizing quiescence search, adding more endgame knowledge and improving middlegame positional play, so that Rodent has a chance of surviving till endgame in a slightly better shape than it used to. Nevertheless, this is still the same messy and aggressive engine that it used to be, so have fun!

Beside that there are new parameters for tweaking personalities (preference for keeping given kind of pieces + possibility of setting opening book from personality file).

Changes include:

- more stable quiescence search
- more endgame knowledge, including unstoppable passers
- limiting check extension
- adding recapture extension in pv nodes
- retuning some eval parameters, including passed pawns values
- half-open files are less valuable if enemy pawn on a file is defended
- queen is less valuable with enemy minor pieces on the board
- minor pieces like to be shielded by a pawn
- internal iterative deepening in pv nodes
- mate distance pruning
- opening book can be defined in personality file (depending on basic.ini settings)
- new stylistic parameters for keeping pieces on board

As a bonus, I have changed Rodent's homepage a bit - hope You like it.

There are some more goodies on GitHub, for example a package of opening books: https://github.com/nescitus/Rodent_II/tree/master/books

Enjoy!

[SzG]

Thanks Pawel.

I for one like the new Rodent page.

PS. Never forget the error margins associated with the rating. Actually Rodent II might have been stronger than 1.7 by 8 Elo points. Also, it played against much stronger opposition, that might be a factor too. On the blitz list the difference between them is only 12 Elos, so the new 0.9.33 is sure to take over.

[Graham Banks]

Thanks Pawel.

[Damir]

Thanks Pawel.

[carldaman]

Available for download at: http://www.pkoziol.cal24.pl/rodent/download.htm

I guess it is 2850 Elo on the CCRL scale again (previous version has dived down to 2812). I worked mainly on endgame performance, stabilizing quiescence search, adding more endgame knowledge and improving middlegame positional play, so that Rodent has a chance of surviving till endgame in a slightly better shape than it used to. Nevertheless, this is still the same messy and aggressive engine that it used to be, so have fun!

Beside that there are new parameters for tweaking personalities (preference for keeping given kind of pieces + possibility of setting opening book from personality file).

Changes include:

- more stable quiescence search
- more endgame knowledge, including unstoppable passers
- limiting check extension
- adding recapture extension in pv nodes
- retuning some eval parameters, including passed pawns values
- half-open files are less valuable if enemy pawn on a file is defended
- queen is less valuable with enemy minor pieces on the board
- minor pieces like to be shielded by a pawn
- internal iterative deepening in pv nodes
- mate distance pruning
- opening book can be defined in personality file (depending on basic.ini settings)
- new stylistic parameters for keeping pieces on board

As a bonus, I have changed Rodent's homepage a bit - hope You like it.

There are some more goodies on GitHub, for example a package of opening books: https://github.com/nescitus/Rodent_II/tree/master/books

Enjoy!

Thanks, Pawel!

As Mr. Spock would have said: "Fascinating!"

Regards,
CL

[Frank Quisinsky]

Hi Pawel,

at first:

8500 45-minutes games played with FCT Rating List. Much more as CEGT / CCRL rating systems together. It would be nice to find a link to my site too because I can't see that other rating systems added link to your site, I do it for all tested engines on different positions on my site.

I can see CCRL information with two game examples from my list. Today it's not very important for me but often I can see that the programmers have a lot of fun with my work but never I can see a link to my site. I can life with it because it's not very important for myself but I got often mails that users not understand why they can't find links to my site on programmers selections. So different of the users missed the Information and are very happy if my site later found per random.

At second:

To your new version, thanks again for Rodent ...
Very nice what you do with the personalities and Rodent have indeed a very nice playing style. I like your work a lot.

0.9.33 ...
If I load the engine I can see in UCI Options that Rodent will load rodent.ini.
But I can't see Rodent.ini in subdirectoy of personality files.

OK ...
I switch in basic.ini to ...

SHOW_OPTIONS
PERSONALITY_BOOKS

And can see all the settings as UCI Options under Shredder Classic GUI.

I think rodent.ini (Standard Setting) should be to see in main directoy of Rodent. Or all is a bit confused for Basic.ini

Sure that others will search rodent.ini and can't find it.

HIDE_OPTIONS
PERSONALITY_BOOKS

BTW:
We have a Framework for test settings. That is nice!
But here I missed a list of good settings users find out.

Thanks for your work again and your new site looks good for me.

Best
Frank

[Wolfgang]

CEGT - 40/4 can be followed here:
http://cegt.forumieren.com/t601-testing ... -ii-0-9-33

[PK]

Fair point, Frank. Your efforts are much appreciated and I have just updated webpage to mention them.

[Frank Quisinsky]

Hi Pawel,

thanks ...

Shortly:
For myself not important because the programmers do enough for me, can used all the nice engines.

But for others, looking for Information to that topic. So I got some mails in the last years, users not understand that a hand full programmers only made links to my site. Users can't find the information by myself. Not all of the visitors are looking in TalkChess.

Best for you and thanks again for your new version.
Unfortunatley, I have a full ToDo list at the moment ... but you can be sure ... soon I will test your engine again.

Best
Frank

[BrendanJNorman]

You're KILLING my productivity Pawal!

I have a big todo list this week and I just KNOW that I'll spend 12 hours messing about making Rodent personalities now!

Why do you have to release so often!

Haha Just kidding... I love it!

Looking forward to creating big brothers for Henny and Remy!

Appreciate your work my friend.

Brendan

P.S The new site looks great and thanks for the link!