Critter 1.2 update + new homepage

[rvida]

Thanks!
Currently playing it at 30 minutes 40 moves.
I will try to get what is my desideratum against strong engines, a draw or a defeat not before 40 moves...


fern

My surviving boarder is also 40 moves Fern....usualy when I reach,I either win or get a draw....
Dr.D

Both of you are better chess players than me. I don't remember surviving 40 moves against Crafty 19

However, with 100x time handicap I was even able to win

[Dr.Wael Deeb]

Thanks!
Currently playing it at 30 minutes 40 moves.
I will try to get what is my desideratum against strong engines, a draw or a defeat not before 40 moves...


fern

My surviving boarder is also 40 moves Fern....usualy when I reach,I either win or get a draw....
Dr.D

Both of you are better chess players than me. I don't remember surviving 40 moves against Crafty 19

However, with 100x time handicap I was even able to win

[zamar]

Congrats for the new release Richard!

Now there are 4 engines in IPON list with almost equal strength:

Rybka 4 2954
Komodo 2952
Critter 2948
Stockfish 2942

Only Houdini has a clear lead.

Cheers,
Joona

[rvida]

A Mac OS X binary would be very much appreciated. Shouldn't be much different than creating a Linux binary---provided you have access to a Mac.

Unfortunately I do not have access to a Mac. In our country they are not very popular (OTOH iPhones do sell like hotcakes). We need to find some volunteer to compile a OSX binary.

Mac OS X version is now available.
Jeremy Bernstein has kindly volunteered to compile it for me.
Big thanks.

Richard

[mcostalba]

Congrats for the new release Richard!

Now there are 4 engines in IPON list with almost equal strength:

Rybka 4 2954
Komodo 2952
Critter 2948
Stockfish 2942

Only Houdini has a clear lead.

Cheers,
Joona

I fully second Joona, it is impressive to see 3 engines on par with Rybka 4 when until a couple of years ago the previous version Rybka 3 was practically unchallenged at the top.

Publishing of Ippo sources for sure has greatly changed the landscape in the last two years and I like to think that also SF has contributed a little in helping the fast raise of today's very strong engines.

Congratulations Richard !

[Norm Pollock]

Thanks Richard.

One slight problem with the w32 version on a non-sse machine. The engine starts, but then crashes when it tries to read the opening book (14 June 2011). I removed the book, and the program loads and works fine.

-Norm

[zullil]

A Mac OS X binary would be very much appreciated. Shouldn't be much different than creating a Linux binary---provided you have access to a Mac.

Unfortunately I do not have access to a Mac. In our country they are not very popular (OTOH iPhones do sell like hotcakes). We need to find some volunteer to compile a OSX binary.

Mac OS X version is now available.
Jeremy Bernstein has kindly volunteered to compile it for me.
Big thanks.

Richard

Seems to work just fine for me under OS X 10.6.8 using 8 cores. Thanks to you and Jeremy!

[Don]

Congrats for the new release Richard!

Now there are 4 engines in IPON list with almost equal strength:

Rybka 4 2954
Komodo 2952
Critter 2948
Stockfish 2942

Only Houdini has a clear lead.

Cheers,
Joona

I fully second Joona, it is impressive to see 3 engines on par with Rybka 4 when until a couple of years ago the previous version Rybka 3 was practically unchallenged at the top.

Publishing of Ippo sources for sure has greatly changed the landscape in the last two years and I like to think that also SF has contributed a little in helping the fast raise of today's very strong engines.

Congratulations Richard !

I agree with this. Komodo has borrowed much from:

1. Ideas presented on this forum.
2. Ideas implemented in Stockfish
3. Ideas implemented in the Ippo family

We have some ideas of our own too of course as do all the good programs.

One thing that is perhaps not given enough credit is the huge importance of massive automated testing - in some sense I think this has been the major breakthrough of the past few years. It has not really been possible to do this well within a reasonable budget until multi-core chips have become ubiquitous.

[kranium]

Congrats for the new release Richard!

Now there are 4 engines in IPON list with almost equal strength:

Rybka 4 2954
Komodo 2952
Critter 2948
Stockfish 2942

Only Houdini has a clear lead.

Cheers,
Joona

I fully second Joona, it is impressive to see 3 engines on par with Rybka 4 when until a couple of years ago the previous version Rybka 3 was practically unchallenged at the top.

Publishing of Ippo sources for sure has greatly changed the landscape in the last two years and I like to think that also SF has contributed a little in helping the fast raise of today's very strong engines.

Congratulations Richard !

yes, the raping and plundering of the misbegotten Ippolit source code is nearly complete now.
most top engines have benefited sufficiently, albeit with blood on their hands.

in addition, these same top program authors and the establishment 'good old boys' have managed to discredit it enough to keep it off most major rating lists.
yes, job well done...
pats on the back, a big thanks to StockFish!?, and congrats all around!

[tomgdrums]

Congrats for the new release Richard!

Now there are 4 engines in IPON list with almost equal strength:

Rybka 4 2954
Komodo 2952
Critter 2948
Stockfish 2942

Only Houdini has a clear lead.

Cheers,
Joona

I fully second Joona, it is impressive to see 3 engines on par with Rybka 4 when until a couple of years ago the previous version Rybka 3 was practically unchallenged at the top.

Publishing of Ippo sources for sure has greatly changed the landscape in the last two years and I like to think that also SF has contributed a little in helping the fast raise of today's very strong engines.

Congratulations Richard !

yes, the raping and plundering of Ippolit source code is nearly complete now.
most top engines have benefited sufficiently.
in addition, top program authors have managed to discredit it enough to keep it off most major rating lists.
yes, job well done...
pats on the back, a big thanks to StockFish!?, and congrats all around!

I must say I agree with Norman on this!

How is it that the author of Komodo can openly admit to looking at using ideas of Ippolits in his engine and yet the ippolits are not allowed on rating lists??

I am no fan of cloning or derivatives. I have yet to use Houdini or Fire etc. etc. (I used Robbolito in Scid for android and then deleted because I felt bad)

But again Norman is correct about the rating list hypocrisy!! If Houdini and Komodo can be be on the lists then so can Fire and Robbolito!