Skippers most boring records

[Henk]

138 moves to finish only one stupid, boring, computer chess game.

[pgn]
[Event "Computer Chess Game"]
[Site "GEBRUIK-645EVFP"]
[Date "2023.02.03"]
[Round "-"]
[White "Skipper_15_2"]
[Black "Skipper_15_1"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[TimeControl "60"]
[Annotator "1. +0.11 1... -0.42"]

1. Nf3 {+0.11/11} d5 {-0.42/6 1.0} 2. d4 {+0.07/10 1.0} Nf6 {-0.21/6 1.0}
3. Be3 {-0.01/8 1.0} Bf5 {-0.17/6 1.0} 4. a4 {-0.23/8 1.0} Nc6
{-0.16/6 0.9} 5. Nc3 {-0.42/7 0.9} a5 {+0.01/5 0.9} 6. Nh4 {+0.15/7 0.9}
Be6 {+0.00/6 0.9} 7. Nf3 {+0.08/8 0.9} Qd7 {+0.27/5 0.9} 8. Ne5
{-0.18/9 0.9} Qc8 {+0.11/6 0.9} 9. Rg1 {+0.11/8 0.9} Nb4 {+0.20/6 0.9} 10.
Rc1 {-0.27/8 0.9} b6 {+0.34/5 0.9} 11. Nf3 {-0.29/8 0.9} Qd7 {+0.47/5 0.9}
12. Ng5 {-0.32/9 0.8} Bf5 {+0.27/6 0.9} 13. h4 {-0.54/7 0.8} e6
{+0.77/5 0.8} 14. g3 {-0.60/7 0.8} Bd6 {+0.82/5 0.8} 15. Bg2 {-0.60/7 0.8}
O-O {+0.70/5 0.8} 16. Nf3 {-0.48/7 0.8} c5 {+0.63/5 0.8} 17. Kf1
{-0.76/7 0.8} Ng4 {+0.55/5 0.8} 18. Bg5 {-0.42/8 0.8} cxd4 {+0.73/5 0.8}
19. Nxd4 {-0.58/8 0.8} e5 {+0.63/5 0.8} 20. Nxf5 {-0.77/7 0.7} Qxf5
{+0.94/5 0.7} 21. Bf3 {-0.90/7 0.7} Nh2+ {+0.67/6 0.7} 22. Kg2
{-1.25/10 0.7} Nxf3 {+1.30/6 0.7} 23. exf3 {-1.26/9 0.7} d4 {+1.47/5 0.7}
24. Ne4 {-1.31/7 0.7} Bc5 {+0.96/5 0.7} 25. Nxc5 {-1.11/6 0.7} bxc5
{+0.74/6 0.7} 26. Be7 {-1.09/7 0.7} Rfc8 {+1.27/5 0.7} 27. c3 {-1.45/7 0.7}
Qe6 {+1.15/5 0.7} 28. Bg5 {-1.10/8 0.7} Na2 {+1.00/6 0.6} 29. Ra1
{-0.87/9 0.7} Rcb8 {+1.00/5 0.6} 30. Qc2 {-1.15/8 0.6} Qc4 {+0.96/4 0.6}
31. b3 {-0.57/6 0.6} Nb4 {+0.43/6 0.6} 32. Qxh7+ {-0.76/11 0.6} Kxh7
{+0.35/8 0.6} 33. bxc4 {+0.27/11 0.6} dxc3 {-0.28/6 0.6} 34. Rgc1
{+0.05/10 0.6} f6 {-0.27/6 0.6} 35. Be3 {+0.53/11 0.6} c2 {-0.34/6 0.6} 36.
Kh2 {+0.34/8 0.6} Ra6 {+0.05/6 0.6} 37. Kh1 {-0.11/8 0.6} Kh8 {+0.04/6 0.5}
38. f4 {-0.14/9 0.6} e4 {+0.08/6 0.6} 39. f3 {-0.03/9 0.6} f5 {+0.14/6 0.5}
40. fxe4 {+0.02/10 0.5} fxe4 {+0.18/6 0.5} 41. f5 {+0.01/8 0.5} Rc8
{+0.15/6 0.5} 42. h5 {-0.15/8 0.5} Rc7 {+0.00/5 0.5} 43. g4 {-0.10/8 0.5}
Ra8 {+0.02/5 0.5} 44. Bd2 {+0.11/8 0.5} Nd3 {-0.18/6 0.5} 45. Rxc2
{+0.10/10 0.5} Nf2+ {-0.14/6 0.5} 46. Kg1 {-0.01/12 0.5} Nxg4 {-0.10/6 0.5}
47. Bc3 {+0.14/9 0.5} Rf7 {-0.11/6 0.5} 48. Rg2 {+0.18/10 0.5} Nf6
{-0.29/6 0.5} 49. Rh2 {+0.16/8 0.5} Kh7 {-0.25/6 0.5} 50. Re1 {+0.32/7 0.5}
Raa7 {-0.14/5 0.4} 51. Kh1 {+0.47/6 0.5} Rf8 {-0.45/5 0.4} 52. Rb1
{+0.42/7 0.4} Ng4 {-0.15/6 0.4} 53. Rg2 {-0.29/10 0.5} Nh6 {-0.35/6 0.4}
54. f6 {+0.41/9 0.4} gxf6 {-0.41/6 0.4} 55. Rb5 {+0.44/9 0.4} Rc8
{-0.46/6 0.4} 56. Bxf6 {+0.44/8 0.4} Nf7 {-0.29/6 0.4} 57. Rg7+
{+0.51/7 0.4} Kh6 {-0.57/7 0.4} 58. Rb6 {+0.51/9 0.4} Rd7 {-0.92/6 0.4} 59.
Bc3+ {+0.58/9 0.4} Kxh5 {-0.92/6 0.4} 60. Rh7+ {+0.38/8 0.4} Kg5
{-0.67/6 0.4} 61. Bxa5 {+0.38/8 0.4} Rd1+ {+0.06/6 0.4} 62. Kh2
{+0.02/10 0.4} Ne5 {-0.01/6 0.4} 63. Rbb7 {-0.01/9 0.4} Ng4+ {+0.08/6 0.4}
64. Kh3 {-0.23/8 0.4} Rd3+ {+0.32/5 0.4} 65. Kg2 {-0.09/9 0.3} Ne3+
{+0.35/5 0.4} 66. Kh1 {+0.07/9 0.4} Rd1+ {+0.22/5 0.3} 67. Kh2
{-0.01/10 0.3} Nxc4 {+0.08/6 0.3} 68. Rbg7+ {-0.04/11 0.3} Kf4
{-0.04/7 0.3} 69. Rh4+ {+0.12/10 0.3} Kf5 {-0.06/6 0.3} 70. Rh5+
{+0.12/10 0.3} Kf4 {-0.56/6 0.3} 71. Bc7+ {+0.59/10 0.3} Kf3 {-0.53/6 0.3}
72. Rf5+ {+0.59/9 0.3} Ke2 {-0.51/6 0.3} 73. Rg2+ {+0.42/9 0.3} Ke3
{-0.40/6 0.3} 74. Rxc5 {+0.37/9 0.3} Rh8+ {-0.51/6 0.3} 75. Kg3
{+0.25/10 0.3} Rf1 {-0.34/5 0.3} 76. Rb5 {+0.27/7 0.3} Rf3+ {-0.23/6 0.3}
77. Kg4 {+0.17/9 0.3} Rf2 {-0.17/5 0.3} 78. Bb6+ {+1.07/11 0.3} Nxb6
{-1.53/8 0.3} 79. Rb3+ {+1.59/13 0.3} Ke2 {-1.49/8 0.3} 80. Rb2+
{+1.38/12 0.3} Ke1 {-1.47/7 0.3} 81. Rgxf2 {+1.43/11 0.3} Rg8+
{-2.49/6 0.3} 82. Kh5 {+2.48/9 0.3} Rh8+ {-2.57/6 0.3} 83. Kg6
{+2.49/10 0.3} Rg8+ {-2.58/6 0.3} 84. Kf7 {+2.58/9 0.3} Ra8 {-2.58/5 0.3}
85. Rbe2+ {+2.59/9 0.3} Kd1 {-3.64/7 0.2} 86. Rxe4 {+2.59/9 0.3} Nxa4
{-2.59/6 0.2} 87. Ra2 {+2.59/8 0.3} Nb6 {-2.59/7 0.3} 88. Rxa8
{+2.59/11 0.3} Nxa8 {-2.59/7 0.2} 89. Ke6 {+2.59/11 0.2} Kc2 {-2.59/7 0.2}
90. Rd4 {+2.59/12 0.3} Nc7+ {-2.59/7 0.2} 91. Ke5 {+2.59/13 0.2} Nb5
{-2.59/7 0.2} 92. Rd8 {+2.59/12 0.3} Nc3 {-2.59/7 0.2} 93. Kf5
{+2.59/11 0.2} Kb3 {-2.59/7 0.2} 94. Ke6 {+2.59/11 0.2} Kc4 {-2.59/7 0.2}
95. Kf6 {+2.58/11 0.2} Nb1 {-2.58/7 0.2} 96. Ke5 {+2.58/11 0.2} Nc3
{-2.58/7 0.2} 97. Kd6 {+2.58/11 0.2} Na2 {-2.58/7 0.2} 98. Rd7
{+2.58/11 0.2} Nb4 {-2.58/7 0.2} 99. Ra7 {+2.58/11 0.2} Nd3 {-2.58/7 0.2}
100. Ra1 {+2.58/10 0.2} Nf2 {-2.58/7 0.2} 101. Rb1 {+2.58/11 0.2} Nd3
{-2.58/7 0.2} 102. Ra1 {+2.58/11 0.2} Nf2 {-2.58/7 0.2} 103. Rb1
{+2.58/11 0.2} Nd3 {-2.58/7 0.2} 104. Ke6 {+2.58/11 0.2} Nb4 {-2.58/7 0.2}
105. Ra1 {+2.58/10 0.2} Nc2 {-2.58/7 0.2} 106. Rb1 {+2.58/11 0.2} Nb4
{-2.58/7 0.2} 107. Ra1 {+2.58/10 0.2} Nc2 {-2.58/7 0.2} 108. Ra8
{+2.58/11 0.2} Ne3 {-2.58/7 0.2} 109. Kf6 {+2.58/10 0.2} Kd4 {-2.57/7 0.2}
110. Ra1 {+2.57/9 0.2} Nc4 {-2.57/7 0.2} 111. Rb1 {+2.57/9 0.2} Na3
{-2.57/7 0.2} 112. Ra1 {+2.57/11 0.2} Nc2 {-2.57/7 0.2} 113. Rb1
{+2.57/10 0.2} Ne3 {-2.57/7 0.2} 114. Ra1 {+2.57/9 0.2} Nc4 {-2.57/7 0.1}
115. Rb1 {+2.57/9 0.2} Na3 {-2.57/7 0.2} 116. Rb8 {+2.57/11 0.2} Nc4
{-2.57/7 0.2} 117. Ke7 {+2.57/9 0.2} Na3 {-2.56/7 0.2} 118. Kd8
{+2.56/10 0.2} Nc4 {-2.56/7 0.2} 119. Rb1 {+2.56/10 0.2} Nd2 {-2.56/7 0.2}
120. Ra1 {+2.56/11 0.2} Ne4 {-2.56/7 0.2} 121. Rb1 {+2.56/9 0.2} Nd2
{-2.56/7 0.1} 122. Ra1 {+2.56/11 0.2} Ne4 {-2.56/7 0.2} 123. Ke7
{+2.56/9 0.2} Nd2 {-2.56/7 0.1} 124. Kf7 {+2.56/10 0.2} Ke5 {-2.56/6 0.2}
125. Ke8 {+2.56/9 0.2} Nb3 {-2.56/7 0.2} 126. Rb1 {+2.56/10 0.2} Nd2
{-2.56/7 0.2} 127. Ra1 {+2.56/10 0.2} Nb3 {-2.56/7 0.2} 128. Rb1
{+2.56/10 0.2} Nd2 {-2.56/7 0.2} 129. Rb8 {+2.56/11 0.2} Nf1 {-2.56/7 0.2}
130. Rb2 {+2.56/10 0.2} Ne3 {-2.56/7 0.2} 131. Rb1 {+2.56/9 0.2} Nc2
{-2.56/6 0.1} 132. Kf7 {+2.56/10 0.2} Na3 {-2.56/7 0.1} 133. Ra1
{+2.56/10 0.2} Nc2 {-2.56/7 0.2} 134. Rb1 {+2.56/9 0.2} Na3 {-2.56/7 0.1}
135. Ra1 {+2.56/10 0.2} Nc2 {+0.00/8 0.2} 136. Ra8 {+2.56/8 0.2} Nb4
{+0.00/9 0.2} 137. Ke8 {+0.00/15 0.2} Nc2 {+0.00/11 0.1} 138. Ra1
{+0.00/799 1.7} Nxa1 {+0.00/799 1.6}
{Xboard adjudication: Insufficient mating material} 1/2-1/2
[/pgn]

[Peter Berger]

I don't understand how 3. Be3 can be attractive for a chess engine, even one of the stranger ones. Can you explain?

[Henk]

I think it has a larger mobility on e3 assuming it might be that after some moves almost all pieces have been captured which blocked that bishop. Probably a bit too optimistic estimate.

[Whiskers]

I don't understand how 3. Be3 can be attractive for a chess engine, even one of the stranger ones. Can you explain?

I had this problem early on when I was just starting to add evaluation to the engine, if I were to guess it's one of two things:
1. if Hank has a piece square table for the bishop, does it have larger bonuses for d3/e3 than f4/c4 or b5/g5? Mine does and if you don't compensate with other factors to take into account mobility/space/development the engine may just plunk the bishop there because according to the PST it's a better square for it than f4.
2. Does he have any sort of patch for central control? I used to calculate it by summing the number of pieces in the middle 16 squares. This led to the engine playing opening sequences like 1.d4 2.Nf3 3.Nc3 4.Be3 5.Qd3. I tried a few things to make it work such as giving penalties to pieces in front of pawns (which is a good start), but eventually scrapped it.

[Henk]

Yes Skipper using piece square table only here. For bishop filled with too optimistic mobility values.

I don't think I can use piece square table to detect blocked (center) pawns for after some moves the blocking pieces might not be there who knows.

So to repair this I have to slow down the speed of the engine by adding code to eval.

[Henk]

Ok I might give penalties to pieces in front of center pawns where center pawns are at second row in piece square table

[Henk]

Hmm there is a variation in the grunfeld where Be6 is a good move while pawn on e7 and other bishop on g7