When will we see HOUDINI in official tournaments?

[FriedmannC]

It is known as the best chess engine but Houdini doesn't participate in official tournaments..... What is the reason behind this thing? Why Robert Houdart doesn't challenge the Rybka Cluster in a match?

[Houdini]

A similar question was asked nearly 2 years ago (see here). The answer is still the same: time, money, relevance.

Participating in tournaments is probably good for marketing, but hardly relevant for my goal of creating the best chess engine.

Writing a cluster algorithm just for the sake of competing with the Rybka cluster once or twice a year doesn't make a lot of sense. If ever I write a Houdini cluster version (the "Houdini Hive"?) it would be for the end user, allowing him/her to use the combined power of a number of PCs, not for engaging in a hardware war with Rybka.

Robert

[FriedmannC]

Thank you Robert for answering my question. What are the odds to see HOUDINI participating this year at the World Chess Software Championship and World Computer Chess Championship?

[S.Taylor]

A similar question was asked nearly 2 years ago (see here). The answer is still the same: time, money, relevance.

Participating in tournaments is probably good for marketing, but hardly relevant for my goal of creating the best chess engine.

Writing a cluster algorithm just for the sake of competing with the Rybka cluster once or twice a year doesn't make a lot of sense. If ever I write a Houdini cluster version (the "Houdini Hive"?) it would be for the end user, allowing him/her to use the combined power of a number of PCs, not for engaging in a hardware war with Rybka.

Robert

Vas, on the other hand, seems to like to make up for any innadequacies by aiming for top super-computer. He feels that this is an area he can conquer. But this is cowardice, and more self-serving.

[Rebel]

A similar question was asked nearly 2 years ago (see here). The answer is still the same: time, money, relevance.

Participating in tournaments is probably good for marketing, but hardly relevant for my goal of creating the best chess engine.

I am sure the CSVN can provide a good operator for you. The more relevant issue is if your current engine stays below the required 60% similarity, which is already pretty tolerant.

[Houdini]

The more relevant issue is if your current engine stays below the required 60% similarity, which is already pretty tolerant.

LOL. What a joke.
I notice that the first CSVN tournament (Leiden) that is supposed to use this "60% similarity" rule has accepted Critter as participant.
Surely you're aware that Critter 1.2 and 1.4 are nearly indistinguishable from Houdini 1.5a in the similarity dendogram, and that this is not by accident, but by acknowledged RE-ing of Houdini 1.5a.

[Graham Banks]

The more relevant issue is if your current engine stays below the required 60% similarity, which is already pretty tolerant.

LOL. What a joke.
I notice that the first CSVN tournament (Leiden) that is supposed to use this "60% similarity" rule has accepted Critter as participant.
Surely you're aware that Critter 1.2 and 1.4 are nearly indistinguishable from Houdini 1.5a in the similarity dendogram, and that this is not by accident, but by acknowledged RE-ing of Houdini 1.5a.

Robert - does this apply to any versions earlier than Critter 1.2?

[Dr.Wael Deeb]

The more relevant issue is if your current engine stays below the required 60% similarity, which is already pretty tolerant.

LOL. What a joke.
I notice that the first CSVN tournament (Leiden) that is supposed to use this "60% similarity" rule has accepted Critter as participant.
Surely you're aware that Critter 1.2 and 1.4 are nearly indistinguishable from Houdini 1.5a in the similarity dendogram, and that this is not by accident, but by acknowledged RE-ing of Houdini 1.5a.

Robert - does this apply to any versions earlier than Critter 1.2?

Graham,don't listen to this guy....he's hitting everyone under the belt just to stay at the top but this won't last forever....actually nothing does....
Dr.D

[Houdini]

Robert - does this apply to any versions earlier than Critter 1.2?

It certainly doesn't apply to Critter 0.90 and older.
I don't know about the versions between Critter 0.90 and Critter 1.2.

Robert

[Alexander Schmidt]

Surely you're aware that Critter 1.2 and 1.4 are nearly indistinguishable from Houdini 1.5a in the similarity dendogram, and that this is not by accident, but by acknowledged RE-ing of Houdini 1.5a.

Either you have a strange sense of humor or you are completely insane.