HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: hyatt@cis.uab.edu (Robert Hyatt)
Subject: Re: Wanted: details of (computer) evaluation functions
Keywords: evaluation, position, positional, judgment
Organization: University of Alabama at Birmingham
Date: Tue, 29 Dec 1992 03:51:40 GMT

In article <dld.725537906@bruce.cs.monash.edu.au> dld@cs.monash.edu.au (David L Dowe) writes:
>
>   Hello.   I would be interested in references to papers and articles on
>the evaluation functions of computer chess programs; the terms in the
>evaluation functions and how the tuning is done.   I suspect that there is
>much good (commercial) work that has been done but has not been published.
>Anyway, please let me know what is available in writing or print.
>
>Thank you.            - David Dowe.
>

I would recommend the following:

1.  Chess Skills in Man and Machine, Springer-Verlag.  A chapter on chess 4.0
tells a lot.

2.  Computers, Chess and Cognition, edited by Marsland and Schaeffer, 
Springer-Verlag.  It has chapters on Cray Blitz, Hitech, Deep Thought, and
others.  The Cray Blitz chapter completely spells out it's evaluation
function, search extensions, etc.  I can give you an electronic summary
of the chapter if you would like.  You will need a unix-like troff
formatter.

The deep thought team tried a novel way of tuning the evaluation -> modifying
the parameters so that deep thought would prefer the moves made in a suite of
GM games.  The idea was based on a least-squares analysis where you try to tune
the parameters so that the evaluation procedure outputs a score that tends to
match what other GM's have already played.  I didn't like the idea for a very
basic reason:  If your evaluation doesn't understand some positional point
that the GM is considering, then modifying other parameters to make it play
the same move is going to introduce significant errors elsewhere.  For example,
if your evaluation procedure has no information about knight outposts,
modifying other parameters to make the program favor an outpost in games where
a GM created one would look good.  However, what would it do in other games
where these modified parameters might have other effects.  In essence, I still
believe that tuning the parameters is of less significance than having the
proper parameters.   You can sweat bb's trying to figure the right weight for
a rook on the 7th rank under varying circumstances as opposed to establishing
an outpost knight.  In reality, the difference rarely has a significant
effect...  ie, having both in your evaluation, even if the numbers aren't
quite right, will probably result in better play than if you only have one
of the two parameters but it is "exactly" right.

Bob


-- 
!Robert Hyatt                    Computer and Information Sciences   !
!hyatt@cis.uab.edu               University of Alabama at Birmingham !
Newsgroups: rec.games.chess
From: hau4@ellis.uchicago.edu (sven  hauptfeld)
Subject: Re: To (mostly) all; Sven especially.
Reply-To: hau4@midway.uchicago.edu
Organization: University of Chicago
Date: Thu, 31 Dec 1992 07:25:28 GMT

In article <19022@mindlink.bc.ca> Bruce_Harper@mindlink.bc.ca (Bruce Harper) writes:
>I still don't think dmc knows how to play chess.  I think he and Sven should
>have a match on the net, so we can all watch.  I would miss the brilliant and
>compelling advocacy which we have all come to love, but I for one would be
>willing to make that sacrifice.
>
I agree - if a third netter keeps score. Otherwise, dmc will claim, before his
2nd move, that my first two moves were 1.f3 and 2.g4 and that I am now just 
bullshiting that I actually moved 1.e4 and 2.Nf3 because I realized how stupid
my moves were...

	Sven
From: ralf@ark.abg.sub.org (R.Stephan)
Newsgroups: rec.games.chess
Subject: Re: Best Free Chess Program
Date: 26 Dec 92 09:46:00 GMT
Organization: Not Very Ltd.

jqtaylor@boi.hp.com (John Quill Taylor) writes:
> What is the strongest *free* chess program? The strongest one I have is a
> corrupted version 1 of Psion - is there a later version in the public domain,
> 
> and where could I get it? I will probably buy Mchess for my 486/66 anyway
> soon, but I'm curious what the best-for-free program is. -jqtaylor

Why,  GNUchess is not that bad.  Remember, it won a tournament this year
even in the old 3.1 version...

Has anyone compared Psion with GNUchess on the same machine?

ralf
--
***************
Sbetrg Pburerag
From: david_franklin@law.uchicago.edu (David Franklin)
Subject: Re: A question for DMC
Organization: University of Chicago Computing Organizations
Date: Wed, 23 Dec 1992 01:19:31 GMT

In article <1992Dec22.110052.14740@miavx1.acs.muohio.edu>, pmbarlow@miavx1.acs.muohio.edu (Pete Barlow... 'The Candy Guru') writes:
> 
> In article <1992Dec22.012503.595@uoft02.utoledo.edu>, dcrosgr@uoft02.utoledo.edu writes:

> Just to be on the safe side, I know nothing about the 1st K-K match, except
> that Kasparov won it, and I know very little about Fischer's tournament
> history, except that he won 90% of his games.
> 
Ooops.  K-K#1 was suspended with Karpov up 5-3 but tiring, and in his
tournament career RJF won probably just under 50% of his games outright,
scoring somewhere between 70-75% with draws factored in.

Btw, does anyone have a comprehensive way of comparing winning percentages,
% of outright wins, etc., in tournament play among GMs?  My sense is that 
70% is world-champ standard, and that only Fischer, Kasparov, and maybe 
Lasker and Capablanca weigh in at 70-plus.

Us chess-trivia nerds need a Baseball Encyclopedia equivalent big time.
Does one exist?
From: ralf@ark.abg.sub.org (Ralf Stephan)
Newsgroups: rec.games.chess
Subject: UPDATE: MChessPro vs. ChessMachine
Date: 2 Jan 93 11:54:00 GMT
Organization: Not Very Ltd.

Some new results --- including the newer version of ChessMachine:

- MChessPro 486/50 vs. ChessMachine Gideon 2.1 (60/5'):    14+ 4- 2=
- MChessPro 486/50 vs. ChessMachine King 1.0   (60/5'):     7+ 1- 2=
- MChessPro 486/50 vs. ChessMachine Gideon 2.1 (40/2h):     5+ 2+ 3=
- MChessPro 486/50 vs. ChessMachine Gideon 3.0 (40/2h):     2+ 0- 2=

ralf
--
*********************************************************
"I like pigs.  Dogs look up to us.  Cats look down on us.
 Pigs treat us as equals."            (Winston Churchill)
From: joltman@cookie-crisp.ai.mit.edu (T. Andy Frakes)
Newsgroups: rec.games.chess
Subject: Re: Don't blame lawyers!
Date: 23 Dec 1992 16:12:42 GMT
Organization: MIT Artificial Intelligence Lab
Distribution: world
NNTP-Posting-Host: cookie-crisp.ai.mit.edu

Who is this DMC bonehead, anyway?  There's been so much traffic here
recently that I've only been scanning the articles for real info or
interesting debates.  Needless to say, I've skipped a majority of the
articles and seemed to have missed all this DMC stuff (perhaps for
the better).  On the surface it looks like this bozo is yanking a lot
of chains and probably having a good time doing it (or perhaps I'm
giving they guy too much credit and he's just a total moron, but
probably not).  I recognize the style, though.  I've used it myself a
few times before to spice things up when things are slow.  I even did
it on this newsgroup a few months back with that one article titled
"Listen Up, Bobby Bashers" as many of you probably remember.  Most
people eventually figured it out, but some didn't (even after telling
them!).  If you want people to know that you're just pulling their leg,
I think you need to end your article like those phony talk show callers
do (Capt. Janks, etc.):  "....and I was also wondering if it's not too
late to order 'Butt Bongo Fiesta' by Howard Stern."  Then again, people
will probably still not get the joke.

Oh well.  I think I'll start reading this thread for a while in case it
proves interesting.

-Andy

================================================================
=             T. Andy Frakes (joltman@ai.mit.edu)              =
=                                                              =
= This user does not believe in smiley faces.  Insert your own =
================================================================
From: dcrosgr@uoft02.utoledo.edu
Newsgroups: rec.games.chess
Subject: Re: Pardon Fischer?
Date: 28 Dec 92 10:44:17 EST
Organization: University of Toledo, Computer Services

In article <1992Dec28.045856.13741@midway.uchicago.edu>, hau4@ellis.uchicago.edu (sven  hauptfeld) writes:
> In article <1hcu7eINN2s6@parsifal.umkc.edu> chris@kasey.umkc.edu (Christopher Mitchell) writes:
>>
>>In article <1992Dec21.101710.587@uoft02.utoledo.edu>, dcrosgr@uoft02.utoledo.edu writes:
>>>In article <1992Dec21.045954.5444@midway.uchicago.edu>, hau4@ellis.uchicago.edu (sven  hauptfeld) writes:
>>>> Nonsense. Fischer wasn't indicted for playing chess, but for doing business.
>>>
>>>What business was that...was it:
>>>
>>>1. Operating a 7-11?
>>>2. Selling US passports?
>>>3. Playing Chess?
>>
>>Try staying in Yugoslavian hotels...travelling...eating...etc.
> 
> For the sake of truth, none of these is forbidden.
> 
>>  Not to mention
>>cashing in on a 3.5 million dollar prize within the boundaries of and taxed
>>by Yugoslavia.
> 
> I don't know if it is taxed by Yugoslavia, but it is irrelevant. His partici-
> pation in this business is a crime. And by no means a victimless one.
> 
>>
>>Though I view Bobby Fischer as somewhat of an American asset
> 
> Perhaps you should view it as an American burden.
> 
> 	Sven

He has contributed more to the country than you have...

But, that is just my belief. Tell us Sven, what HAVE you given the U.S.?


> 
Newsgroups: rec.games.chess
From: wellerd@ajpo.sei.cmu.edu (David Weller)
Subject: Re: Please read; ASCII chessboard
Keywords: chessboard
Organization: Ada Joint Program Office
Date: Tue, 22 Dec 1992 15:58:29 EST

In article <Dec.22.11.20.38.1992.6612@genesis.rutgers.edu> miklas@genesis.rutgers.edu (Keith Miklas) writes:
>
>Hello.
>
>As I read the newsgroup there are many questions concerning a particular
>position.  Most people will go with the conventional 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6
>3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5 O-O etc...  Mortals like myself require a
>chessboard to analyze a position.  I don't know if anyone has tried to do
>this in the past, but I have created an ASCII chessboard with some examples
>below.  I hope that people will use it to ask questions in the future.
>PLEASE direct all comments, problems, suggestions for improvements to
>miklas@remus.rutgers.edu.  Cut and save the board below, and see what
>you think of the 2 examples.
>
>Thanks,
>--Keith
>
>
>____________CUT Below this line_______________________________________
>[remainder deleted for sanity's sake]

Allow me to summarize:  YUK! X-P

I applaud your efforts, but find the board visually difficult to
read.  This is like those damn "collector" boards, with wizards,
dragons,  cartoon characters, or civil war "heros".  The "noise
level" is too high to make any sense.  I'd suggest sticking to
something more "tried and true", like the simple display used
in the unix "chess" program:

8  R N B Q K B - R
7  P P P P P P P P
6  - * - * - N - *
5  * - * - * - * -
4  - * - p - * - *
3  * - * - * - * -
2  p p p * p p p p
1  r n b q k b n r

   a b c d e f g h

Here we see the board after 1. e4 Nf6

I'm not claiming this is the "bee's knees" of chessboards,
just that I find it simple enough to read.

Comments welcome.  Flames routed to /dev/null

Duffy Patzerfish.

Newsgroups: rec.games.chess
From: frants@Xenon.Stanford.EDU (Leonid Frants)
Subject: Re: Don't blame lawyers!
Organization: Computer Science Department, Stanford University.
Date: Sat, 2 Jan 1993 22:49:25 GMT

In article <1992Dec29.182602.721@uoft02.utoledo.edu> dcrosgr@uoft02.utoledo.edu writes:
>> 
>> Now, let's skip the rhetoric and get to the point here. And the point
>> is, drum roll here, YOU ARE AN IDIOT or as T. Andy Frakes so precisely
>> puts it, A MORON. People like Elliot Winslow are far too nice to
>> seriously reply to the drivel you produce. You sound like Dennis Baker
>> before he ever learned how the chess pieces move. Except that his
>> articles at least were honest and carried some chess value. 
>
>So? I notice you post lacks anything other than a personal attack. Perhaps you
>have a viewpoint which you would care to offer.
>

Well you are wrong here - I represent the collective conscience of
r.g.c. (right guys?). My viewpoint, which you are you too slow to
notice despite any lack of ambiguity on my side, is that you are a
dweeb and jerk (whose real name is Don Wedding - and I do not give a
shit if all the GM's of the world think otherwise).

>Or are you just one of those whiners who sit back and bitch?

I do not whine or bitch - I state that that you are an IDIOT - I never
asked you not to be one. I am too wise to hope for an impossible.

Now why don't you go and learn how the knight moves - should be about
the limit of your intelligence (if the word intelligence is
appropriate at all). And always remember how lucky you are - Idiot are
some of the happiest people that I have met in my life.

Leonid Frants.
Newsgroups: rec.games.chess
Subject: Re: PAPAL CHESS
From: wallingf@nova.cs.uni.edu ( Eugene Wallingford )
Date: 28 Dec 92 08:24:13 -0600
Organization: Department of Computer Science, Michigan State University

Paul Rubin tells of sources on the Pope and chess:
>G. Koltanowski in "Chessnicdotes" tells a story of trying to get
>a game with the Pope when the Pope visited San Francisco.

     Soon after Pope John Paul II was elected, Pal Benko ran a column
     in Chess Life on the Popoe and his chess history.  If I remember
     correctly, this article included a few of Wojtyla's compositions.
     Check late 1978 or 1979.

---- Eugene
-- 
~~~~ Eugene Wallingford   ~~~~  Dept of Computer Science     ~~~~
~~~~ wallingf@cs.uni.edu  ~~~~  University of Northern Iowa  ~~~~
From: dcrosgr@uoft02.utoledo.edu
Newsgroups: rec.games.chess
Subject: Re: Letter to Bush
Date: 31 Dec 92 17:03:26 EST
Organization: University of Toledo, Computer Services

In article <1992Dec31.065034.18545@midway.uchicago.edu>, hau4@ellis.uchicago.edu (sven  hauptfeld) writes:
> In article <1992Dec29.104554.712@uoft02.utoledo.edu> dcrosgr@uoft02.utoledo.edu writes:
>>In article <1992Dec29.060811.24126@midway.uchicago.edu>, hau4@ellis.uchicago.edu (sven  hauptfeld) writes:
>>> In article <1992Dec28.113850.688@uoft02.utoledo.edu> dcrosgr@uoft02.utoledo.edu writes:
> 
>> Yes women are being raped. (You'd think that was somehow
>>worse than the men getting killed by the way the media is playing it up.)
> 
> Arguably, being raped might sometimes be worse than being killed.

Well, I guess that makes the killing OK then.

> 
>>> 
>>>>If you took your energy used to point out how wrong our views are, and directed
>>>>it towards bitching at your local congressman/congresswomyn, you MIGHT have
>>>>actually achieved soemthing.
>>> 
>>> What makes you think I haven't been doing that?
>>
>>You spend too much time here arguing with me. IF you believe as strongly in
>>what you say you do, you would not have time to debate with me.
> 
> Hey, dmc will be a divorce lawyer! When the debate is over child custody, he
> will say to his client's spouse: "If you cared for your child, you'd be with
> her now and wouldn't have time to fight over custody. So you don't deserve it."
> And the judge gives custody to dmc's client - another great victory for dmc!

Once more, Sven tries to divert attention away from his own failings by making
up rediculous hypotheticals. Tell us Sven, what have you done besides BITCHING?
Why don't you be a man and go over there to help fight with your people? 

I mean, spending time on RGC screaming your insults is probably not going to
save a single life or stop a single rape.

I guess, deep down, you really care as little about what is going on over there
as I do.

I mean, after all, we are both expending the same energy to try and stop it.

DMC--arrogent, abrasive, egotistic--sure. Hypocrite--never.



> 
> Yeah, sure...
> 
> 	Sven
> 
Newsgroups: rec.games.chess
From: monaghan@cac.washington.edu (Tracy Monaghan )
Subject: Re: US Championship Round 13 GAMES
Organization: UW Computing
Date: Mon, 21 Dec 1992 20:08:41 GMT

Is/was there a round 14?
Newsgroups: rec.games.chess
From: fprost@ens-lyon.fr (Frederic Prost)
Subject: e-mail games 	
Organization: Ecole Normale Superieure de Lyon, France
Date: Wed, 23 Dec 1992 11:46:28 GMT

	I am newcomer in this group and I'm looking for someone to play e-mail chess games. Is there anybody interressed ? Please mail your awnsers to  fprost@ens-lyon.fr

 Frederic PROST ****  dept of computer science  ****
		****  E. N. S. L. ****  

Keywords: 



Newsgroups: rec.games.chess
From: abbasi@star.enet.dec.com (My name is Nasser Abbasi)
Subject: Re: Softwares & Ratings !
Organization: Digital Equipment Corporation
Date: Sun, 27 Dec 1992 19:01:46 GMT


In article <1992Dec27.094614.27421@cc.umontreal.ca>, douillar@JSP.UMontreal.CA (Douillard Pierre-Jean) writes...
>Hi ! I was reading a lot of comments about chess programs that are strongs.
>I'm actually playing CM3000 on a 486/33 and wonder what could be is 'true'
>rating.  It would be great if someone could post it.
> 
>Also, I never saw anything on Mchess and the ChessMachine in any computer
>stores.  Are they softwares?  And where can I get them? (There rating would
>also be greatly appreciated!)
> 

about Pro-Mchess and Mchess, it is software that runs of PC, contact
ICD at 1-800-645-4710   516-424-3300, rating of pro-Mchess could be
around 2450 ACTION chess, I have not seen an official USCF rating for
it, althought it did beat few GM's at ACTION chess games.

\nasser
From: uzun@crash.cts.com (Roger Uzun)
Newsgroups: rec.games.chess
Subject: Re: MChess Pro vs. ChessMachine
Date: 27 Dec 92 03:27:02 GMT
Organization: CTS Network Services (crash, ctsnet), El Cajon, CA

In article <2b3caf26wnr070@ark.abg.sub.org> ralf@ark.abg.sub.org (R.Stephan) writes:
>My friend has some intermediate results about MChess on a 486/50:
>
>- MChessPro vs. ChessMachine Gideon 2.1 (Blitz mode - 60/5'):  8.5 - 1.5
>- MChessPro vs. ChessMachine King 1.0   (Blitz mode - 60/5'):  8.0 - 2.0
>- MChessPro vs. ChessMachine Gideon 2.1 (Tournament - 60/2h):  6.5 - 3.5
>
But in Madrid, Chessmachine Schroeder defeated MChess Pro on a 486/66,
it is unclear to me that MChess Pro can beat the latest version
of The Chessmachine and the Schroeder software, which is its
default software, iin any competition with any 80X86 machine,
because of the results of the latest world chess championship
tournament, where The Chessmachine won, and MChess pro palced 10th,
with MChess Pro and the Chessmachine meeting in head to head competion.

-Roger
--------------------------------------------------------------
bix: ruzun
NET: uzun@crash.cts.com
Newsgroups: rec.games.chess
Subject: Chess Informant sanctions breaking?
From: turo1953@kauri.vuw.ac.nz (Arthur Pomeroy)
Date: Mon, 21 Dec 1992 22:37:43 GMT
Organization: Victoria University of Wellington

Sven writes that Informant is now being printed in Cyprus. I believe this
is an error: Informant is being *published* in Cyprus to avoid sanctions,
but the printing is still being done in Serbia.

I don't have any idea of the relevant US statutes, but it is worrying to
me that this sort of sanctions-busting by using a front is ok. Whatever
one thinks of Bobby's actions in playing in Yugoslavia, he was up-front
about what he was doing. The Informant thing is much more sinister as it
involves organised deception as well (who are the Cypriots assisting the
project?). It might be interesting to inquire which GMs are still contributing
to Informant too (I think Gary K. is still annotating for it, among others).

Given the number of countries involved in receiving Informant, the number
of players involved in annotations, the FIDE (Campomanes?) link, I guess
nothing will ever be done. But I personally find it more offensive than
Bobby and Boris playing in Serbia which did not assist the Serbian economy
directly.

Art Pomeroy

 

Newsgroups: rec.games.chess
From: monaghan@cac.washington.edu (Tracy Monaghan )
Subject: Poking fun at Yasser ;^)
Organization: UW Computing
Date: Mon, 21 Dec 1992 23:27:23 GMT

In article <1h5gmgINNmsa@gaia.ucs.orst.edu> linb@ucs.orst.edu (Benjamin Lin) writes:
>
>I think he is known for playing ultra-positional chess.  Didn't he once say
>that he played positional chess better than Kasparov, but Kasparov was better
>at tactics? 
>

He should read/study his latest book (Winning Chess Tactics) ;^)

Newsgroups: rec.games.chess
From: regan@netcom.com (NEIL REGAN)
Subject: MAYBE BUSH WILL PARDON FISCHER TOO!
Summary: BUSH HAS PARDON EVERYONE ELSE!
Keywords: BUSH,FISCHER,PARDON
Organization: Netcom - Online Communication Services  (408 241-9760 guest) 
Distribution: BAY
Date: Tue, 29 Dec 1992 08:02:17 GMT

IT SEEM RIDICULOUS THAT BUSH CAN PARDON WEINBERGER,YET OVERLOOK
BOBBY FISCHER AS A CANDIDATE FOR A PARDON.  IT SEEMS EVERY 4
YEARS ALL THE CROOKS IN THE ADMINISTRATION GET OFF FOR FREE
WITH A PRESIDENTIAL PARDON WITH THE CHANGING OF THE GUARD!
IF SO  WHY NOT  INCLUDE  BAD BOY  BOBBY?!

                      NEIL

Newsgroups: rec.games.chess,comp.os.os2.misc
From: stein@tellabs.com (stein)
Subject: Running dos program (Chessbase 3.0) in OS/2 2.0 DOS window
Followup-To: poster
Organization: Tellabs, Inc.
Date: Wed, 23 Dec 1992 17:02:30 GMT



I cannot run the DOS Chessbase 3.0 program in a DOS window from within OS/2 2.0.
I've spent a lot of time fiddling with the DOS settings to no avail. Symptom:
cursor advances one line and nothing else happens (I eventually have to kill the
session). Chessbase does not require XMS/EMS, but does use a copy protection scheme
which only allows Chessbase to start on the system on which it was installed.
I suspect that this protection maybe throwing the wrench in the works. If you've
succeeded in running Chessbase in a DOS window please let me know.

If you're an OS/2 2.0 user who has overcome similar difficulties with other DOS
programs I would appreciate your suggestions.

Newsgroups: rec.games.chess
From: 928s4@leland.Stanford.EDU (Benjamin Sloss)
Subject: Re: Mchess Pro
Organization: DSG, Stanford University, CA 94305, USA
Date: Tue, 22 Dec 92 22:19:15 GMT

zeng@apple.com (T. Zeng) writes:
>Does anybody know how deep M-Chess Pro search ?  From the rating it has,
>it seems to me it should search about 8-9 ply or deeper. But that will
>require pretty fast machine.
>
>Or it is because the program has pretty good evaluation function so that
>a shallower search will give a very good result.

At 3 min/move, it will typically search 5-6 full-width ply on my 486/33.
It has quite a few selective extensions, however, and will examine check/
capture/threat extensions many ply more.  
-- 
Ben Sloss        Email: ben@osc.versant.com   Work: (415) 329-7500 x172
Quote:          "It's all fun and games until someone gets paid."
Transportation: '83 CB650SC (straight roads) '93 CBR 900RR   (twisty roads)
		'91 XR 250L (dirty    roads) '87 Mustang 5.0 (wet    roads)