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Subject: Re: negative extensions

Author: Miguel A. Ballicora

Date: 10:12:55 01/25/01

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On January 25, 2001 at 12:49:58, Edward Screven wrote:

>On January 25, 2001 at 09:34:05, Robert Hyatt wrote:
>
>>On January 25, 2001 at 08:20:26, David Rasmussen wrote:
>>>I mean, maybe many of the "unsound" pruning methods would be sounder if, instead
>>>of just pruning, they just adjusted the resulting depth down. In that way, a
>>>line would still be examined, only later.
>>
>>
>>This is what null-move search does, in essence...
>
>we must think about the null move heuristic differently, because i
>don't think its typical implementation is at all similar to what
>david suggested.
>
>sure, there is a reduced depth search involved, but it's part
>of the pruning test, not the pruning action.  the pruning action
>is all or none -- completely prune the move from the parent node
>or search it in full.
>
>applying david's suggestion to a null move implementation would
>mean reducing the search depth after a null move failed high
>instead of simply returning immediately with a fail high.

That is what I do with in my program Gaviota (not a good example since
it is still a beginning project). Instead of returning beta I do

depth = depth - R;

I does not reduce the tree as much as classic null-move but still reduces
enough. The advantage is that it is not fooled as easily by zugswang-type
positions. A couple of plies more and it sees it. Some of the positions
that have been posted here that are tough for excellent null-move programs
Gaviota was ok.
Probably not as good as null-move since zugswangs are rare but I just like it.

Regards,
Miguel

>
>  - edward



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