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Subject: Re: How many chess programs see pawn chain draws?

Author: Will Singleton

Date: 09:01:30 05/27/99

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On May 27, 1999 at 11:32:55, KarinsDad wrote:

>The thought occurred to me that there are positions which are drawn due to
>massive pawn chains that prevent either king from entering into the opponent's
>position and hence, prevent any improvement for either side.
>
>Granted, positions like these (and I do not have an example) will result in an
>eventual draw by repetition or draw by 50 move rule, however, I was curious
>whether any of the chess programs detect a draw way before this occurs.
>
>Does anyone have any information on this for any program?
>
>Thanks,
>
>KarinsDad :)

I have been thinking about this, but more as it relates to closed positions in
the middlegame as well as the ending.  I've seen that in several games recently
good players will construct a pawn-chain in such a way as to leave me with a
bishop of the same color as my pawns, while theirs controls the open diagonals.

I have some code to recognize "pawn-rams", and to try and limit them.  But I'm
going to try and penalize this bishop/pawn color business, and hope to avoid
these closed positions.

As far as recognizing a draw from a pawn-chain, I'd say it would be very
difficult to account for small differences in positions, some may be draws,
others not.  That's beyond my current approach.

Will



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