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Subject: Re: For Amir: Questions about Junior 6

Author: Amir Ban

Date: 15:21:09 11/04/99

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On November 04, 1999 at 16:09:21, Peter Kappler wrote:

>On November 04, 1999 at 12:49:49, Amir Ban wrote:
>
>>On November 03, 1999 at 23:12:31, Richard Bean wrote:
>>
>>>http://bbs.msnbc.com/bbs/kasparov-team/posts/hj/101641.asp
>>>
>>>"... I suspect that Krush's team used a computer
>>>with computational capabilities comparable
>>>to those of ``Deep Junior''.  My guess
>>>is that it probably was american program
>>>``Ferret'' which just like ``Deep Junior''
>>>works off 4 processors.  My assumption
>>>here is based on the queen ending analysis
>>>that we've seen.  It's comparable in
>>>size and quality to ours..."
>>>
>>>Hey, is that true?  I've seen LOTS of
>>>people ask ``When is Ferret going to be
>>>sold to the public''... perhaps it needs
>>>a web page detailing the predicted release date,
>>>and then have the web page address added to
>>>some CCC FAQ.  The "message ferret on ICC" system leaves
>>>the date quite uncertain...
>>>The other thing is that I found the mate in 25
>>>announcement from Deep Junior after 62...Qc6+ 63. Kg5 quite
>>>incredible.  I had crafty with 768Mb hash & 486Mb egtb
>>>cache run for 96 hours on that position KQQKQQ + 5 piece TBs, no mate,
>>>just failing low with a +9.96 eval for White.
>>>I suspect that Deep Junior had "63...Qd5+ 64. Qf5"
>>>added to the position as well.
>>>
>>>(since DJ allegedly had 512Mb of RAM, and the computer
>>>I was using only benched at ~135000 NPS.  Still,
>>>the large amount of hash should make up for it.)
>>
>>Kasparov probably knows about Ferret from Paderborn. He was following at least
>>some of it. I overheard a conversation between him and Alterman the evening
>>after Junior-Nimzo. Boris asked him if he saw it, and Kasparov said yes, even
>>commented that the sacrifice was "safe", meaning that white has at least a draw.
>>
>>Boris Alterman was at Paderborn as a journalist covering the tournament for Club
>>Kasparov. They paid for his trip.
>>
>>Amir
>
>
>Amir,
>
>Thanks for the info.  I'm curious about the version of Junior that will play in
>the Club Kasparov Grand Prix, beginning December 18.
>
>What hardware will it use?
>

It will come from Club Kasparov. There's a Quad 500 Pentium III Dell machine at
the CK office at Herzlia. I think that will be it.


>Will it be the standard Junior 6, or a special development version?
>

Standard Junior 6 is not out yet, but will be out between now and the
tournament. We'll use the best version we have available at the time. I don't
have any special Anti-GM feature. Actually, now that you mention it, I'll give
it some thought.


>Will it use a special opening book?
>

There will be opening preparation within the standard J6 book.


>Does Kasparov have access to an early version of Junior 6, or did he get
>analysis from you for his game against the world?
>

I don't know what took place there, but Shay is the development manager of Club
Kasparov, and Boris Alterman is working there too. They have early versions of
Deep Junior and Junior 6 of course. If Alterman was analyzing the game for
Kasparov, it would be natural for him to use Junior.


>What are some of the major differences between Junior 5 and 6?  SMP support?
>

Good timing: I've just this evening frozen the new version, so this is a good
time to talk about it.

There are two products, Junior 6 and Deep Junior 6. The difference between them
is SMP support.

The other differences over Junior 5, are:

- Many changes in evaluation function, whose effect on evaluation & style ranges
from subtle to major.
- New book prepared by GM Boris Alterman.
- No clearing of hashtables between moves. This is good for searching, but the
major benefit is in analysis, as Junior is able to "learn" a position as you
step through variations. There's a "clear hash" engine parameter and a "clear
hash" menu option if you want the old behavior.
- Tablebase support.
- Some search algorithm improvements.
- Underpromotion support.
- There's of course the new GUI that comes from ChessBase, with a new look, and
many new features and options.

Amir




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