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Subject: Re: Quick question on Killer heuristic

Author: Peter McKenzie

Date: 17:52:01 05/02/00

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On May 02, 2000 at 20:35:09, William Bryant wrote:

>In my program my killer table is simply an array of [ply][2] with two killers
>allowed per ply.  When updating the killer table, I replace the first killer
>with the new one (assuming it is not the same move), and move the old first
>killer to the second killer position, dropping what ever move is in the second
>killer position.
>
>In the introductory paragraphs of Ernst's book, he describes using counters
>to order the killer moves (page 23)
>"The killer moves carry "hit" counters with them which specify their priorities
>for sorting and replacement."
>
>This would, of course, require a larger table, and more time spent updating
>and sorting the killer table.
>
>Is this more efficient or effective than a standard replace table?  Other
>thoughts or comments about organizing the killer moves?

My program has 2 killers, with counts.  If a new killer is found, I replace the
killer with the lowest count.  If a killer move is found that is one of the 2 in
the list, I just update its count.  I guess this is also the scheme that Ernst
was referring to, its pretty simple to implement and seems to work OK.

I don't use the counts for move ordering at all, if a move is found that matches
either killer it gets the same bonus added to its move ordering score.  Perhaps
I should try making the bonus slightly bigger for the killer with the biggest
count...

Some time ago (months? years?) there was a huge debate on CCC (or was it rgcc)
about killers, and whether the counts were worth while.  I can't remember the
exact conclusion, but from memory it varied from program to program.  So as
usual, suck it and see :-)

>
>Thanks.
>
>William
>wbryant@ix.netcom.com



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