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Subject: TableBase Query

Author: Hans Havermann

Date: 08:11:14 08/16/00

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On August 15, 2000 at 22:52:36, William Bryant wrote:

>Endgame Tablebases are the _definitive_ knowledge.  They tell you exactly
>what you want to know as fast and cheep(time and processor wise) as anything.

Thank you, first of all, for this TB-capable build of Screamer. I downloaded the
five-man TB files overnight. :)

Even with the definitive knowledge that Endgame Tablebases provide,
implementation may still be an issue. I'm curious: Why does Screamer need to run
through all those plies? Do the tablebases not automatically dictate
win/lose/draw based on position? Or, do the tablebases only tell you the next
move?

I don't think Screamer, at the moment, can play against itself but this can be
set up in ExaChess. For example, using 7n/8/8/2P5/8/8/8/K6k w - - as a starting
position, we eventually get to a Screamer "Draw: Lack of Material" with
8/8/2n5/3K4/8/5k2/8/8 w - - but, of course, ExaChess doesn't see this and forces
continuation of play (strangely: Kd6 next move, rather than Kxc6) until
repetition draw appears.

Will an ExaChess TB draw-position playing Screamer against itself always end
with a repetition draw? Might there be a more complex (draw) situation that
forces ExaChess to continue play until the 50-move draw is invoked?

It would be nice, in order to see tablebase-positions played out, to have
ExaChess recognize the Screamer-determined draws or, alternatively, to allow
Screamer to play against itself.



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