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Subject: Re: Hash table: could I retrieve data from opponent side?

Author: Robert Hyatt

Date: 06:29:50 10/20/00

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On October 20, 2000 at 00:02:19, Dave Gomboc wrote:

>On October 19, 2000 at 09:33:48, Robert Hyatt wrote:
>
>>On October 19, 2000 at 05:57:30, Pham Minh Tri wrote:
>>
>>>I see some chess programs retrieve information based on color (side to move),
>>>this means only half of hash table is useful. I wonder if we could retrieve
>>>useful data from opponent part of hash table (I think when we implement Alpha
>>>Beta function, it is easy to convert information between two sides).
>>>
>>>Pham
>>
>>The problem is that in many positions, side to move is critical.  And it would
>>be wrong should you do what you suggest.
>>
>>In endings it would be fatal.
>
>I think he means everything, e.g. rotating the board 180 degees and flipping the
>colours of all the pieces.  Essentially, always hash the position from the
>perspective of the side to move, and assume that they are player A.  Sounds
>costly.
>
>Dave


How could you do this?  The score in the hash entry was derived after a long
search that was based on the current side to move.  Which means that it could
be a zugzwang problem that makes the current side lose since he _must_ move.

This same identical position, with the other side to move would have a
totally different outcome.  And I don't see any way to correct this position
other than searching so that the zugzwang problem can be found...

In the middlegame, it would probably be semi-workable, maybe.  But in endgames,
it would lose badly.



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