Author: Gordon Rattray
Date: 06:50:42 11/14/00
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[snip] Thanks for the info; I found it helpful too. I've had Gambit Tiger for just over a week. I'd like to raise some more personal opinions and questions. I'd welcome any feedback that corrects any misunderstandings that I may have. GT engine... Firstly, I'm really impressed with the GT engine. It displays great attacking ability and endgame technique. Its style and strength make it a fascinating program to watch. GT failed to handle a position involving an underpromotion. Maybe this was a design compromise?! Does it consider promoting to, e.g., a bishop from many moves away? I've seen a position with one forced move but GT still spent time considering its reply?! I've arrived at a stalemate position without being told it was stalemate - it just stopped?! [I apologise for not having any of the exact positions at hand, but if required I can reproduce and supply them] User interfaces comments/questions... Generally, the user interface is usable but not brilliant. I've read that the interface was adopted from elsewhere (chess partner)?! Anyway, regardless of the history, here's my thoughts... Within the "Statistics" window, I've seen the node count wrap to a negative number?! What does "Conversion from..." mean, in the evaluation column? Switching analysis mode on/off can be flaky. I can sometimes toggle this button without seeing any analysis. I often have to use this in conjunction with "make computer move". Then, depending on the time control, the computer will move, despite being in analysis mode. Sometimes when trying to move a piece with the mouse, if you "miss" the piece, the whole board window moves. This can be annoying. I don't like the method of setting levels. I prefer a dialog with options and values. I can't see anyway of displaying the time for the current move. I only see the accumulated time. I like how it can automatically save the current position prior to exiting. Optionally highlighting the last move is helpful. I prefer an evaluation score where negative always means "better for black". GT uses negative to mean that it is worse off, regardless of colour. The online help is poor. It is incomplete and vague. This was the most disappointing aspect for me. Is it possible to reset the opening book learning weights? How should I use the dialog so that GT plays the opening as best it can? Learning? Variation? Others... The CD was supplied inside the manual. I'd would have preferred a CD box to protect it. Someone else mentioned this already. It's not as minor as it may first seem. Even if the CD doesn't get damaged, it doesn't help to give a professional image. I haven't yet spent much time with any of the other engines on the Rebel CD, so no comments. Overall, I have no regrets at buying the new Rebel CD. Like many others, playing strength is top of my list, and I wasn't disappointed. Gordon
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