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Subject: Re: ATTN John Merlino CM8000 50 move rule problem/bug

Author: Bruce Moreland

Date: 10:07:19 11/15/00

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On November 15, 2000 at 05:06:44, Jason Williamson wrote:

>On November 15, 2000 at 04:14:55, Bruce Moreland wrote:
>
>>On November 15, 2000 at 02:04:12, Jason Williamson wrote:
>>
>>>In the 2nd game I ran with xboard engines under CM8000 a serious
>>>misinterpratation of the 50 move rule was uncovered.
>>>
>>>The ending in particular was a drawn Rook and Bishop verus Bishop ending.  After
>>>the 50th move with the move of a pawn or capture of a piece by white, black
>>>(Zchess 2.22) claimed the draw and according to its log quit.
>>>
>>>The problem is, the CM8000 gui doesn't know how to do the 50 move rule.  What it
>>>seems to think is that the draw is after the 50th move SET, ie white AND black,
>>>which is clearly wrong.  To test this theory out, I moved knights and rooks
>>>around from the starting position for 50 moves.  Since no pawn was moved, nor
>>>anything was captured, the 50 move that this happens would be white 50 (0+50=50)
>>>but the GUI only claims the draw after the black 50th move.
>>>
>>>Anyway, this would basicly break any and all winboard engines that are coded
>>>correctly and this bug would be a frequent vistor to engine vs engine matches.
>>>
>>>So, how long until the patch. :)
>>>
>>>Cheers.
>>>
>>>JW
>>
>>The rule is that 50 moves must have been made *by each side*, so the CM gui is
>>correct.
>>
>>Imagine if we had a one-move rule instead of a fifty-move rule.  White could not
>>claim that 1. Nf3 is drawn by this rule, but after 1. Nf3, black could claim
>>that 1. ... Nf6 does in fact draw by this rule.
>>
>>If 1. e4, black cannot claim that 1. ... Nf6 forces a draw by this rule, but
>>after 1. e4 Nf6, white can claim that 2. Nc3 forces a draw.
>>
>>bruce
>
>Hmm, it seems you are correct.  :)  (Looked up the rule at the CFC homepage to
>double check).  The problem with this situation is this:  White's 71 move was a
>capture.  Both Crafty and ZChess's logs state draw on move white 121.  Thus, it
>appears that both Crafty and ZChess interupt this rule wrong.  As you pointed
>out, black must play 50 moves as well, and that means black must play its 121st
>move.
>
>Interesting.
>
>JW

I doubt that Crafty got it wrong, because Crafty has to play according to this
rule on ICC.

White's 71st move was a capture.  That means that by using the one-move rule, if
black makes a reversible move, and makes a reversible move, a draw can be
claimed along with white's 72nd move.

72 - 71 is 1.  So to do the 50-move rule we should get 71 + 50 = 121.  White's
121st move should be accompanied by a draw claim.

This seems in line with what you just said.  Are you saying that a draw would be
claimed only after black's 121st?  That's wrong.

bruce




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