Author: Lex Loep
Date: 05:14:28 11/17/00
Go up one level in this thread
On November 17, 2000 at 00:24:00, Christophe Theron wrote: >On November 15, 2000 at 07:28:57, Gordon Rattray wrote: > >>On November 14, 2000 at 13:24:45, Christophe Theron wrote: >> >>[snip] >> [snip] >> >> >>Upon further investigation, I notice that this happens if and only if I >>stalemate GT and not the other way around. It applies it checkmate too >>(unfortunately I've haven't succeeded in checkmating GT in a normal game, only >>from a test postion ;-) ). e.g. try Black king on e4, Black pawn e3, White king >>e1. Play as Black against GT and advance the pawn to a stalemate position. I >>think the "Statistics" and moves windows give some indication that the game is >>over, but the normal pop up window is not shown. Incidentally, if GT gives the >>stalemate, it says "Stealmate" and not "Stalemate". ;-) > > > >I hope Lex reads this. > > The popup window is only shown when it is the computer giving checkmate/stalemate. Thanks for the typo :) > > >>>>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. >>> >>> >>>I have never noticed this. If you know how to reproduce it, then Lex will be >>>interested. >> >> >>Ok, actual steps to reproduce... >> >>i) start with a new game >>ii) press analysis button on toolbar -> analysis starts to appear in >>"Statistics" window >>iii) edit position, and then come back out of edit mode >> >>Now I see no further analysis produced. Toggling the analysis button doesn't do >>anything. > > > >Again I hope that Lex will look at this. > > It's on the bug list an will be fixed some day. > > >>>>Sometimes when trying to move a piece with the mouse, if you "miss" the piece, >>>>the whole board window moves. This can be annoying. >>> >>> >>>That's a feature. You can move the board by just clicking on it and dragging it >>>around. If you are annoyed by this, you can create another layout in which the >>>chessboard will have a "window border" (Extra->Options->ChessBoard). When the >>>board has a "window border", you will not be able to drag it by clicking on it. >>>You will be able to drag it by clicking on its title bar, like any other window, >>>and it will solve your problem. >>> >>>Maybe you can just choose another layout from the list of available one and find >>>one that suits you. >> >> >>I looked at the properties for my current board window and it does have a border >>(I can also see that it has! ;-) ). But it is still possible to drag the board >>by clicking on it?! Not a huge issue. >> >> This has changed in the just released CP5. Only when the board has no border it allows you to drag the board. >>>>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. >>> >>> >>>You can check Extra->Options->View->All. In this mode, the "statistics" window >>>will keep all the best lines that the program has computed, as they arrive. The >>>window will scroll. So you will see exactly the time needed for every best line. >>> >>>This can be useful if you try a test position for example. You just set the >>>position, start the program's thinking, and go have a coffee. When you come >>>back, you know how much time the program needed to find the right answer, and >>>you even know if it has held the right answer all the time. >> >> >>I agree with your last point - I like to see if/when the best move changed. >>However, I still cannot tell how long it has been thinking for. So, for >>example, its last line may be for depth 14 after 1 minute, and it is now looking >>at depth 15 but not yet produced a pricipal variation for that depth. If I want >>to manually stop it after 5 minutes, I don't know when the time limit is >>reached. I know there are workarounds, but "time spend on current move" is >>handy to see. > It's on the wish list. > > >Depending on the time mode you have chosen, you can see the time spent on the >current move in the status bar of the program. > > > > >>>>I like how it can automatically save the current position prior to exiting. >>> >>> >>>Me too. :) >>> >>>You can optionally tell the program to ask you if you want to save the position >>>or not on exit. I guess you are not going to change the default behaviour. >>> >>> >>> >>>>Optionally highlighting the last move is helpful. >>> >>> >>>Yes. I think we should have turned this option ON by default. >> >> >>I think this depends on your usage of the program. Torstein has mentioned that >>for a human playing against the computer, this can be annoying and it's a fair >>point. I like it because I play mainly comp vs comp and have a separate board >>setup. So, defaulting to "off" is ok - I'm happy that I can optionally switch >>it on. >> >> >>>>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. >>> >>> >>>It's hard to satisfy every customer. Many people complain if we display the >>>score always from white's point of view... >>> >>>What should we do? >> >> >>I agree, it's not easy. I like Uri's idea of having this configurable so that >>people can change it to what they like best. This has the slight disadvantage >>that when people supply GT analysis they have to say what mode the evaluations >>are in. But it's still a good idea. >> >> >>>>The online help is poor. It is incomplete and vague. This was the most >>>>disappointing aspect for me. >>> >>> >>>Maybe Lex will confirm this: we are probably going to provide a free update for >>>the online help by Internet (not a big download). >>> I have been working on this. Don't know yet when it becomes available. Lex >>> >>> >>>>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? >>> >>> >>>Be sure to check Extra->Options->Books->Use engine books. >>> >>>When you do so, the program will play at its best. You will not be able to >>>change the other settings in the window, because the best settings will be >>>selected automatically. >> >> >>Thanks. This information is helpful. >> >>[snip] >> >>A few more minor comments/questions... >> >>GT doesn't ponder following a forced single move. I thought that it would >>benefit the program to use ponder as much as possible. I've also seen it not >>pondering when it is winning easily, but no mate in sight. > > > >There are a few cases where GT does not ponder, but it's a minor issue. By >fixing these, how many elo points would the program gain? 1? 2? > >I'll fix these problems, but I first focus on more important issues. > > > > >>How does GT handle 3 fold repetition during it's opening book? Does the "draw >>score" affect this? > > >No. > > > >> Does GT learn not to play this opening again? >> >>Example using "ct" book, GT is Black against a "2000" rated player: >> >>1) d4 d5 2) Nf3 Nf6 3) c4 c6 4) cd cd 5) Nc3 Nc6 6) Bf4 a6 7) e3 Bg4 >> >>8) Qb3 Bxf3 9) gf Na5 10) Qa4+ Nc6 >> >>11) Qb3 Na5 12) Qa4+ Nc6 13) Qb3 DRAW >> >> >> >>Finally, please don't think I have major issues with GT. Most of my comments >>are indeed minor. As I said before, and most importantly, GT is a fantastic >>chess player and I'd recommend it to anyone. > > > >Thanks. > > > > Christophe
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