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Subject: Re: Is pondering unfair in engine matches on a PC?

Author: Robert Hyatt

Date: 15:35:30 02/19/01

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On February 19, 2001 at 14:18:15, Leen Ammeraal wrote:

>On February 19, 2001 at 14:04:44, Mogens Larsen wrote:
>
>>On February 19, 2001 at 13:07:27, Leen Ammeraal wrote:
>>
>>>Does that mean that, with pondering on, my program, which currently does not
>>>implement pondering, get less computer time than its opponent if the
>>>latter implements pondering?
>>
>>Not necessarily. It's possible to switch off pondering with most programs.
>>
>>Mogens.
>
>Yes, I know. That is why I had written "with pondering on" in my
>question above. If other people use my program in a match
>against others, the chances are that they will play with
>pondering on, with a big disadvantage for my program because
>it cannot ponder. So I am afraid, I cannot afford NOT implementing
>pondering, only so far I don't have a clue how to begin.
>Any help would be very welcome.
>Leen


take the PV from the last search where you made a move.  Take the second move
and temporarily make it.  Then search for a move for yourself.  You are
"assuming" that your opponent plays what you think was best, which is pretty
reasonable.  If a move is entered while the search is in progress and you are
pondering, stop, check to see if the move matches the predicted move.  If so,
you can move a lot quicker since you have been thinking about the move for a
long time on the opponent's clock.  If the move is different, abort the search,
start over using the right move.



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