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

Author: Leen Ammeraal

Date: 04:48:19 02/20/01

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On February 19, 2001 at 18:35:30, Robert Hyatt wrote:

>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.

Thank you for this explanation. But, after 'printing' my own move,
how can I go on searching while at the same time keeping an eye
on any new input from the opponent? Is there some function which I
can call to see if there is input available without actually
reading it, or at least, which returns immediately?
As far as I know there is not such a standard library function
in C(++). If this is the case, is there one in VC++?
Leen




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