Author: Vincent Lejeune
Date: 09:18:09 03/03/01
Go up one level in this thread
On March 03, 2001 at 10:29:43, Steffen Jakob wrote:
>Hi Sune,
>
>I appreciate your test positions. Unfortunately I don't follow CCC regularly at
>the moment. It would be great if you could provide a single document with all
>those positions (preferable in EPD).
>
>Best wishes,
>Steffen.
Subject: Testposition - Eval Results
From: Sune Larsson
E-mail: astrochess@kil.xpress.se
Message Number: 155815
Date: February 25, 2001 at 07:10:13
[D]7k/7P/P5K1/8/4B3/8/8/6b1 w - - 0 1
This is a dead draw. Black just moves his bishop on the a7-g1 diagonal.
Correct evaluation of this position is 0.00. Here are the results of
some programs, after a few minutes of thinking on a PIII 800.
It's a falling scale from "best" to "worse".
1) Nimzo 7.32 + 1.83
2) Nimzo 8 + 1.96
3) Hiarcs 7.32 + 2.20
4) Chess Tiger + 2.40
5) Junior 6 + 2.44
6) Fritz 5.32 + 2.75
7) Crafty 18.01 + 2.80
8) Century 3.0 + 3.23
9) Gandalf 4.32g + 3.24
10) Phalanx 22 + 3.28
11) Fritz 6 + 3.84
12) Junior 5 + 3.85
13) Deep Fritz + 4.03
14) SOS + 4.78
15) Gromit 3.1 + 5.40
Sune
Subject: Testposition - Good Night Bad Bishop
From: Sune Larsson
E-mail: astrochess@kil.xpress.se
Message Number: 155858
Date: February 25, 2001 at 11:17:38
[D]8/5b2/1k2p1p1/2NpP1P1/1K1P4/8/8/8 w - - 0 1
In this position white's knight is far superior to black's bishop. This is
very old knowledge and white is winning this one. People that play French
as black might have nightmares of positions like this. The black bishop
can only defend the two weak pawns on e6,g6 or wander around like a ghost
on the white squares.
These are the evals from some programs - PIII 800 - 3 min thinking time.
The higher +score the better. Remember, white has a won position.
And it's about evaluating a superior horse vs a bad, bad bishop.
[1.Na4+ Kc6 2.Ka5 Kb7 3.Nc5+ Kc7 (3.-Ka7 4.Kb5 Be8+ 5.Kb4 Bf7 6.Ka5 Bg8 7.Kb5)
4.Kb5 Be8+ 5.Ka6 Bf7 6.Nb7 Be8 7.Ka7 Bf7 8.Nd6 Bg8 9.Ka6 Kc6 10.Ka5 Bh7
11.Nf7 Bg8 12.Nh8 Bh7 13.Ka6 Kc7 14.Kb5 Kb7 15.Kc5 Kc7 16.Nf7 Bg8 17.Nd6 Bh7
18.Ne8+ Kd8 19.Nf6 and wins]
1) AnMon 5.07 +1.05
2) Deep Fritz +1.00
3) Fritz 6 +0.97
3) Nimzo 7.32 +0.97
5) Nimzo 8 +0.90
6) Phalanx 22 +0.86
7) SOS +0.80
8) Crafty 18.01 +0.54
9) CM8K +0.51
10) Hiarcs 7.32 +0.48
11) Fritz 5.32 +0.47
12) Century 3 +0.43
13) Gandalf 4.32g +0.36
14) Junior 6 +0.32
15) Junior 5 +0.27
16) Gromit 3.1 +0.26
17) Chess Tiger +0.18
Sune
Subject: Testposition - Rookending
From: Sune Larsson
E-mail: astrochess@kil.xpress.se
Message Number: 155889
Date: February 25, 2001 at 13:46:32
[D]8/5p1k/r5pp/P7/3R3P/6P1/5PK1/8 w - - 0 1
1927 Alekhine won the 34th game in the battle vs Capablanca to become
World Champion. He did it by playing 1.Ra4! in the above position.
Black's rook has to block the pawn and white has at his disposal an
endless reserve of rook moves along the a-file. Again, the future for
black spells "Zugzwang". The general rule is that a passed pawn should
be supported by a rook from the rear. That's why ideas of 1.Rd5? are
wrong. This is a knowledge that have to be implemented in many chessprograms.
I have seen numerous examples of trying to support such a pawn sideways.
What would your favourite program play?
Sune
Subject: Testposition - good knight vs bad bishop II
From: Sune Larsson
E-mail: astrochess@kil.xpress.se
Message Number: 156108
Date: February 26, 2001 at 17:08:51
[D]4b3/5k2/4p1p1/3pP2p/2pP1P1P/2P5/6N1/2K5 w - - 0 1
Burn-Alekhine Karlsbad 1911
Amos Burn's only victory over Alekhine, in a good knight versus bad bishop
ending, is virtually a walk-over. The game went like this:
1.Kb2 Ba4 2.Ne3 Ke7 3.Ka3 Bc6 4.Kb4 Kd7 5.Ka5 Kc7 6.Nc2 Kb7 7.Nb4 Bd7
8.Na6 Be8 (if 8.-Bc8 9.Nc5+ and the king penetrates) 9.Nc5+ Kc6 10.Nxe6
and white won.
Test1: The above position. This is won for white and your program should
give white a big +score. Though we may dream about the day when
+9.99 pops up...;)
Test2: Exchange the bad bishop on e8 for a better one on e7. This position
is a draw and your program should evaluate it close to 0.00.
The new position below:
[D]8/4bk2/4p1p1/3pP2p/2pP1P1P/2P5/6N1/2K5 w - - 0 1
Sune
Subject: Testposition - the Good the Bad and the...
From: Sune Larsson
E-mail: astrochess@kil.xpress.se
Message Number: 156143
Date: February 26, 2001 at 20:11:21
[D]8/1p1b2k1/p1p1p1p1/2P1P2p/1P3P1P/P2B4/5K2/8 w - - 0 1
This position is from Baslavsky-Kondratiev 1947 (slightly modified)
The white bishop can aim at 5 of the opponents pawns. The white king
threatens to sneak in at the upper North-West corner - a5,b6,c7.
The black bishop looks just like another pawn. The game went like this:
1.Ke3 Kf7 2.Kd4 Be8 3.Kc3 Ke7 4.Kb3 Kd8 5.Ka4 Kc7 6.Ka5 Bf7 (Black cannot
allow Kb6 and is reduced to waiting moves with his bishop)
7.Bc4! Bg8 8.a4 Bf7 9.b5 axb5 10.axb5 Bg8 (if 10.-cxb5 11.Bxb5 Bg8 12.Be8)
11.b6+ (From now on black has to constantly guard himself against Ba6,
which gives white free hands on the king's flank.)
11.-Kd8 12.Kb4 Bf7 13.Kc3 Kd7 14.Kd4 Kd8 15.Ke3 Kd7 16.f5! gxf5 17.Kf4 Bg6
18.Kg5 Be8 19.Kf6 f4 20.Be2 and wins.
Test1: The above position. It's won for white and your program should
show a high +score for white.
Test2: Exchange the good white Bd3 to the more ugly Bc3. This position
is now a draw and your program should show close to 0.00.
The new position below:
[D]8/1p1b2k1/p1p1p1p1/2P1P2p/1P3P1P/P1B5/5K2/8 w - - 0 1
Sune
Subject: Testposition - The Beautyqueen
From: Sune Larsson
E-mail: astrochess@kil.xpress.se
Message Number: 156153
Date: February 26, 2001 at 21:34:07
[D]8/7b/8/8/1N5p/1pp5/7Q/k1K5 w - - 0 1
It was late one night in the smoky, old club house. Master Paradox was
blitzing as white against the stubborn Mr.Doubt. In highest time pressure
Master Paradox played 1.Qa2+ and hissed out: "Mate". "Hah, this is no mate.
I just take it!", Mr Doubt yelled and played his 1.-bxa2. "I said mate",
replied Master Paradox with rugged voice - lifted his knight and placed it
with a thud on c6 (2.Nc6). Mr Doubt stared at the position. Naturally he
couldn't believe his own eyes...shuffled up the pieces and left the room
without a word.
True? Not really ;) This position is from Keres. White, a queen up, faces
the unpleasant ...b2+. The only way to bring it home is the paradoxical
1.Qa2+! After 1.-bxa2 2.Nc6! black is helpless against the threat 3.Nd4
with mate on b3(c2). A true beauty!
Test: This position should be solvable since there is a forced mate.
Sune
Subject: Testposition - The Burial
From: Sune Larsson
E-mail: astrochess@kil.xpress.se
Message Number: 156365
Date: February 28, 2001 at 04:01:03
[D]5Bk1/2R5/2p4P/p4p2/1p3P2/1P6/7p/1bK5 w - - 0 1
The story goes that the unknown white player had made some miscalculations
in the middlegame. Now he sat there staring at the black h2 pawn, which
was just about to promote. His opponent was walking around with a big
smile on his face. Heavy clouds entered the white player's mind. Not
only was he facing a loss in the team match but just recently a good
friend of his had passed away. When suddenly an ingenious idea flashed
his mind! Oh yes, there was indeed a miraculous way to save half a point!
Test: White to move and make a draw. Fritz seems to have a good idea
about these queer things. The solution is further down.
1.h7+ Kh8 2.Bg7+! Kxh7 3.Ba1+! [The point. White has to bury his own bishop.]
3.-Kh6 4.Rxc6+ Kh5 5.Kb2!! [Very surprising! Now the bishop is no longer
alive] 5.-h1Q [The threat was Rc1. On 5.-Bc2 there follows 6.Rc8 and Rh8+]
6.Rh6+! Kxh6 and white cannot move...
Sune
Subject: Testposition - The Royal Miracle
From: Sune Larsson
E-mail: astrochess@kil.xpress.se
Message Number: 156371
Date: February 28, 2001 at 05:11:30
[D]8/1p3p1p/p4P1k/P4P1p/6pP/6Pq/5P2/5K2 w - - 0 1
True story this time. The above position happened in a free game between
Dr J. Perlis and N.N., many years ago, in Germany I think. The good doctor
was a generous man and played without a queen from the start. So it's not
strange that he is missing one in the above position. And since we are
careful, scientific people we shall have a closer look at it with Fritz.
Okey, white is a queen down, is standing in check right now, Fritz gives
3 ways to go:
1.Ke2 -19.44
1.Ke1 -19.75
1.Kg1 -19.12
Guess it's time for a new game... In fact it is - because after
1.Kg1! *black* is mated in 6 moves.
Sune
Subject: Testposition - Bishop against 3 pawns
From: Sune Larsson
E-mail: astrochess@kil.xpress.se
Message Number: 156380
Date: February 28, 2001 at 06:23:35
[D]8/5k2/7P/3K1PP1/8/8/1b6/8 b - - 0 1
This position happened in Minev-Dukanovic, Beograd 1977.
Black played 1.-Bc3? and lost after 2.h7! Kg7 3.Ke6!
But the draw was there with 1.-Bc1! 2.h7 Kg7 3.g6 Bb2 4.Ke6 Kh8!! =
Test: The above position is a draw after 1.-Bc1 and should be
evaluated close to 0.00.
Sune
Subject: Testposition - The Silence of the Knight
From: Sune Larsson
E-mail: astrochess@kil.xpress.se
Message Number: 156385
Date: February 28, 2001 at 07:13:50
[D]3r1r1k/p2p2pp/np1P1q2/5p2/1PP1p3/P3Q3/B2R1PPP/4R1K1 w - - 0 1
This is the game Kurt Richter - Schlage, Berlin 1930.
We can call it a positional test. The theme is about
immobilizing your opponent's pieces. Guess Richter was
in a splendid mood when he played 1.c5! bxc5 2.b5! Nb8 3.Lc4!
The black knight was a mere spectator for the rest of the game:
1.c5! bxc5 2.b5! Nb8 3.Bc4! Rde8 4.f4 Rc8 5.a4 h6 6.Rd5 g5 7.fxg5 Qxg5
8.Qxg5 hxg5 9.g4! fxg4 10.Rxe4 Rf4 11.Rxf4 gxf4 12.Rg5 g3 13.hxg3 fxg3
14.Kg2 Kh7 15.Kxg3 a6 16.Kf4 axb5 17.axb5 Kh6 18.Rg8 Rxg8 19.Bxg8 Kg7
20.Bc4 Kf6 21.Ke4 Kg5 22.Kd5 Kf4 23.Kxc5 Ke5 24.Bg8 Kf6 25.Kb6 1-0
Test: Your program should give white a big +score for the
moveorder 1.c5! bxc5 2.b5!
Sune
Subject: Testposition - Clearing the Path
From: Sune Larsson
E-mail: astrochess@kil.xpress.se
Message Number: 156409
Date: February 28, 2001 at 08:51:47
[D]6k1/2p3np/1p1p2p1/3P4/1PPK1R2/6PB/7P/4r3 w - - 0 1
This is Gelfer-Manievich, Jerusalem 1985. The theme is about
central supremacy and active king in the endgame. The penetration
of the king into the enemy camp is many times decisive and often worth
a pawn. Gelfer bought a ticket for his king to the holy land, in a
very instructive way:
1.Be6+! Nxe6 2.dxe6 Rxe6 [The sacrifice has cleared a path for the
white king. 2.-c6 wouldn't do, owing to 3.b5!]
3.Kd5 Re7 4.Kc6 Kg7 5.Rf2 Re4 6.Rc2 Re7 7.b5 Kf6 8.Ra2 Re4 9.Kxc7 Rxc4+
10.Kxb6 d5 11.Ka7 d4 12.b6 Ke5 13.b7 Rb4 14.b8Q+ Rxb8 15.Kxb8 d3 16.Kc7 Ke4
17.Kd6 Ke3 18.Ke5 d2 19.Ra1 Ke2 59.Kf6 d1Q 60.Rxd1 Kxd1 61.Kg7 1-0
Test: The move 1.Be6+! should give a high +score for white. If a program
plays this move it recognizes the value of entering into the enemy
camp with the king. (Don't do that in the middlegame ;)
Sune
Subject: Testposition - A Sparking Jewel
From: Sune Larsson
E-mail: astrochess@kil.xpress.se
Message Number: 156415
Date: February 28, 2001 at 09:56:04
[D]1n6/4k2p/p3ppp1/1pPp4/3P1PP1/3NP3/P3K2P/8 w - - 0 1
Take off your hats folks, cause this is a real piece of art!
A stunning performance by a great player. If you can figure out
who handles the white pieces this way, you'll win a nice price -
"My 60 Memories" by Ossi Weiner, provided of course that some justice
is done in the old country ;) (Sorry, this was a little European joke
that slipped out of my mouth.) Back to the game - we have a knight ending
with 7 pawns each. If black's knight was on c6, his queenside majority
would be a menace. As things stand, white can engineer a dramatic central
breakthrough:
1.f5!! [If now 1.-gxf5 2.gxf5 exf5 3.Nf4 wins - and 1.-Nc6 2.Nf4!]
Black stops Nf4, but succumbs to a brilliant diversion.
1.-g5 2.Nb4 a5 3.c6! Kd6 4.fxe6! Nxc6 5.Nxc6 Kxc6 6.e4! with a winning
pawn ending. [6.-dxe4 7.d5+ etc.]
Test1: White is winning in a forced, sparking way. Too hard for the comps?
Test2: Who played white and composed this beauty? [Sorry, no price ;)
Sune
Subject: Testposition - Activity in Rookending
From: Sune Larsson
E-mail: astrochess@kil.xpress.se
Message Number: 156490
Date: February 28, 2001 at 14:33:56
[D]3r4/7p/Rp4k1/5p2/4p3/2P5/PP3P1P/5K2 b - - 0 1
This is Tarrasch-Rubinstein, San Sebastian 1911.
Black is a pawn down and the b6 pawn is under attack. Passive
defence with 1.-Rd6 or 1.-Rb8 is doomed to failure. Rubinstein
grasps his only chance: To mobilize his rook and king.
Activity is vital in rook endings.
1.-Rd2! 2.Rxb6+ Kg5 3.Ke1 [3.a4 f4 4.a5 f3! is more than welcome to black.]
3.-Rc2 4.Rb5 Kg4! 5.h3+ Kxh3 6.Rxf5 Rxb2 and black drew without effort.
Test: Big + for your program if it chooses 1.-Rd2! combined with
activating the king.
Thumbs down if it chooses passive defence with 1.-Rd6 or 1.-Rb8.
Sune
Subject: Testposition - Good vs Bad Bishop
From: Sune Larsson
E-mail: astrochess@kil.xpress.se
Message Number: 156505
Date: February 28, 2001 at 16:23:35
[D]8/5b2/p2k4/1p1p1p1p/1P1K1P1P/2P1PB2/8/8 w - - 0 1
This is one of Averbakh's positions from 1954.
It's a typical winning position in a good versus bad bishop ending.
The black pawns on h5, f5, d5 and a6 are vulnerable and curtail the
movements of the black bishop. To seal black's fate, all white need to do
is lose a move. That is - repeat the initial position with black to move.
This may be accomplished as follows:
1.Be2 Be8 [1.-Bg6 2.Bd3 Bh7 3.Bf1 leads to instant zugzwang, be it after
3.-Bg6 4.Bg2 Bf7 5.Bf3 or after 3.-Bg8 4.Be2 Bf7 5.Bf3]
2.Bd3 Bg6 3.Bc2 Bh7 4.Bb3! Bg8 5.Bd1 Bf7 6.Bf3! and so on
Test: The above position is won for white so your program should be able
to win it. The evals should differ distinctly between white and black.
Sune
Subject: Testposition - Bishop ending
From: Sune Larsson
E-mail: astrochess@kil.xpress.se
Message Number: 156534
Date: February 28, 2001 at 18:40:40
[D]8/2k4p/p1p1bp2/8/1P2PP2/4K3/7P/5B2 w - - 0 1
This is a position used by chesstrainers in Georgia (former USSR].
Got it from the horse's mouth during a combined vacation/chesstraining
stay in Tbilisi a few years ago. It's from the game Eliskases-Capablanca,
Semmering 1937. We have a bishop ending (same colors) with 4 pawns each.
White is on the move and to conserve winning chances, he must avoid early
simplification and - if possible - keep the pawns on both wings.
Thus 1.Bxa6 Kb6 followed by 2.-c5 constitutes a wrong approach whereas
1.Kd4 is the right one.
1.Kd4 Kb6 [otherwise 2.Kc5] 2.Bc4 Bg4 [the pawn ending is lost]
3.e5 fxe5+ 4.fxe5 h6 5.h4 Bh5 6.e6 Be8 and black had many problems
to overcome. White ultimately won the game.
Test: 1. Kd4! should be chosen by your program. 1.Bxa6? draws.
Sune
Subject: Testposition - Bishop Rivalry
From: Sune Larsson
E-mail: astrochess@kil.xpress.se
Message Number: 156639
Date: March 01, 2001 at 13:38:03
[D]8/6p1/P1b1pp2/2p1p3/1k4P1/3PP3/1PK5/5B2 w - - 0 3
Queckenstadt (Kvekkenstedt?) 1922
The two Bishops were fighting their own battle, while their Kings
were watching. It was all about proving suited for the elevation
to Archbishop. The struggle was tense when suddenly one of the Bishops
realized that he could achive his goal by actually giving himself up.
As a true religious man he did so. Transfered himself to g2 (1.Bg2!)
and faced his rival. Left with no choice his shocked brother in faith
entered the same square (1.-Bxg2) and found himself in a deserted land.
After 2.e4! the door was closed. Desperately the Bishop tried to open
it again, but could he do it in time?
Test: If your program could search deep enough to find the win for white.
If not - try it with 1.Bg2 played.
Sune
Subject: Testposition - The Goose Chase
From: Sune Larsson
E-mail: astrochess@kil.xpress.se
Message Number: 156671
Date: March 01, 2001 at 16:25:01
[D]8/2b2pp1/K2p4/p4P2/P7/6P1/8/2k3B1 w - - 0 1
Troitzky 1923
Hm, a bishopending with black a pawn up. But white's king is much
better positioned. White's bishop is a real flyer while the black
one tries to take off again and again - but never makes it...
A flyer versus a goose and the hunt is just about to start.
Test: If your program is a flyer or a goose. The faster the better
But the evals should show that white is *winning*
Sune
Subject: Testposition - Merry-go-round
From: Sune Larsson
E-mail: astrochess@kil.xpress.se
Message Number: 156688
Date: March 01, 2001 at 17:42:57
[D]4B3/5K2/5P1b/2p5/2p5/1k6/8/8 w - - 0 1
A. Selesniew, 1921
So few pieces and so tricky! Here we need the Deep ones at their best!
Maybe also Diep? If you play this one out you sure will get dizzy!
Test: White to move and draw. Not many choices - the black pawns
are on the run.
Subject: Testposition - Good bishop vs Limited knight
From: Sune Larsson
E-mail: astrochess@kil.xpress.se
Message Number: 156779
Date: March 02, 2001 at 08:37:53
[D]8/1p5k/4pP2/6B1/8/1P6/8/1n4K1 w - - 0 1
Dawson 1925
Seemingly about equal but your evals should soon show a big + for white.
In fact white is winning this position by showing the limitations
of a poor placed knight.
Test: White moves and wins. The sooner your program sees it - the better.
It might happen in a tournament game!
Sune
Subject: Testposition - The Winning Arrow
From: Sune Larsson
E-mail: astrochess@kil.xpress.se
Message Number: 156793
Date: March 02, 2001 at 09:29:37
[D]8/p1p2pp1/1pP3p1/3Pb2k/4P3/5P1P/8/3K2B1 w - - 0 2
From Queckenstadt 1914 (published in Sydsvenska Dagbladet /Swedish newspaper/)
Here we have a bishop ending. White is a pawn down and black has two
passers. No wonder your evals show a +score for black. But they should
change cause white is winning this position. His pawns c6,d5,e4,f3
resembles an arrow, and once white lets it off there is fire on the board!
Test: White to move and win - could you do that under normal tournament
conditions (40/2)
Sune
Subject: Testposition - The Rebel Rook
From: Sune Larsson
E-mail: astrochess@kil.xpress.se
Message Number: 156799
Date: March 02, 2001 at 10:10:08
[D]8/6r1/Pp5p/7k/p7/7K/6P1/R7 w - - 0 2
Wotawa 1951
Rookending and black is a pawn up. But white can take it back in a minute.
So a draw or what? No, by breaking the rules for "normal" play in a
rookending, the white rook becomes the rebellious hero of the day.
Test: To find the winning line for white in normal tournament level.
Sune
Subject: Testposition - Totally Paralysed
From: Sune Larsson
E-mail: astrochess@kil.xpress.se
Message Number: 156849
Date: March 02, 2001 at 14:39:10
[D]1k3b1q/pP2p1p1/P1K1P1Pp/7P/2B5/8/8/8 w - - 0 1
Horwitz,B 1885
This one might prove as mission impossible. Black is totally paralysed
from start and white is winning - but how?? Maybe more amusing for
humans than for silicons. One could characterize black's position
as slightly passive ;) but how could white make progress. Looks hard...
Test: Win it! Draw scores like 0.00 are not trusted...
Sune
This page took 0 seconds to execute
Last modified: Thu, 15 Apr 21 08:11:13 -0700
Current Computer Chess Club Forums at Talkchess. This site by Sean Mintz.