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Subject: Evaluation functions

Author: Gavin Dolling

Date: 16:05:44 06/13/01


I am slowly evolving a chess program, it is fairly basic - it uses bitboards,
alpha-beta, transpostion table, etc. However it is seriously hampered by a poor
evaluation function. I have surfed a lot and found tantalising references to
pawn structure, open files, but no actual data so I am a bit lost as to where to
begin.

At the moment it scores plus or minus infinity for a win or lose. It evaluates
pieces on the board but not their position. It used to seek to restrict the
king's movement but this seemed a rather shortsighted strategy in practice. It
is quite strong in gaining pieces but weak otherwise.

Could someone give me some pointers or point me at a good introduction on the
web? Whilst this is certainly a black art I should think there must be some good
basic ideas I am missing.

Thanks,

Gavin.



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