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Subject: Crafty question about updating beta at root search?

Author: Pham Minh Tri

Date: 18:58:04 08/30/01


Hi Bob,

I am studying how Crafty closes the search window in the root search (file
searchr.c). I have learned much from your code. Thanks.

There is a point I am unclear: updating beta. I am afraid that the search of
next moves may be faulty after updating it.

Suppose a situation: original value of beta = 1000, a good move brings a value
of 200, so Crafty changes beta to value+40 = 240. The next move gives a better
value of 300. Crafty says the search is good and need not re-search with wider
window and then stop searching because of value>beta. It turns out there is no
bestmove. However, if program does not update beta (beta==1000), the search has
to redo and may find a bestmove (say, a move gives exactly 400).

What do I miss here?
Many thanks,
Pham

PS: Here is pseudo code after searching with window [-alpha-1, -alpha]. I marked
the unclear points by arrows.

    Search with window [-alpha-1, -alpha]

==> if ((value > alpha) && (value < beta)) {
       Re-search with window [-beta, -alpha]
    }
    if (value > alpha) {
      root_value=alpha;
      if(value >= beta) {
        Update some thing
        return value;
      }
      alpha=value;
==>   beta=value+40;
      root_beta=beta;
    }



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