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Subject: Reducing strength for Chessbase based engines

Author: Jaco van Tonder

Date: 12:17:30 02/28/02


Hi all

Got Shredder 6 a while back with Fritz interface. I am interested in the
different ways in which one can reduce the strength of enginges within the Fritz
interface, so that mere 1600 ELO mortals can use it to practice tournament type
games against.

I identified three modes of play that is supposed to be targeted at the lesser
mortals amongst the chess-playing community, like myself. My experiences with
these are as follows:

1) Sparring, which makes obvious tactical blunders. Unfortunately I win too many
games even at the hardest setting here, and there is just no coordination to the
computer's play. Seems like playing against a drunk opponent.

2) Handicap. Now the numerical handicap that one can enter into this function I
do not quite understand. It seems that, the lower the setting (even can be
negative), the stronger the computer will play. It is also supposed to adjust to
your playing strength. Funny thing is, that even if I lost against the computer
by making obvious tactical errors, it still scores me with a negative handicap
(which is supposed to mean that I played well!). And it still makes rather funny
moves from time to time, throwing away a tempo for no apparent reason at all.

3) Handicap and Fun level. This level, I must admit, is the one that I have not
really experimented with a lot, because there are so many settings that one can
fiddle with. Almost like all the settings in the Chessmaster series of software.
There is also a strenght bar, which one can set in ELO points. I would
especially like forum members to comment on this level, and its usefulness in
finding an opponent of equal strength.

Looking forwards to the comments

Jaco



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