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Subject: CTP 14.9 vs Amateur?

Author: Will Singleton

Date: 15:15:18 04/09/02

Go up one level in this thread


On April 09, 2002 at 10:08:18, Jorge Pichard wrote:

>On April 09, 2002 at 09:31:49, Will Singleton wrote:
>
>>On April 08, 2002 at 23:14:40, Christophe Theron wrote:
>>
>>>On April 08, 2002 at 21:25:46, Will Singleton wrote:
>>>
>>>>On April 08, 2002 at 20:54:35, Jorge Pichard wrote:
>>>>
>>>>>On April 08, 2002 at 20:23:57, Will Singleton wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Wow, ugly game.  I'm having a hard time understanding this, it seems illogical.
>>>>>>Are you playing many games, then selecting the one Sjeng loses?  If so, how
>>>>>>many?
>>>>>
>>>>>I have played many games against other winboard programs such as Gaviota,
>>>>>Bestia, faile, Movei, and even against Novag Turqouise; but against Sjeng so far
>>>>>only three and the first one I did NOT included since I was using 12 MB default
>>>>>for my Celeron 433 Mhz and my Celeron only had 32 MB of memory up until
>>>>>yesterday when I decided to upgrade it to 128 MB.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>I really don't have much time to test CTP 14.9 since like most of us I do have a
>>>>>job. And to answer your silly question, I don't select games, as a matter of
>>>>>fact I was as dubious as you are now, and before I had Chess Tiger for Palm I
>>>>>also was a disbeliever to even consider CTP to be close to being of an expert
>>>>>strength. The only reason why I continue to test CTP 14.9 is probably because I
>>>>>resemble you in a way, I'm still NOT too conviced that such a little Gizmo can
>>>>>accomplish so much against programs that are considered close to 2400 in
>>>>>strength, but the more I test this Little Beast, the more I have to accept the
>>>>>fact that it is amazinly strong.
>>>>>
>>>>>Pichard.
>>>>
>>>>Look, I appreciate that you test and post games.  My question was prompted by
>>>>comparing your posted game with sjeng 12L, which seemed to avoid several poor
>>>>moves (though I must admit, it did play BxN with the fiachettoed bishop, then
>>>>went on to destroy its own kside).
>>>>
>>>>I don't think my question was silly at all.  Had you posted your methodology, I
>>>>wouldn't have had to question you.  It's a reasonable thing to ask.
>>>>
>>>>I don't believe CT for Palm is a strong program, simply due to its limited
>>>>search depth.
>>>
>>>
>>>You talk about methodology in your second paragraph. Good point.
>>>
>>>What methodology have you used to evaluate the search depth of Chess Tiger for
>>>Palm and to decide that it is "limited"?
>>>
>>>Do you have a Palm? Have you tested Chess Tiger for Palm? I can't find you in my
>>>customer's list.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>    Christophe
>>>
>>>
>>
>>I have been using and testing CT for Palm since you brought out 14.1 text-mode
>>(I believe that first version was fully functional, though I don't have it
>>anymore).  I did a lot of testing with it, ran some epd test suites, played
>>games vs Palm Genius, played against my program, and played it some myself.  CT
>>for Palm, imho, is certainly a very fine program.
>>
>>Common sense, as well as the testing I've done, says that CTpalm will search
>>less deeply than most amateur pc programs.  That's what I meant by "limited"
>>search depth.  The fact we're discussing it at all is a tremendous compliment to
>>CTpalm, and to your dedication and programming skill.  I will shortly add myself
>>to your database, and recommend that others do so. :)
>>
>>Having said that, a few more comments.  There has been some discussion in the
>>past regarding the playing strength of the Novag Sapphire II vs chess programs
>>on the Palm.  I read a comment by the fellow who automated the Sapphire on fics,
>>who said that his account is routinely crushed by any reasonable pc program
>>running on a P166 or greater (Sapphire runs at 32mhz, I think).  In testing
>>Sapphire vs CTpalm, he also reported CT was getting outsearched by a ply or so
>>in a few test games, and did not win any.  Put those two observations together.
>>Now, admittedly that’s blitz, and standard time-control might be different.
>>However, you said yourself that CT should be about equal in strength to the
>>Sapphire, citing the Sapphire’s SSDF rating.  You also said that the Sapphire
>>should be “wiped away” by any program running on a Strongarm at 100mhz.  Put
>>those two observations together.  Given these and other reported results here,
>>you can readily understand my scepticism at the Sjeng games.  However, strange
>>things do happen.
>>
>>As for testing methodology, you're right that I haven't performed rigorous
>>tests.  But that's tough to do, since all games have to be run manually, and at
>>standard time control (since, as you have said, CTpalm doesn't do well at
>>blitz).  I think a serial interface between Winboard and Palm would be necessary
>>to perform reasonable testing.  I'd be happy to write the pc side of the
>>interface.  I guess that would require you to add some interface code on the
>>Palm side, or perhaps you already have an interface.
>>
>>I enjoy CT for Palm, as I do other programs.  And I like to test them,
>>especially against mine.  CT can do very well, no doubt about it.  But, let’s
>>not get carried away and imply that it approaches amateur pc programs in
>>strength.
>>
>>Will
>
>Do you have an x86 or IBM Compatible version of your Amateur 1.5 chess program?
>I would be happy to play it vs Chess Tiger 14.9 one game per day at game in 60
>Minutes or 40 moves in 40 minutes. Please email it to me and I shall start
>testing it starting today.
>
>Pichard.


Sounds like a plan.  I'll have to convert it to run under winboard, and being a
mac programmer, it might take awhile.  Actually, now that I recall, DC offered
to help me a few months back, so maybe it won't take so long.

So, what about the bet?  Christophe says that CT approaches the level of average
amateur progs, I assume without hardware limitation (hardware doesn't matter to
CT, but it matters to me).  My prog is certainly no better than average, likely
worse.  So, if you have a 1ghz or better machine, I'll bet Amateur scores at
least 8/10, game 60 tc.  Bet is $10.00.  If you have to run it on the Celeron,
then $5.00. :D

Will




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