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Subject: Re: What makes a good blitz program?

Author: Robert Hyatt

Date: 19:07:10 07/10/02

Go up one level in this thread


On July 10, 2002 at 14:18:01, Omid David wrote:

>On July 09, 2002 at 20:10:39, Robert Hyatt wrote:
>
>>On July 09, 2002 at 19:33:19, Omid David wrote:
>>
>>>On July 09, 2002 at 17:53:31, Robert Hyatt wrote:
>>>
>>>>On July 09, 2002 at 17:35:35, Uri Blass wrote:
>>>>
>>>>>On July 09, 2002 at 17:04:03, Steve Maughan wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>>Russell,
>>>>>>
>>>>>>>Is it simply a fast engine that is good at tactics? I can't think of what else
>>>>>>>it would be.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>What you say is the percieved wisdom although there are exceptions such as
>>>>>>Hiarcs which is good at tactics but not fast.  Hopefully Shredder's Blitz win
>>>>>>will start to erode the myth that it's not good at tactics.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Regards,
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Steve
>>>>>
>>>>>I suspect that the operator is very important in the blitz tournament.
>>>>>
>>>>>Uri
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>Critical is a better word...
>>>
>>>I think in a blitz or lightning match, the evaluation function should be very
>>>light in order to enable the programs to reach a reasonable depth. Unlike the
>>>depths 10-12 which another ply deeper won't bring tremendous improvement
>>>(diminishing returns from deeper search), in depths lower than 10 another ply
>>>deeper is critical, and is more important that some of the detailed positional
>>>evaluations.
>>
>>
>>Yes, but in 5 minute games, the operator is the critical link.  If he wastes
>>3 seconds a move getting moves to and from the real board, that leaves 2 seconds
>>for thinking, assuming the game goes no more than 60 moves.  Very tight...
>
>The current system looks too primitive. Why not use an automated operator, which
>at each point gets the move from each program, i.e. no waste of time on
>operators part? I mean an automated interface, something like winboard, etc.

\
Because no one will agree on a protocol.  I suggested _years_ ago that the
ICCA simply say "if you want to enter this year's WMCCC or WCCC, then you
will show up with a program that is winboard compliant, because we are going
to use a FICS-type chess server to host the event and automate play and
pairings."

It is so obvious.  But it apparently won't be done because no one will make
the decision to do this.  It is more fun to argue about it and put it off
year after year, even though we have held a tournament on ICC that was
bigger than any WMCCC event ever held, showing this works.



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