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Subject: Re: Game status detection

Author: Robert Hyatt

Date: 09:25:23 07/11/02

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On July 11, 2002 at 10:41:23, Mathew Fisher wrote:

>I am currently writing a new chess program and need to detect what part of the
>game  its in - opening, midgame or endgame. This would be handy for example time
>spent searching for passed pawns isnt wasted in the opening. Also moves can be
>scored differently throughout the game.
>
>I have read that the midgame begins when your rooks can touch, when theres no
>pieces between them, or your opponents rooks.
>Also the endgame begins when you have six or less pieces.
>
>Are these accurate assumptions?
>Is there a better way of detecting game status?


The opening generally consists of trying to develop pieces and
castling.  Your "rooks touching" is a measure of this as you can't
have "rooks touching" until you have castled and developed all your
minor pieces.

The endgame is a bit harder to quantify.  But 6 or less pieces surely won't
do it as what if I have a queen, knight and rook?  You had better _not_ bring
your king out into the open just yet as that is plenty of force to produce a
checkmate...  You will probably want to tune this yourself.  Perhaps a
queen + minor (12 points of material) or less will do the trick.  But
again, you have to test this in your own engine.  The better you are at
finding mates, the earlier you can safely bring your king out....



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