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Subject: Re: Does any program find Nigel Shorts 31. Kh2!

Author: Mike S.

Date: 16:04:59 08/13/02

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On August 13, 2002 at 17:05:24, Chris wrote:

>4rrk1/1bpR1p2/1pq1pQp1/p3P2p/P1PR3P/5N2/2P2PP1/6K1 w - a6 0 31
>Does any program find Shorts 31. Kh2?
>
>31.Kh2! Rc8 32.Kg3 Rce8 33.Kf4 Bc8 34.Kg5 with the idea Kh6 and mate..
>
>The idea of mating with the king in the middle game is very unusual, but maybe
>the programs can find it anyway by using brute force?

This game was used in no. 15 of the BS-2830 test (were at one move later, 32.Kg3
was tested) and also in other test suites AFAIK. I've tested even later, 33.Kf4.
After 33...Bc8 it's # in 6.

Note that Black wasted 2 tempi (Re8-c8-e8) after 31.Kh2. You can't really be
sure if a program will continue the king's march just because it plays Kh2.
You'll notice that with the king on g3, most programs will start planning to go
back to h2 with the king, at least in the first few seconds - or longer...

I'm not sure if it's a good test position... even after 33.Kf4 Bc8, White could
play Re7, IOW. the king's move still doesn't sac anything (except a lot of king
safety evaluation though) - the programs will see the idea then, but the testing
conditions are not perfect IMO. Certainly not at moves 31./32. yet.

Regards,
M.Scheidl






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