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Subject: Re: Forward pruning question

Author: Tom Likens

Date: 10:34:38 12/05/02

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On December 04, 2002 at 20:05:14, Russell Reagan wrote:

>Let me see if I understand what forward pruning accomplishes. I understand how
>it works. Forward pruning only reduces the time to depth (and nodes to depth),
>but it doesn't produce a more accurate score when searching to a fixed depth. In
>other words, if you had a choice of the two following options:
>
>1. 10-ply search using no forward pruning
>2. 10-ply search using null-move
>
>and all other things being equal, then choice 1 would potentially be the more
>accurate 10 ply result. Is this correct?

Russell,

I'm not sure I understand the question.  Null-move is a form
of forward pruning (unlike alpha-beta which is a backwards
pruning method that produces the same value as a pure
mini-max search).  Are you asking which would be better

1. A 10-ply null-move search without *additional* forward pruning.
2. Or a 10-ply null-move search with extra forward pruning.

I think the most accurate fixed-depth search would be a full-width
search without *any* forward pruning.  Any type of forward
pruning, including the null-move heuristic, has the potential
to throw away a possibly winning move.

regards,
--tom



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