Computer Chess Club Archives


Search

Terms

Messages

Subject: Re: Unnecessary Underpromotions

Author: David H. McClain

Date: 08:16:18 05/22/03

Go up one level in this thread


On May 22, 2003 at 08:41:56, Ulrich Tuerke wrote:

>On May 22, 2003 at 06:08:47, José Carlos wrote:
>
>>On May 22, 2003 at 01:01:38, Robin Smith wrote:
>>
>>>Often programs will underpromote a pawn in situations where they think capturing
>>>the (under)promoted piece is still the best reply. Can anyone give an example
>>>from an actual game where this underspromotion cost the computer a 1/2 point?
>>>
>>>Robin
>>
>>  I can't recall any game with this problem, but it's really easy to fix. I
>>simply order the promotions so that promoting to queen gets searched first.
>
>Isn't everybody doing this anyway ?
>Uli
>
>> The
>>all the other underpromotions will return alpha and thus ignored.
>>
>>  José C.

Jose,

No, everyone is not doing this.  At least I am not.   Admittedly I have played
only one game where an underpromotion was an absolute necessity to regain tempo
and obtain a "check" to prevent a checkmate to the other side. This was to a
knight promotion rather than a Queen.  And the game was eventually won with the
knight promotion.  I'm sure others have witnessed this on occasion also.

Don't ask me to find and post this game.  I don't know where or if I have it but
I simply regarded it as "the program knows best" and let it go at that.  The
program was correct..........



This page took 0 seconds to execute

Last modified: Thu, 15 Apr 21 08:11:13 -0700

Current Computer Chess Club Forums at Talkchess. This site by Sean Mintz.