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Subject: Re: Opinions requested -- what to do when qsearch ends in checkmate...

Author: Charles Roberson

Date: 13:37:37 07/25/03

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   Lets suppose your quiesce search fits the algorithm below (not all do):
    QS( A,B)
    {
        test for stand pat return
        if in check
           generate all legal moves
        else
           genereate captures only
        loop through moves calling QS
    }

    If we enter QS from Search (at quiesce depth of 0)
        then we would like to return mate if the position is an immediate mate.

    Now lets assume that we hit a mate at a deeper quiesce depth (say 7).
       quiesce depth 7: we were in check, so we checked all possible moves.
                        This seems safe to return -MATE.
                   But, lets see what happens further up the tree.
       quiesce depth 6: This produces a beta cut off immediately
                        This seems fine. So, lets go up another ply
       quiesce depth 5: This receives a value below alpha and below the
                        stand pat score. lets assume we are not in check!
                        All capturing moves could lead to mate but noncaptures
                        could lead to nonmating positions.

                         Thus, I would not want to return mate here!!!!

                         Also, the standard algorithm would be to return the
                         stand pat score. but one could adjust the alg.

                     so I ran some "quick" tests. One set of tests with the alg
modification  and another without.
   The scores on PET and ECMGCP were the same. However, the score was better
   on wacnew for the routine the standard alg.

   Charles







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