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Subject: Re: Question from a novice....

Author: Matthew Hull

Date: 12:15:51 08/26/03

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On August 26, 2003 at 15:13:11, Matthew Hull wrote:

>On August 26, 2003 at 14:10:11, chandler yergin wrote:
>
>>A question from a Novice here, so please bear with me.
>>If, a Chess Program is "out of book", then the static weights given to the
>>program in the quiescent position determines the evaluation?
>>This may vary from program to program right?
>>Which is why different programs often disagree even in the PV & secondary line?
>>What comes to mind is the Urusov Opening, where very few games have been played.
>>Statistically, the White wins are not credible; for example, Steinitz & lasker
>>both fell into an Opening trap or combination, so if the program picks a move
>>statistically, it would not be the best.
>>I'm just trying to understand more about how the program works when on it's own
>>so to speak.
>>Any info would be helpful,
>>Thank You,
>>CY
>
>You are correct.  A badly composed opening book can land a program in a bad
>position from which it's evaluation function may not be able to deliver it.  For
>instance, if a program plays closed positions badly, then having an opening
>library full of those kinds of destinations will scupper that program's chances
>of winning against opponents good at closed postitions.
>
>Using human play statistics alone to compose opening libraries not sound as you
>have correctly pointed out.  That's why commercial programmers hire out this
>kind of work, especially for championship events, tuning the book (and keeping
>it secret) to suit the strengths of the program in question.
>
>In this way, and with a little luck, a mediocre engine might lift it's ELO
>performance in an event.
>
>MH


Also, the engine's evaluation function is NOT active while the game remains in
book.  The program itself does not start "thinking" until book moves have been
exhausted.

MH



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