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Subject: Re: Mate in x?

Author: Sune Fischer

Date: 09:55:11 03/04/04

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On March 04, 2004 at 09:41:26, Tord Romstad wrote:

>On March 03, 2004 at 06:04:29, Sune Fischer wrote:
>
>>On March 03, 2004 at 04:18:30, Paul Byrne wrote:
>>
>>>Granted, it is not a terribly useful position, as it came from a wild 8 (pawns
>>>start on 4th rank) game on ICC between 2 patzers.  And a very short search will
>>>get you a score of +10 to +15 and better in white's favor.
>>>
>>>It is, however, surprisingly tough to see the mate, and makes an interesting
>>>test position...
>>>
>>>r1b3n1/6k1/1n6/pP3qPQ/2PP2p1/1p4b1/4B3/R1BK2NR w - - 0 15
>>>
>>>Guildenstern's normal search cannot see it here, while it's PN search gets it in
>>>under 30 seconds on an athlon 2400+.  The line the PN search produces is mate in
>>>19, but is likely not optimal, as PN search is not terribly concerned with
>>>winning in the least number of moves.
>>>
>>>So, what programs can see the win from here?
>>
>>Not mine, I get a +22 score though.
>
>Mine also doesn't find it.  After 11 plies, the score is +29.  The
>problem might be that my search is "lazy" for the winning side in
>positions where one side seems to have a winning advantage.  I don't
>extend checks, mate threats and other attacking moves as much as I
>would do if the score were close to 0.  The idea is that it is more
>important to spend time looking for deep refutations of the apparent
>win than looking for an even more crushing win.

Ditto.

It seems like a good principle, only it makes the engine look bad in test
positions.

>>How about this one from one of my recent games.
>>I get a +13 score in a minute but no mate, I wonder if there is a mate
>>within reach of any program?
>>
>>r4rk1/ppqb1Nbp/2n3p1/8/3PN1P1/1BP1Q2P/PP6/R4RK1 w - - 0 23
>
>I don't find any.  After 13 plies, the score is +16.

With a mate you never know, it might be right around the corner!? :)

-S.

>Tord



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