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Subject: Re: Zugzwang in a Null Move Search?

Author: Robert Hyatt

Date: 16:07:15 12/24/98

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On December 24, 1998 at 14:14:19, KarinsDad wrote:

>On December 24, 1998 at 13:34:04, Roberto Waldteufel wrote:
>
>Roberto,
>
>You mention that if the null move search hits a zugzwang, the search is broken.
>But you do not mention how to fix it. I assume that if you could detect zugzwang
>(possibly by finding that all Ply x+2 moves have a lower score than their parent
>Ply x+1 move as indicated in my previous message), you could back out and
>re-search the Ply x+1 moves without the null move search.
>
>Would this method of detection and re-search work?

no... because when the null fails high, we return immediately.  That is where
the savings comes from.  Searching other stuff after the null-move fails high
simply nullifies the gain from doing the null in the first place...


>
>And I am totally confused on how one would go about using multiple null move
>searches within a single path (do you alternate between sides or what, and what
>does this buy you?).
>
>Thanks,
>
>KarinsDad
>
>>
>>Hi KD,
>>
>>Basically you are taking a gamble that the position is *not* zugzwang whenever
>>you use null move. The speed-up is substantial, but if you do hit a zugzwang
>>then your search is broken completely (unless you are lucky and he PV is not
>>affected). This gamble is fairly safe in the opening and middlegame, but very
>>dangerous in the endgame when zugzwang is common, so normally we disallow null
>>moves when the material falls below some critical threshold.
>>
>>Hope this makes it clearer.
>>Merry Christmas
>>Roberto



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