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Subject: Nimzo99 Learning problem

Author: James T. Walker

Date: 19:56:49 12/26/98


I've been testing Nimzo99 all day and I've discovered the following problem with
Nimzo99's "Learning feature".  The file CBNIMZO.LRN is loaded into the
\Chessbase\Engines folder.  It is initially 57,352 bytes.  This is the file used
to store the learning positions which are used to avoid losing postions in later
games.  Occasionally when a game is terminated under unusual circumstances the
file will end up with "0 bytes".  This I believe means that the file lost it's
learned positions due to the unusual termination of the game.  In later games
the file may be "fixed" by showing 57,352 bytes again.  Since the file is always
this size or zero I know of no way to prove how many positions are stored in the
file.  I assume it has started over with zero information and has very little
stored info in it when this happens.  This of course would make the "Learning"
feature void if it happens.  Since it "Fixes" itself after some more games there
is no way I know of to verify if your file is empty or filling up as it should.
If you are playing all your games manually you probably will have no problem.
The problem shows up usually when I'm running games through the Null modem cable
against Junior 5.  Since the auto232 system does not work very well,  there are
many occasions where the games terminate early.  Sometimes Junior5 locks up.
Sometimes one program makes a move and the other program doesn't receive the
move.  Sometimes one program moves and the other program makes a different move
on it's board.  Sometimes there is a "page fault" error message which terminates
the program.  That is usually when the file goes to zero bytes.  I did have this
happen one time while playing Nimzo against anoter program in the
machine/machine mode using one computer.  That case is much more rare and is
more  stable than the auto232 operation.
The bottom line is if your Nimzo99 is not learning this may be the cause.  I
have also confirmed that when this happens Nimzo99 will repeat a lost game.
Jim Walker



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