Computer Chess Club Archives


Search

Terms

Messages

Subject: Re: NIMZO 99 -- Opinions please

Author: Bobby Ang

Date: 16:44:09 12/29/98

Go up one level in this thread


On December 29, 1998 at 15:51:39, Kenneth K. Quarshie wrote:

>     Should I add Nimzo 99 to my chess software collection (CB7, F532, H6 & J5)?
>The playing style of the program compared to the software that you own.  Does
>the patch improve the program, or only against other programs?

What do you use your chess software for?  Do you like playing against various
chess programs?  Do you like watching programs playing against programs?

Or, like me, do you use the software as an engine of chessbase 7 for analytical
purposes?

I use the chess engines heavily for analysis both for my chess column and for
opening studies.  Here are my personal preferences (hardware minimum of
pentium200MMX):

while scanning through a game, you might want to use an engine to give a quick
tactical check -- best is nimzo99

when you are studying a game and someone is building up an attack, use hiarcs6
(it seems to "instinctively" know where the pieces should be). This engine is
impressive! Its node count is around 10 times less than the other engines, but
it doesn't miss a tactical threat!  A lot of pattern recognition probably
built-in.

when the queens are off use junior5

for everything else use fritz5 (just received fritz5.32 and am still testing
it).

On slower hardware (i mean something less than a pentium200 MMX), I believe
Fritz5 is what you should use.

I remember an earlier post also on this computer chess club which says that,
once you have the strongest program, what's the use of the rest?  If Fritz5.32
is as strong as they tout, should you throw away your nimzos and your juniors?

Most definitely not.  Read the above again.  :)

I am not a computer programmer -- I am simply someone who uses these programs
heavily.  Testing for these is done VERY carefully.  I remember a few months ago
during the Torre vs Antonio match when, having just received Junior 4.6, without
any testing I used it for my notes to one of the games which was published in
the bulletin.  Next day GM Antonio came up to me and said, "you know what? if I
use your recommendation of 15.Nd2 (just an example, don't remember the exact
details now) Torre will reply 15...d5 and I am busted (a simple two-move
combination).  Really embarassing, as when I glanced at the position with the
naked eye the tactic was very obvious.  Anyway, later on during the match (16th
game, I remember this one :) ) Junior 4.6 redeemed itself by finding a win in a
complicated endgame which everyone in the press room (including several IMs and
national masters) were oblivious to.  And Hiarcs and Fritz couldn't find it
either!

AUGH!  I ALWAYS test the software EXTENSIVELY now.  It is this same extensive
testing which gives me the courage to post this.

BOBBY ANG



This page took 0 seconds to execute

Last modified: Thu, 15 Apr 21 08:11:13 -0700

Current Computer Chess Club Forums at Talkchess. This site by Sean Mintz.