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Subject: Re: Knight to the Rim

Author: Henk Bossinade

Date: 08:33:04 08/14/04

Go up one level in this thread


On August 14, 2004 at 09:19:59, Stuart Cracraft wrote:

>On August 11, 2004 at 23:36:53, Robert Hyatt wrote:
>
>>On August 11, 2004 at 17:22:04, Stuart Cracraft wrote:
>>
>>>On August 10, 2004 at 13:07:21, Robert Hyatt wrote:
>>>
>>>>On August 09, 2004 at 14:26:18, Stuart Cracraft wrote:
>>>>
>>>>>Sorry, the posted position was in error. It is:
>>>>>
>>>>>>[D]r1bqkb1r/2pp1ppp/p1n2n2/1p2p3/4P3/1B3N2/PPPP1PPP/RNBQ1RK1 b q - 4 1
>>>>>
>>>>>On August 09, 2004 at 14:25:30, Stuart Cracraft wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>>[D]r1bqkb1r/2pp1ppp/p1n2p2/1p2p3/4P3/1B3N2/PPPP1PPP/RNBQ1RK1 b q - 4 1
>>>>>>
>>>>>>I don't know if I filled in the castle flags right but in this position
>>>>>>black still has both rights left.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>The question is, if your program values bishops more than knights,
>>>>>>how do you prevent it from playing Na5 to capture the White Bishop
>>>>>>but then giving up the pawn at e5 (since the capture Nxe4 by black
>>>>>>is unplayable). (e.g. 1. ... Na5 2. Nxe5 Nxb3 3. ab)
>>>>>>
>>>>>>I've searched this to 10 full ply with unlimited quiescence
>>>>>>and it still can't see that Na5 is bad.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>It would help if some people posted their searches and mention
>>>>>>how they avoid this kind of issue.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>My search:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Alpha=-255 Beta=245 Maxdepth=99 MaxTime=9999999
>>>>>> 1/11> c6a5  0.00  245       68 c6a5
>>>>>> 1/11  f6e4  0.01 1026      159 f6e4
>>>>>> 2/15  f6e4  0.01 1008      946 f6e4 f1e1
>>>>>> 3/17< f6e4  0.02  758     4181 f6e4 d2d4 e5d4
>>>>>> 3/20  f6e4  0.04   75     7143 f6e4 b3d5 e4f6
>>>>>> 4/30  f6e4  0.13   75    24970 f6e4 b3d5 e4f6 d5c6
>>>>>> 5/34  c6a5  0.50   57   104715 c6a5 f1e1 a5b3 a2b3 c8b7
>>>>>> 6/34  c6a5  1.22   45   256985 c6a5 f1e1 a5b3 a2b3 c8b7 b1c3
>>>>>> 7/42  c6a5  4.31   32   889215 c6a5 f3e5 a5b3 c2b3 f8d6 d2d4 f6e4
>>>>>> 8/51  c6a5 24.86   19  5021946 c6a5 f3e5 a5b3 c2b3 d8e7 d2d4 d7d6 e5f3
>>>>>> 9/54  c6a5 115.27   19 19483875 c6a5 f3e5 a5b3 c2b3 d8e7 d2d4 d7d6 e5f3
>>>>>>10/54  c6a5 264.28   26 44999682 c6a5 f1e1 a5b3 a2b3 c8b7 d2d4 f6e4 b1d2 d7d5
>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Stuart
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>The output above looks broken.  Why not just take the pawn.  Here is Crafty
>>>>after I play Na5 as black:
>>>>
>>>>                1     0.09   0.47   2. Nxe5 Nxb3 3. axb3 Nxe4
>>>>                1->   0.09   0.47   2. Nxe5 Nxb3 3. axb3 Nxe4
>>>>                2     0.09   0.47   2. Nxe5 Nxb3 3. axb3 Nxe4
>>>>                2->   0.09   0.47   2. Nxe5 Nxb3 3. axb3 Nxe4
>>>>                3     0.09   0.47   2. Nxe5 Nxb3 3. axb3 Nxe4
>>>>                3->   0.09   0.47   2. Nxe5 Nxb3 3. axb3 Nxe4
>>>>                4     0.10   0.61   2. Nxe5 Nxb3 3. axb3 Bd6 4. d4 Bxe5
>>>>                                    5. dxe5 Nxe4
>>>>                4->   0.10   0.61   2. Nxe5 Nxb3 3. axb3 Bd6 4. d4 Bxe5
>>>>                                    5. dxe5 Nxe4
>>>>                5     0.10   0.61   2. Nxe5 Nxb3 3. axb3 Bd6 4. d4 Bxe5
>>>>                                    5. dxe5 Nxe4
>>>>                5->   0.10   0.61   2. Nxe5 Nxb3 3. axb3 Bd6 4. d4 Bxe5
>>>>                                    5. dxe5 Nxe4 (s=2)
>>>>                6     0.10   0.61   2. Nxe5 Nxb3 3. axb3 Bd6 4. d4 Bxe5
>>>>                                    5. dxe5 Nxe4
>>>>                6->   0.11   0.61   2. Nxe5 Nxb3 3. axb3 Bd6 4. d4 Bxe5
>>>>                                    5. dxe5 Nxe4 (s=2)
>>>>                7     0.11   0.80   2. Nxe5 Nxb3 3. axb3 Bd6 4. d4 Bb7
>>>>                                    5. f3 O-O
>>>>                7->   0.12   0.80   2. Nxe5 Nxb3 3. axb3 Bd6 4. d4 Bb7
>>>>                                    5. f3 O-O (s=2)
>>>>                8     0.15   0.85   2. Nxe5 Nxb3 3. axb3 d6 4. Nf3 Be6
>>>>                                    5. e5 Ne4 6. d4
>>>>                8->   0.17   0.85   2. Nxe5 Nxb3 3. axb3 d6 4. Nf3 Be6
>>>>                                    5. e5 Ne4 6. d4
>>>>                9     0.22   0.65   2. Nxe5 Nxb3 3. axb3 d6 4. Nc6 Qd7
>>>>                                    5. Nb4 Nxe4 6. d3 c5
>>>>                9->   0.35   0.65   2. Nxe5 Nxb3 3. axb3 d6 4. Nc6 Qd7
>>>>                                    5. Nb4 Nxe4 6. d3 c5 (s=3)
>>>>               10     0.44   0.97   2. Nxe5 Nxb3 3. axb3 d6 4. Nc6 Qd7
>>>>                                    5. Nb4 Be7 6. d4 O-O 7. Nc3 (s=2)
>>>>               10->   0.54   0.97   2. Nxe5 Nxb3 3. axb3 d6 4. Nc6 Qd7
>>>>                                    5. Nb4 Be7 6. d4 O-O 7. Nc3 (s=2)
>>>>               11     0.70   0.78   2. Nxe5 Nxb3 3. axb3 d6 4. Nc6 Qd7
>>>>                                    5. Nb4 Be7 6. d4 O-O 7. Nc3 Bb7
>>>>               11->   2.44   0.78   2. Nxe5 Nxb3 3. axb3 d6 4. Nc6 Qd7
>>>>                                    5. Nb4 Be7 6. d4 O-O 7. Nc3 Bb7 (s=4)
>>>>               12     3.03   0.83   2. Nxe5 Nxb3 3. axb3 d6 4. Nc6 Qd7
>>>>                                    5. Nd4 Be7 6. Qf3 O-O 7. Nc3 b4 8.
>>>>                                    e5 (s=3)
>>>>               12->   6.44   0.83   2. Nxe5 Nxb3 3. axb3 d6 4. Nc6 Qd7
>>>>                                    5. Nd4 Be7 6. Qf3 O-O 7. Nc3 b4 8.
>>>>                                    e5 (s=5)
>>>>               13    10.00   0.88   2. Nxe5 Nxb3 3. axb3 d6 4. Nc6 Qd7
>>>>                                    5. Nb4 Be7 6. Nc3 O-O 7. Qf3 Bb7 8.
>>>>                                    d4 Qg4 <HT> (s=4)
>>>>               13->  18.39   0.88   2. Nxe5 Nxb3 3. axb3 d6 4. Nc6 Qd7
>>>>                                    5. Nb4 Be7 6. Nc3 O-O 7. Qf3 Bb7 8.
>>>>                                    d4 Qg4 <HT> (s=4)
>>>>               14    31.39   0.82   2. Nxe5 Nxb3 3. axb3 Bb7 4. d4 Be7
>>>>                                    5. f3 d6 6. Nd3 O-O 7. c4 c5 8. cxb5
>>>>                                    axb5 9. Rxa8 Bxa8 (s=3)
>>>>               14->  55.88   0.82   2. Nxe5 Nxb3 3. axb3 Bb7 4. d4 Be7
>>>>                                    5. f3 d6 6. Nd3 O-O 7. c4 c5 8. cxb5
>>>>                                    axb5 9. Rxa8 Bxa8 (s=3)
>>>>               15     1:28   0.80   2. Nxe5 Nxb3 3. axb3 Be7 4. d4 O-O
>>>>                                    5. f3 d6 6. Nc6 Qd7 7. Nxe7+ Qxe7 8.
>>>>                                    Bg5 h6 9. Bxf6 Qxf6 10. Nc3 Re8 (s=2)
>>>>               15->   3:00   0.80   2. Nxe5 Nxb3 3. axb3 Be7 4. d4 O-O
>>>>                                    5. f3 d6 6. Nc6 Qd7 7. Nxe7+ Qxe7 8.
>>>>                                    Bg5 h6 9. Bxf6 Qxf6 10. Nc3 Re8 (s=4)
>>>
>>>Black cannot play Na5 because of Nxe5 and the loss of a pawn.
>>>
>>>So my question was / still is, what should Black instead of Na5
>>>if the program values Knights more than Bishops? Mine plays Na5,
>>>gets the Bishop for the Knight and then promptly loses a center
>>>pawn. I could decrease the value of the Bishop or increase the
>>>value of the center pawn, but both of these seem a little extreme
>>>given Bishop vs. Knight and the current high value of a center pawn.
>>>The point is that a center pawn in this program is not worth as much
>>>as a Bishop minus a Knight. The former is maybe 30 or 40 millipawns
>>>and the latter is maybe 100 or 200 millipawns. I am looking for good
>>>ways to avoid 1. ... Na5 in the first place.
>>>
>>>A knight on the rim penalty doesn't do it since the Knight is just
>>>traded off.
>>>
>>>Valuing the center pawn too much makes no sense.
>>>
>>>I am running out of ideas to prevent 1. ... Na5.
>>>
>>>Stuart
>>
>>
>>Why would the program "value knights more than bishops"??  firstly???
>>
>>Next, chess is a complex game that requires harmonious coordination between the
>>various eval terms.  Make one too big and it fails to work as planned.  Or it
>>causes other terms to appear to be too small, and making them bigger only makes
>>things get worse.
>>
>>First, here is crafty in the position where you are wanting to play the knight
>>to a5:
>>
>>               10     0.71   1.00   1. ... d6 2. Ng5 d5 3. exd5 Nd4 4.
>>                                    Re1 Ng4 5. Ne6 fxe6 6. Qxg4 Nxb3 <HT>
>>               10->   0.81   1.00   1. ... d6 2. Ng5 d5 3. exd5 Nd4 4.
>>                                    Re1 Ng4 5. Ne6 fxe6 6. Qxg4 Nxb3 <HT>
>>               11     0.81   1.00   1. ... d6 2. Ng5 d5 3. exd5 Nd4 4.
>>                                    Re1 Ng4 5. Ne6 fxe6 6. Qxg4 Nxb3 <HT>
>>               11->   1.26   1.00   1. ... d6 2. Ng5 d5 3. exd5 Nd4 4.
>>                                    Re1 Ng4 5. Ne6 fxe6 6. Qxg4 Nxb3 <HT>
>>               12     4.12   1.10   1. ... d6 2. Ng5 Be6 3. Bxe6 fxe6 4.
>>                                    Nxe6 Qd7 5. Nxf8 Rxf8 6. d3 Qf7 7.
>>                                    Nc3 Nd4 8. Bg5
>>               12->  19.14   1.10   1. ... d6 2. Ng5 Be6 3. Bxe6 fxe6 4.
>>                                    Nxe6 Qd7 5. Nxf8 Rxf8 6. d3 Qf7 7.
>>                                    Nc3 Nd4 8. Bg5 (s=6)
>>               13    30.75   1.04   1. ... d6 2. Ng5 Be6 3. Bxe6 fxe6 4.
>>                                    Nxe6 Qd7 5. Nxf8 Rxf8 6. d3 Qg4 7.
>>                                    f3 Qh4 8. Be3 d5 9. exd5 Nxd5 (s=5)
>>               13->  50.84   1.04   1. ... d6 2. Ng5 Be6 3. Bxe6 fxe6 4.
>>                                    Nxe6 Qd7 5. Nxf8 Rxf8 6. d3 Qg4 7.
>>                                    f3 Qh4 8. Be3 d5 9. exd5 Nxd5
>>               14     1:17   1.23   1. ... d6 2. Ng5 d5 3. exd5 Nd4 4.
>>                                    d6 Nxb3 5. dxc7 Qxc7 6. cxb3 Bg4 7.
>>                                    f3 Bf5 8. Re1 Rd8 9. Qe2
>>
>>
>>
>>Black has already played some pawn moves that leave white looking fine.  Why
>>move the knight two more times, trading three tempi for the white bishop?  Black
>>needs to develop.  Develop.  Develop.  Not waste time chasing an unimportant
>>bishop.  Later, maybe.  But if black wastes too much time, the game will slip
>>away.  The first few moves are not about bishops vs knights, because it is not
>>yet clear which will end up being more valuable.  The opening is to develop
>>pieces first.  _then_ start with other things...  IE A GM will tell you that
>>three tempi are worth a pawn.  Three tempi for that bishop are hardly worth that
>>cost...
>
>I realize and understand this but wonder what is the best method
>to avoid a Na5.
>
>Penalize repeat opening moves by the same piece?
>Have large rim penalties for knights?
>Value bishops equally to bishops in the opening?
>I'm sure it's a long list.


I think you should simply give your engine more time.

Crafty 19.1 with material eval only and BISHOP_VALUE changed
from 300 to 330 drops Na5 and turns back to Nxe4 at depth 11.
The same goes for my own engine.



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