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Subject: Re: Fractional Extensions

Author: Michael Henderson

Date: 09:16:32 09/12/04

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On September 12, 2004 at 07:43:24, Kim Roper Jensen wrote:

>On September 11, 2004 at 19:43:56, Stuart Cracraft wrote:
>
>>Hi,
>>
>>Added fractional extensions today and it boosted solution rate
>>a little more than 1% for the problem set. This was just a set
>>I threw in without much thought so that's pretty good considering
>>improvements lately have been hard to come by though the board
>>is helping to drive them a lot faster than if I were working it
>>alone.
>>
>>I initialize variable "extend" to 0.75 on entry to main search but I'll
>>probably make that 0 and the next number below a 1. I don't keep
>>track of the number of checks in a row but could to do the skip
>>so this isn't like Bob's. The 0.75 is just homage.
>>If in check, add 0.75.
>>If a recapture, add 0.75.
>>If a pawn extension, add 0.50 (this one is disabled presently but now
>>  that fractional extensions are in, it and the other extensions I haven't
>>  left enabled for fear of blowup can be all added in most likely.)
>>If extension total is >= 1.0, depth+=1 otherwise keep previous setting of depth.
>>... various non-extensions work here... test whether depth>=0 for
>>  call to quiescence, null move with adaptive null move, etc.
>>  (verified null move doesn't work as well for me for my short searches)
>>Generate moves, score, and sort
>>If only one legal move, give a free extension beyond the above.
>>
>>So, an example. If in check, extend by 1 (since 1.50 (0.75+0.75)).
>>If in check and this node is after a recapture extend by 1 (0.75+0.75+0.75>=1)
>>If in check and only one legal move out extend null move by 1 but then
>>  1-N moves by 2 (0.75+0.75>=1 + one legal move (1))
>>
>>I was surprised to get a jump like this on the first attempt addition
>>of the fractional extension feature. 99/100 times a new thing added drops
>>solution rate slightly or more rarely by a lot.
>>
>>with fractional extensions
>>+ 6.19/24.31 82% 246/300 249.13 58736604 195789/1/235770 0/639780/1159759/415210
>>/12993546/0
>>pawnx/recapx/qcheckx/checkx/futilx/onereplyx
>>Missed:
>>2 21 46 71 80 86 87 92 99 100 116 128 131 141 145 155 163 178 180 196 200 210 21
>>3 214 221 222 223 226 228 229 230 237 241 243 245 247 252 255 256 261 262 265 26
>>6 269 274 282 283 287 288 291 293 296 297 299
>>branching factor = 4.06
>>
>>before fractional extensions
>>+ 6.37/23.52 80% 242/300 248.87 58082496 193608/1/233381 0/640257/1159613/384586
>>/13051686/0
>>pawnx/recapx/qcheckx/checkx/futilx/onereplyx
>>Missed:
>>2 21 49 55 71 80 86 87 92 97 99 100 116 128 131 139 141 145 155 163 180 196 200
>>207 210 213 221 222 223 226 228 229 230 231 237 241 243 245 247 250 252 255 256
>>260 261 262 265 269 274 282 283 287 288 291 293 296 297 299
>>branching factor = 3.81
>>
>>qcheckx refers to evading checks in the quiescence. This is just a measure
>>of the handoffs to the main search from a quiescence that is entered in
>>check, using depth=1 -- in these cases, the check extension in the main
>>search is disabled and not used since it already received an extra ply
>>from the handoff.
>>
>>Curious what are all the different fractional extensions people are using
>>for the various types of extensions.
>>
>>Now's your chance to write all of yours in here. E-X-T-E-N-D yourself!
>>
>>Stuart
>
>Hi Stuart
>
>Being a not so good programmer myself with a very nonfunctional program I just
>remembered someone mentioned sometime ago doing negative extensions also for
>reducing tree size
>
>/kim

the classic name for this stategy is naturally called, "reductions" :) i have
never tried them myself unless null move counts



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