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Subject: Re: chess programmes and the wall

Author: Bruce Moreland

Date: 10:09:44 04/14/99

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On April 14, 1999 at 12:15:35, KarinsDad wrote:

>I couldn't have said it much better. The software I am working on has many of
>the elements that you describe. How well it will work is yet to be determined.
>
>However, one other vast area of improvement that I foresee is the endgame.
>Having tablebases is fine, however, a tablebase is no different than a typical
>player's slight endgame knowledge (the tablebase is just normally more
>complete). Once programs really understand endgame concepts, I think that their
>level of play will improve dramatically.

Endgame databases help in specific very low material situations.  These
situations come up, but there is usually a lot of endgame play before they come
up.

Sometimes they can help in situations with slightly more material.  An example
is KRPP vs KR, where the pawns are on the a- and c-files.  This ending can be
hard to handle, but the KRP vs KR table lets the program understand the
consequences of exchanges, which are critical in this case.  I've had either
side of this come up, and I've been satisfied with the result.

There are plenty of endings where endgame databases have no bearing on the
outcome.

People often talk about the ending as a place to add sophisticated knowledge,
but I've never heard an example.

bruce



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