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Subject: Re: Will next version of Junior have underpromotion code?

Author: Marc Plum

Date: 16:26:13 06/07/99

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On June 07, 1999 at 06:32:39, Harald Faber wrote:

(snip)
>How often did you have a position where underpromotion was best move?
>
>I don't miss this "feature".

Seems to me that this misses the point.

Underpromotions are part of the game of chess, although admittedly a fairly
minor one.  I don't like a programmer rewriting the rules of the game for his
own convenience, even if, hypothetically, his program will be more successful as
a result.

I have all due respect for Messrs. Ban and Bushinsky, who have written a first
rate program.  Junior can accept a few (very few) unnecessary draws and losses
as the result of its blind spot, and still be a top performer.

I prefer it when the programmer accepts the game as it is, and tries to make his
brainchild play as well as possible within that framework.

Marc Plum

P.S.

Interesting article on Bishop and Rook underpromotions at
http://www.xs4all.nl/~timkr/chess2/minor.htm



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