Computer Chess Club Archives


Search

Terms

Messages

Subject: Re: Detecting backward pawns

Author: KarinsDad

Date: 07:10:43 06/17/99

Go up one level in this thread


On June 17, 1999 at 00:16:56, James Robertson wrote:

>On June 17, 1999 at 00:10:11, James Robertson wrote:
>
>>I am trying to find the most efficient way to detect backward pawns, either with
>>bitboards or the more conventional piece array. Any help is greatly
>>appreciated!!
>>
>>James
>
>I suppose I could add to this. I decided that a backward pawn must be:
>
>On an open file,
>Unable to be defended by another pawn,
>unable to advance without capture by an enemy pawn (it may be able to advance,
>but that wouldn't take it off the open file or defend it with another pawn).
>
>I cannot figure how to make this all work without tons of arrays and all sorts
>of other nasty stuff.
>
>Help!
>James

Recommendation #1: Calculate square control for each square. This will also help
you in other portions of your evaluation such as king safety.

Recommendation #2: With square control, you do not need to calculate whether
there is a protecting pawn on the adjacent file. Either the one (or two) squares
in front of the pawn you are checking are controlled by white or by black.

Recommendation #3: Set up a pawn structure hash table. Since pawns rarely move
in the game (and in the search <40% on average), it is probably better to
calculate pawn advantages and deficiencies once per given pawn structure as
opposed to calculating it every time in your evaluation.

Hope this helps,

KarinsDad :)-



This page took 0.01 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.