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Subject: Positional (middle/endgame) Book

Author: Chris Carson

Date: 05:49:11 07/29/99


Ok, here is a thought (perhaps not a good one).  ;)

Background:

I will refer to Crafty as an example.  Crafty has an "Opening"
book that is based on actual PGN games with factors that help
the program navigate the opening.

Crafty has "Positional" learning that will store evaluations
of a position for later reference.  This is short term learning.
I am thinking of long term or permanent knowledge.

Most programs are very good at tactics, but "Positional" evaluation
is considered by many to be lacking in most programs.

Suggestion:

Can a position (FEN) be analyzed by a human (like LCTII tests) and
a good "Positional" or several (rank order) "Positional" moves be
be identified?  It would look like the "Positional" learning in Crafty,
but the program would never modify/delete the references (this would be
a permanent "Positional" book).

The program would check the "Positional" book (just like it does for
the "Opening" book) and if a "Position" was present, then it would select
the recommended move (just like crafty "Positionl" learning) with the
know evaluation.  This is different from "Positional" learning since a
person did the evaluation and the program will not create/modify/delete
the book during a game (like the "Opening" book).

The idea is to add a "Positional" book that would provide the program
with "Postional" knowledge.  Perhaps "Positional" test suites with
known "Best Moves" (bm) would be a good start (the "Positions" from that
the programs can not easily < 3min solve).

The "Positional" book may grow to be very large.  Thus I would recommend
that only hard to solve "Positional" cases be in the book and not cases
with tactical solutions.

Thoughts?

Best Regards,
Chris Carson



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