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Subject: Re: Really wierd idea: Pawn value as a function of position...

Author: Ricardo Gibert

Date: 20:00:44 08/03/99

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On August 03, 1999 at 22:35:16, Dann Corbit wrote:

>Has anyone tried something like this for pawn value:
>ranks advanced = 0, value = 1.000 = 100 centipawn
>ranks advanced = 1, value = 1.000
>ranks advanced = 2, value = 1.013
>ranks advanced = 3, value = 1.065
>ranks advanced = 4, value = 1.299
>ranks advanced = 5, value = 2.547
>ranks advanced = 6, value = 10.347
>
>This is derived from the following formula:
>pawn_value = 1.0 + (ranks_advanced! - 1.0) * .013;
>
>I believe that the value of a pawn is a factorial of the number of squares it
>has advanced...
>
>The reason that I think such a scheme is reasonable is as follows:
>A pawn gains very little value on the first two moves, except some control of
>the forward squares.  However, a pawn two squares from queening is a problem,
>and a pawn one square from queening is a *big* problem.  You would gladly tie up
>a knight to prevent queening, I think.  Hence, it's value is nearly the value of
>the knight.  And, at the moment of queening, it is worth slightly *more* than a
>queen.  The reason it is worth more than a queen is that it can become a queen,
>or another piece -- if that is advantageous.  A queen cannot do that.  So, the
>moment it lands on the promotion square it has a value of something just over
>10.
>
>Thoughts?

I assume you are talking about passed pawns. I would think that this would make
your evals wildly inaccurate, counterfeiting the values of alpha & beta. Some
pawns are on the 7th spell death while others are just material to be picked up
by your opponent. Better to do an extension. The numbers you give, better
represent the "attention" the pawn should be paid.



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