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

Author: José Carlos

Date: 04:10:48 08/04/99

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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?

  In that case, the program would only promotion if:

  a) the other alternatives lose the pawn
  b) there's a forced mate

  In other circumstances, the promotion would make the evaluation worse. So, in
an endgame, say, K+P in 7th vs K the program would only promote when reaching
the 50 moves draw.

  José C.



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