Author: Ralf Elvsén
Date: 16:41:54 08/30/99
Some while ago I posted a position where I was impressed by Hiarcs accurate evaluation in a pawn ending: 6k1/1p4p1/p7/2Ppp3/1P6/P4KP1/5P1P/8 b - - 0 49 The fact that white can create passed pawns on both sides of the board makes the victory clear, and Hiarcs gave an evaluation of about +2. Note however that white is a pawn up. Not being entirely convinced about the impeccabilty of its evaluation, I decided to test some similar "clean" positions. First position: 4k3/p6p/8/4p3/3p4/3K4/PP4PP/8 b - - 0 1 This is (from a human point of view) an "identical" position but with material equality. A win for white. Here Hiarcs thinks black is slightly better! Second position: 4k3/p6p/8/3p4/2p5/2K5/P4PPP/8 b - - 0 1 Here one pawn is moved from one side of the board to the other (compared to the previous position) and that makes it a clear draw, but Hiarcs thinks white has an advantage, although not decisive. So Hiarcs thinks position 2 is better for white than position 1, when in fact it is worse. I am now inclined to believe (or rather convinced...) that Hiarcs correct score in the position from my original post was due to the fact that white was a pawn up in a pawn ending, (which is heavily weighted, understandably) and not from some accurate evaluation of the pawn structure... Don't investigate the chess "knowledge" of your favourite chess software, your illusions can be shattered :) Ralf PS: I always screw things up when I post positions and other stuff. Hope I got it right this time...
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