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Subject: Re: Does your program understand castling/en passant rights on 3x repetition

Author: James T. Walker

Date: 06:08:21 02/28/00

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On February 27, 2000 at 11:50:43, blass uri wrote:

>On February 27, 2000 at 09:46:22, Mike S. wrote:
>
>>On February 27, 2000 at 03:04:05, Tom Kerrigan wrote:
>>
>>>I don't think exact adherence to these rules is necessary.
>>
>>No? You may want to try this position with your computer:
>>
>>Zepler # in 4 - [+1430.04e5e8]
>>Die Schwalbe, 1929
>>
>>[D]r3k3/2Qp3R/1p6/1b2K3/4p3/8/5p2/8 w q - 0 1
>>1.Kd4 (threats 2.Qe5+ and 3.#) [1.Qd6? 0-0-0] 1...Ra4+ 2.Ke5 Ra8 3.Qd6 1-0
>>
>>I was busy with this issue when a wrote a short article for CSS 4/1995. All the
>>programs I tested then, didn't apply the correct rule (Fritz 3, Rebel 6, W Chess
>>1, Genius 3 and Hiarcs 3). It was remarkable that the mistake happened in
>>problem mode also.
>
>This is really a problem but most programs are not for solving problems but for
>playing.
>
>> CB's Mate 2.0-engines handles it correctly.
>>Btw., I'm sure programmers know the rule very well of course, but when it's
>>disregarded it is been done to gain more search speed I think. I have never
>>heard of any important, or not even unimportant, game where this would have
>>mattered.
>>But if this would happen (incorrect claim of a draw, program refuses to
>>continue), I think there would be no special tournament rules for this and the
>>unavoidable anger, dispute and scandal would follow.
>
>There are clear rules that if the program does not do a move and claims a draw
>incorrectly when there is no draw then it loses on time.
>
>There will be no scandals  but only a loss.
>
>I guess the practical chance that it happens in a game is less than 0.00001
>and it is more productive to fix other problems.
>
> Such things usually arise
>>in the most important game of a championship. I will be amused...
>
>There is no reason that they arise in the most important game.
>The chances are the same for every game.
>
>Uri

Hello Uri,
It is my opinion that this attention to detail is what separates the good
programs from the "wanna bees".  After all, I can take the chess board and chess
pieces and change the rules enough to suit me and end up playing checkers.  Just
because you are playing with chess pieces on a chess board does not make it
chess.  That's what the rules are for!  If you do not follow all the rules you
are playing a variation of chess not chess.  I run into this all the time with
golfers who decide which rules they will follow and which rules do not suite
them at the moment.  It is the reason I stopped playing tournament golf.
Jim Walker



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