Oh that was feet and inch? OK............

So she is 6'4 = 6·12*2.54 + 4·2,54 = 193,04 cm
WOW! She is really tall............!

Chessmaster1000: 6 feet 10 inch equals 2 metres, 8 centimeters, and 2.8 millimetres.

6'10 what? How this is translated to cm or m.......?
Damn Americans

Grim Reaper: Sex sells ... , but is she able to play Gothic Chess (well)?

6'4 Alexis Skye has agred to be our new Gothic Chess supermodel.

http://alexisskye.com/gothic_chess/new%20pic%20with%20heel%20and%20ruler%202.jpg

She is about 6'10 with the heels on.

Now here is something interesting. Since all of the conversation that happened in the German board, I have 5 orders for Gothic Chess sets from that country alone. Usually we get 1 about every 3 days from Germany, not 5 in a 48 hour span.

So thanks guys, keep up the good work, lol.

It does not matter if a product is talked about badly or not, just if it is talked about... I keep trying to tell you that. Keep hammering away at Gothic Chess, I'll keep selling

A number of posts have been deleted which did not contribute useful discussion to this board.

The link Walter refered to is: http://www.janusschach.de/

Caissus: I went to the German board. Unfortunately for me it's all in German and I could only make out about 5% of the words. I'll just have to wait until you post something in this part of the discussion board as I don't know German. I suppose I'll gradually learn it if I read the board from time to time. I went to your Janus Chess link. From the positioning and use of buttons and windows I gathered Weiter means "Enter". I hit that button, but it was all in German when I got inside. Is there an English version of this site? I really like Janus Chess and would like to try playing it live someday.

WhisperzQ: I am not sure about the advantage discussion, but future moves discussion makes sense to avoid.

As an aside, for those of us that do not visit the game db's regularly, it may be a good idea to edit the top layout including a description of what we are allowed to discuss here and what is not allowed. Just a thought.

whatdidyousay / Grim Reaper: Yes, it is an interesting game, but as it is still in progress, please do not discuss future moves or who may have an advantage, the discussion should be limited to how the game has reasched this position (all non-complying posts will be deleted without notice).

Cheers WQ :)

Grim Reaper: That looks like a very tight game, I am not sure who is going to win it based on the remaining men.

As I read the German board, I see there was a request for Janus Chess discussion. I posted this link to start things off:

http://brainking.com/en/ShowGame?g=417877

And the link disappeared. I am not sure why.

Grim Reaper: Too late, I already switched to Backgammon

Looks like Andreas is the new "man to beat" these days

tedbarber: I was going to send you a message, bur for some reason you have me blocked - so I'll post it here for you.

If you don't want to use one of the on-line ways to pay, BrainKing has some "representives" around the world which can accept money orders from people in their area - and which they will then turn and send the payment to Fencer.

http://www.brainking.info/payment.html - this page has the information, with Eriisa - being the one in the USA who has done this for MANY people and very trustworthy. I would suggest sending her a message here and ask her for details - where she can give you her mailing address and such.

To check out exchange rates, http://www.xe.com is a good place.

At the bottom of the page, you can find a place to do a quick converter from EURO to US.

So the rates right now for memberships are:

For Knights, 10/18 EUR will equal $12.58 / $22.65 US

For Rook, 16/28 EUR will equal $20.13 / $35.22

I will be happy to help if you have any questions.

EdTrice:I would like to upgrade my membership;and have asked many times how to do it. But,I do not use credit cards;and I do not know the value of a euro in U.S.dollars. I am also a Gothic Chess Fanatic;but certainly not in your league. I am totally unable to figure out how to upgrade;because I do not understand the method required. I would love to have it explained to me where to send the money to upgrade,the U.S. Dollar amount(not the totally unknown,to me,Euro)and where to send the dues using a U.S. money order. Since this is the only way I have of paying.

Since the 10x8 board has merged with other boards, and since there is a live site alternative only for players of Gothic Chess, the

Gothic Chess Steamrollers

... fellowship has ammended its doctrine to also serve as the conduit for requests for live games.

This will alleviate the need to use this board for requests for live games, but at the expense of requiring membership in the fellowship. This will exclude pawns from being able to post announcements or make requests for games, but it will reduce the load on the DB here.

So, for all those who are interested, send me a request to join the fellowship, post requests for live games within the fellowship, and I will look for you all there.

---------

This fellowship has three primary purposes:

1. To post announcements for requests to play live games at http://www.GothicChessLive.com


2. To create a very strong Gothic Chess team for the playing of team tournaments.

3. To offer an alternative discussion board to discuss Gothic Chess tactics, strategies, openings, and endings.

This is a "high octane" fellowship catering to the true Gothic Chess junkie.

Sumerian: Hi Reinhard,

One thing that is very interesting is SMIRF's handling of the opening. It "has no fear" so it plays moves that appear unusual to a human, but as it has verified with its search that material is not lost within its horizon, we (humans) have to be careful about handling these positions!

I found myself down a pawn and in a disorganized retreat, and I had to rely on "tricks" to turn things around. From this I learned a few things:

1. There are tactical opportunities in the opening that I have obviously been overlooking.

2. Just developing "for the sake of developing" is clearly not good enough. In the overall scheme of things, getting more pieces in play is the best choice over 90% of the time, but S.M.I.R.F. was able to make the most of its chances with selective deployment of its pieces.

3. Apparently strong kingside attacks can be carried out with just 2 Knights if the opponent's pawn structure surrounding the castled king has been compromised only slightly. This is something that is virtually impossible in chess that is not only possible as in our game, but could be a theme to underwrite an entire strategy. Aiming long-range pieces at the castled King while "waiting" to push pawns to release their full force (as your e3 and Ae2 moves accomplished) could be an interesting, previously untried strategical motiff.

I will have to figure out how to deal with this in my own home preparation

Thanks for a great game.

EdTrice: thank you for putting so much time in commenting that game. It is obviously that you are seeing the game from the viewpoint of a chess master. Thank you for that!

What I am learning from such games for sceduled modifying of the program SMIRF has been following: a) SMIRF actually seems to have no more that sort of crashing I reported during the last time - positive; b) Ed very correctly is detecting weaknesses on SMIRF's placing the pieces, thus I am very sure that some future tasks might help SMIRF a little bit: to rewrite its evaluation function focussing three points: 1) making the evaluation faster (three times seems to be realistic), 2) general review of the evaluation - especially king's safety, 3) adding a component for pieces mobility - which actually is missing.

1.d3 g5?!

The point of this unusual first move is that if 2. Bxg5? then 2...Bxb2 wins The Exchange of Rook for Bishop. If 1. d4 instead, then this ...g5 "trap" cannot be played.

2.g3 Nh6

Usually I play 2...h6 to support the over-extended g-pawn.

3.Nj3?! Nc6

S.M.I.R.F. had completed an 11-ply search and was starting on ply 12. I guess it did not like Nh3 with the idea that ...g4 could chase it.

4.c4 d6 5.Qa4

An interesting move choice by white, aimed at winning a pawn with Bxc6 bxc6 then Qxc6. I thought maybe S.M.I.R.F. is expecting ...Bd7 so I played something else to test this.

5...Bg7 6.Nc3

If 6. Bxc6 bxc6 7. Qxc6 I had planned on 7...Bd7 8. Q(g2 or h1) Af6 then castling with some compensation for the pawn.

6...Af6 7.Bxc6 bxc6 8.Ne4!

This is better than 8. Qxc6, and S.M.I.R.F. wins the weakened g-pawn now.

8...Ad4 9.Nxg5 O-O 10.h3 Bd7 11.Ni5

An interesting position. White has 2 Knights on the 5th rank (i5 and g5) and a Queen on a4, with nothing else in play. Black has all of the minors developed to good posts, and Archbishop that is a little "out there" but with excellent retreating destinations that only improve its location, and is castled. At this point I made a "strategic move" without thinking tactically at all. I played the pawn push to follow instantly, which revealed the Bishop to hit on White's Queen, and I carelessly thought "this was all that mattered." S.M.I.R.F. was able to prove me wrong.

11...c5? 12.Qd1!

What a difference seeing a move being made does for your positional clarity! The j7 pawn will now come into range of the Queen on d1. With the e-pawn push, my Archbishop must retreat, and White gains another "free move" to compound the attack against j7 by adding the White Archbishop to e2. Black needs to pull a rabbit out of the hat to get back into this game.

12...Cf6 13.e3 Ae5 14.Ae2 i6

Black's play was pretty much forced. The i-pawn push reduces the scope of the threat against j7, but it also weakens the kingside pawn structure tangibly.

15.f4

Such a move, which hits on the Archbishop, is an obvious first reaction. I did not think this was best here. I was worried about my kingside being destroyed with 15. Nxj7!? Nxj7 16. Nxi6!? hxi6 and Black would have to play very accurately to marshall the resources necessary for a satisfactory defense. I have the threat of ...Axg3+! going for me since the Chancellor in the f-file pins the pawn, but at fast time controls, I have no idea how such a line will play out.

15... Ac6

And now my Archbishop surveys the board from an excellent post.

16.g4 Nj5 17.Ag3

I remember my discussions with Reinhard about the value of his pieces. My thinking at this point: his 2 knights are strong, and the game is far from needing Rooks in open files to control the endgame. Would S.M.I.R.F. trade 2 Knights for a Rook + Pawn? I think it will, so I play...

17...Kj8 18.Nixh7+ Rxh7 19.Nxh7+Cxh7

...and I am correct. Black liquidated White's strong assets and gets an easier game. Now I can focus on setting traps.

20.Ai4 Bi5 21.Cc2

In the sum of all of my experience, I have never seen Cc2 for White or Cc7 for Black lead to "promising play". In the "old days" of the first Gothic Chess Live site, back in 2000, ChessCarpenter (Rob Colanzi) handed me my first defeat ever by forcing my Chancellor onto c2. Now, such a "general statement" as "Cc2 is bad" is of course, oversimplified, but in all of my games, I have noticed that when a Chancellor is able to be deployed to the Kingside FIRST, things always go much better for that player. By heading towards the Queenside first, the Chancellor tends to be under-utilized.

21...Ki8 22.Bd2 Nh4 23.Be1 Nxi2?! 24.Bxi5

The first part of the "trap". Black loses the Bishop for just a pawn.

24... Qh8! 25.Bj6 Cxh3!!

And now my Queen is hanging as well! Hopefully the plan is too deep for S.M.I.R.F. to see. The "patient" move 26. Qe2 is best so that if 26...Ng3+ the Bishop can still retreat and play 27. Bxg3.

26.Bxh8

S.M.I.R.F. grabs the Queen, which is hard to resist.

26...Ng3+!! 27.Axg3 Cxg3+ 28.Kf2 Ch3+ 29.Kf1 Af3!!

At one point S.M.I.R.F. ran through 18 plies of search and scored the position as a repetition draw, but the whole point of the attack was to get my Archbishop into play.

30.Bj6 Ah2+!!

The role of the Archbishop was not to just capture the Queen with ...Axd1, but worsen the position of the White King first.

31.Ke1 Bxg4!!

This functionally ends the game.

32.Rf1 Bxd1 33.Rxd1 Rg8 34.Cxh2Cxh2 35.Rd2 Cj3

And the rest is just technique.

36.Bf2 j5 37.Ke2 Rg2 38.a3 Cg3+ 39.Ke1 Cf3+ 40.Kd1
Rxj2 41.Rc2 i5 42.b4 cxb4 43.axb4 i4 44.Ra2 i3 45.Ke2
Rxf2+ 46.Rxf2 Cg1+ 47.Kd2 i2 48.Ra1 Cxa1 49.Rxi2+ Kj7 50.Re2 Cb1+ 51.Kc2 Cxb4+ 52.Kc3 Cb1+ 53.Kc2 Ca3+ 54.Kd2 j4 55.Rj2 Ca2+ 56.Ke1 Cxj2 0-1

Sumerian:

Thanks for the game Reinhard. It was interesting in that Black (my side) had, on the surface, what everyone would identify as a "lead in development" at first glance, yet White (S.M.I.R.F.) was uncastled with fewer pieces in play, yet stood better in my opinion (after I reviewed the game.) There were some interesting "passive sacrifices" by Black where a Bishop was left hanging "on purpose", as well as a Queen. These were more akin to "traps" rather than tactically sharp play, but again, they added to the interest of the game.

I will add my notes a little later.

After some things have been improved at Ed Trice's server (e.g. started game notation and enabled kibitzing), Smirf's Beta BC-058 has made another approach to stand a game against the GC master. But when the remaining time was getting low, it finally was overplayed by Ed again:

[Event "20 min + 5 sec game"]
[Site "GothicChessLive"]
[Date "2005.05.19"]
[Time "08:29:16"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Smirf Beta-BC-058"]
[Black "Ed Trice"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Annotator "Reinhard Scharnagl"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "rnbqckabnr/pppppppppp/10/10/10/10/PPPPPPPPPP/RNB


QCKABNR w KQkq - 0 1"]

{White is resigning seeing a mate come.} 1.d3 {(12.18) +0.147} g5 2.g3 {(11.31)
+0.314} Nh6 3.Nj3 {(12.00) +0.432} Nc6 4.c4 {(11.37) +0.445} d6 5.Qa4 {(11.40)
+0.724} Bg7 6.Nc3 {(11.18) +1.101} Af6 7.Bxc6 {(12.06) +1.451} bxc6 8.Ne4
{(12.30) +1.316} Ad4 9.Nxg5 {(13.04) +1.438} O-O 10.h3 {(13.01+) +1.322} Bd7
11.Ni5 {(12.09) +1.521} c5 12.Qd1 {(12.01+) +1.522} Cf6 13.e3 {(12.19) +1.650}
Ae5 14.Ae2 {(12.05) +1.786} i6 15.f4 {(12.07) +1.687} Ac6 16.g4 {(12.01+)
+1.687} Nj5 17.Ag3 {(11.41) +2.085} Kj8 18.Nixh7+ {(12.42) +1.358} Rxh7
19.Nxh7+ {(14.11) +1.433} Cxh7 20.Ai4 {(13.20) +1.433} Bi5 21.Cc2 {(12.04)
+1.532} Ki8 22.Bd2 {(12.25) +1.656} Nh4 23.Be1 {(12.45) +1.475} Nxi2 24.Bxi5
{(12.36) +3.235} Qh8 25.Bj6 {(12.55) +3.024} Cxh3 26.Bxh8 {(13.24) +2.526} Ng3+
27.Axg3 {(19.00) +0.000} Cxg3+ 28.Kf2 {(18.00) -0.199} Ch3+ 29.Kf1 {(18.00)
-1.395} Af3 30.Bj6 {(18.01+) -0.114} Ah2+ 31.Ke1 {(18.03) -0.697} Bxg4 32.Rf1
{(19.37) -0.996} Bxd1 33.Rxd1 {(18.00) -1.594} Rg8 34.Cxh2 {(19.37) -1.656}
Cxh2 35.Rd2 {(21.24) -1.656} Cj3 36.Bf2 {(21.28) -1.807} j5 37.Ke2 {(17.09)
-1.634} Rg2 38.a3 {(17.14) -1.997} Cg3+ 39.Ke1 {(21.01) -2.083} Cf3+ 40.Kd1
{(21.00) -2.122} Rxj2 41.Rc2 {(21.00) -2.281} i5 42.b4 {(18.11) -2.256} cxb4
43.axb4 {(21.00) -3.438} i4 44.Ra2 {(19.15) -3.549} i3 45.Ke2 {(21.04) -3.736}
Rxf2+ 46.Rxf2 {(22.01) -4.261} Cg1+ 47.Kd2 {(22.00?) -4.569} i2 48.Ra1 {(21.08)
-4.713} Cxa1 49.Rxi2+ {(21.12) -4.912} Kj7 50.Re2 {(22.16) -4.912} Cb1+ 51.Kc2
{(20.00?) -4.912} Cxb4+ 52.Kc3 {(24.03) -5.211} Cb1+ 53.Kc2 {(23.01) -5.211}
Ca3+ 54.Kd2 {(23.03) -5.410} j4 55.Rj2 {(25.04) -6.175} Ca2+ 56.Ke1 {(15.02-)
-M~???} Cxj2 57.Kf1 {(13.06-) -M~???} 0-1

Well I was almost going to send a PM to Fencer to ask him where the resign button was, but I found it

You can print out any games, they are not copyrighted.

EdTrice:May I make a printout of this game on my printer? It is so rare to find a game you lost in Gothic.

http://brainking.com/en/ArchivedGame?g=597649

Note the sacrifice of the Chancellor at the end.

It was the last Gothic Vortex Gold-beta you have send me. It was one day before the release of the final version. But it says 1.0.9.........

Chessmaster1000:

Thanks for the notes George. I have not looked at the games yet.

Please recall version 1.0.9 is rather old. Version 1.2 is out now, and this one probes the endgame tablebases as it searches as well.

http://www.GothicChess.org/vortex.zip is the link to the one with the 3-piece tablebases. I believe you also have the version with the 4-piece tablebases.

While the match results are interesting, Version 1.0.9 is no longer being improved, and results against version 1.2 (and later) are the only ones that would be helpful.

to Chessmaster1000: End of thinking (mate found): This bug is nerving in Smirf for a while. It is somehow related to the cache usage. If you would restart Smirf (it remembers the game) within that position, the error would not be reproduced. So I am about to find that silly bug, but still have not been successful.

It is good to hear, that programs still are not unbeatable. (Nevertheless Beta BC-057 again will become about 30% stronger in short).

I played a small tournament with myself, Smirf BC-056 and Gothic Vortex 1.0.9. Each player played 2 games (1 with White, one with Black) against each other. I won both 4 games. Yeah............!
Time control was 30 seconds per move, with 64 MB hash for the engines...........

1)Me-G.V 1-0
I had a nice attack as always with many surprising sacrifices for G.V, but the damn computer resisted amazingly and managed to hold with an equal position(i think) until move 33. Then it had only one line that would hold (an easy to see-33...Qh7) but it played horribly the moves 33,34,35 and lost immediatelly............!
After the game i could not immediatelly reproduce 33...Qd8? It played the correct Qh7 2 times, then the third time, it choosed e6 and after a computer start-up it choosed the Qd8 again ?!?!?!? And when i play from move 30 all the moves, it always plays the Qd8 move.......


2)G.V-Smirf 1-0
After some logical opening Pawn and Knight moves by both players, GV played an unorthodox Knight move(7.Ni5) and Smirf replied badly (7...Bxc3?). After some developing moves in an unusual position, Smirf saw a big advantage after 18...Bxd3? but it was a huge mistake. After white castled game was already over..........G.V finished the game with a nice attack.......!


3)Smirf-Me 0-1
I gave a Pawn, Smirf's development has become slow, i gave a Rook and a Bishop for an attack and mated some moves later........I have the impression, in fact i'm sure, that Smirf could win this game.....But let me intrude in its position and win.........


4)G.V-Me 0-1
I've managed to create an invisible(for G.V) attack for the white King, which G.V allowed me to make after a long time (after the fix of the Chancellor-bug, creating such positions was very difficult)....I had to praise G.V for its move 21.Ag1! and not taking the b6-Pawn, because it felt the danger (Unfortunatelly the next 2 moves was Be3 and Bxb6 taking the Pawn and probably that was the critical mistakes)....The question of course is if Ag1 could save the game. The position is already too difficult to hold.....


5)Me-Smirf 1-0
Smirf played as always(it's much more active with Pawns and not only, at the opening from G.V) the kind of moves i hate. Pawn-attacking moves, challenging me for the center and not giving me space, and not afraid to leave hanging pieces. My nightmare......! Some strange moves by me giving 3 Pawns and then a Rook, that Smirf took instead of accepting the 3 Pawns and castling safely. Then a crazy tactical position arised. Giving my last Rook i had a nice attack but the win was not obvious....But the final winning combination was startling........! "27.Cf1! , 28.Cf5!! , 30.Nf6! was some of the good moves......."

In this game also occured the following:
I would put this to my notes for Reinhard about Smirf, but here is anyway:
In the 6th move and after my c3 Smirf had a bad(buggy?) reaction again. The position is this and Smirf's evaluation was the following......:

r1bqckab1r/pp2pp1ppp/2np2pn2/
2p7/4PP4/2P3PP1N/PP1P4PP/RNBQCKAB1R b KQkq - 0 6
-----------------------------------------
End of thinking (mate found)
00:00.0 (06.08+) +M~254 6...Be6 (Af6)
-----------------------------------------



6)Smirf-G.V 1/2-1/2
G.V was out of book in its second only move(smirf doesn't have a book). After some unorthodox moves again by both players, i can really say that Smirf outplayed G.V at the opening in this position and reached a very favorable position. After 18...Kg7 i had the impression that Smirf would convert this winning position into a win. And at move 34 it was clear that Smirf would be able to win although the position was VERY difficult to do it. It needed a strategic plan to do it. To bring the Rooks into action and prevent the Archbishop from breaking through into white's King's position. But Smirf played the awuful Bxf4? instead of gxf4 and allowed G.V a perpetual check.........

In this game also occured the following again:
I would put this to my notes for Reinhard about Smirf, but here is anyway:
In the 33th move and after GV's 32...Ad7 Smirf had a bad(buggy?) reaction again. The position is this and Smirf's evaluation was the following......:

7b1r/p1pa2kppp/2N7/6p3/1P2P5/
3P2PP2/2KB1P3P/3R3R2 w - - 1 33
-----------------------------------------
En
d of thinking (mate found)
00:00.0 (08.03+) +M~254 33.Nxa7 (b5)
-----------------------------------------




Crosstable (1=win , 0=loss , ½=draw).........:

Player  Me  G.V  Smirf  Total
-----------------------------------

Me      --     11     11       4.0

G.V     00     --     1½      1.5

Smirf   00     0½     --       0.5
-----------------------------------

The games............:

[Event "SmirfGUI Computerchess Game"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "George Tsavdaris"]
[Black "Gothic Vortex"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "George Tsavdaris"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "rnbqckabnr/pppppppppp/10/10/10/10/PPPPPPPPPP/RNB
QCKABNR w KQkq - 0 1"]

1.f4 Nh6 2.d4 d5 3.g3 Nc6 4.c3 g6 5.h3 Bg7 6.Nj3 Af6 7.Ah2 O-O 8.Bf3 Nf5 9.g4
Nh4 10.e3 Nxi2 11.Cg2 j6 12.Bd2 Nj4 13.Be1 Nxh3 14.Bxj6 ixj6 15.g5 Ag8 16.Ri1+
Nxi1 17.Cxi1+ Kj8 18.Qe1 Ai7 19.Ai4 Ri8 20.Axj6 Aj5+ 21.Ai4 Bh3+ 22.Ke2 Bh8
23.Axj5 Bxj5 24.Ni5 Cg7 25.Cj3 Ri6 26.Cxj5+ Rj6 27.Ch4 Qg8 28.Qh1 Rxj2+ 29.Kd1
Bi7 30.Nxh7+ Ki8 31.Qi1 Cxh7 32.Qxj2 Cxh4 33.Qxh4 Qd8 34.Nd2 Qd7 35.Bg4 Qd6
36.Kc2 Rh8 37.Qj4 Rh5 38.Bxh5 Nb4+ 39.cxb4 Qc6+ 40.Kb3 gxh5 41.Qf8+ Kj7 42.Rj1+
1-0

[Event "SmirfGUI Computerchess Game"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Gothic Vortex"]
[Black "Smirf"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "George Tsavdaris"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "rnbqckabnr/pppppppppp/10/10/10/10/PPPPPPPPPP/RNB
QCKABNR w KQkq - 0 1"]

1.c4 g6 2.Nh3 c5 3.Nc3 h5 4.d3 Nh6 5.g3 Nc6 6.Bd5 d6 7.Ni5 Bxc3 8.bxc3 Af6
9.Bxh6+ ixh6 10.Qc1 Kg7 11.Nh3 Ci8 12.Nj4 Qa5 13.Cc2 Bf5 14.Ca3 Qc7 15.Rb1 Qc8
16.Qb2 Rb8 17.h3 Ae5 18.Ai3 Bxd3 19.f4 Bxb1 20.fxe5 Bf5 21.exd6 exd6 22.O-O Qd7
23.Rf1 Qc8 24.Nxh5+ gxh5 25.Axh5+ Kh7 26.g4 Bg6 27.Rxf7+ Bxf7 28.Qc2+ Kg8
29.Qg6+ Kh8 30.Af6+ Ki7 31.Qh7+ Kj6 32.Ah4+ Ci5 33.Qxh6# 1-0

[Event "SmirfGUI Computerchess Game"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Smirf"]
[Black "George Tsavdaris"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Annotator "George Tsavdaris"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "rnbqckabnr/pppppppppp/10/10/10/10/PPPPPPPPPP/RNB
QCKABNR w KQkq - 0 1"]

1.d3 d5 2.h4 g6 3.g3 Nj6 4.c3 c6 5.Nh3 h6 6.Qa4 Ah7 7.Be3 Nd7 8.Bxa7 Nf6 9.Bf3
Nfh5 10.Qa3 Ni4 11.Bxh5 gxh5 12.Nd2 Cg7 13.Cf3 Bg4 14.Cf4 Af5 15.Cg2 Qc7
16.O-O-O b5 17.Bb6 Rxa3 18.Bxc7 Rxa2 19.Kb1 Ce8 20.Kxa2 Ca8+ 21.Kb1 Bxc3
22.bxc3 Ca3+ 23.Kb2 Ca4+ 24.Kb3 Ae6 25.Rc1 Ac5+ 26.Kc2 Ca2+ 27.Kd1 Aa4+ 28.Nb3
Axb3+ 29.Rc2 Ca1# 0-1

[Event "SmirfGUI Computerchess Game"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Gothic Vortex"]
[Black "George Tsavdaris"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Annotator "George Tsavdaris"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "rnbqckabnr/pppppppppp/10/10/10/10/PPPPPPPPPP/RNB
QCKABNR w KQkq - 0 1"]

1.f4 f5 2.Nh3 g6 3.Nc3 c6 4.g3 d5 5.Ng5 h6 6.Nh3 b6 7.Bf3 d4 8.Nb5 a6 9.Na3 Bf6
10.Af2 Cg7 11.O-O Nj6 12.d3 Ah7 13.Nc4 i5 14.e4 e6 15.e5 Be7 16.j3 Ri8 17.Nd6
Aj5 18.Nxc8 Qxc8 19.Axd4 i4 20.jxi4 Rxi4 21.Ag1 Ci7 22.Kj1 Kf7 23.Be3 Qi8
24.Bxb6 Rxi2 25.Axi2 Ai3+ 26.Ki1 Aj2+ 27.Kj1 Cj5 28.Nj4 Qxi2+ 29.Kxi2 Cxj4+
30.Kj1 Ah3# 0-1

[Event "SmirfGUI Computerchess Game"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "George Tsavdaris"]
[Black "Smirf"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "George Tsavdaris"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "rnbqckabnr/pppppppppp/10/10/10/10/PPPPPPPPPP/RNB
QCKABNR w KQkq - 0 1"]

1.f4 d6 2.Nj3 c5 3.e4 Nh6 4.g3 Nc6 5.h3 g6 6.c3 Be6 7.Ah2 Qa5 8.b3 j5 9.Bf3 f5
10.d3 Bxb3 11.Qe2 fxe4 12.Bxe4 Cc7 13.Bd2 Qa4 14.O-O Bxa2 15.f5 Nxf5 16.Rf1 Ab3
17.Ag4 Axa1 18.Ni5 e6 19.Bxf5 exf5 20.Rxf5+ gxf5 21.Axf5 Kg8 22.Qh5 Ne5 23.Nxh7
Rf8 24.Nxf8 Cg7 25.Ah7+ Cxh7 26.Nxh7 Ri8 27.Cf1 Bf7 28.Cf5 Bg7 29.Ce7+ Kh8
30.Nf6+ Bh6 31.Bxh6 Qd1+ 32.Qxd1 ixh6 33.Qh5 Ki7 34.Qxf7+ Nxf7 35.Cxf7+ Kj6
36.Nh5+ Ki6 37.Cg7+ Ki5 38.j4# 1-0

[Event "SmirfGUI Computerchess Game"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Smirf"]
[Black "Gothic Vortex"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[Annotator "George Tsavdaris"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "rnbqckabnr/pppppppppp/10/10/10/10/PPPPPPPPPP/RNB
QCKABNR w KQkq - 0 1"]

1.g3 d5 2.Na3 Nh6 3.c4 dxc4 4.Nxc4 Nc6 5.d3 g6 6.Bxc6 bxc6 7.h4 Ni4 8.Nh3 Bxh3+
9.ixh3 Qd7 10.Rh1 Nh6 11.Af3 Cd8 12.Qa4 Ce6 13.Na5 Cc5 14.Qb4 Ca6 15.Qb7 Qc8
16.Qxc8+ Rxc8 17.Axc6 Rb8 18.Ad7+ Kg7 19.Bf4 f6 20.Cc2 Rd8 21.Ac6 Rd5 22.b4 Af7
23.Axe7 g5 24.hxg5 fxg5 25.Bd2 Ae6 26.O-O-O Nf5 27.Axd5 Axd5 28.e4 Nd4 29.Cxd4
Axa2+ 30.Kc2 Ae6 31.Cc6 Cxc6+ 32.Nxc6 Ad7 33.Nxa7 Kg6 34.f4 gxf4 35.Bxf4 Aa4+
36.Kb1 Ac3+ 37.Kc2 Aa4+ 38.Kb1 Ac3+ 39.Kc1 Ab2+ 40.Kd2 Ac3+ 41.Kc1 Ab2+ 42.Kd2
Ac3+ 43.Kc1 1/2-1/2

EdTrice: Sliding scale: In Smirf average exchange values are constant. But the positional influence will vary automatically, thus I have not to rebalance those values. When a piece is captured, the evaluation is not only reduced by the exchange value, it will be positionally recalculated.

Pawn Races: Smirf has included a simple estimation of passed pawn values - still not perfect.

Castling awareness: Castling is not individually analysed, it will be selected automatically by positional considerations only, independent e.g. from castling moves.

trying to teach Vortex: I am very distant to such approaches. Because it is nearly impossible for a chess master to describe what exactly he is doing during his considerations. I think that something like this might lead into a conceptual chaos. But why not give it a try? I am on the opposite way, trying to 'feel' the needs of a 'frustrated' and 'madly' working machine, to reduce the needs of its job (danger, could lead to paranoia).

Sumerian: Is your Gothic Vortex even still subject for improvements (beside of providing more looking-up information)?.

The evaluation function for Gothic Vortex is very primitive as well. It has a few innovations. Some of these have been around for a while, but here is what I think is unique:

1. Sliding scale weight for the "Supermajors" (Queen, Chancellor, Archbishop).

The values for these pieces are not "constant", they change during the phase of the game. The Archbishop gets weaker as the game progresses, the Chancellor gets stronger, then weaker, and the Queen slowly gets stronger.

2. Pawn Races - The program can play ANY king and pawn ending properly, even with just a 3-ply search. This makes it strong in the endgame.

3. Castling awareness - Castling is not just a "straight bonus", it evaluates whether or not the opponent is castling into danger.

I have changed the evaluation function since the 2004 Computer World Championship, but this was mostly bug fixes.

For exmaple, in some of the wins that Chessmaster emailed to me, there were obvious bugs regarding king safety that had the program think it was ahead as much as +400 when really it was -200.

I have long since fixed this bug (4 months ago) and Chessmaster1000 has not sent me any wins since that time.

I have introduced something else that might have disasterous effects, but it only an experimental version for now. I am trying to teach Vortex how to play like me. It is not easy to do! I am using some of my games on BK as an example, but no matter how long I let Vortex think, it just does not want to make sacrifices like I do.

When I figure out how to code this, I will release the new version. For now, the latest and greatest version is at:

http://www.GothicChess.org/vortex.zip

When the server problems are fixed.

When will I get my deserved win by timeout in this game. It is the final game of our long 10 win match and He should have forfieted on 12 May 2005.

Sumerian: "Is your Gothic Vortex even still subject for improvements (beside of providing more looking-up information)?."

Even I can tell, since Chessmaster1000 could beat Gothic Vortex very nicely, that the latter should still have some room for improvement ;)

to EdTrice:
I noticed, that the result of the game has been a welcomed satisfaction for those who are hoping that humans still might play better (Gothic) Chess than computer programs.

You know that Smirf still has a lot of weaknesses, where I have to develop against. With a 53K size of its engine there already is a lot of intelligence per byte, but it has to be enriched to finally become able to defeat your Gothic Vortex program or even a top player like you.

If you remember Smirf playing in November at your fine tournament, you definitely could notice the one or other improvement. But still e. g. the evaluation function is unchangedly weak.

The new beta BC-056 has eliminated the PGN reading bug, when comments are standing split at several lines. Also the search routine is no longer that overpruned like it partially had been in its ancestors.

Is your Gothic Vortex even still subject for improvements (beside of providing more looking-up information)?.

Sumerian: HI Reinhard,

Thanks for playing, it was a good game. I felt that the lead changed hands a few times as we played this one.

At 8. Bxh6+ ixh6 White is better, and 9... 0-0? surely is a mistake given that the i-pawn is not there to sheleter the King. The problem is, how does one go after this weakness most efficiently?

As soon as I played 10. f4 I knew this was not the best. I block a diagonal that leads to the weakened area of your board, and I prevent my Chancellor from being able to become effective more quickly.

But SMIRF really hung in there, and even turned things around, nullifying any attempt by me to create tactical chances.

So...it was time to get strategic... what to do?

For one I had to get Archbishops off the board, my own vulnerability in the vicinity of h3 was becoming a problem that SMIRF was exploiting well. I think a timely ...Qd7 was called for, but it never happened.

15. Rb1? was a mistake by me, I should have played 15. i3 and held the pawn that dropped right afterwards.

22. Kj1? was more of a "confession" that I didn't know what to do rather than a mistake, but since we were playing quickly, I had not time to reflect. A grandmaster once said "If you do nothing, do it well!" so that is what I tried to do.

24. Rg5?!? is purely cavalier, and an attempt to complicate matters. I did not know if I was digging my own grave, but I surely had a shovel in my hand.

What happened next is entertaining, and I will let the rest of you enjoy it.

I fully expect Chessmaster1000 to tell me all the reasons why this was a bad move, because I deserve it!

Smirf seems to have a problem to reload this game, but its PGN should be usable. (Thus one more bug found in it.)

[Event "SmirfGUI Computerchess Game"]
[Site "CHESSBOX-MAIN-X"]
[Date "2005.05.11"]
[Time "18:34:10"]
[Round "(20 min + 5 sec)/side"]
[White "GothicInventor"]
[Black "Smirf beta BC-055"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "Sumerian"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "rnbqckabnr/pppppppppp/10/10/10/10/PPPPPPPPPP/RNB



QCKABNR w KQkq - 0 1"]

{black resigned} 1.c4 c5 {(21.27) -0.147} 2.Nh3 Nc6 {(23.18) -0.045} 3.g3 g6
{(23.24) -0.046} 4.Nc3 h5 {(21.40) -0.024} 5.d3 Nh6 {(13.01+) -0.004} 6.Bg2
Bxc3 {(21.44) +0.206} 7.bxc3 Af6 {(21.40) +0.179} 8.Bxh6+ ixh6 {(23.03) +0.406}
9.Qd2 O-O {(21.43) +0.425} 10.f4 d6 {(21.00) +0.410} 11.Ae3 h4 {(19.49) +0.664}
12.Ad5 Be6 {(15.01+) +0.365} 13.Axf6 Cxf6 {(27.40) +0.156} 14.gxh4 Ch5 {(23.48)
+0.156} 15.Rb1 Cxh4 {(23.54) +0.574} 16.O-O Rb8 {(13.01+) +0.234} 17.e3 h5
{(21.36) +0.509} 18.Rg1 Rh7 {(12.23+) +0.620} 19.Qf2 Ci4 {(23.00) +0.475} 20.i3
Bxh3 {(25.44) -0.489} 21.Bxh3 Ci7 {(29.00) -0.440} 22.Kj1 Qh8 {(23.11) -0.048}
23.Rb3 h4 {(23.31) -0.143} 24.Rg5 h:i3 {(25.43) +1.547} 25.Ri5 Rxh3 {(27.43)
+1.272} 26.Rxi7+ Qxi7 {(31.02) +1.285} 27.hxi3 Rbh8 {(29.49) +1.285} 28.Ki1 Qh6
{(27.51) +1.241} 29.Qg1 Rh2 {(29.18) +2.213} 30.Cf1 Rxa2 {(31.13) +2.220}
31.Cg3 Kj8 {(23.58) +1.691} 32.Ci4 Qh5 {(16.01+) +M~254} 33.Cj4 Qh2+ {(29.27)
+2.443} 34.Qxh2 Rhxh2 {(31.00) +1.680} 35.Rxb7 Rhd2 {(29.20) +1.214} 36.Rb1 Rh2
{(33.14) +0.340} 37.Rh1 Rxh1+ {(35.43) +0.379} 38.Kxh1 Ra1+ {(33.31) +0.000}
39.Kh2 Ra2+ {(41.16) +0.000} 40.Kg3 Re2 {(39.11) +0.000} 41.Cj6 Rxe3+ {(39.08)
+0.000} 42.Kh4 Rf3 {(39.24) +0.000} 43.Ch7+ Ki8 {(05.00?) +2.796} 44.Cf8+ Ki7
{(05.00?) +2.744} 45.Cxf7+ Kj6 {(43.01) -4.979} 46.Ch7+ Ki6 {(43.01) -5.549}
47.Cg7+ Kh6 {(47.02) -5.549} 48.Cxj7+ Ki6 {(26.00?) -5.765} 49.Cg7+ Kj6
{(45.02) -5.649} 50.Cxg6+ Kj7 {(24.01+) -5.460} 51.Ki5 Rxf4 {(39.20) -4.644}
1-0

tedbarber: The ratings were those at the finish of the game.

White=tedbarber (Unrated) Black=Spirou (1685) Dates of Game: 7 October 2003--23 October 2003. Game #215181 This was my first win on Brainking.com. Unfortunately,it was wiped out in November 2003 by a virus;as were my first 3 completed games and 17 other games in progress. I think it was 1 of the 5 best that I have played;and that it deserves to be remembered. I am not asking to re-instate or rate this game. I still have the printout of this game at home;as I printout and save all my games. I also presented this game with this exact same analysis on this same discussion board on 24 October 2003. Here it is: 1.)d4 e5?!(a dubious Opening for Black in Gothic Chess;since it leads to harrassment of his Chancellor by pieces of far less value;and also a lasting lead in developement by White.)2.d4xe5 Cxe5; 3.)Bf4 Cf5; 4.)Ah3!?(not the best developing square for the Archbishop;but in this case the move has the value of both protecting the Bishop at f4 and attacking the Chancellor with a weaker piece.)4.)....Ce7; 5.)g4 Nc6; 6.)Nc3 d5; 7.)Nxd5!?(He can not retake without losing Material.Ex.7.)....Cxd5;8.)Qxd5 Qxd5; 9.)Bxd5; or 7.)....Qxd5; 8.)Qxd5 Cxd5; 9.)Bxd5; in either case White is decisively in front in Material,Space,and Time.)7.)....Cd7; 8.)e4 Ne5; 9.)f3 c6; 10.)Bxe5!(Saves the Knight)10.)....Cxe5; 11.)Nf4 Qc7; 12.Af2 g5; 13.)Nd3 Ce8;(The Chancellor retreats to its original square. It will take no further part in the game.) 14.)Nh3 Bf6; 15.)Bg2 Qxh2?(accomplishes nothing; since he has no real follow-up;and puts his Queen in jeopardy.) 16.)i3 Qc7; 17.)Ce2 b6; 18.Ag3! (offers The Gothic Exchange;forcing him to either accept or Retreat. Accepting will give me a slight advantage.)18.)....Qd8; 19.0-0!(begins to sieze control of the Vital h-file.) 19.)....Nh6; 20.)e5 Bg7; 21.)Qe1 f6; 22.f4 Bxg4? (This only drives my Chancellor where I intended to move him anyway.)23.Cf2 Rc8; 24.)f4xg5!(The pin keeps him from retaking,yet.)24.)....Nf5; 25.)Ae4 Bxh3? (surrenders the h-file to me.) 26.)Cxh3 f6xg5; 27.)Axf5 Af6??(Allows a mating net.) 28.)Cxh7+ Resigns. (I have the following 7 forced mates: a. 28.)....Kf7; 29.Bi4+ Kg8; 30.Cxi7+ Kf8; 31.)Ah6# b.) 28.)....Kg8; 29.Cxi7+ Kf7; 30.)Bi4+ Kf8; 31.Ah6# c. 28.)....Kg8; 29.Cxi7+ Kf8; 30.Ah6# d.) 28.)....Kf7; 29.)Bi4+ Kg8; 30.)Cxj8+ Bh8; 31.Rxh8# e. 28.)....Kf7; 29.)Bi4+ Kg8; 30.)Cxj8+ Bh8; 31.)Cxh8# f.) 28.)....Kg8; 29.Cxj8+ Kf7; 30.Bi4# g.) 28.)....Kg8; 29.Cxj8+ Bh8; 30.Cxh8#.)

This game represents a new opening idea that has not been seen as of yet on here, I believe.


[Event "GothicChessLive.com"]
[Site "Philadelphia, PA"]
[Date "2005.05.07"]
[White "GothicInventor"]
[Black "Mattolin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "rnbqckabnr/pppppppppp/10/10/10/10/PPPPPPPPPP/RNB


QCKABNR w KQkq - 0 1"]

1. h4 e5
2. g3 d6
3. Nh3 h6
4. Bg2 Nc6
5. Ah2 Nj6
6. Nc3 Be6
7. d3 f5
8. Be3 g6
9. O-O Bg7
10. f4 Aj5?
11. Ni5!! Axg2+?
12. Cxg2 hxi5
13. fxe5 Nxe5
14. Bxi7 Ng4!?
15. Af3 Bh6
16. Bxh6+! Nxh6
17. hxi5 Nhi4
18. Ah4 g5
19. Ag6+ Kg7
20. Axe8+ Rxe8
21. ixj6 g4

{setting up Qxj2# if white fell asleep}

22. Ch4! Ri8
23. Qg1 Bf7?
24. Qd4+ Kf8
25. Ch7+ Ke7
26. Qf6+ 1-0

Sumerian, Mattolin, BradJr, DueThought, and GothicInventor are all on GothicChessLive right now.

http://www.GothicChessLive.com

EdTrice: I deleted a lot of Ughaibu's repeated notices about his tournament when the boards were amalgamated ... but if there were others I know not whence they have gone.

EdTrice: http://brainking.com/de/News

What happened to all of the messages? This morning it showed "51 new" but there are none here. A bug?

[Event "Gothic Chess Live Debut"]
[Site "Philadelphia, PA"]
[Date "2005.05.03"]
[White "GrosPaul (Spirou on BrainKing)"]
[Black "GothicInventor (Ed Trice)"]
[Result "0-1"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "rnbqckabnr/pppppppppp/10/10/10/10/PPPPPPPPPP/RNB

QCKABNR w KQkq - 0 1"]

1. f4 d5
2. g3 Ah6
3. Nc3 d4
4. Ne4 Nc6
5. Nh3 Nj6
6. c3 g6
7. Bf3 Bg7
8. e3 dxc3
9. bxc3 O-O
10. j4 Ni4
11. Ng5 j6
12. Ni5 Nxg5
13. fxg5 Axg5
14. Bj7+ Kj8
15. Bi8 Cf6+
16. Af2 h5
17. Nh7+ Rxh7
18. Bxh7 Bxi2

0-1

[Event "Gothic Chess Live Debut"]
[Site "Philadelphia, PA"]
[Date "2005.05.03"]
[White "ChessCarpenter (Rob Colanzi)"]
[Black "GothicInventor (Ed Trice)"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Annotator "Claude Jeruchim and Dmitry Goldberg"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "rnbqckabnr/pppppppppp/10/10/10/10/PPPPPPPPPP/RNB



QCKABNR w KQkq - 0 1"]

1. f4 d5
2. e4 dxe4
3. Cxe4 Af6

{It should be noted that this was just a casual game to initiate the game site. Rob certainly is playing these moves to demonstrate his happiness at getting the new live site in place.}

4. Cg3 Nh6
5. Nh3 Ah4
6. Cd3 Bg4!

{A very interesting position that has no 'regular chess' counterpart. The flight squares for the Queen have been exhausted. Somebody needs to tell Ed this is just a fun game, he is playing way too seriously.}

7. Qe1 Axe1
8. Cxe1 Nc6
9. c3 Bf5

{Black takes a stab at setting up a murderous check with ...Bd3+ but it will never happen, of course.}

10. d4 Cd6
11. Nd2 Ng4

{It is hard to tell if Ed is now joining in on the 'merriment' or if he is planning something. The game is being played at a fast enough pace, about 10 seconds per move on both sides, so who knows ?}

12. g3 Ch6
13. Bxc6

{More cavalier play from Black's side of the board, for a change, and now we see White taking steps to get back into the game. Rob gains a much needed tempo, functionally trading the Bishop for the minor, but more importantly, the forced move. Everyone is expecting the immediate ...bxc6, but Ed has something else in store.}

13...Ci4?!?

{It is hard to qualify the merit of this move with an on-the-spot assesment. Of course Nxh2+ Axh2 Cxh2+ is being threatened, and even so, h2 can be defended easily enough. The game has taken on an interesting character from the guise of casual, carefree play to one of growing interest, move by move.}

14. Cf3 bxc6
15. Ng5!

{A momentum shift favoring Rob's positional merit. Of course, the threat of Nxh7+ is idle with Black's Bishop holding h7, and White has no pawns to displace it from this post. Just when you think you know what is coming next, you should be prepared for anything when sitting across the board from Ed.}

15...Nxh2+?!
16. Axh2 Cxi2!

{OK, we are both confused by this sequence of events. Trading the Knight for 2 pawns plus a trashed Kingside is not the only point to consider. White will get some counterplay, won't he?}

17. Aj3 Qd5!!

{The subtle point that is not easy to grasp. 17...Cj4 looks to hold down the fort with the threat to the Archbishop and the revelation of the Bishop to hit the Rook, but after the game Black shows an incredible line where White can draw.}

18. Axi2 Bxi2
19. Ch2 Bxj1
20. Nxh7+ Kg8
21. Nxj8 Bc8!

{What a fantastic combination on White's part, yet the well timed, complete retreat of the Black Bishop assures that the scales are tipped favorably to him. This has become a great boxing match!}

22. c4 Qxd5
23. Ce2! Qd3
24. Ke1! Be6!

{Rob is not relenting in the least. Hoping that Ed would trade his Queen to stop Cxe7+ was the best defensive plan for White. The task of finding ...Be6 as the interefering piece was delegated to Black.}

25. Ce4 i5!

{An odd looking move that is full of purpose. Room is made for the Black Bishop, and ...Bi7 will recover the Knight.}

26. Kf2 Bi7
27. Ni6 jxi6
28. b3 Rd8
29. Kg2 g5!
30. fxg5 Bh8!

{A second strong retreating move, this time by a diffrent Bishop. The Rook on a1 is now the target of the Bishop's long range rifle scope.}

31. Rb1 Bc3
32. g6! Kf8!
33. gxf7 Bxf7
34. Cf4

{Rob has a plethora of annoying moves at his disposal as he sets up a disjointed fortress position of sorts. The pieces exert strange protecting influences over one another, frustrating any attempt by White to end the game more quickly.}

34...Qc2!
35. Ce2 Bxd2
36. Ra1 Qd1
37. Cf2 Bxc8
38. Cxd1 Rxd1

0-1

EdTrice: Yes, GrosPaul is me who failed with my swindle due to a sneaky check on your part :-).

http://brainking.com/en/Tournaments?trg=8659&u=4398&trnst=0

Sorry everyone, you must rejoin this tournament to play for the free version of Gothic Vortex

http://brainking.com/en/Tournaments?trg=8694&trnst=0

Tell him to sign on tomorrow, I will look for him. P.S. Our board sales are up like 20%, what is going on?