Has anybody heard from him in awhile?

at http://www.chessbox.de/Compu/schachsmirf_e.html free testable including October.

Anencephal: With a small program I generated following:

first CRC positions
(00001 --) aqbbcnnrkr/pppppppppp/10/10/10/10/PPPPPPPPPP/AQBB CNNRKR w KQkq - 0 1
(00002 ok) qbbacnnrkr/pppppppppp/10/10/10/10/PPPPPPPPPP/QBBA CNNRKR w KQkq - 0 1
(00003 --) abbqcnnrkr/pppppppppp/10/10/10/10/PPPPPPPPPP/ABBQ CNNRKR w KQkq - 0 1
(00004 ok) qbbcnanrkr/pppppppppp/10/10/10/10/PPPPPPPPPP/QBBC NANRKR w KQkq - 0 1
(00005 ok) abbcnqnrkr/pppppppppp/10/10/10/10/PPPPPPPPPP/ABBC NQNRKR w KQkq - 0 1
(00006 --) qbbcnnrakr/pppppppppp/10/10/10/10/PPPPPPPPPP/QBBC NNRAKR w KQkq - 0 1
(00007 --) abbcnnrqkr/pppppppppp/10/10/10/10/PPPPPPPPPP/ABBC NNRQKR w KQkq - 0 1
(00008 --) qbbcnnrkra/pppppppppp/10/10/10/10/PPPPPPPPPP/QBBC NNRKRA w KQkq - 0 1
(00009 --) abbcnnrkrq/pppppppppp/10/10/10/10/PPPPPPPPPP/ABBC NNRKRQ w KQkq - 0 1
(00010 --) baqbcnnrkr/pppppppppp/10/10/10/10/PPPPPPPPPP/BAQB CNNRKR w KQkq - 0 1
(00011 --) bqabcnnrkr/pppppppppp/10/10/10/10/PPPPPPPPPP/BQAB CNNRKR w KQkq - 0 1
(00012 ok) bbqacnnrkr/pppppppppp/10/10/10/10/PPPPPPPPPP/BBQA CNNRKR w KQkq - 0 1
(00013 --) bbaqcnnrkr/pppppppppp/10/10/10/10/PPPPPPPPPP/BBAQ CNNRKR w KQkq - 0 1
(00014 ok) bbqcnanrkr/pppppppppp/10/10/10/10/PPPPPPPPPP/BBQC NANRKR w KQkq - 0 1
(00015 ok) bbacnqnrkr/pppppppppp/10/10/10/10/PPPPPPPPPP/BBAC NQNRKR w KQkq - 0 1
(00016 --) bbqcnnrakr/pppppppppp/10/10/10/10/PPPPPPPPPP/BBQC NNRAKR w KQkq - 0 1
(00017 ok) bbacnnrqkr/pppppppppp/10/10/10/10/PPPPPPPPPP/BBAC NNRQKR w KQkq - 0 1
(00018 --) bbqcnnrkra/pppppppppp/10/10/10/10/PPPPPPPPPP/BBQC NNRKRA w KQkq - 0 1
(00019 ok) bbacnnrkrq/pppppppppp/10/10/10/10/PPPPPPPPPP/BBAC NNRKRQ w KQkq - 0 1
(00020 --) bacbqnnrkr/pppppppppp/10/10/10/10/PPPPPPPPPP/BACB QNNRKR w KQkq - 0 1
(00021 ok) bqcbannrkr/pppppppppp/10/10/10/10/PPPPPPPPPP/BQCB ANNRKR w KQkq - 0 1
(00022 --) bbcaqnnrkr/pppppppppp/10/10/10/10/PPPPPPPPPP/BBCA QNNRKR w KQkq - 0 1
(00023 ok) bbcqannrkr/pppppppppp/10/10/10/10/PPPPPPPPPP/BBCQ ANNRKR w KQkq - 0 1
(00024 ok) bbcnqanrkr/pppppppppp/10/10/10/10/PPPPPPPPPP/BBCN QANRKR w KQkq - 0 1
(00025 ok) bbcnaqnrkr/pppppppppp/10/10/10/10/PPPPPPPPPP/BBCN AQNRKR w KQkq - 0 1
(00026 ok) bbcnqnrakr/pppppppppp/10/10/10/10/PPPPPPPPPP/BBCN QNRAKR w KQkq - 0 1
(00027 ok) bbcnanrqkr/pppppppppp/10/10/10/10/PPPPPPPPPP/BBCN ANRQKR w KQkq - 0 1
(00028 --) bbcnqnrkra/pppppppppp/10/10/10/10/PPPPPPPPPP/BBCN QNRKRA w KQkq - 0 1
(00029 ok) bbcnanrkrq/pppppppppp/10/10/10/10/PPPPPPPPPP/BBCN ANRKRQ w KQkq - 0 1
(00030 ok) bacbnnqrkr/pppppppppp/10/10/10/10/PPPPPPPPPP/BACB NNQRKR w KQkq - 0 1
(00031 ok) bqcbnnarkr/pppppppppp/10/10/10/10/PPPPPPPPPP/BQCB NNARKR w KQkq - 0 1
(00032 ok) bbcannqrkr/pppppppppp/10/10/10/10/PPPPPPPPPP/BBCA NNQRKR w KQkq - 0 1
...
21821 valid CRC arrays

SMIRF Engine: What is the real number of start positions?
in FRC I like to select the number myself, seems in CRC I should discard illegals myself.

Anencephal: well this additional rule has two reasons: a) to have more balanced starting arrays, b) to avoid a need for a 7-choice, if the position would be created by the use of traditional dice. 48000 is the number of possible CANDIDATES for starting positions, but only those could be selected with protected Pawns. SMIRF would do that for you. Or you could start a CRC game at BrainKing.

SMIRF Engine: Sorry, I didn't know the rule about queen and archbishop, so calculated possible start position to be 84000
I thought 48000 is number of valid starts, my first manual selection (760) was illegal

Hello,

at http://www.gothicchess.com/javascript_games.html

you can now replay the games forward/backward with the new Javascript utility. All of the animated games are now here too.

When someone have played any great games on GCL, you can send them to Ed.

Greetings

SMIRF Engine: Bug reporters, start your keyboards!

Anencephal: How did you get this number? SMIRF is selecting valid candidates among those 48000 numbers. Almost every second one would be illegal. Thus the selecting process is essential.

I have observed many others: 789 for example with Pawn-b........

considering this rule : All pawns must be protected by a friendly piece at the start position

isn't the start position '760' of SMIRF illegal? pawn 'e' isn't protected

Pythagoras: Well, there is an alternative method for experienced users. After having SMIRF installed once you could expand the file http://www.chessbox.de/Down/TestPackB.zip into your SMIRF program folder. This ZIP will contain the new non DLL parts of the project. Simply overwrite everything there. But be aware, that all is still beta. Version 1.21 probably will be released tomorrow. (P.S.: now it exists.) (P.P.S.: now 1.23.) (P³.S.: now 1.24.)
The DLLs are packed into a (probably) constant file http://www.chessbox.de/Down/ConstDLL.zip. This would enable you e.g. to install SMIRF onto a memory stick by expanding both ZIP files into one new folder.

Because is not convenient at all to download each version, uninstall the old and then installing the newer, can you invent a simpler method?
Also is the above procedure i'm doing the most easy? I mean, is there any other way of installing the newer versions......?

Pythagoras: a) SMIRF 1.21 is not yet sufficiently fast. But it will play your desired moves:
(P.S.: same is valid for version 1.20 ;-) )

01:42.2 (15.01=) +2.598 34...Cj4+ (=/=) 35.Ki1 Bg2 36.Nxf7 Bh3 37.Cxc5 Rxi3+ 38.hxi3 Cj3+ 39.Kh1 Cxj2+
01:39.7 (15.00-) +2.536 34...Cj4+ (=/=) 35.Ki1 Bg2 36.Nxf7 Bh3 37.Cxc5 Ci2+ 38.Kh1 Cxj2+ 39.Kg1 Cj1+
01:30.4 (14.01=) +2.817 34...Cj4+ (=/=) 35.Ki1 Bg2 36.Nxf7 Bh3 37.Cxc5 Ci2+ 38.Kh1 Cxj2+ 39.Kg1 Cj1+
01:29.4 (14.01+) +2.817 34...Cj4+ (=/=) 35.Ki1 Bg2 36.Nxf7 Bh3 37.Cxc5 Ci2+ 38.Kh1 Cxj2+ 39.Kg1 Cj1+
01:27.4 (13.02=) +2.561 34...Cj4+ (Cj5) 35.Ki1 Bg2 36.Nxf7 Bh3 37.Cxc5 Ci2+ 38.Kh1 Cxj2+ 39.Kg1 Cj1+
01:27.3 (13.02+) +2.561 34...Cj4+ (Cj5) 35.Ki1 Bg2 36.Nxf7 Bh3 37.Cxc5 Ci2+ 38.Kh1 Cxj2+ 39.Kg1 Cj1+
00:56.1 (13.02+) +1.418 34...Cj4+ (Cj5) 35.Ki1 Bg2 36.Nxf7 Bh3 37.Cxc5 Rxi3+ 38.hxi3 Cj3+ 39.Kh1 Cxj2+
00:53.1 (13.02+) +0.847 34...Cj4+ (Cj5) 35.Ki1 Bg2 36.Nxf7 Bh3 37.Cxc5 Rxi3+ 38.hxi3 Cj3+ 39.Kh1 Cxj2+
00:44.6 (13.00-) +0.785 34...Cj5 (=/=) 35.Nxf7 Bg2 36.j3 Cj4+ 37.Kj2 Ch3+ 38.Ki2 Rf8 39.Ne5 Rxf4
00:30.7 (12.01=) +0.927 34...Cj5 (Cj4+) 35.Nxf7 Bg2 36.j3 Cj4+ 37.Kj2 Ch3+ 38.Ki2 Rf8 39.Ne5 Rxf4
00:28.5 (12.01+) +0.927 34...Cj5 (Cj4+) 35.Cxc5 Bg2 36.Ki1 f6 37.Rg1 Cj3+ 38.Ki2 Cj4+ 39.Kj1 Bh3+
00:27.2 (12.01+) +0.642 34...Cj5 (Cj4+) 35.Cxc5 Bg2 36.Ki1 f6 37.Rg1 Cj3+ 38.Ki2 Cj4+ 39.Kj1 Bh3+
00:21.3 (11.03=) +0.499 34...Cj5 (Cj4+) 35.Cxc5 Cj4+ 36.Kj1 Rxi3 37.hxi3 Cxj2+ 38.Kxj2 Bh1 39.Rxh1 f6
00:20.8 (11.03+) +0.499 34...Cj5 (Cj4+) 35.Cxc5 Bg2 36.Ki1 Cj3+ 37.Ki2 Cj4+ 38.Ki1 Ch5 39.e4 Ch3+
00:16.1 (11.01=) +0.499 34...Cj4+ (=/=) 35.Ki1 Ch3+ 36.Ki2 Bg2 37.Cxc5 Cj4+ 38.Ki1 Ch5 39.e4 Ch3+
00:12.8 (11.00-) +0.960 34...Cj4+ (=/=) 35.Ki1 Ch3+ 36.Ki2 Bg2 37.Cxc5 Ch5 38.Ki1 Cxe5 39.fxe5 Rxi3+
00:09.8 (11.00-) +1.246 34...Cj4+ (=/=) 35.Ki1 Ch3+ 36.Ki2 Bg2 37.Cxc5 Ch5 38.Ki1 Cxe5 39.fxe5 Rxi3+
00:05.7 (10.01=) +1.389 34...Cj4+ (=/=) 35.Ki1 Ch3+ 36.Ki2 Bg2 37.Cxc5 Ch5 38.Ki1 Cxe5 39.fxe5 Rxi3+
00:03.2 (10.01+) +1.389 34...Cj4+ (=/=) 35.Kj1 Bg2 36.Cxc6 Bh3+ 37.Ki1 Ci2+ 38.Kh1 Cxj2+ 39.Kg1 Cj1+
00:02.7 (10.00-) +1.326 34...Cj4+ (=/=) 35.Kj1 Ch3 36.Ki2 Bg2 37.Cxc5 Ch5 38.Rd1 Cxe5 39.fxe5 Rxi3+
00:01.9 (10.00-) +1.658 34...Cj4+ (=/=) 35.Kj1 Ch3 36.Ki2 Bg2 37.Cxc5 Ch5 38.Rd1 Cxe5 39.fxe5 Rxi3+
00:01.3 (09.01=) +1.842 34...Cj4+ (=/=) 35.Kj1 Ch3 36.Ki2 Bg2 37.Cxc5 Ch5 38.Rd1 Cxe5 39.fxe5 Rxi3+
00:01.0 (08.01=) +1.414 34...Cj4+ (=/=) 35.Kj1 Ch3 36.Ki2 Bg2 37.Cxc5 Ch5 38.Rd1 Cxe5 39.fxe5 Rxi3+
00:00.6 (07.01=) +1.501 34...Cj4+ (=/=) 35.Kj1 Ch3 36.Ki2 Bg2 37.Cxc5 Ch5 38.i4
00:00.3 (06.02=) +2.026 34...Cj4+ (Ci5) 35.Kj1 Ch3 36.Cxc5 Cxh2+ 37.Ki1 Cxe2 38.Nxf7 Ri5 39.j4
00:00.3 (06.02+) +1.429 34...Cj4+ (Ci5) 35.Kj1 Ch3 36.Nxg4 Bf5 37.e4 Bxg4 38.Ri1
00:00.1 (05.00-) +1.111 34...Cj4+ (Ci5) 35.Kj1 Ci4 36.Ki1 j5 37.Nxf7 Cxi3+ 38.hxi3 Rxi3+
00:00.0 (04.03=) +1.551 34...Cj4+ (Ci5) 35.Kj1 Ci4 36.Ki1 j5
00:00.0 (02.06=) +2.334 34...Cj4+ (=/=) 35.Kj1 Rxi3 36.hxi3 Cxj2+ 37.Kxj2 Bh1

b) that behaviour mainly depends on the piece values.

c) SMIRF sees that advantage mostly in the form of a slight increase of positional evaluation, it is also related to b).

What i would like to see in future Smirf versions:
a)Play the 34...Cj4+ move and then 35...Bg2! in the below game.
b)Not play early in the opening Bxc6 or Bxh6 giving its Bishop for a Knight.
c)Stop exchanging a Chancellor or an Archbishop for a Rook and a Knight or Bishop, without seeing any combination that gains immediate advantage.....

Pythagoras: you can of course use that version, you want to test. But because SMIRF's development is going on, there will exist new versions each time I fixed some errors or I implemented new ideas. So in short there will be one with better fork handling and slightly improved speed (about 5%). Thank you very much for your tournament. I always take some experiences from that!

Smirf 1.19 has been updated to Smirf 1.20. Although updating engines in the middle of a tournament, is not an appropriate way of testing the programs, i will make this update. For any new updates i will first finish this tournament and then include the newer versions in a new one and compare the final results.....

Oh my, oh my! Smirf 1.20 blew it! In its game against G.V it had a winning position but it didn't
managed to find the winning move and not only this but it lost at the end.....The opening phase wasn't
the best for both and Smirf seemed a bit better. After some nice moves by Smirf, that GV didn't expect, Smirf took a small advantage but GV managed to equalize and it even thought it was slightly
better. After a good move by Smirf (25...Bd5!) followed by a nice plan to attack the white's King, GV started to worry and at move 34 thought it was losing. The only thing Smirf had to do was to find 34...Cj4+ and then after 35.Ki1 Bg2! white is clearly losing.....But it played some moves that was out of what game required, so it lost the advantage and at the and it lost the game too. After Smirf lost its attack, GV easily outplayed Smirf especially at the endgame. The opposite happened in the middlegame, but that was not enough for Smirf.
In the other game, although at the start Smirf didn't let me use my anti-comp strategy of: creating a strong quiet attack,let it prevail in the non-King side and then unlease my attack, i've managed to take advantage that its King was exposed and with a poisonous Rook sacrifice i've created an
unstopable attack, so i won......


Round 4
SM0.59 - Me = 0-1
G.V - SM1.20 = 1-0
ZoG bye....

Table after the 4th round out of 40:

PLAYER-|--ME-|--G.V--|-SM119-|-ZoG-|-SM059-| POINTS/GAMES

G.Vortex-|--------|++++++|1-------|1-------|1-------| 3.0/3.0

Me-------|++++++|--------|1-------|1-------|1-------| 3.0/3.0

Smirf1.20-|0-------|0-------|+++++|0-------|1-------| 1.0/4.0

ZoG------|0-------|0-------|1-------|+++++|--------| 1.0/3.0

Smirf0.59 |0-------|0-------|0-------|--------|+++++| 0.0/3.0

(1=win , 0=lose , ½=draw)


Next round 5:

Me - G.V
ZoG - SM0.59
SM1.20 bye......


[Event "Gothic Chess"]
[Site "CHESSBOX"]
[Date "2005.10.05"]
[Time "15:22:00"]
[Round "User Game ?"]
[White "G.V"]
[Black "SM1.20"]
[Result "1-0"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "rnbqckabnr/pppppppppp/10/10/10/10/PPPPPPPPPP/RNB
QCKABNR w KQkq - 0 1"]

1. f3 h5 {(11.01) +0.105} 2. Nc3 Nh6 {(11.01) +0.345} 3. d4 g6 {(11.01) +0.639}
4. Nh3 Nc6 {(10.08) +0.676} 5. d5 Bxc3 {(11.04) +0.957} 6. bxc3 Ne5 {(11.00)
+0.913} 7. g3 c6 {(10.00) +0.975} 8. dxc6 Nxc6 {(10.01) +0.976} 9. Bg2 Af6
{(10.01) +1.004} 10. Bxh6+ ixh6 {(13.00) +1.221} 11. Ae3 O-O {(11.19) +1.153}
12. Qd2 d6 {(10.05) +1.086} 13. O-O Cg7 {(08.22) +1.086} 14. c4 Ci6 {(09.19=)
+1.316} 15. f4 Be6 {(09.21) +1.525} 16. Cg1 Qa5 {(09.01=) +1.517} 17. Qxa5 Nxa5
{(12.01=) +1.538} 18. c5 Ag4 {(10.46) +1.744} 19. Axg4 hxg4 {(13.24) +1.479}
20. Nf2 dxc5 {(12.28) +1.343} 21. Cb1 a6 {(11.41) +1.343} 22. Ca3 Nc6 {(12.01)
+1.319} 23. Rhb1 Ra7 {(11.00) +0.992} 24. Bxc6 bxc6 {(12.01=) +0.943} 25. Nd3
Bd5 {(11.02=) +1.303} 26. Ne5 Kj8 {(11.30) +1.663} 27. c4 Be4 {(14.06) +2.238}
28. Rb6 Ri8 {(12.03) +2.010} 29. i3 Ci5 {(11.05) +1.848} 30. Rxa6 Ch3+
{(12.02=) +1.568} 31. Ki2 Cj4+ {(13.12) +1.714} 32. Ki1 Cj3+ {(13.09) +1.627}
33. Ki2 Rxa6 {(14.05) +0.534} 34. Cxa6 Cj6 {(14.01) +0.896} 35. Nd3 Bg2
{(12.00) +1.852} 36. Nf2 Cj4+ {(11.21) +1.187} 37. Kj1 Ci4 {(12.01) +1.076} 38.
Ki1 Ci5 {(13.34) +0.996} 39. Kj1 Cf5 {(12.02) +1.076} 40. Ca3 j5 {(11.26)
+0.781} 41. e4 Ch5 {(13.26) +0.812} 42. Ki1 Cj4 {(12.41) +0.812} 43. Ce3 Bh3
{(14.21) +0.629} 44. Nxh3 Cxh3+ {(15.02+) +0.408} 45. Ki2 h5 {(13.00) +1.311}
46. Cg2 j4 {(13.01=) +0.395} 47. a4 Ra8 {(13.02=) +0.260} 48. Ch4 Cxh4+
{(13.30) +0.133} 49. ixh4 Ra5 {(16.05) -0.191} 50. Kj3 f6 {(17.05) -0.485} 51.
Kxj4 Ra8 {(17.02) -1.370} 52. a5 Re8 {(15.08=) -1.665} 53. a6 Ki7 {(16.08=)
-2.688} 54. a7 Ra8 {(18.00) -2.862} 55. f5 gxf5 {(18.02) -2.816} 56. exf5 Kh6
{(19.00) -2.937} 57. j3 Ki6 {(19.02=) -3.134} 58. Ra2 Kh6 {(18.14=) -2.836} 59.
Ra1 Ki6 {(22.03) +0.000} 60. h3 Kh6 {(18.01) -2.947} 61. hxg4 hxg4 {(17.11)
-3.179} 62. Ki3 Kh5 {(17.03=) -3.210} 63. j4 Ki6 {(18.01) -3.474} 64. Ra6 Kj5
{(16.17+) -3.537} 65. h5 Ri8+ {(20.01=) -4.103} 66. Kj3 Ra8 {(22.01=) -4.708}
67. Ra2 Kj6 {(20.01=) -4.801} 68. Ki4 Ki7 {(19.13) -4.710} 69. Ki5 Kh7
{(21.01=) -5.048} 70. h6 Kg8 {(18.01) -8.576} 71. Ki6 1-0


[Event "SmirfGUI Computerchess Game"]
[Site "USER-403C8545D2"]
[Date "2005.10.05"]
[Time "17:36:24"]
[Round "?"]
[White "SM0.59"]
[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.g3 {(10.27) +0.196} d5 2.d3 {(11.33) +0.236} h6 3.h4 {(11.38) +0.463} Nj6
4.Nh3 {(10.40) +0.725} g6 5.c3 {(11.32) +0.625} Bg4 6.Qa4 {(10.00) +0.868} Bi6
7.c4 {(10.50) +0.969} c6 8.cxd5 {(10.52) +0.869} cxd5 9.Qb3 {(11.49) +0.936}
Cc7 10.Nc3 {(11.50) +0.884} e6 11.Bf4 {(10.53) +0.923} Cc5 12.Qa3 {(10.59)
+0.940} Ae7 13.Bf3 {(09.35) +0.940} Nh5 14.Bd2 {(09.55) +0.501} Bf6 15.g4
{(09.01) +0.731} Ng7 16.g5 {(09.51) +0.801} hxg5 17.hxg5 {(09.53) +0.674} Be5
18.Bxi6 {(10.18) +0.589} Nxi6 19.f4 {(10.46) +0.672} Bd6 20.Axc5 {(11.49)
+2.233} Bxc5 21.Qb3 {(13.42) +2.000} O-O 22.Qxb7 {(10.45) +2.598} Af5 23.Qxa8
{(12.51) +3.229} Rxh3 24.Nxd5 {(12.00) +1.938} Qh8 25.Ne3 {(11.15) +0.452} Ag3+
26.Kg1 {(14.01) -3.260} Axi2+ 27.Kf1 {(14.02) -4.148} Axj1 28.Qg2 {(14.18)
-5.169} Rh1+ 29.Kf2 {(15.02) -5.196} Qh4+ 30.Kf3 {(13.02-) -M~???} Rh3+ 31.Ke4
{(11.03-) -M~???} f5+ 32.gxf6 {(10.03-) -M~???} Rxe3+ 33.Bxe3 {(08.00?) +0.056}
Af5+ 34.Kf3 {(06.02-) -M~???} Bxe3 35.Qg1 {(17.33-) -M~???} Qh3+ 36.Qg3
{(02.00?) +1.369} Qxg3# 0-1


I should note that the above PGN, in order to be pasted into Smirf has to be "fixed" first, as the

Brainking posts-system breaks the line with the FEN......

Pythagoras: now there is a new Smirf Beta version 1.20 with a slightly improved behaviour, especially during the opening.

yes, quite interesting!

I am enjoying following this...

Round 3 continued with an easy win for me against Zillions of Games and a long game that ended with a win for the newer Smirf 1.19 against the older version Smirf 0.59. In this game SM0.59 played better the early middlegame after also a slighly better opening play, but SM1.19 managed to outplay it in the long run and get into a clear won endgame, that managed to win easily.......

Round 3
Me - ZoG = 1-0
SM1.19 - SM0.59Z = 1-0
G.V bye....

Table after the 3d round out of 40:

PLAYER-|--ME-|--G.V--|-SM119-|-ZoG-|-SM059-| POINTS/GAMES

Me-------|+++++|--------|1-------|1-------|--------| 2.0/2.0

G.Vortex-|--------|+++++|--------|1-------|1-------| 2.0/2.0

Smirf1.19-|0-------|--------|+++++|0-------|1-------| 1.0/3.0

ZoG------|0-------|0-------|1-------|+++++|--------| 1.0/3.0

Smirf0.59 |--------|0-------|0-------|--------|+++++| 0.0/2.0

(1=win , 0=lose , ½=draw)

Next round 4:

SM0.59 - Me
G.V - SM1.19
ZoG bye......

[Event "Gothic Chess"]
[Site "CHESSBOX"]
[Date "2005.06.09"]
[Time "22:37:36"]
[Round "User Game ?"]
[White "SM1.19"]
[Black "SM0.59"]
[Result "1-0"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "rnbqckabnr/pppppppppp/10/10/10/10/PPPPPPPPPP/RNB
QCKABNR w KQkq - 0 1"]

1. Nh3 {(11.01) +0.204} g6 2. g3 {(10.05)
+0.177} d6 3. c4 {(10.22) +0.231} h6 4. j4 {(10.02=) +0.398} c5 5. Nc3 {(10.16)
+0.396} Nc6 6. Bxc6 {(10.08) +0.654} bxc6 7. Af3 {(11.08) +0.483} Bd7 8. d3
{(09.13) +0.267} Bd4 9. Be3 {(09.43) +0.475} Bxe3 10. fxe3 {(11.01=) -0.243}
Rb8 11. Qa4 {(11.01) -0.167} Rxb2 12. Qxa7 {(10.35) -0.364} Cc7 13. Qa3
{(11.02=) -0.358} Cb7 14. Rb1 {(10.02=) -0.278} Rxb1 15. Cxb1 {(12.01) -0.805}
Cxb1+ 16. Nxb1 {(14.00) -1.028} Ng7 17. Nc3 {(12.01=) -1.229} Aj5 18. Rj3
{(11.03=) -1.194} g5 19. Ag2 {(13.00) -1.083} Ai4 20. Kg1 {(13.18) -0.979} g4
21. Nf4 {(13.01) -1.062} Axg2 22. Nxg2 {(13.01=) -0.997} Qb6 23. j5 {(13.01)
-0.795} O-O 24. j6 {(13.00) -0.742} i6 25. Nf4 {(12.02+) -0.632} i5 26. e4
{(12.01) -0.626} Ni6 27. Qc1 {(12.01) -0.605} Ng5 28. a4 {(11.08=) -0.598} Qa5
29. Nh5 {(12.01=) -0.314} Rb8 30. Qc2 {(11.01) -0.644} Kh7 31. Ni7 {(11.03=)
-0.575} Kh8 32. Nj5 {(12.01) -0.238} Kg7 33. Ri3 {(12.01=) -0.315} Be6 34. Qd2
{(11.15+) +0.001} Rb3 35. Rxi5 {(15.04) +1.714} Qxc3 36. Rxg5+ {(16.16) +1.592}
Kh7 37. Qxc3 {(19.00) +1.291} Rxc3 38. Rh5 {(19.00) +1.305} Ki6 39. i4 {(17.00)
+2.037} Ra3 40. Nxh6 {(16.08) +1.893} Rxa4 41. Nf5 {(16.01+) +2.085} Bxf5 42.
Rxf5 {(17.08) +2.437} Ra1+ 43. Kg2 {(20.01) +1.812} f6 44. Rf4 {(20.01=)
+2.478} Re1 45. Rxg4 {(19.11) +2.625} Rxe2+ 46. Kh1 {(18.03+) +2.121} Kh7 47.
Rh4+ {(17.01=) +1.862} Ki6 48. Rh8 {(17.01=) +2.033} Rd2 49. Re8 {(17.03)
+1.905} Rxd3 50. Rxe7 {(17.06) +1.710} Kxj6 51. Kg2 {(16.12=) +1.826} Rd4 52.
Re6 {(16.13) +2.010} Ki7 53. h4 {(16.01) +2.201} Rxc4 54. Rxd6 {(17.01=)
+2.687} Rc2+ 55. Kh3 {(17.01) +3.260} Re2 56. Rxf6 {(17.02) +3.331} Rxe4 57. i5
{(18.02+) +3.673} Re1 58. Rxc6 {(17.01) +3.886} Rh1+ 59. Kg4 {(18.00) +3.948}
Rc1 60. h5 {(16.01) +4.095} Rc4+ 61. Kg5 {(17.01) +4.462} Ra4 62. Rxc5 {(16.11)
+4.718} Ra7 63. Rc8 {(16.01) +5.610} Rg7+ 64. Kh4 {(18.00) +6.050} Ra7 65. g4
{(16.00) +6.027} Kh7 66. Rj8 {(15.02+) +5.841} Ki7 67. Rb8 {(16.00) +6.080} Kh7
68. Re8 {(15.10) +5.979} Rd7 69. g5 {(16.01) +6.554} Rd4+ 70. Kg3 {(17.00)
+6.632} Rd5 71. Kg4 {(17.01) +6.733} Rd4+ 72. Kf5 {(18.01) +7.164} Rd5+ 73. Kf6
{(18.01) +7.335} Rd6+ 74. Kf7 {(19.01) +10.87} Rd7+ 75. Kf8 {(19.03=) +16.30}
Kh8 76. g6 {(21.01=) +18.29} Rg7 77. Rd8 {(21.05) +22.00} Rg8+ 78. Ke7
{(22.01=) +M~013} 1-0


I should note that the above PGN, in order to be pasted into Smirf has to be "fixed" first, as the Brainking posts-system breaks the line with the FEN......

Pythagoras: you have started an interesting testing approach! It has already helped me to identify a bug. So I wonder for what I should hope - at least to find more bugs?

Unfortunatelly i didn't managed to finish the 3 round, but this will be done tomorrow. I've played only 1 game: Smirf 0.59 - Gothic Vortex = 0-1 That was an easy win for Vortex.........

Round 2
ZoG - SM1.17 = 1-0
SM0.59 - G.V = 0-1
ME bye....


Table after the 2nd round of 40:

PLAYER |POINTS/GAMES

G.Vortex | 2.0/2.0

Me          | 1.0/1.0

ZoG        | 1.0/2.0

Smirf1.17| 0.0/2.0

Smirf0.59| 0.0/1.0

Pairings for Round 3:
SM1.19 - SM0.59 (There will be an update on Smirf 1.17 promoting to 1.19 version)
Me - ZoG
G.V bye......


[Event "SmirfGUI Computerchess Game"]
[Site "USER-403C8545D2"]
[Date "2005.10.03"]
[Time "22:34:08"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Smirf 0.59"]
[Black "Gothic Vortex Gold-I"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Annotator "George Tsavdaris"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "rnbqckabnr/pppppppppp/10/10/10/10/PPPPPPPPPP/RNB
QCKABNR w KQkq - 0 1"]

1. Nh3 {(00.00?) +0.062} d6 2. d3 {(00.00?) -0.060} Nh6 3. g3 {(13.18) +0.225}
Nc6 4. Bxc6 {(11.14) +0.340} bxc6 5. Kg2 {(12.00) +0.290} g6 6. Af3 {(12.37)
+0.292} d5 7. c3 {(11.51) +0.292} Bg4 8. Ag1 {(13.01+) +0.336} Bf6 9. f3
{(11.37) +0.639} Be6 10. Qa4 {(12.01) +0.729} Cd6 11. Ac5 {(11.57) +0.802} Cb5
12. d4 {(11.73) +0.778} Bxh3+ 13. Kxh3 {(12.04) +1.090} Qc8+ 14. Kg2 {(13.03)
-0.018} Qxi2 15. Ci1 {(12.53) -0.043} Qf5 16. h4 {(11.16) +0.042} Cb8 17. b3
{(10.34) +0.062} i6 18. j3 {(09.55) +0.729} Ai7 19. Ci5 {(11.54) +0.696} Aj5+
20. Kh2 {(12.06) +0.618} O-O 21. Cxf5 {(12.61) +0.618} Nxf5 22. Bf4 {(12.50)
+0.521} Nd6 23. Nd2 {(10.49) +0.438} h6 24. Ad3 {(10.39) +0.289} Cb6 25. Qa5
{(11.32) +0.377} a6 26. Rji1 {(10.01+) +0.481} Rh7 27. Ab4 {(09.63) +0.676} Cb7
28. Qa4 {(11.55) +0.910} Nb5 29. e4 {(09.40) +1.119} g5 30. Be5 {(10.21)
-0.709} Bxe5 31. dxe5 {(12.47) -1.037} gxh4 32. Axe7 {(12.47) -1.201} hxg3+ 33.
Kxg3 {(14.03) -1.272} Rg7+ 34. Kf2 {(14.04) -2.519} Ah3+ 35. Ke3 {(14.02)
-2.555} Rg2 36. Raf1 {(12.18) -3.062} Nxc3 37. Rxi6+ {(11.19) -4.776} jxi6 38.
Qxc6 {(12.44) -6.300} d4+ 39. Kxd4 {(14.01) -6.062} Ne2+ 40. Kc4 {(16.04-)
-M~???} Ca5+ 41. Kb4 {(14.02-) -M~???} Cxa2+ 42. Kc5 {(12.02-) -M~???} Ae6+ 43.
Qxe6 {(10.00?) -6.523} Ca5+ 44. Kb4 {(08.00?) -6.523} Cb5+ 45. Kc4 {(06.02-)
-M~???} Cc3+ 46. Kb4 {(04.00?) -6.513} a5+ 47. Ka3 {(04.00?) -5.921} Cc2+ 48.
Ka4 {(02.00?) +1.259} Nc3# 0-1

I should note that the above PGN to be pasted into Smirf it has to be "fixed" first, as the Brainking posts-system breaks the line with the FEN......

Pythagoras: Well, I have erased a bug, which enabled bad values to be accumulated in the cache. Thus there is a new beta 1.19.

Oops yep, 160 MB was the setting.....

Pythagoras: I have tried it with the initial low cache setting ... the cache size you mentioned is not possible in 1.17, check it within the options menu.

AMD 3800+ 2.4 GHz....
256 MB hash........

Replaying the game with Smirf 1.17 i can't reproduce moves: 19...Bd7 , 21...a6.
Whhich moves you can't reproduce.......?

Pythagoras: I cannot have replayed those game moves. Could you please tell me, what is your processor, speed and the used cache size?

Pythagoras: I would be curious to see if SMIRF does any better with the same moves against ZoG given more time. Could you try that?

Round 2
ZoG - SM1.17 = 1-0
SM0.59 - G.V = will follow tomorrow along with 3 round........
Me bye....

ZoG - SM1.17 = 1-0
This game came as a surprise to me partly because although at one moment Smirf 1.17 seemed it will take the win, it finally lost, but mainly because i had highly overestimated its strength and this game showed to me that Smirf has a long way to travel before it can become the way i have imagined it was..........

3 VERY IMPORTANT things:

1)Smirf once again (like in its game on the GC forum with Gothic Vortex) gave one of its major pieces for a combination of 2 minor pieces. Specifically it gave its Chancellor for a Rook and a Bishop. As Ed Trice said and i completely agree, this exchange is completely wrong if there are no immediate advantages. I definitely advice Reinhard to give a penalty for such an exchange, if there is no tactical trick in the horizon that gains immediate advantage.......

2)Smirf even after having 2 Rooks against a Rook and a Chancellor of ZoG, it evaluated the position as unclear or even at some moments as its advantage!!!!!!!!Not a really trustworthy evaluation......

3)The time control can be characterized as a rather rapid game or even blitz game, so as Reinhard has already said about Smirf, having problems with non-slow controls, this is definite "excuse"
for Smirf for answering the bad play after one point. But it's definitely no excuse for the above
2 things i mentioned........Slow or blitz, even thinking to give a C for a R+B without an immediate gain, but for stretegical reasons, is completely wrong.....And having an drawing evaluation in a game you have 2R versus R+C is again completely wrong.......

Table after the half 2 round:

PLAYER |POINTS/GAMES

Me          | 1.0/1.0

G.Vortex | 1.0/1.0

ZoG        | 1.0/2.0

Smirf1.17| 0.0/2.0

Smirf0.59| 0.0/0.0


Tha only game played:

[Event "Gothic Chess"]
[Site "CHESSBOX"]
[Date "2005.06.09"]
[Time "22:37:36"]
[Round "User Game ?"]
[White "ZoG"]
[Black "SM1.17"]
[Result "1-0"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "rnbqckabnr/pppppppppp/10/10/10/10/PPPPPPPPPP/RNB
QCKABNR w KQkq - 0 1"]

{The time limit has been passed.} 1. Af3 Nc6 {(11.00) +0.020} 2. Nc3 Nh6
{(11.07) +0.180} 3. Nh3 g6 {(10.14) +0.248} 4. d3 Bf6 {(10.04=) +0.323} 5. Nd5
d6 {(10.01) +0.068} 6. Nxf6 Axf6 {(11.01=) +0.049} 7. Ag5 Ag4 {(10.26) +0.188}
8. Bf4 O-O {(11.01) +0.438} 9. f3 Ai6 {(10.47=) +0.417} 10. d4 Axg5 {(12.01)
+0.776} 11. Bxg5 Ni4 {(11.25) +0.895} 12. Bi3 h5 {(11.23) +0.909} 13. j3 h4
{(11.02=) +0.645} 14. jxi4 hxi3 {(11.06) +0.645} 15. hxi3 e5 {(10.31) +0.526}
16. d5 Nd4 {(11.01) +0.799} 17. e3 Nf5 {(12.38) +0.901} 18. Ce2 Qxi3 {(10.25)
+2.036} 19. i5 Bd7 {(10.02=) +2.207} 20. Kf2 Qf6 {(09.01) +2.426} 21. Qd3 a6
{(09.01) +2.563} 22. Qe4 Qi3 {(09.01) +2.465} 23. Rj3 Qh4+ {(12.00) +2.305} 24.
g3 Qxe4 {(12.00) +1.982} 25. fxe4 Ng7 {(13.00) +1.620} 26. Bf3 Cf6 {(11.19)
+1.347} 27. Kg2 Nh5 {(12.01) +1.485} 28. i4 Ni3+ {(13.14) +2.030} 29. Rxi3 Rxh3
{(15.00) +2.082} 30. Cf2 Cxf3 {(14.00-) +2.253} 31. Cxf3 Rxi3 {(16.17) +0.000}
32. Cxf7 Ri2+ {(15.29) +0.000} 33. Kf3 Bh3 {(16.01) +0.000} 34. Cg7+ Kj8
{(19.01) +0.000} 35. Ch7+ Ki8 {(18.00?) +0.000} 36. Cxh3 Rf8+ {(16.03) +1.241}
37. Kg4 Rxi4+ {(14.25) +0.628} 38. Kg5 Rxe4 {(14.16) +0.763} 39. g4 Rc4
{(13.00-) +0.576} 40. Ch2 Rg8 {(13.15) +0.000} 41. b3 Rc3 {(14.22) +0.249} 42.
Ce2 Rc5 {(16.00) -0.797} 43. Rd1 Kj8 {(13.01) -0.038} 44. e4 Ki8 {(13.01)
+0.078} 45. Kf6 g5 {(12.23) -0.644} 46. Rh1 c6 {(14.04) -0.912} 47. Ke6 cxd5
{(14.10) -1.059} 48. Kxd6 Rc6+ {(15.01) -1.443} 49. Kxd5 Rgc8 {(14.08) -1.961}
50. c4 Rc5+ {(14.01) -2.115} 51. Ke6 b5 {(13.11) -2.203} 52. Cd2 bxc4 {(15.01=)
-1.715} 53. bxc4 Rxc4 {(14.06) -1.891} 54. Kxe5 Re8+ {(14.20) -1.883} 55. Kf5
Rc5+ {(16.01) -2.111} 56. Kg6 Rce5 {(14.16) -1.828} 57. Rf1 Rg8+ {(15.01)
-2.354} 58. Kf6 Ree8 {(16.00) -2.020} 59. e5 Ref8+ {(15.15) -2.020} 60. Ke6 Rd8
{(15.02) -2.128} 61. Cb1 Rde8+ {(13.18) -2.104} 62. Kf5 Ref8+ {(14.05=) -2.603}
63. Ke4 Rb8 {(14.01) -2.811} 64. Cc3 Rb4+ {(13.01=) -2.522} 65. Kf5 Rf8+
{(12.16) -2.629} 66. Kg6 Rg8+ {(15.16) -2.802} 67. Kf7 Rbb8 {(15.00) -2.962}
68. Rf6 a5 {(14.00) -3.012} 69. e6 Rbf8+ {(15.01=) -3.733} 70. Ke7 Rd8 {(14.15)
-4.354} 71. Rf5 Rde8+ {(13.01) -4.199} 72. Kf6 Ref8+ {(14.11) -5.020} 73. Ke5
Rb8 {(15.02=) -6.872} 74. e7 j6 {(13.22) -5.497} 75. ixj6 ixj6 {(13.00-)
-9.127} 76. Ci3+ Kj8 {(14.03) -46.37} 77. Ci6+ Kj7 {(13.00?) -18.19} 78. Cd6
Rb5+ {(16.25) -37.10} 1-0

I should note that the above PGN to be pasted into Smirf it has to be "fixed" first, as the Brainking posts-system breaks the line with the FEN......

jolat: because SMIRF consists of two parts (GUI + Engine) there are different version numbers for both. The version number of the Engine is displayed in the caption of the GUI, the version of the GUI could be found via Help -> About ...

I download from http://www.chessbox.de/Compu/schachsmirf_e.html the SMIRF Beta Download.

And that was before 4-5 days......

But you don't have to worry. You have the same! I just used as a version NOT this shown in the "about" box but that in the starting page that says: Ver. BC 117. My "about" says what your about says.....

SMIRF Engine:
Thanks but this version is only the 1.1.1-0252 Beta
Pythogoras say that he tests a version 1.1.7?

jolat: the beta is always subject to change. you will find a current beta to be downloaded at http://www.chessbox.de/Compu/schachsmirf_e.html

Pythagoras:
You quote a version Smirf 1.17 beta.
Since the site of Smirf, the last version that I downloaded is the 1.1.1
Can you say to me how you obtained this version 1.1.7 ?

WhiteTower: You are wrong. Castling is a well defined process. To do it in a performant way (generating / executing) needs a matching environment and data structure. SMIRF is able to also support Fischer castlings in 8x8 and 10x8, also symmetrical castling like in Janus Chess already is supported. But the inverse castling of MBC does not match into those optimized structures. Remember, in SMIRF there is only ONE engine flexibly able to play a lot of 8x8 and 10x8 variants. If performance would be irrelevant, including new variants might be easy. But such is not the current challenge.

I actually argue for the SIMPLE solution, to play MBC the mirrored way, because that fits into SMIRF's structure. So the problem could easily be solved by changing the point of view. Otherwise you will have to define also new types of FEN and PGN, to make MBC games persistant.

SMIRF Engine: Sorry to butt in, but if your program is even half well-structured, no new code introduction should affect any core functionality... or your core needs redesigning! :)

I'm running a small double-double Round Robin Gothic Chess tournament, with the following participants:

Gothic Vortex Gold = G.V
Hash= 256 MiB
Time = 30 seconds per move
Book= ON

Smirf 1.17 beta = SM1.17
Hash= 265 MiB
Time= 30 seconds per move

Zillions of Games = ZoG
Time= 30 seconds per move

Smirf 0.59 beta = SM0.59
Hash = 256 MiB
Time= 30 seconds per move

Me = Me
Time= 40/20' + 40/20' + 20' (around 30 sec/move)

On every series of rounds, every player will play against any other with black and with white.
There will be 4 series. Every serie will have 10 rounds. Every player will play 32 games, 16 with white and 16 with black.

Round 1

G.V - ZoG = 1-0
SM1.17 - Me = 0-1
SM0.59 Bye.....

Below is the game of me against Smirf 1.17:


[Event "Gothic Chess"]
[Site "CHESSBOX"]
[Date "2005.06.09"]
[Time "22:37:36"]
[Round "User Game ?"]
[White "Smirf 1.17"]
[Black "Me"]
[Result "0-1"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "rnbqckabnr/pppppppppp/10/10/10/10/PPPPPPPPPP/RNB

QCKABNR w KQkq - 0 1"]

1. Nh3 {(12.01) +0.177} g6 2. g3 {(11.00) +0.177} h6 3. f4 {(10.05) +0.716} d6
4. d4 {(10.01) +0.710} Bf6 5. Bf3 {(11.00) +0.517} Ah7 6. j4 {(09.02+) +0.485}
Cg7 7. e4 {(09.10+) +1.183} e6 8. e5 {(10.43) +1.915} Be7 9. Nc3 {(08.39)
+1.809} c6 10. a4 {(10.08) +2.324} Nj6 11. exd6 {(08.25) +1.985} Bxd6 12. Rj3
{(09.43) +1.755} Nd7 13. Ri3 {(09.01) +1.866} i6 14. f5 {(08.34) +1.866} Cxf5
15. Ae3 {(10.01=) +1.600} g5 16. Ne4 {(10.01) +1.546} Be7 17. Axf5 {(09.21)
+1.546} exf5 18. Nc3 {(10.40) +0.903} Nf6 19. Ce5 {(10.03=) +0.490} Bd6 20. Ce2
{(10.06) +0.146} Njh5 21. Rj3 {(10.18) -0.630} Kg7 22. i4 {(09.03) +1.374} Re8
23. Cg2 {(10.39) +1.404} g4 24. ixh5 {(11.39) +1.273} Nxh5 25. Be2 {(11.01=)
+1.533} Aj6 26. Nj2 {(11.01+) +1.701} Qc7 27. Qd3 {(08.17) +2.621} Re6 28. j5
{(09.01) +2.750} Ai5 29. jxi6 {(11.01=) +2.053} Axj3 30. ixj7 {(10.30) +2.245}
Bd7 31. Bxg4 {(09.22) +1.864} fxg4 32. Qi8 {(11.00) +1.581} Bxg3 33. hxg3
{(10.31) +0.000} Nxg3+ 34. Kf2 {(12.00-) -0.143} Rf6+ 35. Bf4 {(12.01=) -2.121}
Rxf4+ 36. Kg1 {(12.00) -1.801} Ni2+ 37. Cxi2 {(14.01) -1.230} Axi2+ 38. Qxi2
{(14.00) -1.541} Qd8 39. Qi7+ {(11.27) -1.530} Kg6 40. Ne2 {(11.39) -1.620} Rf3
41. Qi4+ {(10.33) -2.157} Kh7 42. Qj5+ {(13.00) -2.782} Kg7 43. Qe5+ {(12.11)
-3.773} Kg6 44. Nh1 {(12.39+) -4.119} Qg5 45. Ra3 {(13.02) -4.463} Qxe5 46.
dxe5 {(15.12) -6.542} Rxa3 0-1

Round 2 will follow tomorrow......

Walter Montego: as I already have tried to explain, SMIRF is only able to play the mirrored MBC array, because of the intended unorthodox castling. I do not intend to implement a third method of castling yet, because that would affect very central parts of the program.

SMIRF Engine: Fencer says he's going to add Embassy Chess. Will you add it to SMIRF without having to play it mirrored imaged because of the castling difference?

andreas: thank you, Andreas, for your feedback! SMIRF is not designed to play Blitz well. It should develop positional ideas and therefore needs some time for a good answer. But technically it plays Blitz, too. I have read your suggestions, there will be an analyse mode soon. You will have noticed, that SMIRF is always making a sort of multivariant modus by its move-pair iterative deepening. If a second best move seems to be about as good as the best one, then in the PV it will follow the best move in "()". SMIRF GUI + Engine is still a one man project. So it will need time to enrich the package with new elements.

Reinhard: I played with Smirf several Blitz games in Janus, CRC and Bird's chess and two draws were the only I could achieve. I hardly hit any problems, it hang once, but there were no other serious problems. There are certainly some features which I miss in Smirf GUI:
* menu item "Resign" (I rarely want to play until checkmate)
* "Analyze" mode, which would allow me to play with myself (analize game) and Smirf engine would run in backround with infinite search time, suggesting the best moves
* In position editor selector of white/black piece set is tied with specifing which side moves after editing done. It would be better to separate this.
* It would be nice to have a collection of .pgn game for different chess variants supported by Smirf. Especially Janus chess games played by chess grandmasters would be interesting if you manage to find them (two games by Yusupov and Leko one can find on http://www.janusschach.de)

Pythagoras: what should I say? I am not a lawer. In any case Smirf will not automatically produce a GC starting array without having a GC license. Thus the GC button will be disabled then, too.

I assume that creating a starting Gothic Chess X-FEN in the variants.PGN and matching Smirf against G.V and posting the results is not something illegal right.......? I mean making Smirf play Gothic Chess with a indirect way, is not something illegal right.....?

Pythagoras: Actually a GothicChess key could not be published generally, before agreements with Ed Trice will have been made. But those things are in progress, so I hope.

But in a VARIANTS.PGN attached to the current beta there is a loadable alternative MBC (Embassy), but only in mirrored view because of its unusual original castling. Maybe it also could be an interesting starting array.

Now it works..........!
Only my old Gothic Chess key for playing Gothic Chess too doesn't work. Do you have any key to let it play against Gothic Vortex and Zillions........?

Replace beta keys by

User=Test Smirf free until 2005/10/31
KeyGUI=6c5747c2 5917bb40
KeyEngine=e207f259 d58a36f3

and give me some feed back - thank you.

PS: Download from http://www.chessbox.de/Compu/schachsmirf_e.html

Pythagoras: I hope to have that fixed until tomorrow.

Concerning Gothic and Janus Chess: Smirf does not support an opening library yet. Thus a learning opponent will outperform SMIRF soon. It actually is optimized for CRC and Chess960.

I have installed newer Smirf beta on a clean interface(never installed any Smirf before) and faced the problem Walter and others describe. No matter what time i set per move for Smirf to play, it plays in 1-2 seconds.........
So it's not a matter of INI files but it is general. Smirf beta has a bug not allowing searcch of more than 1-2 seconds....

And that's of cource the reason for losing against Zillions. From 0.55 beta Smirf was already crushing Zillions. So now, current version should be able to perform around 90%+ against Zillions.......

I should note that current Gothic Vortex perform around 98%+ against Zillions....

Pythagoras: Well, everybody is invited to participate the beta testing. At http://www.chessbox.de/Compu/schachsmirf_e.html there is a download possibility. There will be in short a new beta version again testable free and unrestricted during October. But the problem is, that several people seem to have difficulties to delete previous Smirf's INI files before installing the new beta. Smirf cannot delete that file itself, because it would later contain the personal key, which should be preserved. I am thinking for a solution to make it more fail save.