Crafty Classic 2004 SE PB

[Michael Byrne]

I have commenced the effort to put forth my interpretation of the best of Crafty
for the year 2004.

This modified Crafty will contain my interpretation of the best of Crafty 19.xx
for the year 2004. It will have all the latest modified SE PB code, 4 new GM
personalities ( 28 GM personalities in total) with a personalized book for each
GM created that will play the openings that GM plays. So far, I have decided
to add Kramnik and Leko -- I'm undecided about the other 2 GM personalities.

Please let me know which other GM personalities you would like to see. They can
be past or present, it helps if they were/are near the top. I would prefer not
to add GMs under the age of 25 - Peter Leko just made it for my age requirement.

I am also considering Vishy Anand but feel free to submitt anyone you would
like to see.

The code will not be from any one Crafty. I had narrowed the base down to
between 19.12 and 19.8 -- and 19.8 won a 200 game tournament 61-40-99 (55%). I
believe these earlier versions are stronger than the current Crafty 19.17 (just
my opinion ). As a sanity check , I am now running this modified Crafty 19.8
(named Crafty Classic 2004 SE PB) against Crafty 19.17 . It is not only
modified with the SE/PB code - I have also taken snippets of code from 19.12 and
19.17 that I believe "help" Crafty. So it is in essence a modified Crafty with
SE/PB code but in standard personality it will be unlike any Crafty that exist
today. Hence, the name "Crafty Classic 2004 SE PB" Whether it is better or not
than Crafty 19.17 , I will let you decide.

So far, the score after 103 games (tc control game/5 with 3 second inc) Crafty
Classic is ahead of Crafty 19.17 48-17-38 (65%). After these short time control
tests , I will also run some longer games against Chess Tiger, Rebel 12 ,
Ruffian and Deep Sjeng.


Once the PC version is ready , I will work with the programmer who is now
getting Pocket PC Crafty ready and we will have two engines for the Pocket PC -
Pocket PC Crafty Classic and Pocket PC Crafty 19.17 SE PB in the same GUI.

All these engine are either free or will be free and the direct result of Bob
Hyatt making his Crafty source available for all.

Finally , the Crafty Classic source will also be available all when complete.

Anyone interested in Crafty Classic , please send me an email with the word
"include" in the subject heading to be one of the first to get a copy. The
current 200 subscriber do not need to re-apply - but if you did not receive
Crafty 19.17 SE PB via email, you may want to re-subscribe. I purge the list
regularly for any mail bounce backs.

For the source, send me an email with the word "source" in the subject heading
(it is not available yet but I will place you on the list). I will also post
when available and there will be download links.

Best,

Michael Byrme

[Naum]

I don't think it's a good idea to test different versions using short time controls.
It may easily happen that one version is losing short time control games, because it's slower, but those changes that make it slower also make it play better at long time controls.
Of course, your goal might be to make a better blitz engine, but I think it's much more rewarding to make a strong long time control engine.

Regards,
Alex

[Michael Byrne]

I agree , but I use shorter tc's for convenience. The best way to test for LTC is to play LTC. I have found STC reliable for idea worthiness - but not for absolute proof of ideas.

[Anonymous]

So far, I have decided
to add Kramnik and Leko -- I'm undecided about the other 2 GM personalities.

Please let me know which other GM personalities you would like to see. They can
be past or present, it helps if they were/are near the top. I would prefer not
to add GMs under the age of 25 - Peter Leko just made it for my age requirement.

I am also considering Vishy Anand
Michael Byrme

Anand is a must IMHO. Kramnik and Leko are of course
talented players :yawn:,
but I?d much prefer to have some masters, alive or not, whose style has made history.

Chigorin, to name one.

Telmo

[Uri Blass]

I don't think it's a good idea to test different versions using short time controls.
It may easily happen that one version is losing short time control games, because it's slower, but those changes that make it slower also make it play better at long time controls.
Of course, your goal might be to make a better blitz engine, but I think it's much more rewarding to make a strong long time control engine.

Regards,
Alex

Crafty19.17 is weaker than previous versions based on all tests at different time control and I do not remember a single test when it was stronger at long time control.

It was tested in the AEGT2 with bad results at long time control.

I think that in more than 90% of the cases changes that do the program significantly weaker at blitz also do the program weaker at long time control.

You seem to assume that speed is the only important factor in blitz.
I think that you are wrong and hiarcs is a slow searcher but is very good at blitz.

Uri

[Michael Byrne]

So far, I have decided
to add Kramnik and Leko -- I'm undecided about the other 2 GM personalities.

Please let me know which other GM personalities you would like to see. They can
be past or present, it helps if they were/are near the top. I would prefer not
to add GMs under the age of 25 - Peter Leko just made it for my age requirement.

I am also considering Vishy Anand
Michael Byrme

Anand is a must IMHO. Kramnik and Leko are of course
talented players :yawn:,
but I?d much prefer to have some masters, alive or not, whose style has made history.

Chigorin, to name one.

Telmo

I like that - Chigorin it is ..with Anand and those other twp players (yawn) ;>)