STS [v10.0] -- Simplification

[Swaminathan]

Version 10 of the Strategic Test Suite series is now available for download.

* Consists of carefully selected 100 test positions on "Simplification"

* All of the questions in this test suite are selected by me and thoroughly verified by Dann Corbit through analysis with the help of top engines for hours. I initially selected about 190 problems and sent them to Dann, of which 100 has passed criteria. Dann then made the final selection.

Key Ideas:

1) Simplification: A strategy of exchanging pieces of equal value. Simplification can be used defensively to reduce the size of an attacking force. It can also be used by a player with an advantage to amplify that advantage or reduce the opponent's counterplay. Simplification is also used as an attempt to obtain a draw, or as an attempt to gain an advantage by players who are strong in endgame play with simplified positions.

2) Tests your engine's knowledge on initiatives, good trades, value of pieces, understanding of the position material-wise and positional-wise, and an ability to distinguish between good, average and bad pieces.

Download it! here:
http://sites.google.com/site/strategict ... lification

Thanks to David Dahlem, Pedro Castro, Howard Exner and others who reported bugs and tested out this version.

Test Suite release time: 13th of March, 2010
Swaminathan and Dann Corbit