MadChess 3.2 Released

I have released version 3.2 of my chess engine. The main feature in this release is a sophisticated limit-strength mode, including adjustments to chess knowledge, search speed, chance of erring or blundering, and severity of blunders. MadChess, in limit-strength mode, excludes moves it considers unreasonable (dumb moves even a chess novice wouldn’t play). I have extensively documented the settings and technical implementation of MadChess’ limit-strength mode in The MadChess UCI_LimitStrength Algorithm. I also provide a Limit-Strength FAQ. MadChess 3.2 is slightly stronger than the prior release. I estimate it has gained 60 rating points, climbing to roughly 2770 Elo at… Continue Reading

Never Resign!!

The Moral Lesson I love this video. We’ve all been there, so we can relate. We’ve all screwed up. You don’t have to play chess or even understand the rules of the game to know exactly how Alexandra Botez feels. Chess is a very difficult, humbling game. But that’s the point. If we only attempted to do what was easy, we never would grow and mature as chess players, as human beings. I love the raw energy of this video: Alexandra Botez’s obvious frustration. Her cathartic scream… Fuck!! How she wards off tilt and steels her nerves. Her determination to… Continue Reading

Testing Strength Reduction Parameters

I played an entertaining game against MadChess a few evenings ago. Prior to the game, I adjusted MadChess’ strength reduction parameters because I felt their values caused the engine to play too strongly for a given Elo rating. Perhaps my adjustments made the engine too weak. I’m using “feel”, a very unscientific process. Nevertheless, I enjoyed the game. I played white. MadChess played black, set to 900 Elo. Time control is blitz, 5m + 5s. The game began 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 g6 3.d4 d6 4.dxc5 Qa5+ 5.Nc3 Qxc5 6.Nd5 Qc6. Here I missed a tactic. Can you spot it? I… Continue Reading

Banks 96th Amateur Series Division 7

MadChess 3.1 participated in Graham Banks’ 96th amateur tournament in division 7. MadChess 3.1 won the tournament! 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 1 MadChess 3.1 64-bit **** ½0½½ 1½0½ ½½½½ 001½ 1½11 1111 ½011 11½1 ½½11 111½ ½½1½ 29.5/44 2 Inanis 1.1.0 64-bit ½1½½ **** 1½0½ ½1½½ 1001 ½½0½ ½01½ 111½ 01½1 ½1½1 ½111 ½½½1 27.5/44 3 Devel 4.0.2.3 0½1½ 0½1½ **** 0½½½ 010½ ½110 1½01 ½1½1 ½½½½ 1101 1½½½ 11½½ 25.5/44 4 Odonata 0.6.2 64-bit ½½½½ ½0½½ 1½½½ **** ½011 0½½½ 0101 1½½½ ½0½1 1½01 111½ 0011 24.5/44 5 Zevra 2.5 64-bit… Continue Reading

Chess.com Hans Niemann Report

Chess.com released their Hans Niemann Report. In the report, the Chess.com Fair Play Team concludes Hans Niemann “has likely cheated in more than 100 online chess games, including several prize money events.” Fair Play Team’s Report The report includes several tables and charts of statistical evidence, a description of Chess.com’s cheat detection system, along with numerous emails between the Fair Play Team and Hans. In his email responses to questions asked by the Fair Play Team, Hans confesses to cheating online. Regarding Hans’ game against Magnus Carlsen at the 2022 Sinquefield Cup, the Fair Play Team states, “In our view,… Continue Reading