Author: Erik Madsen

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MadChess Blunders… Er, Wait

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I had a Frankenstein moment yesterday. I use the word “Frankenstein” in reference to MadChess. Meaning, I’ve used my powers of concentration to create this thing, a chess engine, by imagining, thinking, then writing code to “teach” it to play a game of chess. This thing becomes terribly powerful. It’s capable of playing the game I “taught” it with the strength of a super Grandmaster, far exceeding my abilities. While I’m glad I can use MadChess to analyze my games against Internet opponents (after the game is complete, of course), and rely on MadChess’ suggested improvements and variations (it is… Continue Reading

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Into The Void

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MadChess 3.1 participated in a tournament Graham Banks arranged, named Into The Void. This is MadChess 3.1’s debut tournament. As a fan of Black Sabbath, I must say I approve of the name of the tournament. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 1 Nawito 22.07 64-bit **** 1010 0½½1 1010 111½ 00½1 ½1½½ ½½½½ ½1½1 ½111 ½101 110½ 27.0/44 2 CM11th Archangel 0101 **** ½½01 ½½01 1½½½ ½11½ ½½0½ 110½ 10½1 ½½10 ½½11 101½ 25.5/44 3 Inanis 1.1.0 64-bit 1½½0 ½½10 **** ½½01 11½½ ½0½½ ½½10 ½½½0 ½110 ½101 10½½ 1011 24.0/44 517.25 4… Continue Reading

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Hans Niemann Is an Andy Kaufman-Like Character

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I posted the following message on TalkChess, a forum focused on chess engine programming. The topic is tangentially related to chess engine programming. Drama in the World of Chess Nineteen year-old Hans Niemann, unknown in the world of elite chess until very recently, sporting an improbably flat then steep rating progression, defeated World Champion Magnus Carlsen in a tournament game. Did Hans cheat? Did he receive computer assistance? Or did Magnus play poorly? My Thoughts (Posted on TalkChess) Hans Niemann strikes me as an Andy Kaufman-like character. You know, someone who gets off on people hating him, loves playing the… Continue Reading

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MadChess 3.1 Released

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I have released version 3.1 of my chess engine. I worked on the engine over the last year occasionally, when I had time in the evenings. Slowly, I’ve added about 100 Elo points of playing strength compared to the prior release. This release includes strength improvements achieved by Singular Move, Threat Evaluation, Pawn Structure Evaluation, Move Legality Performance Improvement, Logarithmic LMR Based on QuietMoveNumber and ToHorizon, and evaluation of piece mobility, king safety (including x-ray moves), and threats using Safe Squares. It also includes code quality improvements such as Color Agnostic Code, Removed Endgame King Safety Evaluation, Code Style Refactor… Continue Reading

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Banks 95th Amateur Series Division 7

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MadChess 3.0 participated in Graham Banks’ 95th amateur tournament in division 7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 1 Ceibo 0.9 64-bit **** ½½10 ½111 1½½1 1½1½ ½11½ 1½11 1111 01½1 1½½½ ½011 1½11 33.0/44 2 Nawito 22.07 64-bit ½½01 **** 1111 1½1½ 1½0½ 001½ 01½½ 1½1½ ½1½½ 10½1 001½ 1111 28.0/44 3 Lozza 2.4 64-bit ½000 0000 **** ½1½1 1½½1 ½011 110½ 10½1 01½½ 1½01 0111 1101 24.5/44 491.75 4 Delocto 200419 64-bit 0½½0 0½0½ ½0½0 **** 0½01 ½½1½ 1½0½ 01½½ ½1½1 1111 111½ 1101 24.5/44 484.75 5 Blunder 8.5.5 64-bit 0½0½ 0½1½… Continue Reading