Author: Erik Madsen

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A Game with All the Right Moves

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I played a blitz game recently on Chess.com where throughout the entire game I felt a sense of heightened alertness- that I just understood the position and was quickly spotting threats and tactics. My opponent made a number of weak moves (yes, we’re both patzers), but I felt I found all the right moves- the most forcing, decisive replies to capitalize on his mistakes. After the game I asked my chess engine, MadChess, to analyze the game and suggest where I could have played better. To my surprise, MadChess could not find any improvements in my play. OK, I thought,… Continue Reading

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Banks 48th Amateur Series Division 6

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MadChess 1.4 participated in Graham Banks’ 48th amateur tournament in division 6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 Bagatur 1.3a 64-bit ** 10 ½1 1½ 01 11 0½ 01 10 10 10 11 11 11 11 ½1 21.0/30 2 MadChess 1.4 64-bit 01 ** ½0 ½0 1½ ½1 ½½ 0½ 11 11 10 11 ½1 ½0 11 11 19.5/30 3 Fischerle 0.9.50 64-bit ½0 ½1 ** 1½ ½1 1½ 1½ 1½ 10 ½1 11 1½ ½0 01 01 10 19.0/30 4 Gibbon 2.60a 64-bit 0½ ½1 0½ ** 00… Continue Reading

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Odds Games Versus Elite Engines

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I read a Wikipedia article about the popularity of chess handicaps in the 18th and 19th centuries. Many master players would offer odds to a weaker player in order to convince them to wager money on a game of chess. I was curious how MadChess would fare in such conditions, so I created an opening book of typical chess odds, and ran a series of matches against elite engines. MadChess had “move” odds in all the games. That is, MadChess played white. Two move odds means MadChess played white and made two moves to open the game. The time control… Continue Reading

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Banks 47th Amateur Series Division 6

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MadChess 1.4 participated in Graham Banks’ 47th amateur tournament in division 6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 1 Jazz 721 64-bit **** 1½1½ 0011 11½½ ½11½ 0100 11½1 1010 1100 1111 1111 0½10 29.0/44 2 Waxman 2013 0½0½ **** 1½01 110½ ½111 0½1½ 0100 ½½01 ½110 1½½1 1001 1110 25.0/44 3 Maverick 0.51 64-bit 1100 0½10 **** ½½00 1010 1100 1011 1½1½ 1011 0½11 1½0½ ½110 24.5/44 4 Protej 0.5.8c 00½½ 001½ ½½11 **** 11½1 1000 0010 01½1 1½½1 0010 0111 ½½1½ 23.0/44 495.75 5 Mediocre 0.5 ½00½ ½000 0101 00½0 **** ½111… Continue Reading

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Banks 46th Amateur Series Division 6

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MadChess 1.4 participated in Graham Banks’ 46th amateur tournament in division 6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 Capivara LK 0.09b02c 64-bit ** 11 ½1 11 11 11 11 1½ ½1 1½ 11 11 11 11 11 1½ 27.5/30 2 MangoPaolaAjedrez 4.1 00 ** ½1 10 11 11 ½0 1½ 10 10 1½ ½1 ½½ 1½ 00 ½0 16.5/30 3 Gibbon 2.57a 64-bit ½0 ½0 ** 10 0½ ½1 1½ 10 1½ 01 10 ½0 1½ 10 11 ½½ 16.0/30 228.00 4 EveAnn 1.71a 00 01 01 ** 10… Continue Reading