Author: Erik Madsen

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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

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Judit Polgár Crushes Magnus Carlsen

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I was up late last night playing chess online. Man, chess is a difficult game. It requires a humble attitude in order to accept losses and invest in the play and study time necessary to gradually improve. Which I’ve not done because I keep tinkering with my chess engine (a programming pursuit) instead of working on my game. Anyhow, after getting my ass handed to me online, I thought I’d spend time today to write a blog post about recent news that shocked the chess world. Last month, Magnus Carlsen was in Madrid, Spain where the Candidates Tournament was held.… Continue Reading

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Gandalf And The Spinning Blade

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MadChess 3.0 participated in a tournament Graham Banks arranged, named Gandalf And The Spinning Blade. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 1 Blunder 8.0.0 64-bit **** 0½10 ½111 ½½11 0001 1½½½ ½½1½ 10½½ ½½½½ 111½ 1011 ½11½ 27.5/44 2 CM9000 Enforcer 1½01 **** 000½ 1½½1 1010 1100 0½10 ½011 ½1½1 0½11 10½1 1½1½ 25.0/44 534.00 3 Gandalf 7 64-bit ½000 111½ **** ½0½0 ½½½1 ½00½ ½101 1111 1½0½ 11½1 1½10 0½1½ 25.0/44 531.00 4 Drosophila 1.6 64-bit ½½00 0½½0 ½1½1 **** ½10½ 0101 1011 000½ ½111 ½½10 1111 01½0 23.5/44 5 Zevra 2.5 64-bit… Continue Reading