Hans Niemann Is an Andy Kaufman-Like Character

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

Judit Polgár Crushes Magnus Carlsen

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

MadChess 3.0 Beta 4b7963b (Remove Aspiration Windows)

When analyzing a Carlsen versus Vachier-Lagrave game, I noticed MadChess 3.0 Beta struggling to find Magnus Carlsen’s crushing 23rd move, d6, in the following position. In the engine output displayed by the Hiarcs Chess GUI, I noticed MadChess kept restarting its search of ply 18. It indicated it was searching the first move (of 47 legal moves), second move, third move, etc… then would restart searching the first move again, still on ply 18. It restarted searching the first move of ply 18 numerous times. I suspected this was due to search instability caused by aspiration windows: searching a window… Continue Reading

Taking A Break From Chess Programming, Not Chess

I am taking a break from chess programming. Recently I started a new job. The job is in the same field I’ve been in for fifteen years (software development), but will be more technically challenging. Any programming I do in the near future will be devoted to work assignments. I am not, however, taking a break from chess. I am following the Anand – Carlsen World Championship match closely. Having Scandinavian blood, I am rooting for Magnus Carlsen. I intend to analyze the games with my chess engine and with Komodo, my favorite world-class chess engine. I’m interested to know… Continue Reading