Spectrofon #11 23 февраля 1995

Игры

Review - Chess Game for the "ZX-SPECTRUM".

          About B W O R



   Today we begin a review
with an article on chess
programs. It is no secret that
Spectrum of this periodical
topic was given to not very much
place. In our country, in publications, on Speccy, chess topics 
occupied one of the last places. Descriptions of individual 
programs - do not count. Moreover, that the translations 
company descriptions, published in various publications related 
to only controls, and in them, as

generally not addressed the question
about the power of that game and a program.



   Moreover, the Novice "ZX-SPECTRUM" and at the same
time fan of chess, studying
descriptions, it is concluded that the most powerful program 
Psi-chess: it is so written in the original

instructions, the translation of which was
first published in "ZX-REVIEW"
and then reprinted word for word, all the rest - from "500
games "" Solon "to" 500 games "" VA
PRINT ". Is it true that
Psi-chess is the strongest program? Which program is really 
worthy of attention chess - a spark gap? On these and other 
questions you will find the answers published today in the 
paper. 



  Stanislav V. Efimov, 1995.



  CHOOSE CHESS PROGRAM

              OR

    LEARN TO PLAY CHESS.



   When about eight years ago I got the first
Spectrum, is the first program
I saw a chess
program IS CHESS 48. Strictly speaking, Spectrum, I bought
solely for the sake of chess (who
would have thought, in some orgy of all this will go, in a 
positive sense, of course). 



   In those, now gone into
Nowhere, years, programs in Moscow
It was still quite a bit and find a program devoted to the same 
specific genre, it seemed almost impossible task. Now, when

similar problems do not exist
(At least in large cities), helpful salespeople ON
offer to your attention a lot
chess programs. And you certainly have a question: "What kind 
of program to choose?". As chess-gap, I hope

All of the following that will help
you make the right choice.



   Generally speaking, all chess
programs on the Spectrum (and not
only on the Spectrum at
least at present) use different algorithms busting moves, when, 
after the probable (possible) course received after the 
position is assigned a number (for example, a "strong" position 
is more important; "Strength", in this case is determined in 
favor of one side, turn which is the current). So

enumerates all possible in
the position moves. Program
should "discard" options, which are usually not reviewed
man - is doing a special algorithm, then these apparent 
position (obtained after possible moves) are sorted



descending order, were
obtained in the previous step some evaluation function (PF).
Then each of these positions (
sorted order) is taken not as the future, but as the current 
one, then takes the next likely move, but for position, which, 
by assumption, current, thus, of course, "color," for which 
"thinks" the program is reversed. Then recursively (Ie, time 
after time) repeated all the previous steps of the algorithm

(This creates a "tree position"). After a few steps
(This amount is called the "depth of view plies;
where interrupt recursion - one of the
tasks of the algorithm, usually associated with the time of the 
algorithm, and in some programs, you 

can define this value) the program "looks", which of the 
current positions of the most "Strong" (for "color," for which 
"thinks" program), after then on the "tree" position is defined 
recursively, what kind of progress (Out of position, which is 
now shown on the screen) led to

This last position. It
this course and makes the computer (for
the man who played with the program and does not know 
everything "outrage", which I tried to explain, it seems 
incredible that the computer can do

not the weakest stroke). Actually, the quality of the work of 
PF and depends on the power play the entire program Overall, 
because if UF assess the position for a long time, you do not 
have time for recursive 


Image of the following items (drops the "depth view"), and
if PF is fast and less
qualitatively, the meaning is lost
a greater "depth of view."
Therefore, for high quality games
needs to identify
reasonable compromise between the quality of PF and the depth 
of view. " Of course, the important role played by the power of 
the processor, memory, which he has (Describing a "tree 
position") and laid debut Library - (when the program is

Evaluate progress and take it from
memory: a program considered
people and not one - the so-called "experience time" played 
mass parties, who argue strength and wisdom of this move;

but in the history of chess known many examples when

applied the so-called "Debut new items", which argued the 
opposite, ie progress is not so strong as previously thought).



   Each writer is a chess program solves the above
problems in their own way - hence the different "strength" of 
the game program. Practically, I give first advice: if a little 
chess program debut Library (DB) - the program is weak or weaker

relative to the other programs,
which has a significant
DB (I do not know what it is connected, but it is also true for 
more powerful computers, compare, for example, M-Chess pro. 
V3.5 by Marty Hirsch 'Sandro Necchi

(Opening book) and a "heaped" on schedule, but has a much more 
modest, DB, 

Kasparov Gambit on IBM PC; however, some guesswork associated 
with this, I have). 


   One of the most famous "chess" people (probably the most
known) - Richard Lang, is already
countless years of experience in chess algorithms, it
"Peru" also belongs to the latter Genius 3, which recently won 
the current world champion Garry Kasparov. 


   One of the algorithms R. Lang 'and
realized in the program IS-Chess
(Cyrus I) firms Intellegent
Chess Software (that is
R. Lang had a hand, or rather
brain to create this program, you can learn from REMarki in
the original tape version
this program).



This program, in spite of such
far in 1983 - the year of its publication is, to put it mildly, 
not the weakest among all the other chess programs. Cyrus also 
boasts "nehily" chess set of tricks. So you can change level of 
the game from the first to eighth, set up on request

color fields boards, as well as color
figures (both white and black)
possible text output for the party
printer ribbon (floppy disk, in a normally diskovizirovannoy 
version), you can make a move back / forward on the protocol. 
If you think that your machine is too

long thought (speaking in Russian -
you are tired! wait a retaliatory move), slam on the key, and
IS-Chess will return you to the main


menu (just want to note that
last possibility is that
quite surprisingly, not all
chess programs). Enter your
turn to the computer
simple: using the cursor
you mark a field where
go your figure, then the field
in which you want to put
your figure - this possibility
is absolutely indispensable
for people with bad knowledgeable chess notation. 
Two-dimensional board - every 2x2 box familiarity. The absence 
of three-dimensional board absolutely does not spoil the 
overall impression of the program - two-dimensional figures are 
drawn soundly. Of the deficiencies (to be honest - not that it 
does not disadvantage the weakest program) can point out the 
impossibility of selecting the number of seconds that can 

spending program to think about his next move, and
the lack of hours. All
Services will not undertake to describe, but I will say that 
everything you might need - you will find ... 


   Programs Spectrum Voice
Chess (C. A. Thornton for Artic
Computing '82) (VC) and Turbo Chess
(C. A. Thornton for Keryan (UK)
Ltd. '84) (TC) - the twin brothers.
Exactly the same management, a service that, to put it mildly, 
does not shine. When you start ask: will play, analyze, 
position, or download delayed while playing game

(Key <T>), in the game you
have a keyboard to enter
your turn (by letter, type
E2-E4), which is certainly not the best option for people

bad knowledgeable "checkerboard layout, to the same DELETE 
(capsshift + 0) does not work - very inconvenient. Does not 
work as a function orientation of the boards (agree,

that see their pieces in front of a nice ...). Figure (here,
perhaps someone could argue), drawn (if it is
word can be used in relation to such figures) "angular." If you 
do not like the color in which the authors painted 2D-board and 
pieces, then, alas, have to endure: their choice is not 
provides ... Playing strength program should theoretically be 
different: should affect one (two years) "break"

between the creation of these programs,
However, in my opinion, these
Chess (Turbo Chess) with a large
stretch of the imagination be called Turbo.



And, while you choose the level of
by limiting the number of
seconds per move (Turbo
Chess), and enter Voice Chess
level (0-6), play a program
weak. In addition to high
levels in the Voice Chess sharply increases by thinking about 
one speed: more than one hour (or maybe

program "hangs"? .. sometimes
I do not have enough patience
wait a retaliatory move ...).


   Osnovnoe place (in the amount of memory, and as) in
Voice Chess occupy voice
"Digitalization", however, seems
CP Software firm is not too
tried to "sound" your
Digital Speech: F (ef) sounds
as "firm" and G (ji) as "chi."
In general, "it" somewhat "mumbled." Well enough about these two
programs ...

   Now I will discuss the program
Colossus Chess 4 (?) (C) 1986 by
M. Bryant (MOP). All the "Chess"
service, which is present in
the above programs, plus
three-dimensional board (two-dimensional
board is very good), color adjustment (plus Border, Color
can be set to full screen, but
not only on the board - large
"Plus" for people who have "important" monitors). Opportunity
installation of "control", for example,
2 hours and 30 minutes for 40 moves, and
well depth view plies (this mean that - see above). Also during 
the enumeration of possibilities, you can see how this is done. 
Service is good, but deal with all the features you can hardly, 
without a qualitative description. 



In terms of "chess of power can
say that the CC has a few
stronger VC 'TC, somewhere on the level of Cyrus I (I think
slightly weaker). Programs
Master Chess a 'Master Chess 2
by Psion Ltd '82 (MC) are different
only the presence of a chess clock in
one of the programs are rather weakly (again, I eased 
somewhat), DB is also not shine. Word Master in the name of the 
program probably reflects a desire by programmers, but, 
unfortunately, desire to remain desire ... Figures, a la TC'VC 
(who is who "Tore up" the schedule I do not know ... maybe it's 
some kind of Standard ?..), ie unimportant (although maybe 
someone else and enjoy), but you can choose other shapes. 



Understand the software and can be
no description: single-character clues everywhere - is 
immediately evident what action can be chosen.



   The Chess Player by
Quicksilva '82 distinguished by the presence
humor when some of your moves commented, according to the "Y
you have no chance! ", etc. Service
at the VC, including, again
the same figure. Progress is introduced
keyboard, a dash (E2-E4) program to supply itself, DELETE works 
as intended. Availability at least some DB, generally speaking, 
a big question. Power games (like the rest of Style) at Turbo 
Chess, ie weak. Gloomy, but true!