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[JonP01]

Hi Steve,

The first QGD position is one of the classic tests Cameron and I have used over the years to determine a minimal level of computer competancy. By that I mean a machine that plays passable chess should not really fall for that sort of very basic thing. Even my most basic 4K machine (Star Beryl) declines the pawn after less than a minute's thought.

And I distinctly remember testing that very position out in Peter's shop years ago and ringing Cameron to tell him the machine did not fall for it. I would not even have brought one of the machines home with me that day if it had failed this most basic of tests. So I remain mystified. I have tried this position with both the P10 modules and P11 modules and various iterations of level, "deep" and "strategy". It falls for it regardless.

I am back at Peter's on Thursday and I am going to test the same unit I tested several years ago. Since Peter tells me they all came from the same batch, then the possibilities are that I was thinking of another machine (but I don't think I was), mine is somehow faulty, or there is some configuration I am missing. But since I tested the one in the shop at default settings (I did not know how to change the settings at the time) then I am not sure that has anything to do with it.

I'm back home this afternoon, so I am going to relax, have a cup of coffee, and give it another go. I would love for there to be a simple explanation for all of this. Perhaps things will be a little clearer on Thursday. If I get the same results, then clearly I have my wires crossed about machines, test positions and test results.

Disappointing holz debut regards

Jonathan