TalkChess.com

[Mark Lefler]

Most programs I have seen seem to extend checks exactly one full ply. Some also extend one reply to checks another full ply (or sometimes less). A very few use an extession of 3/4 a ply. In my continuing experiments in my program, I have tried to come up with different criteria, and in testing they seem to help.

First I divide moves into capture and promotions, or non captures.

For promotions/captures, I use the results of an SEE to determine if the piece moving is being lost. Losing captures get a reduced extension (1/4 a ply to 1/2 a ply seems OK). Winning and equal captures get a full ply extension. I have also experimented with losing up to a pawn or material; getting the full ply extenion. Also, i have epxerimented with varying the extnsion depending on if it is a PV node (non-PV nodes get a lesser extension, but if they become PV nodes, get extended a full ply).

For non-captures, I do something similar (of course, the move is either equal or losing). Losing captures get a smaller extension.

My best tests so far suggest moves losing more than 1.5 pawns of material get no extension. Moves losing less material get 1/4 to 1/2 a ply, and winning or equal moves get a full ply. Ptrobably winning capture checks deserve more than a ply but I have not done enough testing to know for sure.

The goals of all of this is to shape the search tree, so moves with a higher probability of being best have more search under them, and moves likely to be bad, samller trees.

Has anyone revisited this issue, and is there something better than "always a full ply"?

Mark