Francesca M.A.D 0.16 released

[silentshark]

Thanks Tom for your new release!

Despite her female nature, Francesca treats her opponents often very badly. I like her attacking playing style so much.

In a game against Fruit 2.3.1 she played 20. Bxg6 in this position. The game ended after 22 more moves as draw.

[D] r4rk1/1b2q2p/p3p1p1/1pnpP3/3Q3P/2NB2R1/PPP3P1/2K4R w - - 0 20

IMO, please don't try to increase ELO in favor for her style. Tom, let me beg instead for spending Francesca an analyze mode & setup position feature.

Thanks
Max

Thanks, Max, that's great. Was this played with the latest version (0.16) or previous? I ask because the king attack stuff is different in the latest version. Hopefully still "fun", though!

[Werner]

re: draw scores, maybe there is a problem here with my understanding of chess rules.

I thought a position had to be repeated 3 time for it to be a draw.. is that happening in game 2 you posted, Werner, or is Arena declaring it a draw "early"?

I think it is happening - just made the same game in Shredder GUI and I had the same output after 90....Kf6: 3fold repetition.

[silentshark]

re: draw scores, maybe there is a problem here with my understanding of chess rules.

I thought a position had to be repeated 3 time for it to be a draw.. is that happening in game 2 you posted, Werner, or is Arena declaring it a draw "early"?

I think it is happening - just made the same game in Shredder GUI and I had the same output after 90....Kf6: 3fold repetition.

ok, many thanks, I will look at that..

[Max]

Thanks, Max, that's great. Was this played with the latest version (0.16) or previous? I ask because the king attack stuff is different in the latest version. Hopefully still "fun", though!

Yes, it was played by the latest version 0.16. She is still in the same mood!

Max

[Graham Banks]

Hi Tom,

is it possible for Francesca to use a generic opening book instead of its own book?

Cheers,
Graham.

[silentshark]

Hi Tom,

is it possible for Francesca to use a generic opening book instead of its own book?

Cheers,
Graham.

Hi Graham,

yes, although it's not as clean as one would hope.

just delete or rename the book files (franbook.b and franbook.w) in the francesca directory. At that point you can use other books, e.g. under Arena - this is through the "force" command. You can't force Francesca to start the game from a given FEN position, though.

Hope this helps.

[silentshark]

Thanks, Max, that's great. Was this played with the latest version (0.16) or previous? I ask because the king attack stuff is different in the latest version. Hopefully still "fun", though!

Yes, it was played by the latest version 0.16. She is still in the same mood!

Max

Thanks, Max, I checked it myself and 0.16 (but not 0.15, don't know about earlier ones) wants to play this move. As I said, I tweaked king safety somewhat (for instance, more attention is paid to pawns around the king). This is probably why 0.16 likes the BxP move. I wonder if other engines go for this?

[Graham Banks]

Hi Tom,

is it possible for Francesca to use a generic opening book instead of its own book?

Cheers,
Graham.

Hi Graham,

yes, although it's not as clean as one would hope.

just delete or rename the book files (franbook.b and franbook.w) in the francesca directory. At that point you can use other books, e.g. under Arena - this is through the "force" command. You can't force Francesca to start the game from a given FEN position, though.

Hope this helps.

Thanks Tom. I'll give it another go under ChessGUI. Didn't have any luck with the last release under that GUI though unfortunately.

Cheers,
Graham.

[silentshark]

Hi Tom,

is it possible for Francesca to use a generic opening book instead of its own book?

Cheers,
Graham.

Hi Graham,

yes, although it's not as clean as one would hope.

just delete or rename the book files (franbook.b and franbook.w) in the francesca directory. At that point you can use other books, e.g. under Arena - this is through the "force" command. You can't force Francesca to start the game from a given FEN position, though.

Hope this helps.

Thanks Tom. I'll give it another go under ChessGUI. Didn't have any luck with the last release under that GUI though unfortunately.

Cheers,
Graham.

Thanks, no idea about ChessGUI, never tried it.. is it freeware?

[Graham Banks]

Hi Tom,

is it possible for Francesca to use a generic opening book instead of its own book?

Cheers,
Graham.

Hi Graham,

yes, although it's not as clean as one would hope.

just delete or rename the book files (franbook.b and franbook.w) in the francesca directory. At that point you can use other books, e.g. under Arena - this is through the "force" command. You can't force Francesca to start the game from a given FEN position, though.

Hope this helps.

Thanks Tom. I'll give it another go under ChessGUI. Didn't have any luck with the last release under that GUI though unfortunately.

Cheers,
Graham.

Thanks, no idea about ChessGUI, never tried it.. is it freeware?

Yes - it's freeware:
http://w2410tmq9.homepage.t-online.de/