OTB human test positions

[kgburcham]

Does anyone have a collection of OTB human test positions that will challenge todays programs?
I wonder how many positions that have been played by humans that challenge todays programs?
I would think there are not very many of these.
Of course it does not mean they have to be winning moves, just that they challenge todays programs and cause the score to raise once the move is found. (I am not satisfied with this definition)
I am not talking about Dans unsolved test positions, or some of McMads pattern puzzles.
kgburcham

Not much of a challenge anymore but here is one: 47...Bh3
[D] 8/8/4kpp1/3p1b2/p6P/2B5/6P1/6K1 b - -

[Site "Linares (Spain)"]
[Date "1998"]
[Round "10"]
[Result "0-1"]
[White "Veselin Topalov"]
[Black "Alexey Shirov"]
[ECO "D85"]
[PlyCount "106"]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 Bg7
7.Bb5+ c6 8.Ba4 O-O 9.Ne2 Nd7 10.O-O e5 11.f3 Qe7 12.Be3 Rd8
13.Qc2 Nb6 14.Bb3 Be6 15.Rad1 Nc4 16.Bc1 b5 17.f4 exd4 18.Nxd4
Bg4 19.Rde1 Qc5 20.Kh1 a5 21.h3 Bd7 22.a4 bxa4 23.Ba2 Be8
24.e5 Nb6 25.f5 Nd5 26.Bd2 Nb4 27.Qxa4 Nxa2 28.Qxa2 Bxe5
29.fxg6 hxg6 30.Bg5 Rd5 31.Re3 Qd6 32.Qe2 Bd7 33.c4 Bxd4
34.cxd5 Bxe3 35.Qxe3 Re8 36.Qc3 Qxd5 37.Bh6 Re5 38.Rf3 Qc5
39.Qa1 Bf5 40.Re3 f6 41.Rxe5 Qxe5 42.Qa2+ Qd5 43.Qxd5+ cxd5
44.Bd2 a4 45.Bc3 Kf7 46.h4 Ke6 47.Kg1 Bh3 48.gxh3 Kf5 49.Kf2
Ke4 50.Bxf6 d4 51.Be7 Kd3 52.Bc5 Kc4 53.Be7 Kb3 0-1

[Karol Majewski]

Hi

I've analyzed this position with different top engines quite some time ago. Actually, most of them did the job. Only Stockfish 2.1.1 and Deep Junior 12.5 could'n find the solution - even after long time. The best was HIARCS 13.2 with style value set to Aggressive and 3-4-5 man EGTBs. I took him about 3 minutes (on 1 core 3.2 Ghz and 1GB Hash) to find this Bh3, which is a great result, I think.

[JVMerlino]

Does anyone have a collection of OTB human test positions that will challenge todays programs?

Not sure if this is a challenge, or even if it meets your request. But I do like to break it out every once in a while and so I'm going to take this opportunity. It was from the Christiansen v Chessmaster match in 2002.

[D]8/p1p5/Pp1p2nk/1P1Bq1r1/2P1Pprp/1Q6/5RPP/3R3K b - - 0 53

Larry played Rg3! here, a terrific move OTB, and I think most strong programs these days will agree with the move (I don't know if any agreed back then, almost nine years ago). But, while it might be the best move in the position, Larry told me after the game that he was convinced it was winning.

I don't recall any engine choosing Rg3 and showing a winning score for Black the last time I posted this here (in Feb, 2010). I think the best any engine did was around 0.6 for Black. The old thread is here:

http://www.talkchess.com/forum/viewtopi ... s&p=326695

Can any engine prove Larry right?

Enjoy!

jm

[kgburcham]

Does anyone have a collection of OTB human test positions that will challenge todays programs?

Not sure if this is a challenge, or even if it meets your request. But I do like to break it out every once in a while and so I'm going to take this opportunity. It was from the Christiansen v Chessmaster match in 2002.

[D]8/p1p5/Pp1p2nk/1P1Bq1r1/2P1Pprp/1Q6/5RPP/3R3K b - - 0 53

Larry played Rg3! here, a terrific move OTB, and I think most strong programs these days will agree with the move (I don't know if any agreed back then, almost nine years ago). But, while it might be the best move in the position, Larry told me after the game that he was convinced it was winning.

I don't recall any engine choosing Rg3 and showing a winning score for Black the last time I posted this here (in Feb, 2010). I think the best any engine did was around 0.6 for Black. The old thread is here:

http://www.talkchess.com/forum/viewtopi ... s&p=326695

Can any engine prove Larry right?

Enjoy!

jm

I remember this position and your post.
I will go check it out.
thanks
kgburcham

[David Dahlem]

Fire 2.2 MF2 likes Rg3, but not with a winning score

23 01:50 366.086.672 3.308.000 -0.69 Rg4g3 h2xg3 h4xg3 Rf2f3 Rg5g4 Kh1g1 Qe5h5 e4e5 Rg4g5 Qb3c3 Qh5h2+ Kg1f1 Qh2h1+ Kf1e2 Qh1xg2+ Ke2d3 Ng6xe5+ Kd3d4 Rg5g4 Bd5e4 Qg2h2 Qc3c1 Kh6g5 Rd1h1 Qh2e2 Rh1f1 Ne5xf3+ Be4xf3 Qe2e5+ Kd4d3 Rg4h4 Rf1e1 Qe5f5+ Bf3e4 Qf5f6 Re1g1 Rh4h3 Rg1g2 Qf6e5
24+ 02:23 474.842.508 3.313.000 -0.61 Rg4g3 h2xg3 h4xg3 Rf2f3 Rg5g4 Kh1g1 Qe5h5 e4e5 Rg4g5 Qb3c3 Qh5h2+ Kg1f1 Qh2h1+ Kf1e2 Qh1xg2+ Ke2d3 Ng6xe5+ Kd3d4 Rg5g4 Bd5e4 Qg2h2 Qc3c1 Kh6g5 Rd1h1 Qh2e2 Rh1f1 Ne5xf3+ Be4xf3 Qe2e5+ Kd4d3 Rg4h4 Qc1d2 Rh4h2 Bf3g2 Qe5f5+ Kd3d4 Qf5c5+ Kd4d3 Qc5e5 Rf1e1 Qe5f5+ Kd3d4 Rh2h8
25 02:50 569.765.558 3.336.000 -0.52 Rg4g3 h2xg3 h4xg3 Rf2f3 Rg5g4 Kh1g1 Qe5h5 e4e5 Rg4g5 Rd1e1 Qh5h2+ Kg1f1 Qh2h1+ Kf1e2 Rg5xe5+ Rf3e3 Qh1xe1+ Ke2xe1 Re5xe3+ Qb3xe3 f4xe3 Ke1e2 Kh6g5 Ke2xe3 Ng6h4 Bd5e4 Kg5g4 Be4d5 Kg4f5 Ke3d4 Kf5g5 Kd4e3 Nh4g6 Ke3f3 Kg5h4 Bd5e6 Ng6e5+ Kf3e4 Ne5g4 Ke4d4 Ng4f6
26+ 04:10 846.637.944 3.379.000 -0.44 Rg4g3 h2xg3 h4xg3 Rf2f3 Rg5g4 Kh1g1 Qe5h5 e4e5 Rg4g5 Rd1e1 Qh5h2+ Kg1f1 Qh2h1+ Kf1e2 Rg5xe5+ Rf3e3 Qh1xe1+ Ke2xe1 Re5xe3+ Qb3xe3 f4xe3 Ke1e2 Kh6g5 Ke2xe3 Ng6h4 Bd5e4 Kg5g4 Be4d5 Kg4f5 Ke3d4 Kf5g5 Kd4e3 Nh4g6 Ke3f3 Kg5h4 Bd5e6 Ng6e5+ Kf3e4 c7c6 Ke4f5 c6xb5 c4xb5 Ne5f3 Kf5e4

[Vinvin]

IIRC, all tactical moves lead to draw in this position ...

Does anyone have a collection of OTB human test positions that will challenge todays programs?

Not sure if this is a challenge, or even if it meets your request. But I do like to break it out every once in a while and so I'm going to take this opportunity. It was from the Christiansen v Chessmaster match in 2002.

[D]8/p1p5/Pp1p2nk/1P1Bq1r1/2P1Pprp/1Q6/5RPP/3R3K b - - 0 53

Larry played Rg3! here, a terrific move OTB, and I think most strong programs these days will agree with the move (I don't know if any agreed back then, almost nine years ago). But, while it might be the best move in the position, Larry told me after the game that he was convinced it was winning.

I don't recall any engine choosing Rg3 and showing a winning score for Black the last time I posted this here (in Feb, 2010). I think the best any engine did was around 0.6 for Black. The old thread is here:

http://www.talkchess.com/forum/viewtopi ... s&p=326695

Can any engine prove Larry right?

Enjoy!

jm

[Andre]

[d] r1b1r1k1/p2q1ppp/np2n3/3p1NBQ/8/6PB/P4P1P/1R2R1K1 w - - 0 22 [/d]

From Sandipan-Tiviakov, Ottawa 2007

Here Sandipan played the beautiful 22.Bf6!!

[Event "Ottawa"]
[Site "Ottawa"]
[Date "2007.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Sandipan, Ch"]
[Black "Tiviakov, S."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E17"]
[WhiteElo "2563"]
[BlackElo "2648"]
[Annotator "Sandipan,Ch"]
[PlyCount "59"]
[EventDate "2007.??.??"]
[EventRounds "3"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]


1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Bb7 5. Bg2 Be7 6. O-O O-O 7.
d5 exd5 8. Nh4 c6 9. cxd5 Nxd5 10. Nf5 Nc7 11. e4 d5 12. Nc3 Bf6 13. exd5 cxd5
14. Bf4 Nba6 15. Re1 Qd7 (15... Bc8 $142 {- 31/618}) 16. Bh3 Ne6 $6 (16... Kh8
{- 30/631}) (16... Qd8 $142) 17. Ne4 Bxb2 18. Rb1 $146 (18. Ng5) 18... Bc8 (
18... Bc6 19. Ng5 Bf6 20. Rxe6 fxe6 21. Nh6+ Kh8 22. Bxe6) (18... Bd4 19. Ng5
Bf6 20. Rxe6 fxe6 21. Nh6+ Kh8 22. Bxe6) (18... Rad8 $5 19. Ng5 Bf6 20. Nh6+
gxh6 21. Nxe6 Bc8) 19. Ng5 Bf6 20. Qh5 Bxg5 (20... Nxg5 21. Bxg5 Qc6 22. Bxf6
Qxf6 23. Ne7+) 21. Bxg5 Re8 (21... Kh8 22. Bf6 $1 (22. Nxg7 $2 Nxg7 23. Bf6
Qxh3 24. Qg5 Qg4) 22... gxf6 23. Qh6 Rg8 (23... Qd8 24. Rxe6 Rg8 25. Re8 $18)
24. Qxf6+ Rg7 25. Nxg7 Qd8 26. Qxd8+ Nxd8 27. Bxc8 Rxc8 28. Nf5 $18) 22. Bf6 $3
$18 gxf6 (22... Nac7 23. Nxg7 Nxg7 24. Qh6) (22... g6 23. Qh6 Nac5 (23... Bb7
24. Rbd1) 24. Rbd1 Qc7 25. Rxd5) 23. Qh6 Nac5 (23... Bb7 24. Qxf6 (24. Rbd1 d4
25. Rxe6 fxe6 26. Rxd4) 24... Nac5 25. Nh6+ Kf8 26. Bxe6 Nxe6 27. Nf5 Kg8 28.
Rxe6 fxe6 29. Nh6#) 24. Rbd1 $1 Qb7 (24... Qc7 25. Rd4 Ne4 26. Rexe4 dxe4 27.
Rxe4) 25. Rd4 (25. Qxf6) 25... Ne4 26. Rexe4 $1 dxe4 27. Qxf6 Qc7 28. Nh6+ Kf8
29. Qh8+ Ke7 30. Nf5# 1-0

[kgburcham]

[d] r1b1r1k1/p2q1ppp/np2n3/3p1NBQ/8/6PB/P4P1P/1R2R1K1 w - - 0 22 [/d]

From Sandipan-Tiviakov, Ottawa 2007

Here Sandipan played the beautiful 22.Bf6!!

[Event "Ottawa"]
[Site "Ottawa"]
[Date "2007.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Sandipan, Ch"]
[Black "Tiviakov, S."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E17"]
[WhiteElo "2563"]
[BlackElo "2648"]
[Annotator "Sandipan,Ch"]
[PlyCount "59"]
[EventDate "2007.??.??"]
[EventRounds "3"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]


1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Bb7 5. Bg2 Be7 6. O-O O-O 7.
d5 exd5 8. Nh4 c6 9. cxd5 Nxd5 10. Nf5 Nc7 11. e4 d5 12. Nc3 Bf6 13. exd5 cxd5
14. Bf4 Nba6 15. Re1 Qd7 (15... Bc8 $142 {- 31/618}) 16. Bh3 Ne6 $6 (16... Kh8
{- 30/631}) (16... Qd8 $142) 17. Ne4 Bxb2 18. Rb1 $146 (18. Ng5) 18... Bc8 (
18... Bc6 19. Ng5 Bf6 20. Rxe6 fxe6 21. Nh6+ Kh8 22. Bxe6) (18... Bd4 19. Ng5
Bf6 20. Rxe6 fxe6 21. Nh6+ Kh8 22. Bxe6) (18... Rad8 $5 19. Ng5 Bf6 20. Nh6+
gxh6 21. Nxe6 Bc8) 19. Ng5 Bf6 20. Qh5 Bxg5 (20... Nxg5 21. Bxg5 Qc6 22. Bxf6
Qxf6 23. Ne7+) 21. Bxg5 Re8 (21... Kh8 22. Bf6 $1 (22. Nxg7 $2 Nxg7 23. Bf6
Qxh3 24. Qg5 Qg4) 22... gxf6 23. Qh6 Rg8 (23... Qd8 24. Rxe6 Rg8 25. Re8 $18)
24. Qxf6+ Rg7 25. Nxg7 Qd8 26. Qxd8+ Nxd8 27. Bxc8 Rxc8 28. Nf5 $18) 22. Bf6 $3
$18 gxf6 (22... Nac7 23. Nxg7 Nxg7 24. Qh6) (22... g6 23. Qh6 Nac5 (23... Bb7
24. Rbd1) 24. Rbd1 Qc7 25. Rxd5) 23. Qh6 Nac5 (23... Bb7 24. Qxf6 (24. Rbd1 d4
25. Rxe6 fxe6 26. Rxd4) 24... Nac5 25. Nh6+ Kf8 26. Bxe6 Nxe6 27. Nf5 Kg8 28.
Rxe6 fxe6 29. Nh6#) 24. Rbd1 $1 Qb7 (24... Qc7 25. Rd4 Ne4 26. Rexe4 dxe4 27.
Rxe4) 25. Rd4 (25. Qxf6) 25... Ne4 26. Rexe4 $1 dxe4 27. Qxf6 Qc7 28. Nh6+ Kf8
29. Qh8+ Ke7 30. Nf5# 1-0

Hello Andre
The first program I tried solved this quickly with small hardware.

thanks
kgburcham

[jdart]

There are several in my test suite, latest version here: http://arasanchess.org/arasan13.epd.

[Taner Altinsoy]

Tim Krabbe's page has 110 best moves list which can challenge many top software/hardware. You can download them as pgn file as well. Some of the moves are/were hard for my comp with rybka 4 and/or houdini last year.

http://timkr.home.xs4all.nl/chess/mfm101110.htm