Robert
No Access When Black To Move
Within Arena GUI v2.0.1, set up kr v krp endgame. When analysing, Houdini 1.5 immediately responded when White to move, but not so on Black's turn. Instead, started analysing.
Tried Critter 0.90. Responded straight away regardless of whether White or Black to move.
Regards.
Houdini and Gaviota Tablebases
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Houdini and Gaviota Tablebases
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Re: Houdini and Gaviota Tablebases
I did not install gaviota tablebases but the behaviour that you describe is logical and I suspect that it is not about white and black but about material advantage.brinan wrote:Robert
No Access When Black To Move
Within Arena GUI v2.0.1, set up kr v krp endgame. When analysing, Houdini 1.5 immediately responded when White to move, but not so on Black's turn. Instead, started analysing.
Tried Critter 0.90. Responded straight away regardless of whether White or Black to move.
Regards.
In drawn positions the best thing is simply to play the drawing move if you are the inferior side but if you have the advantage it is better to calculate and not use the tablebases because there is a chance that your opponent is going to make a mistake.
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Re: Houdini and Gaviota Tablebases
Logical. Guess author of Critter took a different view.Uri Blass wrote: [...] In drawn positions the best thing is simply to play the drawing move if you are the inferior side but if you have the advantage it is better to calculate and not use the tablebases because there is a chance that your opponent is going to make a mistake.
Thanks Uri.
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Re: Houdini and Gaviota Tablebases
That behaviour is "as designed", you'll find the following explanation on the [url=htpp://www.cruxis.com/chess/houdini.htm]Houdini web page[/url]:brinan wrote:Robert
No Access When Black To Move
Within Arena GUI v2.0.1, set up kr v krp endgame. When analysing, Houdini 1.5 immediately responded when White to move, but not so on Black's turn. Instead, started analysing.
Tried Critter 0.90. Responded straight away regardless of whether White or Black to move.
Regards.
Houdini will always probe the EGTB for the initial position of the search.
If an EGTB mate position is identified, the full main line will be shown immediately.
If the initial position is an EGTB draw but Houdini has a material advantage, Houdini will still play for a win - the opponent might be human or an engine without end game table bases.
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Re: Houdini and Gaviota Tablebases
Thanks Robert for explanation (should have checked your site).Houdini wrote: [...] If the initial position is an EGTB draw but Houdini has a material advantage, Houdini will still play for a win - the opponent might be human or an engine without end game table bases.
My concern stemmed from watching DR4 and Houdini laboriously play out this ending, with Rybka recognising the draw and Houdini apparently not. Could not adjudicate a draw in case of time forfeit (both engines limited to 90 minutes).
Regards.
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Re: Houdini and Gaviota Tablebases
I see, if both engines use EGTB it's obviously quite silly to try to play for a win.
Maybe I should add a UCI option to control this behaviour.
Maybe I should add a UCI option to control this behaviour.