On-line engine blitz tourney October

[Joost Buijs]

The monthly on-line engine blitz tourney for October will take place on:

Saturday October 17, 2:00 PM EST (Boston time), 20:00 CET (Amsterdam time)

To connect:

winboard -zp -ics -icshost nightmare-chess.nl -icshelper timeseal -fcp ENGINE.exe -fd ENGINEFOLDER -autoKibitz

(for UCI engines, add -fUCI)

People without a server account can submit a request for a (new) account to admin@nightmare-chess.nl

Our tournament manager will be: Eendje (Lisebeth) from ICC

The problems with mamer when compiled with a recent version of GCC are still not fixed, actually I didn't look at it yet,
so for the time being we will keep the format at the usual 9 rounds Swiss 5/1.

[Ras]

How do I get the chat channel window with xboard? I only have the fics prompt like "fics %".

Edit: turns out, this is the chat window.

[hgm]

XBoard used to employ the terminal from which it was launched as the ICS Interaction window. I guess this is what you are talking about. To avoid the annoying interuptions of the line you are typing by output of others, at some point I added an ICS Input window, which just contained a single text entry, which would send anything you could quietly type there to the ICS. In the latest GTK builds I expanded that to a larger ICS Interaction window somewhat similar to WinBoard's, which as a large text widget to display the ICS output. This widget can be split vertically into two parts, one for the ICS output, and another to see one private chat with another user. Ithe input widget is used for that chat, in that case. The top of the window has buttons to switch between chats, which turn orange when the chat partner has been active while you were looking at another chat.

[MikeB]

XBoard used to employ the terminal from which it was launched as the ICS Interaction window. I guess this is what you are talking about. To avoid the annoying interuptions of the line you are typing by output of others, at some point I added an ICS Input window, which just contained a single text entry, which would send anything you could quietly type there to the ICS. In the latest GTK builds I expanded that to a larger ICS Interaction window somewhat similar to WinBoard's, which as a large text widget to display the ICS output. This widget can be split vertically into two parts, one for the ICS output, and another to see one private chat with another user. Ithe input widget is used for that chat, in that case. The top of the window has buttons to switch between chats, which turn orange when the chat partner has been active while you were looking at another chat.

HGM -> Where can I get the latest build or source for Windows. Currently on Winboard 4.8.0b. Thanks in advance.

[Joost Buijs]

Surprisingly rofChade ended above the two Stockfish derivatives Honey and Belfish and won the tournament.
Goldbar was very happy that he managed to get a draw in the last round against Honey, rofChade owes him a beer for this accomplishment.
Nightmare unexpectedly lost from CoronavirusChess in a weird opening with a bishop and a passed pawn against four connected pawns, the connected pawns were to strong, clearly an error in my book, maybe my engine didn't understand the position.

Code: Select all

:Tourney Players: Round 9 of 9 
:
:     Name              Rating Score Perfrm Upset  Results 
:     ----------------- ------ ----- ------ ------ ------- 
:  1 +rofChade          [2957]  7.5  [3102] [  65] +21b +14w =02w =05b =03w +07b +11w +10b +09w 
:  2 +Honey             [3043]  7.0  [3073] [   0] +15w +11w =01b +09w +10b =03w =05b +04w =08b 
:  3 +BelFish           [3002]  6.5  [3025] [  20] +16w =06w +12b +04w =01b =02b +09w =05w =11b 
:  4 +ArasanX           [2892]  5.5  [2877] [  12] +22w =12w +08b -03b =11w =09b +07w -02b +14w 
:  5 +Nemorino          [2870]  5.5  [2866] [ 195] +18w =08w =13b =01w =12b +14b =02w =03b =06w 
:  6 +NightmareX        [2822]  5.5  [2747] [ 161] +20w =03b =09w +21b -07w =13b +18w =08w =05b 
:  7 +CoronaVirusChess  [2748]  5.5  [2723] [ 116] +24w -09b +22w +19b +06b -01w -04b =11b +16w 
:  8 +Goldbar           [2731]  5.5  [2744] [ 325] +26w =05b -04w +17b =13w =10b +21w =06b =02w
:  9 +Schooner          [2916]  5.0  [2842] [   0] +17w +07w =06b -02b +14w =04w -03b +13w -01b 
: 10 +WaspX             [2841]  5.0  [2754] [   0] +19w =13w =11b +16b -02w =08w +15b -01w =12b 
: 11 +rpiRofChade       [2832]  5.0  [2814] [ 119] +25w -02b =10w +13b =04b +16w -01b =07w =03w 
: 12 +Marvin            [2747]  5.0  [2697] [ 180] +27w =04b -03w +15b =05w =21w -14b +18b =10w 
: 13 +WaDuuttie         [2638]  5.0  [2664] [ 355] +28w =10b =05w -11w =08b =06w +22b -09b +15w 
: 14 +Amoeba            [2748]  4.5  [2638] [   0] +23w -01b +17w +18b -09b -05w +12w =16b -04b 
: 15 +Arminius          [2618]  4.5  [2535] [   0] -02b +25w +20b -12w =18w +19b -10w +21b -13b 
: 16 +atomNightmare     [2554]  4.5  [2500] [  97] -03b +20w +25b -10w +19w -11b +28b =14w -07b
: 17 +Nemeton           [2336]  4.5  [2393] [   0] -09b +24w -14b -08w =20b -18b +23w +25w +27b 
: 18 +rpiArminius       [2308]  4.5  [2476] [ 183] -05b +26w +27b -14w =15b +17w -06b -12w +24b 
: 19 +Barbarossa        [2267]  4.5  [2359] [ 128] -10b +28w +26b -07w -16b -15w +25b +24w =21w 
: 20 +Spartacus         [2191]  4.5  [2292] [ 140] -06b -16b -15w +23b =17w -22b +26w +28w +25b 
: 21 +atomGoldbar       [2523]  4.0  [2486] [ 112] -01w +23b +24b -06w +22w =12b -08b -15w =19b 
: 22 -RookieMonster     [2330]  4.0  [2275] [   0] -04b +27w -07b =25w -21b +20w -13w =26b +28b 
: 23 +Joker             [2166]  3.0  [2069] [   0] -14b -21w +28b -20w -25b -24w -17b +27b +26w 
: 24 +feligres          [2140]  3.0  [2086] [  26] -07b -17b -21w +28w -26b +23b +27w -19b -18w
: 25 +CTdccc            [2259]  2.5  [2197] [  35] -11b -15b -16w =22b +23w +27b -19w -17b -20w 
: 26 +microMax          [1931]  2.5  [2025] [ 408] -08b -18b -19w -27b +24w +28w -20b =22w -23b 
: 27 +KingSlayer        [2079]  2.0  [1981] [   0] -12b -22b -18w +26w +28b -25w -24b -23w -17w 
: 28 -Skipper           [1620]  0.0  [1855] [   0] -13b -19b -23w -24b -27w -26b -16w -20b -22w 
:
:     Average Rating    2539.6

[hgm]

HGM -> Where can I get the latest build or source for Windows. Currently on Winboard 4.8.0b. Thanks in advance.

The latest Windows build is always packaged in http://hgm.nubati.net/WinBoard-AA.zip . (Built today, actually. I added some support for 'symmetric books', which is useful for Xiangqi / Janggi.) It is a beta version of what some day will become 4.9.3. It comes together with a few demo engines, and a set of anti-aliased piece images.

Latest sources are in the git repository at http://hgm.nubati.net/cgi-bin/gitweb.cgi , in the v4.9.x branch.

[Ras]

I guess this is what you are talking about.

My version has already that additional window for the FICS stuff. It's just that I have to manually put "shout" in front of a chat message directed to all, which I guess Winboard is doing automatically. Also, the messages from others are intermixed with timestamps from FICS and mamer messages in Xboard.

one for the ICS output, and another to see one private chat with another user.

Yes, with several private chat buttons. However, there's no chat for all, like in an IRC channel. Plus that a list like in IRC channels would be cool, showing who's there.

[chrisw]

Surprisingly rofChade ended above the two Stockfish derivatives Honey and Belfish and won the tournament.
Goldbar was very happy that he managed to get a draw in the last round against Honey, rofChade owes him a beer for this accomplishment.
Nightmare unexpectedly lost from CoronavirusChess in a weird opening with a bishop and a passed pawn against four connected pawns, the connected pawns were to strong, clearly an error in my book, maybe my engine didn't understand the position.

Code: Select all

:Tourney Players: Round 9 of 9 
:
:     Name              Rating Score Perfrm Upset  Results 
:     ----------------- ------ ----- ------ ------ ------- 
:  1 +rofChade          [2957]  7.5  [3102] [  65] +21b +14w =02w =05b =03w +07b +11w +10b +09w 
:  2 +Honey             [3043]  7.0  [3073] [   0] +15w +11w =01b +09w +10b =03w =05b +04w =08b 
:  3 +BelFish           [3002]  6.5  [3025] [  20] +16w =06w +12b +04w =01b =02b +09w =05w =11b 
:  4 +ArasanX           [2892]  5.5  [2877] [  12] +22w =12w +08b -03b =11w =09b +07w -02b +14w 
:  5 +Nemorino          [2870]  5.5  [2866] [ 195] +18w =08w =13b =01w =12b +14b =02w =03b =06w 
:  6 +NightmareX        [2822]  5.5  [2747] [ 161] +20w =03b =09w +21b -07w =13b +18w =08w =05b 
:  7 +CoronaVirusChess  [2748]  5.5  [2723] [ 116] +24w -09b +22w +19b +06b -01w -04b =11b +16w 
:  8 +Goldbar           [2731]  5.5  [2744] [ 325] +26w =05b -04w +17b =13w =10b +21w =06b =02w
:  9 +Schooner          [2916]  5.0  [2842] [   0] +17w +07w =06b -02b +14w =04w -03b +13w -01b 
: 10 +WaspX             [2841]  5.0  [2754] [   0] +19w =13w =11b +16b -02w =08w +15b -01w =12b 
: 11 +rpiRofChade       [2832]  5.0  [2814] [ 119] +25w -02b =10w +13b =04b +16w -01b =07w =03w 
: 12 +Marvin            [2747]  5.0  [2697] [ 180] +27w =04b -03w +15b =05w =21w -14b +18b =10w 
: 13 +WaDuuttie         [2638]  5.0  [2664] [ 355] +28w =10b =05w -11w =08b =06w +22b -09b +15w 
: 14 +Amoeba            [2748]  4.5  [2638] [   0] +23w -01b +17w +18b -09b -05w +12w =16b -04b 
: 15 +Arminius          [2618]  4.5  [2535] [   0] -02b +25w +20b -12w =18w +19b -10w +21b -13b 
: 16 +atomNightmare     [2554]  4.5  [2500] [  97] -03b +20w +25b -10w +19w -11b +28b =14w -07b
: 17 +Nemeton           [2336]  4.5  [2393] [   0] -09b +24w -14b -08w =20b -18b +23w +25w +27b 
: 18 +rpiArminius       [2308]  4.5  [2476] [ 183] -05b +26w +27b -14w =15b +17w -06b -12w +24b 
: 19 +Barbarossa        [2267]  4.5  [2359] [ 128] -10b +28w +26b -07w -16b -15w +25b +24w =21w 
: 20 +Spartacus         [2191]  4.5  [2292] [ 140] -06b -16b -15w +23b =17w -22b +26w +28w +25b 
: 21 +atomGoldbar       [2523]  4.0  [2486] [ 112] -01w +23b +24b -06w +22w =12b -08b -15w =19b 
: 22 -RookieMonster     [2330]  4.0  [2275] [   0] -04b +27w -07b =25w -21b +20w -13w =26b +28b 
: 23 +Joker             [2166]  3.0  [2069] [   0] -14b -21w +28b -20w -25b -24w -17b +27b +26w 
: 24 +feligres          [2140]  3.0  [2086] [  26] -07b -17b -21w +28w -26b +23b +27w -19b -18w
: 25 +CTdccc            [2259]  2.5  [2197] [  35] -11b -15b -16w =22b +23w +27b -19w -17b -20w 
: 26 +microMax          [1931]  2.5  [2025] [ 408] -08b -18b -19w -27b +24w +28w -20b =22w -23b 
: 27 +KingSlayer        [2079]  2.0  [1981] [   0] -12b -22b -18w +26w +28b -25w -24b -23w -17w 
: 28 -Skipper           [1620]  0.0  [1855] [   0] -13b -19b -23w -24b -27w -26b -16w -20b -22w 
:
:     Average Rating    2539.6

I cut my book to stop at 8 ply, or basically some initial variety but then it is on its own.
I think the tuning/retrain I did a few days ago on the A Grant SF positions, game result only, did indeed shatter my king attack stuff down to fairly negligible, reduced and smoothed off mobility, reduced PSTs and lots of other terms I didn’t check - all in all undesirable from my POV, but it did give +80 Elo and appears to have made making unbalanced positions pawns for piece highly desirable, there were a few games on that theme last night.
If you like to post the PGN, we can try to analyse what was going on from both engine perspectives.
I’m returning to my old king attack stuff soonish, but am preparing more training suites first.

[hgm]

I guess this is what you are talking about.

My version has already that additional window for the FICS stuff. It's just that I have to manually put "shout" in front of a chat message directed to all, which I guess Winboard is doing automatically. Also, the messages from others are intermixed with timestamps from FICS and mamer messages in Xboard.

one for the ICS output, and another to see one private chat with another user.

Yes, with several private chat buttons. However, there's no chat for all, like in an IRC channel. Plus that a list like in IRC channels would be cool, showing who's there.

Well, this is all from long ago, and I never use XBoard for ICS play myself. But it is possible to open a chatbox giving the 'Chat partner' name as 'shout' or 'whisper', or a number (which will be interpreted as an ICS channel), and when you make that the active chat box, what you type in the input field will be automatically prefixed with the appropriate ICS command. Just as it would be prefixed with "tell <username> " when the chat partner is a user.

There should also be a (user-configurable) context menu analogous to that of WinBoard, which can be summoned by right-clicking in the ICS window. And for which the commands in it (which in XBoard are buttons) can then use the word that was clicked as part of the command that would be sent to the ICS by the button. One of the buttons should allow you to start a new chat (i.e. copy the clicked word into a Chat partner field).

The idea is that when you see a tell message from a person in the general ICS output, you can rightclick his name, push the button in the context menu to open a chat with him, and from then on everything you type will go into that chat (without the need for you too mention the name or prefix a tell command). Or when you see a shout, and want to shout too, just right-click the word 'shout'.

As chatting is typically a keyboard activity, a lot of control keys are defined as commands for doing things. I forgot exactly which. But I think Esc closes the chat window and brings you back to the main ICS window, where you can type commands. And Tab can be used to cycle through all active chats plus ICS. There must also be keys for aborting the current chat (i.e. clearing its Chat partner).

[Ras]

But it is possible to open a chatbox giving the 'Chat partner' name as 'shout' or 'whisper', or a number (which will be interpreted as an ICS channel), and when you make that the active chat box, what you type in the input field will be automatically prefixed with the appropriate ICS command.

Thanks for the explanation. More stuff to try in November.