My Kingdom For A Pawn

[Steve B]

The Mephisto Bavaria board is one of only two dedicated chess computer boards ever released for sale to feature Piece Recognition
the piece type and color are recognized by the board making setting up positions a snap
the board can only use 16/32 bit modules beginning with the Portorose module (1989) ..earlier modules will not work with it
when first released for sale the boards sold for $2500 inclusive of modules
today these boards are in very high demand by collectors Worldwide selling for at least that amount if not more depending on the module included


however there is one MAJOR problem with the board
the pieces themselves have coils embedded in them which is how the computer recognizes the piece..normal pieces will not work with the board
if just ONE piece is defective then the computer will not begin a game because it thinks that the piece is missing rendering the board totally useless except for setting up problems
well..today after dusting off the Bavaria to play a few games with it..
i discovered ..to my dismay..that ONE and only ONE .. black pawn is defective
i guess i can use the board to play checkers

Garage Sale Regards
Steve

[Dann Corbit]

The Mephisto Bavaria board is one of only two dedicated chess computer boards ever released for sale to feature Piece Recognition
the piece type and color are recognized by the board making setting up positions a snap
the board can only use 16/32 bit modules beginning with the Portorose module (1989) ..earlier modules will not work with it
when first released for sale the boards sold for $2500 inclusive of modules
today these boards are in very high demand by collectors Worldwide selling for at least that amount if not more depending on the module included


however there is one MAJOR problem with the board
the pieces themselves have coils embedded in them which is how the computer recognizes the piece..normal pieces will not work with the board
if just ONE piece is defective then the computer will not begin a game because it thinks that the piece is missing rendering the board totally useless except for setting up problems
well..today after dusting off the Bavaria to play a few games with it..
i discovered ..to my dismay..that ONE and only ONE .. black pawn is defective
i guess i can use the board to play checkers

Garage Sale Regards
Steve

Perhaps the pawn can be repaired.

[Steve B]

Perhaps the pawn can be repaired.

there is one guy in Germany that repairs these old computers but the waiting list to get something back from him is years
Robin used to repair these babies for me..(may he rest in peace)
if your game to attempt a repair ill send you the pawn

anyway..after my initial white knuckled panic i realized i have a set of Promoted or Capped pawns for the Bavaria
these pawns can be recognized by the board as any piece( normally used for promoting to a second queen )
luckily they can also be used as pawns:


Game Against Crafty 19.01 To Follow Regards
Steve

[Steve B]

Here is the Bavaria locked and loaded with the Portorose 32 bit module (2138 Elo) against Crafty 19.01 running on my laptop
Bavaria was set to 40/2 and Crafty was allowed 30 sec per move Avg.
at these levels both engines reach about 12-13 ply per move
pondering was turned OFF on Crafty
both engines were in book until move 15

In the game Crafty as black.. initiated an early queen side pawn storm and rolled down the board to victory..

[White "Mephisto Bavaria Portorose 32"]
[Black "Crafty 19.01"]
[Result "0-1"]

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 e6 3. c4 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. Nc3 h6 6. Bh4 O-O 7. e3 b6 8. Rc1 Bb7 9. cxd5 Nxd5 10. Bxe7 Qxe7 11. Bd3 c5 12. Nxd5 exd5 13.O-O Nd7 14. Qa4 c4 15. Bf5 Nf6 16. b3 Ne8 17. Ne5 Nd6 18. Bg4 b5 19. Qa3 a5 20.Qc5 Rfd8 21. Rfd1 Qe8 22. Bh5 a4 23. bxc4 dxc4 24. Qb6 Bd5 25. Bf3 Rab8 26. Qa5 Bxf3 27. Nxf3 b4 28. Rd2 c3 29. Rdd1 Rdc8 30. Rc2 Ne4 31. Rb1 b3 32. axb3 axb3 33. Rcc1 b2 34. Rc2 Rc4 35. Qe5 Ra4 36. Qxe8+ Rxe8 37. Rcc1 Rea8 38. Ne1 Ra1 0-1

FINAL POSITION

[d] r5k1/5pp1/7p/8/3Pn3/2p1P3/1p3PPP/rRR1N1K1 w - - 0 39

Bavaria Resigned here

Bavaria Lyon 32 Next Regards
Steve

[Steve B]

Here is Crafty 19.01 playing the Bavaria this time with the slightly stronger Lyon 32 module(2152 Elo)
this game Crafty gets white
both computers were in book until move 16
same time controls as last game with pondering OFF for Crafty


[White "Crafty 19.01"]
[Black "Mephisto Bavaria Lyon 32"]
[Result "1-0"]

1. d4 c6 2. e4 d5 3. Nd2 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nd7 5. Bc4 Ngf6 6.Ng5 e6 7. Qe2 Nb6 8. Bd3 h6 9. N5f3 c5 10. dxc5 Bxc5 11. Ne5 Nbd7 12. Ngf3 Qc7 13. O-O O-O 14. Re1 Nxe5 15. Nxe5 Rd8 16. Bf4 Qb6 17. c4 Bd7 18. Rad1 Rac8 19.h3 Bb4 20. Rf1 Bc6 21. a3 Bc5 22. b4 Bd4 23. c5 Qc7 24. Nxc6 Qxc6 25. Bd6 Bc3 26. Be7 Rd5 27. Bxf6 Bxf6 28. Be4 Rxd1 29. Bxc6 Rxf1+ 30. Kxf1 bxc6 31. Qd3 Be5 32. Qd7 Rc7 33. Qd8+ Kh7 34. h4 g6 35. g3 Rb7 36. f4 Bb2 37. Qc8 Re7 38. Qxc6 Bf6 39. Qd6 Rb7 40. c6 Be7 41. Qe5 Rb6 42. Qe4 Bd6 43. h5 Bb8 44. hxg6+ Kg7 45.gxf7 Kxf7 46. Qh7+ Kf6 47. Qxh6+ Kf7 48. Qh7+ Kf6 49. c7 Bxc7 50. Qxc7 Ra6 51.Qd8+ Kg7 52. Qe7+ Kg6 53. a4 e5 54. fxe5 1-0

FINAL POSITION
[d]8/p3Q3/r5k1/4K3/PP6/6P1/8/5K2 b - - 0 54

Lyon Resigned here

Feeling a bit brave at seeing how easily Crafty dispatched two WCCC Champion programs i got up enough courage to try my hand against the Lyon 32
i set the level to equal time(100% Handicap level)
the computer must use about the same time to ponder a move as i do
actually i think this is the fairest and best level to use when playing against a dedicated computer ..but sadly not many models offer this level
after all..why should the silicon monster use more time then i do?
total time taken by me was 8 Min-24 Sec and Lyon took 7Min-18 Sec
i had White

as against my game v the 2100 USCF rated Phantom Robot ..i got off to an early material advantage (this time a B for a P) only to squander the win and then have to settle for a lowly draw

[White "Steve B"]
[Black "Mephisto Bavaria Lyon 32"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]

1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e3 Bg4 5.Bxc4 e6 6.Nc3 a6 7.O-O c5 8.h3 Bh5 9.Be2 Nc6 10.Re1 Bd6 11.Nh2 Bxe2 12.Qxe2 cxd4 13.exd4 Nxd4 14.Qd1 Qb6 15.Be3 Bc5 16.Na4 Qb4 17.Nxc5 O-O-O 18.Nd3 Qd6 19.Qc1+ Nc6 20.Nf4 e5 21.Ne2 Qd3 22.Nf3 Rhe8 23.Qd1 Qg6 24.Qc1 Qd3 25.Qc3 e4 26.Qxd3 exd3 27.Nc3 Nb4 28.Nd2 Nc2 29.Rec1 Nxa1 30.Rxa1 Rd7 31.Kf1 Rde7 32.Rd1 Rd8 33.Nb3 Nh5 34.Nc5 Ng3+ 35.fxg3 Rxe3 36.Kf2 Ree8 37.Rxd3 b6 38.Rxd8+ Rxd8 39.Nxa6 Rd2+ 40.Kf3 Rxb2 41.Nd5 Rxa2 42.Nab4 Ra3+ 43.Kf2 b5 44.g4 Kd7 45.Ke2 Kd6 46.Ne3 g6 47.Nec2 Rg3 48.Kf2 Rb3 49.Ke2 Kc5 50.Nd3+ Kd5 51.Ndb4+ Kc4 52.Nc6 Rb2 53.Kd2 Kb3 54.Na5+ Ka2 55.Kc3 f6 56.Nc6 Rb3+ 57.Kd2 Rb1 58.N6b4+ Kb3 59.Nc6 Rb2 60.N6b4 Kc4 61.Nc6 Ra2 62.N6b4 Ra7 63.Nd3 Rb7 64.Ne3+ Kd4 65.Nc2+ Kc4 66.Ne3+ Kd4 67.Nc2+ Kc4 1/2-1/2

FINAL POSITION
[d] 8/1r5p/5pp1/1p6/2k3P1/3N3P/2NK2P1/8 w - - 0 68

Carl Schlecter Sends His Regards
Steve

[Terry McCracken]

Perhaps the pawn can be repaired.

there is one guy in Germany that repairs these old computers but the waiting list to get something back from him is years
Robin used to repair these babies for me..(may he rest in peace)
if your game to attempt a repair ill send you the pawn

Steve

I guess it's pretty hard to buy another pawn from another collector?

Can you open it to see what exactly is wrong with the coil?

[Steve B]

I guess it's pretty hard to buy another pawn from another collector?

Can you open it to see what exactly is wrong with the coil?

both good questions

the problem with these special pieces is that no collector will sell just one piece/pawn because that then leaves them in a position without a set that can work on the board
sometimes you do see a collector selling a complete set but that is very seldom and very expensive because they know you are probably stuck with a useless board due to a defective piece or two

i did open the pawn and inspect the coil
everything looks OK and it is still soldered to the pawn

i also tried DGT Pieces on the Bavaria board as i think they also work with coils
strangely the led does light up when a DGT piece is placed on the Bavaria board but the board does not recognize the piece

if i was just a bit forward thinking when i bought the Bavaria i would have thought to buy a second piece set which at the time would have been far less expensive then now
thankfully the promoted pawns were included with all piece sets
once another pawn goes bad ..

Im Done For Regards
Steve

[Dr.Wael Deeb]

Here is Crafty 19.01 playing the Bavaria this time with the slightly stronger Lyon 32 module(2152 Elo)
this game Crafty gets white
both computers were in book until move 16
same time controls as last game with pondering OFF for Crafty


[White "Crafty 19.01"]
[Black "Mephisto Bavaria Lyon 32"]
[Result "1-0"]

1. d4 c6 2. e4 d5 3. Nd2 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nd7 5. Bc4 Ngf6 6.Ng5 e6 7. Qe2 Nb6 8. Bd3 h6 9. N5f3 c5 10. dxc5 Bxc5 11. Ne5 Nbd7 12. Ngf3 Qc7 13. O-O O-O 14. Re1 Nxe5 15. Nxe5 Rd8 16. Bf4 Qb6 17. c4 Bd7 18. Rad1 Rac8 19.h3 Bb4 20. Rf1 Bc6 21. a3 Bc5 22. b4 Bd4 23. c5 Qc7 24. Nxc6 Qxc6 25. Bd6 Bc3 26. Be7 Rd5 27. Bxf6 Bxf6 28. Be4 Rxd1 29. Bxc6 Rxf1+ 30. Kxf1 bxc6 31. Qd3 Be5 32. Qd7 Rc7 33. Qd8+ Kh7 34. h4 g6 35. g3 Rb7 36. f4 Bb2 37. Qc8 Re7 38. Qxc6 Bf6 39. Qd6 Rb7 40. c6 Be7 41. Qe5 Rb6 42. Qe4 Bd6 43. h5 Bb8 44. hxg6+ Kg7 45.gxf7 Kxf7 46. Qh7+ Kf6 47. Qxh6+ Kf7 48. Qh7+ Kf6 49. c7 Bxc7 50. Qxc7 Ra6 51.Qd8+ Kg7 52. Qe7+ Kg6 53. a4 e5 54. fxe5 1-0

FINAL POSITION
[d]8/p3Q3/r5k1/4K3/PP6/6P1/8/5K2 b - - 0 54

Lyon Resigned here

Feeling a bit brave at seeing how easily Crafty dispatched two WCCC Champion programs i got up enough courage to try my hand against the Lyon 32
i set the level to equal time(100% Handicap level)
the computer must use about the same time to ponder a move as i do
actually i think this is the fairest and best level to use when playing against a dedicated computer ..but sadly not many models offer this level
after all..why should the silicon monster use more time then i do?
total time taken by me was 8 Min-24 Sec and Lyon took 7Min-18 Sec
i had White

as against my game v the 2100 USCF rated Phantom Robot ..i got off to an early material advantage (this time a B for a P) only to squander the win and then have to settle for a lowly draw

[White "Steve B"]
[Black "Mephisto Bavaria Lyon 32"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]

1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e3 Bg4 5.Bxc4 e6 6.Nc3 a6 7.O-O c5 8.h3 Bh5 9.Be2 Nc6 10.Re1 Bd6 11.Nh2 Bxe2 12.Qxe2 cxd4 13.exd4 Nxd4 14.Qd1 Qb6 15.Be3 Bc5 16.Na4 Qb4 17.Nxc5 O-O-O 18.Nd3 Qd6 19.Qc1+ Nc6 20.Nf4 e5 21.Ne2 Qd3 22.Nf3 Rhe8 23.Qd1 Qg6 24.Qc1 Qd3 25.Qc3 e4 26.Qxd3 exd3 27.Nc3 Nb4 28.Nd2 Nc2 29.Rec1 Nxa1 30.Rxa1 Rd7 31.Kf1 Rde7 32.Rd1 Rd8 33.Nb3 Nh5 34.Nc5 Ng3+ 35.fxg3 Rxe3 36.Kf2 Ree8 37.Rxd3 b6 38.Rxd8+ Rxd8 39.Nxa6 Rd2+ 40.Kf3 Rxb2 41.Nd5 Rxa2 42.Nab4 Ra3+ 43.Kf2 b5 44.g4 Kd7 45.Ke2 Kd6 46.Ne3 g6 47.Nec2 Rg3 48.Kf2 Rb3 49.Ke2 Kc5 50.Nd3+ Kd5 51.Ndb4+ Kc4 52.Nc6 Rb2 53.Kd2 Kb3 54.Na5+ Ka2 55.Kc3 f6 56.Nc6 Rb3+ 57.Kd2 Rb1 58.N6b4+ Kb3 59.Nc6 Rb2 60.N6b4 Kc4 61.Nc6 Ra2 62.N6b4 Ra7 63.Nd3 Rb7 64.Ne3+ Kd4 65.Nc2+ Kc4 66.Ne3+ Kd4 67.Nc2+ Kc4 1/2-1/2

FINAL POSITION
[d] 8/1r5p/5pp1/1p6/2k3P1/3N3P/2NK2P1/8 w - - 0 68

Carl Schlecter Sends His Regards
Steve

Nice game Steve
If I were you,I'll set up a tournament including 7 dedicated chess units and myself,2 games for every player....should be intersting....
Steve B in the lead regards,
Dr.D

[Steve B]

Nice game Steve
If I were you,I'll set up a tournament including 7 dedicated chess units and myself,2 games for every player....should be intersting....
Steve B in the lead regards,
Dr.D

Thanks again Dr.D
Interesting Idea
perhaps a simultaneous exhibition with me going around the table playing each computer at the same time
i might even set a worlds record for playing and losing to the most computers in one exhibition
0-7 Regards
Steve

[Steve B]

In an effort to see if any Mephisto module can defeat Crafty 19.01 at 30 seconds per move running on my laptop i shot straight to the top and outfitted the Bavaria with the London modules
the Bavaria London is the strongest dedicated chess computer Mephisto ever released for sale tipping the scales at just over 2300 Elo which also makes it the fifth strongest dedicated chess computer of all time
these babies run on the faster 68030 processor and at 40/2 typically hit 17-18 ply



Time Controls as before...Bavaria 40/2...Crafty 30 Sec Avg(Pondering Off)
Two game match ..colors reversed
the London modules allow the user to change the playing style from Solid to Active to Risky
In the first game Bavaria London took White.. playing style.. Solid
both engines were in book until move 14
After embarking on an early pawn grabbing escapade London is forced to castle Long by hand and winds up not only having to give back the pawn but to stave off mate it loses the exchange and another pawn to boot..


[White "Mephisto Bavaria London"]
[Black "Crafty 19.01"]
[Result "0-1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 Bg4 5. Bxc4 e6 6.h3 Bh5 7. Nc3 Nbd7 8. g4 Bg6 9. Nh4 Be4 10. Nxe4 Nxe4 11. Nf3 h5 12. Bd3 Ng5 13. Nxg5 Qxg5 14. Be4 O-O-O 15. Qf3 Bb4+ 16. Kd1 Nc5 17. Qxf7 Qe5 18. Bg6 hxg4 19. Rf1 Ne4 20. Kc2 Qd5 21. Kb1 gxh3 22. Qf4 Qb5 23. Bxe4 Qxf1 24. Qh2 Rh4 25.Qh1 Qxh1 26. Bxh1 c5 27. Kc2 cxd4 28. exd4 Rhxd4 29. Bg5 R8d7 30. Be3 Rc4+ 31.Kb3 b5 32. a3 Bd2 33. Bxd2 Rxd2 34. Rg1 a5 35. Rxg7 a4+ 36. Ka2 Rcc2 37. Bb7+ Kb8 38. Be4 Rxb2+ 39. Ka1 Ra2+ 40. Kb1 Rdb2+ 41. Kc1 Rxf2 42. Rg8+ Kc7 43. Rg7+ Kb6 44. Rg1 Ra1+ 45. Bb1 b4

FINAL POSITION
[d] 8/8/1k2p3/8/pp6/P6p/5r2/rBK3R1 w - - 0 46

London Resigned Here


Lets see how the Bavaria London plays with Black and the "Active" playing style..

Second Game To follow Regards
Steve