Connect4 - A four-in-a-row videogame who supports Fairy Stockfish

[domenikov]

Hello all,
I released a program to play four-in-a-row, named "Connect4". Its novelty is the possibility to exploit the power of Fairy Stockfish for the moves computed by the program.

Features:
- Fairy Stockfish support
- Take back move
- Suggest move

Connect4 is released as freeware and can be distributed in every non-commercial form.
Available for Windows and Amiga-like platforms.

For those interested, is published on this page:

https://www.dl-corner.it/software.aspx?quale=7

Any (constructive) feedback is appreciated.

Best regards

[jefk]

looks good, and a clear pdf user guide (which i don't see so often in computer chess
(besides the usually brief and not so clear readme.txt 's)

- tried a game with first move, nothing happens, then initiated new game with first player human, ok
- then nothing, then selected computer for second player (should imo be default) but then
get message 'no engine found'

In general, there are quite some connect4 games (some playing perfectly) and to distinguish
you could set optionally the nr of columns and rows (7x6 default). Which is interesting
because in some variants the second players can have a theoretical win (probably due
to zugzwang; the nr of options in C4 tree is narrowing down, thus clear solutions,
in chess the tree is widening (*), and thus a draw; well, at least in chess that is.

(*) a widening tree in itself would not always be a guarantee for a draw in an arbitrary game
ofcourse, but in chess, it is; just as in Go btw (but for other reasons, namely that we
can set the komi in such a way that with perfect play, depending on chinese or japanese
rules, the outcome will always be a draw. Thus Go also now is ultaweakly solved.

[domenikov]

- then nothing, then selected computer for second player (should imo be default) but then
get message 'no engine found'

Ok, but after that, have you installed Fairy Stockfish into 'Engines' folder to play a game? Or you stopped in that moment?
Until user doesn't select an engine, Connect4 cannot move for the computer. Selecting an engine is mandatory. Moreover, for some platforms doesn't exists any version of Fairy Stockfish. So, make human the default player for both sides was the best option.

In general, there are quite some connect4 games (some playing perfectly) and to distinguish
you could set optionally the nr of columns and rows (7x6 default).

Maybe that this feature will be added.

Thanks for your feedback.

[jefk]

[quote]have you installed Fairy Stockfish into 'Engines' folder to play a game?[/quote]

no i didn't just give some quick feedback for you, to make it 'idiot proof'
you mentioned Fairy SF, maybe you can add it as default to the download,
my 2 cnts