Zarkov Chess by John Stanback

[fern]

Ok, Frank, great musings, but for God sake, give us the address to get them!!!
Fern

[Rebel]

Agree, I am a sentimental collector. It's like viewing old photo's from your youth. So where to get these Nimzo's and Zarkov's?

[Frank Quisinsky]

Hi Ed,

I can't see that John gave his OK.
The older Nimzo versions I sent to Raimund for some days.

I have written again a mail to Günther Simon and Raimund.

Best
Frank

[BrendanJNorman]

Come on mate, we're dying here!

[Vinvin]

Older Zarkov have not so good ratings on the SSDF list :

Code: Select all

275 Zarkov 2.5 386/25-33 MHz                1920   56   -53   168
289 Zarkov 2.6 386/25-33 MHz                1861   64   -61   125
270 Zarkov 3.0 486/25-33 MHz                1932   45   -48   232
162 Zarkov 5.0 64MB P200 MMX                2412   24   -25   789

[BrendanJNorman]

Older Zarkov have not so good ratings on the SSDF list :

Code: Select all

275 Zarkov 2.5 386/25-33 MHz                1920   56   -53   168
289 Zarkov 2.6 386/25-33 MHz                1861   64   -61   125
270 Zarkov 3.0 486/25-33 MHz                1932   45   -48   232
162 Zarkov 5.0 64MB P200 MMX                2412   24   -25   789

Personally, I'm more interested in Zarkov as a unique opponent with nice positional style, rather than a lamb for Stockfish to slaughter haha.

Most of the engines I train against are tactical, but Zarkov's style seems quite unique .

[Vinvin]

Older Zarkov have not so good ratings on the SSDF list :

Code: Select all

275 Zarkov 2.5 386/25-33 MHz                1920   56   -53   168
289 Zarkov 2.6 386/25-33 MHz                1861   64   -61   125
270 Zarkov 3.0 486/25-33 MHz                1932   45   -48   232
162 Zarkov 5.0 64MB P200 MMX                2412   24   -25   789

Personally, I'm more interested in Zarkov as a unique opponent with nice positional style, rather than a lamb for Stockfish to slaughter haha.

Most of the engines I train against are tactical, but Zarkov's style seems quite unique .

I just drew a blitz (60moves/5min) against Zarkov 2.6 (on DosBox full speed on an i3@3.1GHz). I was winning around move 65. I played too fast (b4?). Zarkov made some positional mistakes (38.b3??).

[pgn]
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e5 Nfd7 5.f4 c5
6.Nf3 Nc6 7.Be3 a6 8.Qd2 cxd4 9.Nxd4 Nxd4 10.Bxd4 Bc5
11.O-O-O O-O 12.h4 b5 13.a3 Bxd4 14.Qxd4 Qc7 15.Kb1 Bb7
16.h5 f6 17.exf6 Rxf6 18.g3 Rc8 19.Bd3 Nc5 20.h6 Rxh6
21.Rxh6 gxh6 22.Qf6 Qg7 23.Qxg7+ Kxg7 24.Ne2 Nxd3 25.cxd3 Kg6
26.Nd4 Re8 27.Re1 Kf6 28.Kc2 e5 29.fxe5+ Rxe5 30.Rxe5 Kxe5
31.Ne2 d4 32.Kd2 Bc6 33.Ke1 Bf3 34.Nf4 Bg4 35.Kf2 a5
36.Ng2 b4 37.axb4 axb4 38.Nf4 b3 39.Ng2 Kd5 40.Nf4+ Kd6
41.Ng2 h5 42.Nf4 Ke5 43.Ng2 Bd7 44.Nh4 Kd5 45.Kf3 Bb5
46.Ke2 Bc6 47.Nf3 Bd7 48.Nd2 Ba4 49.Kf3 Ke5 50.Nc4+ Kf5
51.Nd6+ Ke6 52.Ne4 Bb5 53.Ke2 Kd5 54.Nd2 Bd7 55.Nxb3 Bg4+
56.Kf2 h6 57.Nd2 Bf5 58.Ke2 Bd7 59.Ne4 Be6 60.Kf3 Ke5
61.Nf2 Bd5+ 62.Ke2 Bb3 63.Ne4 Bd5 64.Nd2 Be6 65.b4 Kd5
66.Kf3 Bg4+ 67.Kf4 Be2 68.b5 Bxd3 69.b6 Kc6 70.b7 Kxb7
71.Nf3 Kc7 72.Nxd4 Bc4 73.Nf5 Kb6 74.Nxh6 Kc5 75.Nf5 Be2
76.Kg5 Bf3 77.Ng7 Kd4 78.Nxh5 Kd5 79.Nf6+ Ke5 80.Ng4+ Ke4
81.Nh2 Be2 82.g4 Bxg4 83.Nxg4 Kd5
[/pgn]

Code: Select all

TC=60/300
WCLOCK=302
BCLOCK=195

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e5 Nfd7 5.f4 c5 
6.Nf3 Nc6 7.Be3 a6 8.Qd2 cxd4 9.Nxd4 Nxd4 10.Bxd4 Bc5 
11.O-O-O O-O 12.h4 b5 13.a3 Bxd4 14.Qxd4 Qc7 15.Kb1 Bb7 
16.h5 f6 17.exf6 Rxf6 18.g3 Rc8 19.Bd3 Nc5 20.h6 Rxh6 
21.Rxh6 gxh6 22.Qf6 Qg7 23.Qxg7+ Kxg7 24.Ne2 Nxd3 25.cxd3 Kg6 
26.Nd4 Re8 27.Re1 Kf6 28.Kc2 e5 29.fxe5+ Rxe5 30.Rxe5 Kxe5 
31.Ne2 d4 32.Kd2 Bc6 33.Ke1 Bf3 34.Nf4 Bg4 35.Kf2 a5 
36.Ng2 b4 37.axb4 axb4 38.Nf4 b3 39.Ng2 Kd5 40.Nf4+ Kd6 
41.Ng2 h5 42.Nf4 Ke5 43.Ng2 Bd7 44.Nh4 Kd5 45.Kf3 Bb5 
46.Ke2 Bc6 47.Nf3 Bd7 48.Nd2 Ba4 49.Kf3 Ke5 50.Nc4+ Kf5 
51.Nd6+ Ke6 52.Ne4 Bb5 53.Ke2 Kd5 54.Nd2 Bd7 55.Nxb3 Bg4+ 
56.Kf2 h6 57.Nd2 Bf5 58.Ke2 Bd7 59.Ne4 Be6 60.Kf3 Ke5 
61.Nf2 Bd5+ 62.Ke2 Bb3 63.Ne4 Bd5 64.Nd2 Be6 65.b4 Kd5 
66.Kf3 Bg4+ 67.Kf4 Be2 68.b5 Bxd3 69.b6 Kc6 70.b7 Kxb7 
71.Nf3 Kc7 72.Nxd4 Bc4 73.Nf5 Kb6 74.Nxh6 Kc5 75.Nf5 Be2 
76.Kg5 Bf3 77.Ng7 Kd4 78.Nxh5 Kd5 79.Nf6+ Ke5 80.Ng4+ Ke4 
81.Nh2 Be2 82.g4 Bxg4 83.Nxg4 Kd5 

[BrendanJNorman]

Older Zarkov have not so good ratings on the SSDF list :

Code: Select all

275 Zarkov 2.5 386/25-33 MHz                1920   56   -53   168
289 Zarkov 2.6 386/25-33 MHz                1861   64   -61   125
270 Zarkov 3.0 486/25-33 MHz                1932   45   -48   232
162 Zarkov 5.0 64MB P200 MMX                2412   24   -25   789

Personally, I'm more interested in Zarkov as a unique opponent with nice positional style, rather than a lamb for Stockfish to slaughter haha.

Most of the engines I train against are tactical, but Zarkov's style seems quite unique .

I just drew a blitz (60moves/5min) against Zarkov 2.6 (on DosBox full speed on an i3@3.1GHz). I was winning around move 65. I played too fast (b4?). Zarkov made some positional mistakes (38.b3??).

[pgn]
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e5 Nfd7 5.f4 c5
6.Nf3 Nc6 7.Be3 a6 8.Qd2 cxd4 9.Nxd4 Nxd4 10.Bxd4 Bc5
11.O-O-O O-O 12.h4 b5 13.a3 Bxd4 14.Qxd4 Qc7 15.Kb1 Bb7
16.h5 f6 17.exf6 Rxf6 18.g3 Rc8 19.Bd3 Nc5 20.h6 Rxh6
21.Rxh6 gxh6 22.Qf6 Qg7 23.Qxg7+ Kxg7 24.Ne2 Nxd3 25.cxd3 Kg6
26.Nd4 Re8 27.Re1 Kf6 28.Kc2 e5 29.fxe5+ Rxe5 30.Rxe5 Kxe5
31.Ne2 d4 32.Kd2 Bc6 33.Ke1 Bf3 34.Nf4 Bg4 35.Kf2 a5
36.Ng2 b4 37.axb4 axb4 38.Nf4 b3 39.Ng2 Kd5 40.Nf4+ Kd6
41.Ng2 h5 42.Nf4 Ke5 43.Ng2 Bd7 44.Nh4 Kd5 45.Kf3 Bb5
46.Ke2 Bc6 47.Nf3 Bd7 48.Nd2 Ba4 49.Kf3 Ke5 50.Nc4+ Kf5
51.Nd6+ Ke6 52.Ne4 Bb5 53.Ke2 Kd5 54.Nd2 Bd7 55.Nxb3 Bg4+
56.Kf2 h6 57.Nd2 Bf5 58.Ke2 Bd7 59.Ne4 Be6 60.Kf3 Ke5
61.Nf2 Bd5+ 62.Ke2 Bb3 63.Ne4 Bd5 64.Nd2 Be6 65.b4 Kd5
66.Kf3 Bg4+ 67.Kf4 Be2 68.b5 Bxd3 69.b6 Kc6 70.b7 Kxb7
71.Nf3 Kc7 72.Nxd4 Bc4 73.Nf5 Kb6 74.Nxh6 Kc5 75.Nf5 Be2
76.Kg5 Bf3 77.Ng7 Kd4 78.Nxh5 Kd5 79.Nf6+ Ke5 80.Ng4+ Ke4
81.Nh2 Be2 82.g4 Bxg4 83.Nxg4 Kd5
[/pgn]

Code: Select all

TC=60/300
WCLOCK=302
BCLOCK=195

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e5 Nfd7 5.f4 c5 
6.Nf3 Nc6 7.Be3 a6 8.Qd2 cxd4 9.Nxd4 Nxd4 10.Bxd4 Bc5 
11.O-O-O O-O 12.h4 b5 13.a3 Bxd4 14.Qxd4 Qc7 15.Kb1 Bb7 
16.h5 f6 17.exf6 Rxf6 18.g3 Rc8 19.Bd3 Nc5 20.h6 Rxh6 
21.Rxh6 gxh6 22.Qf6 Qg7 23.Qxg7+ Kxg7 24.Ne2 Nxd3 25.cxd3 Kg6 
26.Nd4 Re8 27.Re1 Kf6 28.Kc2 e5 29.fxe5+ Rxe5 30.Rxe5 Kxe5 
31.Ne2 d4 32.Kd2 Bc6 33.Ke1 Bf3 34.Nf4 Bg4 35.Kf2 a5 
36.Ng2 b4 37.axb4 axb4 38.Nf4 b3 39.Ng2 Kd5 40.Nf4+ Kd6 
41.Ng2 h5 42.Nf4 Ke5 43.Ng2 Bd7 44.Nh4 Kd5 45.Kf3 Bb5 
46.Ke2 Bc6 47.Nf3 Bd7 48.Nd2 Ba4 49.Kf3 Ke5 50.Nc4+ Kf5 
51.Nd6+ Ke6 52.Ne4 Bb5 53.Ke2 Kd5 54.Nd2 Bd7 55.Nxb3 Bg4+ 
56.Kf2 h6 57.Nd2 Bf5 58.Ke2 Bd7 59.Ne4 Be6 60.Kf3 Ke5 
61.Nf2 Bd5+ 62.Ke2 Bb3 63.Ne4 Bd5 64.Nd2 Be6 65.b4 Kd5 
66.Kf3 Bg4+ 67.Kf4 Be2 68.b5 Bxd3 69.b6 Kc6 70.b7 Kxb7 
71.Nf3 Kc7 72.Nxd4 Bc4 73.Nf5 Kb6 74.Nxh6 Kc5 75.Nf5 Be2 
76.Kg5 Bf3 77.Ng7 Kd4 78.Nxh5 Kd5 79.Nf6+ Ke5 80.Ng4+ Ke4 
81.Nh2 Be2 82.g4 Bxg4 83.Nxg4 Kd5 

Interesting game. A good example of the interesting style of the engine.

I think black played 13...Bxd4 was a bit early and either 13...Qb6 (maintaining the tension) or 13...Rb8 (with the idea of attacking with ...b4) would be better.

I think white could have improved with 31.Kc3 with the idea of blockading the d4 square. Follow perhaps with b4 or some Nf3+/Kd4 manoeuvre.

Allowing black's bishop to fight with 31. Ne2 d4! seems like poor judgement.

You're right that 38...b3 is also not the greatest move, but overall I think its an interesting game.

IMO you could have fought for a win with 31.Kc3, but bear in mind I haven't "checked" this idea.

[Norbert Raimund Leisner]

By the way: is an extra Windows executable + WinBoard-converter file required to run Zarkov 5 MCS under ChessGenius7-GUI?

The product is out of stock at the German company Millenium Chess System 2000 GmbH, of course

Norbert

[Frank Quisinsky]

Hello Ed,

I sent the Zarkov material to Günther Simon.

Many WB Versions, Zarkov 2.50, 2.51, 2.60, 2.61, 3.0, 4.0 Windows Versions ... different other things by John: Grandmaster Chess, from the Master Chess CDs ... different things are Commercial material, not sure what of this material can be free. I am sure Günther will do his best.

Best
Frank