Elements of the ULTIMATE Chess GUI?

[Javier Ros]

I think that one important thing for testing chess engines is the different time control for each side.

As far as I know only cutechess-cli and aquarium have this feature.

Is it so difficult to program this?

[hgm]

WinBoard/XBoard support time odds as well, of course. Just not different TC modes. Not because it would be difficult to program, but because it seems completely useless, or even worth discouraging.

[Raphexon]

WinBoard/XBoard support time odds as well, of course. Just not different TC modes. Not because it would be difficult to program, but because it seems completely useless, or even worth discouraging.

It's interesting to test with different TCs.
Even if it has no real use. Just different numbers.
It's like "playing" an idle clicker game. Total waste of time and electricity but sometimes you just have that urge to know what kind of time advantage Igel needs to beat Stockfish.

[Guenther]

WinBoard/XBoard support time odds as well, of course. Just not different TC modes. Not because it would be difficult to program, but because it seems completely useless, or even worth discouraging.

It's interesting to test with different TCs.
Even if it has no real use. Just different numbers.
It's like "playing" an idle clicker game. Total waste of time and electricity but sometimes you just have that urge to know what kind of time advantage Igel needs to beat Stockfish.

Note that HGM spoke off different TC 'modes' not plain time odds like you seem to suggest for your tests.
I have to admit though that I ran into some problems with time odds in WB.

[hgm]

For clarity, 'TC mode' means classical (M minutes per session of N moves), incremental/sudden death (M minutes + S sec/move) or fixed time per move. I don't see any legitimate use case for playing, say, 40 moves/min vs 2 sec/move. Or even 40 moves/min vs 30 moves/45sec.

As I said, normal time odds (= same mode, but all times multiplied by a factor for one of the players) is supported by WinBoard, and is what you would use to measure how much more time Igel needs than Stockfish to become equally strong. I am not aware of any problems with it; in the past I used it often (e.g. to fill the gaps in a rating list for a variant that only a handful of engines of wildly different strength could play).

[Guenther]

I am not aware of any problems with it; in the past I used it often (e.g. to fill the gaps in a rating list for a variant that only a handful of engines of wildly different strength could play).

http://talkchess.com/forum3/viewtopic.p ... rd#p696247

[hgm]

There still seems to be a bug in TimeOdds?
I wanted to create a little tournament about how balanced/drawish usual start positions are regarding time odds,
but in that tournament the time odds did not follow a player but a specific colour.
(To make this visible I marked the side with 8* more time to play in my example pgn bold + blue)

May be it was not intended for what I did, namely playing each start position twice with colours reversed in a tournament with more than 2 players?
This was the WB 01/2017 release.

I also noticed that time odds does not divide the inc, but only the main base time is divided, thus I started again with a smaller inc.
(May be I should try fixed time per move for this test though)

(There were other obstacles too, but mostly engine related - Andscacs e.g. had a 'too clever time management' for this kind of test and would
give unreliable results, because it uses already most of its time in the first 20 moves.
If the other engine survives the position until there with a non-decisive score it even remains with more time instead by factor x less)

[Event "RWBC"]
[Site "CAPPUCCINO"]
[Date "2017.08.05"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Fizbo_19-64"]
[Black "Booot_62-64#8"]
[Result "0-1"]
[TimeControl "240+0"]
[Number "1"]
[Annotator "2. +0.39 2... -0.58"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 {+0.39/12 0.5} d5 {-0.58/20 10} 3. exd5 {+0.22/12 1.0} cxd5
{-0.29/19 7} 4. Nf3 {+0.41/11 0.9} Nf6 {-0.08/19 9} 5. c3 {+0.22/11 0.8}
Bf5 {-0.08/18 6} 6. Bd3 {+0.23/11 0.8} Bxd3 {-0.08/24 8} 7. Qxd3
{+0.13/14 0.5} Nc6 {-0.08/24 6} 8. Nbd2 {+0.39/13 1.2} e6 {+0.27/20 6} 9.
O-O {+0.32/14 1.3} Bd6 {+0.14/19 5} 10. Nb3 {+0.37/13 0.5} h6 {+0.40/19 6}
11. Be3 {+0.45/13 0.5} O-O {+0.37/18 7} 12. Rae1 {+0.29/14 0.9} Rc8
{+0.39/20 7} 13. Na1 {+0.30/14 0.9} Na5 {+0.61/19 7} 14. Bc1 {+0.47/13 0.7}
Ne4 {+0.69/20 13} 15. Re2 {+0.32/15 1.6} Qc7 {+0.77/19 5} 16. Rfe1
{+0.36/13 1.3} a6 {+0.71/19 4} 17. h3 {+0.09/13 0.7} b5 {+0.92/17 4} 18.
Nd2 {-0.05/12 0.8} Nf6 {+1.00/19 4} 19. Nf3 {-0.05/13 1.6} b4 {+0.78/20 3}
20. cxb4 {-0.27/14 0.9} Bxb4 {+0.76/21 4} 21. Rc2 {-0.33/15 0.6} Qb6
{+0.80/22 3} 22. Ree2 {-0.24/12 0.6} Bd6 {+0.67/22 6} 23. Be3
{-0.44/13 1.5} Nc4 {+0.69/21 5} 24. Bc1 {-0.63/14 1.0} Ne4 {+0.88/18 3} 25.
Re1 {-0.70/14 0.8} Rfd8 {+1.18/17 2.9} 26. Rce2 {-0.84/12 1.8} Qa5
{+1.09/17 3} 27. Qb1 {-0.88/13 1.9} Rc7 {+1.35/17 4} 28. a3 {-1.02/14 2.2}
Qb5 {+2.01/19 3} 29. a4 {-2.19/12 1.2} Qxa4 {+2.67/20 2.5} 30. Rc2
{-2.58/13 1.5} Qb5 {+2.86/21 3} 31. Qa2 {-2.77/14 1.2} Rdc8 {+2.67/22 3}
32. b3 {-3.11/14 1.4} Nb6 {+2.53/20 2.4} 33. Rxc7 {-3.00/14 1.4} Rxc7
{+2.42/20 2.4} 34. Qb2 {-3.03/14 1.3} a5 {+2.85/21 2.0} 35. Ne5
{-3.60/14 1.5} Bb4 {+3.54/20 2.3} 36. Rd1 {-5.22/13 1.1} a4 {+3.42/21 2.4}
37. Bf4 {-5.18/14 1.0} a3 {+3.99/19 2.5} 38. Qb1 {-5.33/14 1.3} Qe2
{+4.07/20 2.5} 39. Rf1 {-5.52/15 0.8} Bd2 {+4.66/19 1.9} 40. Ng6
{-7.74/14 1.7} Rc3 {+6.10/19 2.0} 41. Bxd2 {-8.40/14 1.1} Nxd2
{+6.73/23 2.0} 42. Re1 {-9.50/15 0.9} Nxb1 {+7.07/24 2.0} 43. Rxe2
{-10.01/16 0.8} Rc1+ {+7.14/22 2.2} 44. Kh2 {-11.54/20 0.9} Nc3
{+7.20/23 2.1} 45. Rc2 {-11.33/19 0.5} Rxa1 {+7.34/23 1.8} 46. Rxc3
{-11.33/1} a2 {+7.82/22 1.5} 47. Ne7+ {-12.42/19 1.0} Kf8 {+9.09/23 3} 48.
Rc7 {-12.65/21 1.6} Rh1+ {+9.13/23 1.7} 49. Kxh1 {-13.62/18 0.8} a1=Q+
{+9.40/22 1.3} 50. Kh2 {-14.31/18 0.9} Qxd4 {+9.55/23 1.4} 51. Rb7
{-14.82/17 1.8} Qxf2 {+9.54/21 1.3} 52. h4 {-15.13/17 0.9} Qxh4+
{+10.52/20 1.3} 53. Kg1 {-15.13/1} Qe1+ {+10.87/19 1.4} 54. Kh2 {-15.13/1}
Qe5+ {+10.97/19 1.4} 55. Kh3 {-15.11/14 0.5} Qf4 {+11.30/17 1.0} 56. Ra7
{-16.61/15 1.0} g5 {+12.86/17 1.1} 57. g4 {-17.37/16 1.2} Qf3+
{+13.58/17 1.4} 58. Kh2 {-17.37/1} Qf2+ {+14.13/17 1.4} 59. Kh3
{-18.37/17 1.3}
{Xboard adjudication} 0-1

[Event "RWBC"]
[Site "CAPPUCCINO"]
[Date "2017.08.05"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Booot_62-64#8"]
[Black "Fizbo_19-64"]
[Result "0-1"]
[TimeControl "240+0"]
[Number "2"]
[Annotator "2. +0.69 2... -0.25"]

1. e4 c6 2. Nf3 {+0.69/15 2.0} d5 {-0.25/15 4} 3. e5 {+0.55/14 0.9} Bf5
{+0.06/15 4} 4. d4 {+0.64/14 1.0} e6 {+0.01/15 7} 5. Be2 {+0.50/15 1.0} Ne7
{+0.07/14 6} 6. O-O {+0.53/13 0.7} Bg6 {-0.12/14 4} 7. Nc3 {+0.85/14 1.1}
Nd7 {+0.12/15 7} 8. Bf4 a6 {+0.36/15 10} 9. a3 {+0.56/14 0.6} Nf5
{+0.52/15 7} 10. g4 {+0.55/13 1.4} Ne7 {+0.70/17 5} 11. b4 {+0.44/15 1.3}
h5 {+1.01/16 4} 12. h3 {+0.46/15 0.6} hxg4 {+0.60/15 9} 13. hxg4
{+0.57/14 0.6} a5 {+0.49/16 7} 14. Qd2 {+0.52/13 0.6} Nc8 {+0.40/17 8} 15.
Na4 {+0.29/12 0.6} Be4 {+0.62/16 5} 16. Rfb1 {+0.03/13 0.6} axb4
{+0.75/15 7} 17. axb4 {+0.21/15 0.6} Ne7 {+0.42/16 9} 18. Nc5
{+0.43/15 0.6} Rxa1 {+0.08/17 6} 19. Rxa1 {+0.50/17 0.5} Nxc5 {+0.09/18 5}
20. bxc5 {+0.53/18 0.6} Ng6 {+0.03/18 4} 21. Bg3 {+0.37/17 0.5} Be7
{+0.03/16 5} 22. Qb4 {+0.48/17 0.5} b5 {-0.14/17 8} 23. Ra6 {+0.67/16 0.5}
Qc7 {-0.44/17 10} 24. Ra8+ {+0.53/15 0.5} Bd8 {-0.50/19 5} 25. Qb1
{+0.44/15 0.5} Qe7 {+0.01/17 7} 26. Bh2 {+0.43/11 0.4} f5 {+1.59/15 5} 27.
Qb3 {-0.88/12 0.4} fxg4 {+2.83/17 4} 28. Nd2 Nf4 {+5.21/17 7} 29. Bxb5
{-2.23/14 0.4} Rxh2 {+25.26/17 8} 30. Nxe4 {-0.82/11 0.4} Qh4 {+99.81/17 7}
31. Ng3 Qh3 {+99.85/18 4} 32. Bxc6+ {-1000.09/17 0.4} Kf7 {+99.85/19 4} 33.
Bxd5 {-1000.08/19 0.4} Nxd5 {+99.87/18 5} 34. Ra7+ {-1000.07/24 0.4}
{Xboard adjudication} 0-1

[Event "RWBC"]
[Site "CAPPUCCINO"]
[Date "2017.08.05"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Fizbo_19-64"]
[Black "Booot_62-64#8"]
[Result "1-0"]
[TimeControl "240+0"]
[Number "3"]
[Annotator "2. +0.25 2... -0.03"]

1. e4 c5 2. d4 {+0.25/11 1.2} cxd4 {-0.03/18 9} 3. c3 {+0.31/11 0.4} e5
{-0.10/20 9} 4. cxd4 {+0.33/12 0.9} exd4 {-0.12/20 9} 5. Nf3 {+0.50/11 0.9}
Bc5 {-0.11/18 14} 6. Bc4 {+0.24/11 0.7} Nf6 {+0.22/19 6} 7. O-O
{+0.18/12 1.1} O-O {+0.08/21 7} 8. Bg5 {+0.17/12 0.4} h6 {+0.50/20 6} 9.
Bh4 {+0.18/12 0.5} g5 {+1.08/20 6} 10. Bg3 {+0.17/12 0.5} Nxe4 {+0.57/18 6}
11. Bd5 {+0.10/12 0.7} Nxg3 {+0.60/20 6} 12. hxg3 {+0.10/1} d6 {+0.86/19 6}
13. Nxd4 {+0.01/13 0.9} Nc6 {+0.73/20 6} 14. Nb3 {-0.32/12 0.8} Bb6
{+0.72/19 6} 15. Nc3 {-0.27/12 0.7} Bf5 {+0.64/18 7} 16. Na4 {-0.38/13 1.8}
Be6 {+0.55/17 5} 17. Nxb6 {+0.04/13 0.5} axb6 {+0.61/20 5} 18. Bxe6
{+0.14/14 0.7} fxe6 {+0.81/19 5} 19. Nd4 {+0.04/15 0.9} Qd7 {+0.72/19 4}
20. Re1 {+0.32/13 1.0} Rae8 {+0.42/17 4} 21. Qd3 {+0.39/13 0.6} Rf6
{+0.40/17 3} 22. Rad1 {+0.53/13 1.0} d5 {+0.48/20 4} 23. Nf3 {+0.59/12 0.9}
Ref8 {+0.49/17 3} 24. Rd2 {+0.40/14 1.8} Qf7 {+0.58/18 3} 25. Qc2
{+0.40/14 1.4} Ra8 {+0.47/18 6} 26. a3 {+0.61/13 0.7} Rf8 {+0.38/20 4} 27.
Qd1 {+0.53/14 2.3} g4 {+0.36/18 2.9} 28. Ne5 {+0.65/14 1.5} Nxe5
{+0.14/20 3} 29. Rxe5 {+0.65/1} Qg6 {+0.00/22 3} 30. Qc1 {+0.83/15 1.3} Rf5
{+0.08/17 2.9} 31. Ree2 {+0.83/15 1.8} h5 {+0.03/18 3} 32. Qc7
{+1.03/15 1.3} Qf7 {-0.11/17 4} 33. Qd6 {+1.65/16 1.9} Re8 {-0.15/18 2.1}
34. Qxb6 {+1.73/15 0.8} Re7 {-0.22/18 2.6} 35. Rc2 {+1.83/15 0.8} Kg7
{+0.00/21 2.6} 36. Rc8 {+1.58/15 1.3} e5 {+0.00/23 2.9} 37. Rec2
{+2.13/14 1.2} Qe6 {+0.00/23 2.1} 38. Qd8 {+1.92/15 1.2} Kg6 {+0.00/22 1.8}
39. R2c7 {+1.60/15 1.9} Rff7 {+0.00/21 1.8} 40. Rxe7 {+1.57/16 2.3} Rxe7
{+0.00/21 2.2} 41. Qh8 {+1.44/16 1.3} Rg7 {+0.00/22 2.2} 42. Re8
{+1.44/16 1.5} Qd6 {+0.00/22 1.7} 43. Rd8 {+1.61/16 1.3} Qe6 {-0.61/19 2.1}
44. a4 {+1.55/16 1.3} d4 {+0.00/21 1.8} 45. b4 {+1.66/15 1.0} Qf6
{-0.45/16 1.4} 46. a5 {+2.24/14 0.6} Qe6 {-0.97/17 1.6} 47. Re8
{+2.21/14 1.0} Qd6 {+0.00/19 4} 48. b5 {+2.85/16 1.8} Qf6 {-1.44/16 3} 49.
a6 {+2.96/14 1.0} bxa6 {-2.17/15 1.3} 50. bxa6 {+3.08/14 1.1} d3
{-2.50/15 1.4} 51. Rd8 {+4.12/14 1.1} d2 {-2.10/16 1.2} 52. Rxd2
{+4.66/14 0.6} Qxa6 {-2.55/14 2.7} 53. Qf8 {+5.13/16 0.6} Kh7
{-2.15/16 1.0} 54. Rd6 {+5.15/16 1.1} Qa1+ {-2.73/16 1.3} 55. Kh2
{+5.44/17 0.9} Qb1 {-2.88/19 1.1} 56. Re6 {+5.31/17 0.9} Qb5 {-2.54/16 0.9}
57. Qd6 {+5.31/15 0.9} Kg8 {-2.99/15 1.3} 58. Rxe5 {+6.02/14 1.0} Qd7
{-2.99/15 2.1} 59. Qb8+ {+6.35/14 0.6} Kf7 {-2.53/17 0.8} 60. Ra5
{+7.41/15 1.8} Qc6 {-3.15/15 1.0} 61. Qh8 {+7.41/13 0.7} Qb7 {-3.59/15 1.0}
62. Qxh5+ {+8.05/14 0.9} Rg6 {-3.75/17 0.9} 63. Qh7+ {+9.26/14 0.5} Rg7
{-6.39/15 0.8} 64. Qh8 {+9.86/15 0.6} Qc7 {-6.39/15 1.6} 65. Qh5+
{+10.08/15 1.0} Ke7 {-6.53/18 0.8} 66. Qf5 {+10.34/15 0.6} Qxa5
{-6.71/15 0.6} 67. Qxa5 {+10.34/1} Rh7+ {-6.76/14 0.7} 68. Kg1
{+10.70/16 0.5} Rg7 {-6.96/15 0.6} 69. f3 {+10.83/16 0.7} gxf3
{-6.95/13 0.6} 70. Qe5+ {+11.24/15 0.6} Kf8 {-7.09/14 0.7} 71. gxf3
{+11.29/16 1.1} Re7 {-7.51/14 0.7} 72. Qf6+ {+11.48/17 1.2} Rf7
{-7.68/13 0.6} 73. Qa1 {+11.48/16 0.5} Kg8 {-7.92/14 0.6} 74. Kg2
{+12.00/17 0.5} Re7 {-7.92/12 0.6} 75. g4 {+12.00/17 1.1} Rc7
{-7.94/13 0.6} 76. Kg3 {+12.67/16 0.5} Re7 {-10.80/13 0.6} 77. f4
{+14.90/17 0.8} Re3+ 78. Kh4 {+16.81/19 0.9} Re8 {-10.28/12 0.5} 79. f5
{+19.10/17 1.3} Kf7 {-10.70/12 0.5} 80. g5 {+22.21/17 1.3} Re4+
{-12.13/11 0.5} 81. Kh5 {+22.60/16 0.6} Ke7 {-19.94/11 0.5} 82. g6
{+23.47/15 0.8} Kd6 {-20.14/12 0.5}
{Xboard adjudication} 1-0

[Event "RWBC"]
[Site "CAPPUCCINO"]
[Date "2017.08.05"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Booot_62-64#8"]
[Black "Fizbo_19-64"]
[Result "0-1"]
[TimeControl "240+0"]
[Number "4"]
[Annotator "2. +0.58 2... -0.43"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 {+0.58/15 2.0} e6 {-0.43/14 6} 3. Nc3 {+0.82/14 0.8} b6
{-0.02/16 5} 4. Bc4 {+1.00/15 1.8} Bb7 {+0.00/15 7} 5. d4 {+0.84/14 1.0}
cxd4 {+0.13/15 6} 6. Nxd4 {+0.66/15 0.9} a6 {+0.21/15 8} 7. Bf4
{+0.53/13 1.4} Nf6 {+0.32/14 8} 8. a3 {+0.50/13 1.1} Nxe4 {+0.79/16 5} 9.
Nxe4 {-0.10/14 0.6} Bxe4 {+0.79/1} 10. O-O {+0.04/13 0.6} Qf6 {+0.59/15 5}
11. Qd2 {-0.14/13 1.2} Bc5 {+0.70/15 4} 12. Nb3 {-0.28/13 0.7} Be7
{+1.03/16 6} 13. Rae1 d5 {+1.29/15 3} 14. Bd3 {-0.60/15 0.7} Bxd3
{+1.05/17 4} 15. Be5 {-0.54/16 0.6} Qg6 {+1.45/17 2.9} 16. cxd3
{-0.84/17 0.6} Nd7 {+1.35/17 7} 17. Bc3 {-0.59/15 0.6} O-O {+0.75/16 11}
18. f4 {-0.62/15 0.6} Nc5 {+1.13/17 8} 19. Nxc5 {-0.90/13 0.5} Bxc5+
{+1.55/17 4} 20. d4 {-0.67/13 0.6} Bd6 {+1.74/18 4} 21. Bb4 {-0.55/14 0.5}
Bxb4 {+1.64/17 3} 22. axb4 {-0.97/14 0.5} Rac8 {+2.06/17 5} 23. Rc1
{-0.92/13 0.5} h6 {+2.39/16 7} 24. Rc3 {-0.98/15 0.5} Rc4 {+2.70/16 4} 25.
b3 {-1.10/15 0.5} Rxc3 {+2.44/19 5} 26. Qxc3 Qe4 {+2.36/19 12} 27. g3
{-0.98/16 0.4} h5 {+2.29/18 7} 28. Re1 {-0.96/14 0.4} Qf5 {+2.27/18 4} 29.
Re5 {-1.00/15 0.4} Qh3 {+2.27/19 6} 30. Re2 {-1.00/15 0.4} h4 {+2.40/18 6}
31. Ra2 {-0.93/17 0.4} Qg4 {+2.48/18 12} 32. Qd3 Rc8 {+3.19/18 4} 33. Ra1
{-1.10/12 0.4} hxg3 {+3.63/19 4} 34. hxg3 {-2.16/14 0.4} Qh3 {+3.80/20 4}
35. Rb1 {-2.30/17 0.4} g6 {+4.24/20 4} 36. Rf1 {-1.87/15 0.4} Kf8
{+4.24/19 5} 37. Qe3 {-1.80/17 0.3} Qf5 {+4.57/18 5} 38. Rf2 Qb1+
{+4.79/17 4} 39. Rf1 Qb2 {+5.38/18 4} 40. Rf2 {-2.25/14 0.3} Qc3
{+5.60/18 2.0} 41. Qxc3 {-2.53/16 0.3} Rxc3 {+5.60/1} 42. Kg2
{-2.82/17 0.3} Rd3 {+6.30/19 3} 43. Ra2 Rxd4 {+6.30/18 4} 44. Rxa6 Rxb4
{+6.56/21 3} 45. Ra3 Ke7 {+6.81/18 1.8} 46. Kf1 Kf6 {+6.87/20 3} 47. Ke2
Kf5 {+6.87/18 1.8} 48. Kd2 f6 {+6.96/18 1.8} 49. Kc2 Kg4 {+7.81/17 1.5} 50.
Ra1 Kxg3 {+9.19/18 3} 51. Rg1+ {-3.73/14 0.2} Kf2 {+9.84/18 1.9} 52. Rxg6
{-3.80/13 0.2} Rxf4 {+9.91/18 2.8} 53. b4 {-3.94/12 0.2} Ke2
{+10.56/18 1.9} 54. Rg2+ {-3.97/12 0.2} Rf2 {+14.30/22 3} 55. Rg3
{-4.37/12 0.2} d4 {+15.43/21 2.9} 56. Rd3 {-5.72/15 0.2} e5 {+17.81/23 2.2}
57. Rd1 {-8.35/16 0.2} f5 {+18.65/22 1.2} 58. Rd3 {-8.64/16 0.2} f4
{+18.85/21 1.5} 59. Rd1 {-10.24/16 0.2} Ke3+ {+19.68/20 1.2} 60. Kb3
{-7.09/11 0.2} e4 {+19.91/20 1.1} 61. Kc4 {-9.23/12 0.2} d3 {+20.38/19 1.0}
62. Kc3 {-10.52/11 0.2} Rc2+ {+24.59/19 1.6} 63. Kb3 {-12.58/13 0.2} f3
{+26.33/19 2.6} 64. Rh1 {-15.36/12 0.2} f2 {+26.33/16 1.8} 65. b5
{-16.69/12 0.2}
{Xboard adjudication} 0-1

Code: Select all

"Booot_62-64" /fd=C:\Engines\UCI\Booot_62-64 -fn Booot_62-64 /fUCCI
"Booot_62-64#2" /fd=C:\Engines\UCI\Booot_62-64#2 -fn Booot_62-64#2 /fUCCI -firstTimeOdds 2
"Booot_62-64#8" /fd=C:\Engines\UCI\Booot_62-64#8 -fn Booot_62-64#8 /fUCCI -firstTimeOdds 8
...
"Fizbo_19-64" /fcp "Fizbo_19-64" /fd=C:\Engines\UCI\Fizbo_19-64 -fn Fizbo_19-64 /fUCCI
"Fizbo_19-64#2" /fcp "Fizbo_19-64#2" /fd=C:\Engines\UCI\Fizbo_19-64#2 -fn Fizbo_19-64#2 /fUCCI -firstTimeOdds 2
"Fizbo_19-64#8" /fcp "Fizbo_19-64#8" /fd=C:\Engines\UCI\Fizbo_19-64#8 -fn Fizbo_19-64#8 /fUCCI -firstTimeOdds 8

Code: Select all

-participants {Booot_62-64
Booot_62-64#2
Booot_62-64#8
Fizbo_19-64
Fizbo_19-64#2
Fizbo_19-64#8
}
-seedBase 390202624
-tourneyType 0
-tourneyCycles 1
-defaultMatchGames 20
-syncAfterRound false
-syncAfterCycle true
-saveGameFile "C:\Winboard_A\TO_Results.pgn"
-loadGameFile "C:\Winboard_A\Startpositions\TO.pgn"
-loadGameIndex -2
-loadPositionFile ""
-loadPositionIndex -2
-rewindIndex 0
-usePolyglotBook false
-polyglotBook ""
-bookDepth 3
-bookVariation 50
-discourageOwnBooks false
-defaultHashSize 256
-defaultCacheSizeEGTB 32
-ponderNextMove false
-smpCores 1
-mps 40
-tc 4:00
-inc 0.80
-results "--+-"

Umm, it seems I never noticed your last post in that thread.

The problem you encounter there is because of wrong use of the time-odds feature. When you want the time odds to follow an engine in a tournament, you have to install that engine with 'Extra WinBoard options' (in the Load Engine dialog) /firstTimeOdds=N . The time odds entries in the Time Control Options dialog are for first and second engine, but in a tournament (or simple match) you would never know for a given pairing which engine is first and which is second, and there might also be games in the tourney between engines that have no time odds at all.

This pretty much holds for every GUI setting that must follow the engine. E.g. whether it should use GUI book. If you would use the 'First/Second Engine has Own Book' checkboxes in the Common Engine Settings, they would not follow the engine, so you have to put the /firstXBook option with the engine in the engine list. Except that this was expected to be such a common desire that I provided a dedicated checkbox 'Must not use GUI Book' for it in the Load Engine dialogs, which adds the option automatically (if unticked), rather than having to type it as 'Extra WinBoard option'.

[adams161]

The reason I do not use winboard, is because I am on macOS, and while I could use it through wine, I find it easier to pursue alternatives. But this is also the same reason I avoid Tarrasch and Arena. Which says nothing about the quality of either gui, but rather their portability.

I"m on mac. i use xboard for mac. My understanding is it is basically code up to date with HG Mueller's winboard these days. I use it to run an engine on an ics and for my own connection now on FICS. Of course there is other mac software i'm sure. On chessclub.com i use my java Lantern Chess interface on Mac but that wont help you run an engine but it will load UCI engines for analysis.

[Spill_The_Tea]

I"m on mac. i use xboard for mac. My understanding is it is basically code up to date with HG Mueller's winboard these days. I use it to run an engine on an ics and for my own connection now on FICS. Of course there is other mac software i'm sure. On chessclub.com i use my java Lantern Chess interface on Mac but that wont help you run an engine but it will load UCI engines for analysis.

Yeah... because the majority of posters use windows, my only reference to the was the winboard gui, which didn't work work great through wine. It wasn't until HGM told me to search for xboard, did I realize there was portable equivalent. But thank you for reaching out. I have since downloaded and compiled xboard to play around with it a little more.

[adams161]

It wasn't until HGM told me to search for xboard, did I realize there was portable equivalent. But thank you for reaching out. I have since downloaded and compiled xboard to play around with it a little more.

I figured i'd risk telling you something you may allready know as it may be useful for other mac users who want xboard. There is a package to download that is a DMG and doesn't need compiling and comes with some goodies like launcher short cuts for the program. http://www.open-aurec.com/wbforum/viewt ... 19&t=53680