Arasan 24.0 release

[jdart]

Yes, it will take the value from the arasan.rc file, if present.

[chesskobra]

How can I get it to work in xboard on linux? I get the error:

Failed to start first chess program polyglot -noini -ec "arasanx-64" "." -uci NalimovCache 4 -pg ShowTbHits=true on localhost: 1 +0 0 0 stringwarning opening book not found or invalid

First of all, you probably don't want to use the arasanx-64 executable unless you are on very old hardware. I recommend arasanx-64-avx2, or maybe arasanx-64-avx2-bmi2 or arasanx-64-avx512 if on a recent Intel system. Also I'm not clear why you're using Polyglot. Arasan natively supports both CECP (xboard) and UCI protocols, so there's no need for an adapter, and anyway xboard supports UCI engines now via the -fUCI option.

However, the opening book is assumed to be in the Arasan executable directory by default. If you have the book there, and haven't modified the arasan.rc file, there should be no problem loading it.

I am now trying avx2. I had copied the book file as arasanbook.bin and I was specifying that name in the Engine 1 Options in xboard. I changed it back to book.bin and removed the Engine 1 options file from .polyglot. Now it seems to work. But I would like to change the name of the book file because sometimes there are other engines whose books also have the same name. But in arasan.rc I didn't find an option to specify the book file. Also, if possible I would like to chage the location of the book file and the network file.

[jdart]

But in arasan.rc I didn't find an option to specify the book file.

No, it's not changeable. I can address that in a future release. The network file can be renamed/moved, if you set the new name/location in arasan.rc.

[jdart]

Jon, will you please explain this.

In the 24.0 package there is an NNUE file called arasan-d9-SFv4-20230728.nnue. However, Arasan 24 default NNUE file is arasan-d10-20220723.nnue.
Why is that? Which one is to be used?

arasan-d9-SFv4-20230728.nnue is the most recent version that is supposed to be used. But I am wondering why you are saying " Arasan 24 default NNUE file is arasan-d10-20220723.nnue." I believe the only network in the distribution packages is arasan-d9-SFv4-20230728.nnue and that is what is set in the arasan.rc that is in the src directory and in the distribution packages and the installer.

[chesskobra]

I downloaded the source tar ball as well as the linux executables tar ball, and both had arasan-d9-SFv4-20230728.nnue.

A general question: do these networks have a standard format that they can be used across different engines, something like the polyglot books?

[jdart]

I downloaded the source tar ball as well as the linux executables tar ball, and both had arasan-d9-SFv4-20230728.nnue.

A general question: do these networks have a standard format that they can be used across different engines, something like the polyglot books?

I guess nnue-pytorch has kind of a standard way of serializing, but the layout of the file depends on the network architecture, and that is not very standardized. Different engines use different architectures, and in fact for Stockfish each major version recently has had a different architecture. As mentioned, Arasan's is compatible with Stockfish version 15 networks.

[peter]

Some more questions to uci and .rc- parameters:

If I switch off usage of tbs in GUI (Shredder 13 and Arena 3.5.1) after having set the path there, they yet get used onwards, at least hits are shown in output of engine.
If I set usage off (false) in .rc, Arena stops using tbs, Shredder doesn't.

How about position learning?
In .rc it's set true default, yet I don't find any file being created.

In Arena and Shredder uci- parameter of book- usage on or off isn't present, in Fritz there is a check- box Own Book, regards

[jdart]

Some more questions to uci and .rc- parameters:

If I switch off usage of tbs in GUI (Shredder 13 and Arena 3.5.1) after having set the path there, they yet get used onwards, at least hits are shown in output of engine.
If I set usage off (false) in .rc, Arena stops using tbs, Shredder doesn't.

I'll have to look at that - possibly it's an engine issue, but in general, as stated in the README file (see https://github.com/jdart1/arasan-chess): "Note that many chess GUIs will override the arasan.rc settings, and set their own defaults. So if using a GUI you should if possible set the tablebase path and related options in the GUI, not in the file."

How about position learning?

Does not work in UCI mode - this is a known issue.

In Arena and Shredder uci- parameter of book- usage on or off isn't present, in Fritz there is a check- box Own Book, regards

Some UIs set this outside the usual engine options - for example in Shredder when setting up a match, you can click "Own Book" in the dialog where you are selecting engines.

[ImNotStockfish]

I have also made some updates to the Arasan test suite, replacing some positions that were known to have multiple solutions, or appeared to have incorrect solutions, or multiple moves somewhat close in score. Latest version here: https://arasanchess.org/arasan2023.epd.

Can you explain the solution of these test positions?

Code: Select all

8/7p/5kp1/4p3/p3rPRP/3K2P1/8/8 b - - bm Kg7; id "Arasan2023.17"; c0 "Flohr-Geller, URS-ch Final Moscow 1949";
1r2r1k1/2R2p2/1N1Rp2p/p2b3P/4pPP1/8/P4K2/8 w - - bm g5; id "arasan2023.99"; c0 "ENGINEMASTER-Arasan, ICC 2015";

[chessica]

It's the best move.