Good test for dedicated and PDA.

[Cubeman]

[D] 8/8/8/5p2/8/3R4/P7/1k1K1B1r w - - 0 1
I remember this test from years ago (before tablebases) and it was a good test of the endgame skills of many dedicated computers.I can remember my Mephisto Risc 1MB could find the winning move a3 very quickly but some other models wanted to play Rf3!?.Which was thought to be draw since Black can play Kxa2.But after testing this position on Hiarcs 9 with tablebases it says that it is #32 after Kc2.But anyway I doubt that any dedicated could find this so for this purpose a3! is the best move.

[Steve B]

hi Alex

[D] 8/8/8/5p2/8/3R4/P7/1k1K1B1r w - - 0 1

in keeping with the same programmer as your old Risc-1MB...i tried this position on the Mephisto Monte Carlo IV LE(also by Schroder)

after a full 10 minutes and 11 ply it wants to play the dreaded..Rf3

i also gave it a whirl on another Schroder computer..the Mephisto Academy and here again Rf3 after 10 minutes and 10 ply

switching programmers to Frans Morsch i let the Mephisto Monte Carlo I loose on the position

same result,,Rf3 after 10 minutes and 10 ply

finally to be fair i let the lead programmer of Mephisto take his turn

i booted up the Montreal 68000 by Lang and still got Rf3 in 10 minutes and 7 ply

Hmmm Regards
Steve

[Cubeman]

Decided to test some of my PDA programs.
Pocketfritz2, 1 a3 1 second.
Hiarcs 9.6, 1 a3 1 second.
Toga 1.2.1a, 1 a3 16 seconds.
Fruit 2.1, 1 a3 18 seconds.
Chess Genius, 1 a3 14 seconds.This result was acheived at a depth of 11.So maybe if you left your Montreal till it gets to D=11 it mat find it as this is programmed by Lang.