"interesting" play

[maxchgr]

I'm looking for an engine (preferably free) that I can spar against that will be hopefully produce the most "interesting" games. I'm not looking for the top engine here. Maybe what I'm looking for is dynamic, speculative, or maybe just intimidating But maybe you'll suprise me with your own idea what is interesting. Perhaps such human like play and even mistakes you'd have sworn it was versus a person? At least 2400 probably though?
Any ideas?

PS. I have Junior 10 and I heard that junior 7 sounds like what I'm looking for but I don't have it. Am wondering if anything free that fits the descriptions.

Thanks guys!

[royb]

I do not have extensive experience with it, but I believe that Spike may be an engine of interest to you based on your description. I'm confident there are many others (there are SOOOO many free engines out there), but I believe that Spike was written so that it tended to favor aggressive play.

If I'm wrong, I'm sure others here will be able to correct me and also steer you in a better direction.

Roy

[Ovyron]

The most aggressive free engine that I've seen is Toga, in its 3.1.2se version with the Chekov settings. I've praised its playing style over the chess fora, that it will stay active thorough all the game and sacrifice material to have the initiative. It's not the strongest Toga, but it's the most interesting.

Download from:

http://computerchess.org.uk/Toga/TogaIIv3.1.2SE.zip

And apply the Chekov settings from:

http://filesys.fiftypounds.com/files/images/toga0.png

But perhaps Toga is too strong. Then I'd recommend ProDeo 1.5 with an attractive+aggressive personality, but I don't know if you'd be willing to follow the instructions on how to set it up, so perhaps someone else has a better idea.

[maxchgr]

oh interesting suggestion
i had no idea about that version of toga because to be honest, theres so many versions i stopped trying to keep tabs on them

ill set up this toga chekhov, thanks
how much weaker is pro deo? and why do you say it is attractive? hard to set up though I guess?
how do those compare to junior 7 style btw, which i heard praises about how beautiful it's play is

why im asking all these questions: i think the computer's style will rub off on me if i spar with it a lot, and if so I'd rather it be an exciting and lively style

thanks so much

[Ovyron]

how much weaker is pro deo?

Toga is about 2900 and ProDeo is about 2700 (But since we're talking about style, a weaker player may not notice the difference.) The extreme aggressive-attractive settings should make it even weaker, though.

and why do you say it is attractive?

It's the name of the parameter that you can increase so ProDeo tries to get into interesting positions.

hard to set up though I guess?

Yes, ProDeo is a WB engine, but to use its parameters, you have to use a WB-UCI adapter. Or if you have ChessPartner, then it's very easy to setup.

how do those compare to junior 7 style btw, which i heard praises about how beautiful it's play is

Maybe you're talking about discussions in where Junior 7 was the newest version available? I don't have Junior 7, but I can say that TogaChekov plays more interesting chess than Junior 10. While Junior's aggressiveness is based on speculation, Toga's just goes very active. Some of Junior's aggressive moves are just blunders, so I wouldn't trust it.

i think the computer's style will rub off on me if i spar with it a lot, and if so I'd rather it be an exciting and lively style

I, for experience can say that it works, as I have used Rebel (Old ProDeo's name) to analyze my games for years, and now it is the engine that matches the most my move selection, meaning that my playing style is closest to it.

Try Toga Chekov, if you're unsatisfied I'll tell you how to setup ProDeo's personalities, as ProDeo plays more human like, and its moves are easier to understand (To me.)

[maxchgr]

thanks for your great replies!
I assume that speculative blunders by Junior 10 can be blunders and untrustworthy but nevertheless it doesn't matter to me - humans blunder all the time, I'm just looking to spar
But the reason I brought up Junior 7 was because I heard that was the most 'romantic' version of Junior, it has become slowly more tamed with every successive version.

I'm like the sound of Toga. I'm not afraid of setting up Pro Deo, just wanted to know if it's worth it. But I'll take your advice though with toga chekov

thanks again

[maxchgr]

I thought the latest version of Toga was Toga II 1.4 Beta 5c?
At least according to this website:
http://www.superchessengine.com/toga_ii.htm

I guess the versions of toga are now branching? Toga sisters?

EDIT: I looked at the toga readme and I see that it's newer, but how would someone find that if you hadn't pointed me to it? hehe, thanks
EDIT: I found it, in the forum at computerchess.org.uk, but I guess a person would never have known unless he was in the loop

[Ovyron]

I thought the latest version of Toga was Toga II 1.4 Beta 5c?

Yes, but the style of 1.4 Beta 5c isn't as good, and I would consider it more "tamed" (though it plays stronger). Hopefully, a Chekov settings that are as aggressive as 3.1.2se's Chekov will be developed on the future.

[Eraserheads]

I think Junior 10's evals are leaning to the "more correct, more solid" side of playing...thus its rating increased. Although relatively speaking, it is one of the most aggressive, 'interesting' engines today. I do not think that it is possible for an engine to afford to play with the kind of flamboyance Junior 7 has, without sacrificing overall strength.

I think in the future we will see free engines as strong or stronger than Rybka 2.3.2a. What would matter then (at least to me) would not be strength, but style. Junior 7 for instance is an engine which I will never tire of, and will always be in my "must-have" engines list.