Chris Whittington's Chess System Tal!

[swami]

I wish there was a UCI/winboard version of chess System Tal, How would it be if we were to have Jim Ablett's complied version of this competitive engine?! that'd be just great.

So far, I think this is the only program that is very uniquely different from the rest of the programs out there, heck I haven't come across any human players who has style similar to CSTal.

It builds up pieces that are required for the early king side attack, I think some guy from ICC regularly loads up the CSTal in online play, I forgot what his id was, the style is so different that it enthralls me.

I, for one personally think that playing attractive chess with CSTal or other such similar engines, is much better than playing a game or two against the current strongest ones like Toga/Rybka which just defeats you mercilessly, without any style noticeable. Besides, the ratings of CSTal is already 2500 GM level)

I aksed Chris if it was possible to make a UCI version of it, IIRC he said that he had given the source away when he sold everything.

So I wonder what is the trick that Chris used when programming? What makes CSTal style so attractive and very different from others? What technique does it use? Can other programmers do that when they attempt to rewrite their programs? We need more chess programs like these!

[Dr.Wael Deeb]

There is a developing version in the make right now,but I don't have any detailed information....
Ask Thorsten,he can shed some light on this topic....

[Tony Thomas]

There is a developing version in the make right now,but I don't have any detailed information....
Ask Thorsten,he can shed some light on this topic....

I think you might have it confused with MChesspro..

[Dr.Wael Deeb]

There is a developing version in the make right now,but I don't have any detailed information....
Ask Thorsten,he can shed some light on this topic....

I think you might have it confused with MChesspro..

No,I am sure,ask Thorsten,they are cooking something....
Search the forum for a thread of mine titled Chess System Tal II,it was last year when I was testing it and posting games,you will be pleased

[swami]

There is a developing version in the make right now,but I don't have any detailed information....
Ask Thorsten,he can shed some light on this topic....

Hi Wael,

I think I read from mails that Chris told me that he had completely stopped programming CSTal. But he would help others with programming.

[Dr.Wael Deeb]

There is a developing version in the make right now,but I don't have any detailed information....
Ask Thorsten,he can shed some light on this topic....

Hi Wael,

I think I read from mails that Chris told me that he had completely stopped programming CSTal. But he would help others with programming.

I'll try to dig up the post and show you the info I read last year....

[ArmyBridge]

The Dr. are Right Tony, Thorsten talk about this proiect some months ago, I participate in is topic (the Dr. too) and I can assure it, ... I think Thorsten writte in Hiarcs Forums, i saw him las time. It would be interesting ask him if the project still.

[Dr.Wael Deeb]

The Dr. are Right Tony, Thorsten talk about this proiect some months ago, I participate in is topic (the Dr. too) and I can assure it, ... I think Thorsten writte in Hiarcs Forums, i saw him las time. It would be interesting ask him if the project still.

Thanks Armando,Thorsten has returned and is nominated for a moderator by the way....

[fern]

For what an UCI version?
It is still possible to get CD's incarnation of cstal and all the whistles. Uci engines are bare contrivances without attraction specially if you can put your hand in the real thing.
I have at least three incarnations
a) the original DOS version and the patches of it
b) a windows version with a somewhat stronger engine
c) a second window version delivered by Purple, the company that bought cstal to Chris.
As much commercially speaking the product is no more, I suppose I could copy this stuff and send it to whoever want it.
Someone consider that dishonest?

Fernando

[ArmyBridge]

So I wonder what is the trick that Chris used when programming? What makes CSTal style so attractive and very different from others? What technique does it use? Can other programmers do that when they attempt to rewrite their programs? We need more chess programs like these!

As far as I know, there was no tricks,the progam have a very complex ,and heavy,eval function that make him slow ,at the time that CST was among the top engines this powerful evaluation resisted the common techniques of programming of that time that were focused but to the materialistic aspect, but even these days CST can get some nice wins against Shredder 8 or some other Top engine.