I have studied a lot of ZCT games, analyzed positions with help of strong engines, and translated the stronger engines analysis(lines and eval) on ZCT games in words. It is very adept at dealing with enemy's pieces with lone knight which jumps too quickly to occupy squares, for that I applaud the uniqueness in ZCT.
Here are my views: Feel free to agree/disagree or ask me any questions.
Pros:
- -Does play excellent chess with knights, Rook, and passer pawns, perhaps you could have these 3 pieces in ZCT logo instead of a lone rook next time you release the update
It especially poses dangerous threat to opponent castled king when its knight is around anywhere near.
-It does have some understanding of tactical and combinations. With correct MP implementation, I think it would gain another 100 elo.
Higher the depth it searches through lesser the mistakes it make which I hope it would eliminate key weaknesses outlined in Cons part. Does have some good positional knowledge like passer pawns, not to give away space advantage, knight outposts.
-Has very good end game knowledge, especially Knight, Rook, and pawn endings.
-Excellent king safety.
-If you did something to improve its aggressive/attacking chess, I can assure you that you will notice the huge elo gain.
-The engine is more suited to play attacking chess rather than positional chess, but sadly it is designed to avoid attacking chess and forced to play positional where it lacks. Due to high king safety and its tendency to trade pieces too often.
-I think it should opt for closed position rather than open position. It will have good chance winning more games in closed position.
-More suited to play English opening, French defense and closed sicilian.
- -Makes some computer like unnecessary moves, moves that are strange looking, moves that have no purpose other than act as a 'waiting move' in middle stage of the game.
Eg, after queens were exchanged, with only rooks and knights remaining it played Kh1 (opponent was not attacking either)
another example, the position look superior with passed pawns but it doesn't know how to convert it to a win, made a lot of strange waiting moves, failed to win the game, accounting to lots of wasted moves.
It is dangerous to play waiting moves in open position games where a lot of positional concepts like strong squares and weak squares, strong/weak pawns, space advantage etc come into play.
Therefore, my suggestion is to reduce the number of unnecessary moves and play close position instead.
-It plays overly defensive, doesn't like to take risk like sacrifices. Doesn't know how to set up pieces to attack the opponent's king in the middle game especially when it is too concerned about its own king safety, prefers to defends its king rather than make quick attacks on the other side. Instead of trading it's b pawn and take a space advantage with its Rook on b file, while the opponent has 0-0-0 it just pushes the pawn closing that file. It turns nervous when its king is attacked and make a lot of mistakes while defending its own king.
-It values own king safety very highly, as a result, it doesn't often get into middle game king side fights.Prefers to exchange pieces often.
-Values material highly, for example the engine seems to think that it is okay to trade its bishop + 1 pawn + space disadvantage in compensation for opponents Rook, especially in critical positions where the former is valued highly. Doesn't understand pawn structure. Doesn't care about weak squares and weak pawns.
