What is endgame?

[govert]

As I understand, several engines adjust their evaluation function, depending on how far the game has progressed.

I am curious to know how your engines determine this state (Opening, Middlegame, endgame).

Furthermore, is you engine in one of these discrete states, or do you use some kind of sliding scale?

[Dann Corbit]

As I understand, several engines adjust their evaluation function, depending on how far the game has progressed.

I am curious to know how your engines determine this state (Opening, Middlegame, endgame).

Furthermore, is you engine in one of these discrete states, or do you use some kind of sliding scale?

Opening is usually decided upon with development.
Middlegame and endgame are often decided upon with wood count.

[hgm]

Micro-Max counts combined non-Pawn material on the board, (i.e. for both colors together), according to the system B,N=2, R=3, Q=6. For the initial position this would produce 40, and would drop to 0 in a pawn ending.

King safety is switched off abruptly when the material count reaches 10 or lower.

Pawn-push bonus increases gradually as the material count drops, 0.25 cP for each point of material that disappears. (So it is 10cP larger in a pawn ending than in the opening.)

[bob]

As I understand, several engines adjust their evaluation function, depending on how far the game has progressed.

I am curious to know how your engines determine this state (Opening, Middlegame, endgame).

Furthermore, is you engine in one of these discrete states, or do you use some kind of sliding scale?

The simplest definition of "endgame" is that point in the game where it is safe enough for the king to venture out of its safe haven and start to actively participate in the game.

I use a sliding scale that is proprotional to remaining non-pawn material on the board...