Good day Gentlemen, do different types of opening books affect how an engine performs, or does it only matter when you get out-of-book?
Thank You!
engine performance
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Nimzovik
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Re: engine performance
I suppose an engine with a good book is better than the same engine without a book.....
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adams161
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- Full name: Mike Adams
Re: engine performance
Book is considered critical for an engine to perform well. Some openings just aren't as good. Simply running the major openings in the encylopedia of chess openings without discretion to whats a strong or weak line, ( and some of this may be tuned to what your engine likes) will give a blah performance all in all.
Because of this authors write book learning code, i.e. they try to learn to play lines that win more, and professional level programmers often have a book specialist to hand tune the book.
Now if you're asking does it matter that much in your private jousting sessions with an engine, ie. you playing fritz in some sparring mode, its probably much less critical because even an engine with an average or blah book, that plays mainstream lines, will play very strong. But in high level competition such as a computer tournament against other engines, book can be critical.
Mike
Because of this authors write book learning code, i.e. they try to learn to play lines that win more, and professional level programmers often have a book specialist to hand tune the book.
Now if you're asking does it matter that much in your private jousting sessions with an engine, ie. you playing fritz in some sparring mode, its probably much less critical because even an engine with an average or blah book, that plays mainstream lines, will play very strong. But in high level competition such as a computer tournament against other engines, book can be critical.
Mike
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james uselton
Re: engine performance
"But in high level competition such as a computer tournament against other engines, book can be critical."
What book would you use in such a computer tournament?
What book would you use in such a computer tournament?
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adams161
- Posts: 626
- Joined: Sun May 13, 2007 9:55 pm
- Location: Bay Area, CA USA
- Full name: Mike Adams
Re: engine performance
My understanding is the best professional programs have someone on the team in charge of developing the book. Lines can be hand picked, to optimize the engines chances. These professional tournament books are not typically released with the program. If everybody saw your best book, the one you compete with, its be easier to book against your program.
some programs, lets take crafty, build books from a collection of strong pgn games, i.e. hopefully master level or better, but write code to create book learning. crafty can tell which lines are winning and which are losing and modify the chances it will play a line based on its score to date. If it plays a line and wins in a game, it adjusts the weight for that line for next time. Now i cant speak for what bob does in tournaments, but the executable have always had book learning capabilities for operators to use.
Some engine tournaments i've heard ask that the program make no book moves at all, the Interface or tournament manager will make the book moves and the engine will begin playing when its told to ( i.e. the position is now out of book). This enables all engines in the tournament to play on a level playing field with regard to book, i.e. they all use the same engine manager book. I think this is done to level the playing field, and they might have each engine play the same lines as both white and black for balance.
Mike
some programs, lets take crafty, build books from a collection of strong pgn games, i.e. hopefully master level or better, but write code to create book learning. crafty can tell which lines are winning and which are losing and modify the chances it will play a line based on its score to date. If it plays a line and wins in a game, it adjusts the weight for that line for next time. Now i cant speak for what bob does in tournaments, but the executable have always had book learning capabilities for operators to use.
Some engine tournaments i've heard ask that the program make no book moves at all, the Interface or tournament manager will make the book moves and the engine will begin playing when its told to ( i.e. the position is now out of book). This enables all engines in the tournament to play on a level playing field with regard to book, i.e. they all use the same engine manager book. I think this is done to level the playing field, and they might have each engine play the same lines as both white and black for balance.
Mike