Gandalf 4.32f by Steen Suurballe and Dan Wulff
Readme file by Gandalf`s programmer Steen Suurballe !
Gandalf 4.32f WinBoard engine
This release of Gandalf is a pure WinBoard engine.
Gandalf 4.32f plays positional attack chess and uses a speculative attack function to determine when to attack. But Gandalf also handles quiet positions and the endgame phase very well. The opening book contains 1.2 million unique positions highly optimized for Gandalf 4.32f.
You need Tim Mann's WinBoard interface:
http://research.compaq.com/SRC/personal/Tim_Mann/chess.html
Or commercial GUIs, before you can start playing.
This CD includes separate installations in the "setup" directory for:
a) Gandalf 432f WinBoard engine.
b) Nalimov endgame files (3,4 and some 5 piece).
c) Files for Chess-Base interface.
d) Frank Quisinsky`s computer chess database in PGN and CBH
format.
e) The previous version of Gandalf, MS DOS Gandalf 3.0 !
The separate files er also contained in the directories found on the CD.
Installation of Gandalf 4.32f WinBoard Engine
Run the setup.exe in your "setup\Gandalf 4.32f" directory
To play with the WinBoard interface
See the help file and examples given with the WinBoard download on how to attach the Gandalf 432f engine to the WinBoard interface. There is included a WinBoard.ini file which you can copy to your WinBoard installation directory.
You can also play on ICS / FICS with Gandalf 4.32f (also see WinBoard help files).
Important note: If you add ics to the commandline for server play, Gandalf will whisper/kibitz the opening played and later its evaluation of the position.
Installation of Nalimov endgame files
Run the setup.exe from the "setup\Nalimov endgame files" directory
Installation of Fritz interface
1) Run the setup.exe in the "setup\files
for Chess-Base interface" directory. Choose target as your
"ChessBase-Engines" directory
(default c:\Program Files\ChessBase\Engines).
2) Edit Gandalf4.res so BOOKPATH point to your "gandalf-installation" directory
3) Edit Gandalf4.res so TB point to your "gandalf-installation\tb" (or your nalimov) directory
4) In Fritz:
- disable "Use Book" and disable
"Tournament Book" under the "Book-options"
when you "edit" Gandalf_432f from the list of engines
in a match.
then Fritz 6 (i dont think
Fritz 5.32 does this?) will display "No Book" in book
choice.
If you
encounter problems try this :
Attach the "empty"
book (found in your engines\gandalf_432f directory) to Gandalf.
Fritz should display "empty" in Book Choice Gandalf
will
(in both cases) then use its
own book which is preferred.
- also disable "Use Tablebases".
Gandalf handles this by itself.
PS: I have
noticed that in the "Invite Engine" window (tournament
mode) the engine you "Edit" is not always highlighted.
Gandalf 432f MUST be highlighted when "Edit"!
When using its own book, Gandalf displays "0.00/1" after its book moves in the game list window.
5) The Gandalf_432f.init file:
a) For engine matches (default) 2'nd
line should read:
CommandLine = nodebug
xfritz xboard
b) For manual play 2'nd line should
read:
CommandLine = nodebug
xboard
Now Gandalf 432f appears in the engines list and is available for playing.
NOTE : Since this is a WinBoard engine it is NOT 100% certain that all "Fritz options" works under this interface !
Installation of Frank Quisinsky database
run setup.exe in "setup\Frank Quisinsky database"
Installation of Gandalf 3.0
run setup.exe in "setup\gandalf3"
Gandalf4.res settings
Default is:
LEARNING 1
--> Learning enabled.
DRAW 6 50
--> If abs (score)<= CONTEMPT for six consecutive moves
after move 50 then offer a draw.
CONTEMPT 0
--> The contempt factor.
RESIGN 7 6
--> Resign if the score is less than -7.00 for six consecutive
moves.
TB c:\winboard\gandalf\tb\ --> Path to the
Nalimov endgame files.
BOOKPATH c:\winboard\gandalf\ --> Path to the dbchs.dat file (opening
book).
HASH 32
--> 32 Mb of memory to hashtables (valid numbers are : 4, 8,
16, 20, 32, 56 and 104).
TBCACHE 8
--> 8 Mb of memory to cach the Nalimov files.
Recommended setting for memory use:
PC with <
32 MB : HASH 8 TBCACHE 2
PC with 32 MB : HASH 16 TBCACHE 4
PC with 64 MB : HASH 32 TBCACHE 8
PC with 128 MB : HASH 56 TBCACHE 16
PC with > 128 MB : HASH 104 TBCACHE 32
Don't hesitate to Mail if you have any questions to:
Enjoy!