Gandalf 4.32f by Steen Suurballe and Dan Wulff
Introduction
With the purchase of Gandalf 4.32f you have aquired one of the strongest chessprograms in the world. Steen Suurballe and Dan Wulff have been working on this project for approx. 9 years. Dan Wulff is responsible for the opening book and is known by a lot of people as the operator of Gandalf at various computerchess tournaments. The playing strength of Gandalf, used with standard hardware (Intel Pentium III 600 MHz, AMD Athlon 600 MHz), is approx. 2.600 ELO ! Gandalf has a positional playing style with emphasis on attack. The specially prepared opening book used by Gandalf is one of the reasons for its great playing strength. Gandalf uses the endgame files by Nalimov. Further information about the Nalimov endgame files can be aquired at your local dealer specialising in computerchess.
Gambit-Soft have startet a WinBoard Collection with the introduction of Gandalf, and further designated WinBoard Engines or WinBoard CD's are planned.
Gandalf will be offered for purchase as a so-called WinBoard Engine without its own GUI (GUI = Graphical User Interface).
WinBoard engine advantages
The programmer can concentrate on improving the actual chessprogram instead of devoting attention to the actual GUI as well.
A WinBoard engine is comparable to a
modular system.
The WinBoard engine Gandalf will work under all commercial
programs with WinBoard support.
Examples listed alphabetically:
WinBoard engine disadvantages
It is heard frequently, from different sources, that WinBoard engines are complicated to integrate into other systems. This is because of the 60 freely available programs, most of which differ when it comes to their parameters, making configuration quite complicated. In this document there will be a thorough explanation regarding the configuration of Gandalf.
Examples of websites related to this subject:
1.1 Note
This CD doesn't contain any GUI.
The freely available WinBoard GUI offers the possibility of using 60 different chessprograms. WinBoard is a program by Tim Mann and is used by approx. 80-100 different chessprograms worldwide.
1.2 Sources
1.3 Content of CD
Gandalf_432f.exe | 20.09.00 | 385.024 bytes |
DBchs.dat | 06.09.00 Opening book | 8.361.304 bytes |
DBchs.key | 01.06.98 Book data | 28.266 bytes |
DBchs.nam | 01.06.98 Book data | 75.361 bytes |
Gandalf4.res | ---.---.--- Configuration *1 | |
Gandalf_432f.init | ---.---.--- Configuration *2 | |
Gandalf_432f.eng | 27.07.00 WinBoard Adapter | 22.016 bytes |
Eugene Nalimov | Endgame files | 3-4 piece, some 5-piece |
Helpfiles ! | HTML | |
Frank Quisinsky | computerchess games | games in PGN / CBH format |
Gandalf 3.0 MS DOS |
Matthias Wüllenweber, Chess-Base GmbH, gave his permission for the WinBoard adapter to be included on the Gandalf CD.
*1
Here you configure various options inherent to the usage of
Gandalf.
*2 Configuration file for use with Gandalf under Chess-Base
GUIs !
Alternatively it's possible to copy the
relevant setup to harddisk
(Setup for WinBoard, setup for Chess-Base GUIs and setup for
Nalimov endgame tables).
1.4 Registration / Updates
It is intended to offer the possibility that registered users can aquire program updates free of charge by e-mail. For this purpose there will be an e-mail available on Gambit-Softs website, under the title Gandalf 4.32f registration. Dont forget to give your complete address. If that isnt the case, send a request to Gambit-Soft.
1.5 Copy Protection
Gandalf does not contain any copy protection.
1.6 Copyright
Gandalf is licensed to the respective buyers. They have the right to create safety copies or make a backup. Distribution of Gandalf data to others is illegal and will result in the initiation of legal action against the culprite.
© Copyright
A copy of the original, even if it isn't complete, requires a permission from the author !
Steen Suurballe (Gandalf) and Roland Pfister (Patzer) during WC 1996 in Jakarta !
1.7 Configuration
The WinBoard engine Gandalf is capable of running under other commercial products. It would be too comprehensive to describe the configuration necessary for the GUI's available in this short introduction.. More informationen can be found in the respective help files. Also the project Phase X (joint project by Gambit-Soft and Frank Quisinsky) offers relevant information.
The English readme.htm by author Steen Suurballe:
1.8 Elaboration / explanation
To facilitate easy use of the chess program Gandalf, it's advised to download a version of the GUI WinBoard. As far as the configuration of WinBoard itself is concerned, the file WinBoard.ini contains the various parameters necessary to accomplish that. After the WinBoard Setup is completed you'll find no WinBoard.iniin the WinBoard directory. This file will be created automatically the first time you start WinBoard and then you can make the desired alterations.
In the case of WinBoard engines there's a defined division between parameters for the GUI and parameters for the engine itself (eg. Gandalf). With GUI's from Chess-Base GmbH it is necessary to place the parameters for the GUI in a separate *.init configuration file for each engine.
Gandalf needs a parameter as well for Configuration.
Parameter = xboard
Special parameter for Chess-Base GUIs = nodebug xfritz
1.9 Parameter WinBoard.ini
!
WinBoard
example
After installing WinBoard 4.0.7 in the directory c:\WinBoard youll find the the following entries for the integrated versions of GnuChess (4.14 and 5.0) in the WinBoard.ini.
" /firstChessProgramNames="GNUChess \"GNUChes5 xboard\" " /secondChessProgramNames="GNUChess \"GNUChes5 xboard\" " |
Execute the Gandal setup after installing WinBoard succesfully. After the Gandalf installation you'll find a subdirectory under c:\WinBoard called c:\WinBoard\Gandalf. Alternatively, you can create the directory yourself and copy the relevant files from the CD. Now add the commandline for Gandalf to the WinBoard.ini. After the configuration of Gandalf the following lines should be contained in the WinBoard.ini:.
" /firstChessProgramNames="GNUChess \"GNUChes5 xboard\" \"Gandalf_432f xboard\" /fd=c:\\WinBoard\\Gandalf " /secondChessProgramNames="GNUChess \"GNUChes5 xboard\" \"Gandalf_432f xboard\" /sd=c:\\WinBoard\\Gandalf " |
Make sure that the directories are defined correctly, ie. check spelling and path. As an example there's a copy of the WinBoard.ini on your Gandalf CD! The necessary options for WinBoard.ini are almost identical for all chessprograms under WinBoard. The change from engine to engine is mostly minor differences regarding variables and/or parameters !
For modifications to the configuration files it is sufficient to use a normal texteditor, eg. Notepad for Windows.
Gandalf is now available for selection with WinBoard Startup Dialog as an alternative to the GnuChess programs. On the internet you can find additional WinBoard engines and install them in a similar way.
2.0 Parameter Gandalf_432f.init
!
Chess-Base
GmbH GUI example
Gandalf_432f.init
[Parameter] CommandLine = nodebug xfritz xboard Engine = Gandalf 4.32f Author = Steen Suurballe / Dan Wulff, Denmark Debug = False [Support] |
The parameters necessary for WinBoard engines, and special commands related to their operation under Chess-Base Gui's, must be added after the commandline entry in the *.init configuration file. The special commandline options created by the programmer Steen Suurballe for Gandalf, besides the standard parameter xboard, are xfritz(only necessary for engine-engine matches) and nodebug (essential).
2.1 Adapter
Gandalf_432f.eng !
Chess-Base GmbH
GUI example
In the same directory, alongside Gandalf_432f.init, an adapter is necessary for Gandalf to operate under Chess-Base Gui's. The adapter with the name Gandalf_432f.engis also located on the CD. Here it's appropriate with a special thanks to Chess-Base, particularly Mathias Feist and Matthias Wüllenweber for their assistance.
This is how the directory structure of Gandalf under the Chess-Base GUI's should look like:
C:\CBase\Fritz6\Engines\Gandalf_432f.eng C:\CBase\Fritz6\Engines\Gandalf_432f\Gandalf_432f.exe C:\CBase\Fritz6\Engines\Gandalf_432f\Gandalf_432f.init C:\CBase\Fritz6\Engines\Gandalf_432f\Gandalf4.res C:\CBase\Fritz6\Engiens\Gandalf_432f\DBchs.dat C:\CBase\Fritz6\Engines\Gandalf_432f\DBchs.key C:\CBase\Fritz6\Engines\Gandalf_432f\DBchs.nam C:\CBase\Fritz6\Engines\Gandalf_432f\Empty.ctb C:\CBase\Fritz6\Engines\Gandalf_432f\Empty.ctg C:\CBase\Fritz6\Engines\Gandalf_432f\Empty.cto |
By this example Fritz 6 has been installed in the directory c:\CBase\Fritz6. In the Fritz directory there's an Engines subdirectory ! The adapter Gandalf_432f.engmust be copied to that directory alongside a subdirectory by the name of Gandalf_432f. Naturally, this subdirectory contains Gandalf_432f.exe, Gandalf_432f.init, and Gandalf_432f.eng. That is, the same names, but a different dataformat.. Furthermore, the Gandalf opening book data (3 files, DBchs.*) and an empty opening book in Chess-Base format (3 files, Empty.*) can be placed in the Chess-Base Engines / Gandalf directory.
2.2 Gandalf Configuration Gandalf4.res !
The configurationen of Gandalf itself is controlled with the Gandalf4.res file.
LEARNING 1 DRAW 6 50 CONTEMPT 0 RESIGN 7 6 TB f:\nalimov BOOKPATH c:\WinBoard\Gandalf HASH 56 TBCACHE 8 |
The example is taken from an ongoing tournament by Frank Quisinsky.
Learning = 1 (on) or 0 (off)!
Draw = If the score after the 50. move is close to 0.00 for 6 consecutive moves, Gandalf will offer a draw.
Resign = If the score is below 7.00 for 6 consecutive moves Gandalf resigns.
TB = Directory for Nalimov endgame files. The complete 4-piece and some 5-piece tables is located on the CD. If you copy these files to a particular directory, eg. f:\nalimov, you need to make sure that the tbpath in Gandalf4.res is correct.
Bookpath = A very important parameter. If you use Gandalf under different GUI's, eg. WinBoard or Young Talents by Chess-Base, you don't have to use different copies of the book for both. It is sufficient to set the path in Gandalf4.res.
Hash = Size of hash tables !
TBCache = Unless you have the complete 5-piece tables, 8Mb for tbcache should be enough for Gandalf. If you only use the 4-piece set, 4Mb is sufficient.
2.3 Opening book and
Tablebases
under Chess-Base GUI's
!
A small peculiarity for use with Chess-Base GUI's. Gandalf can use it's own book. Please create an empty book with the name Empty.ctg (eg. with Fritz 6, access window under File / New / Openings Book). Copy the three bookfiles Empty.ctb, Empty.ctg and Empty.cto to the Gandalf directory c:\CBase\Engines\Gandalf_432f\ (alternatively there's a copy of the files on the Gandalf CD).
Deactivate the following settings:
01. Use book
02. Tournament book
in the window under Edit / Openings Book/ Book Options.
If you don't follow this approach various error messages might appear during use under Chess-Base GUI's.
Tablebase use is controlled by Gandalf. Deactivate Use tablebases in the Load engine window. Gandalf will use the Nalimov endgame files if the path in Gandalf4.reshas been set correctly.
2.4 Other GUI's !
Finally it is worth mentioning that several commercial products supports the use of WinBoard engines. The specific configurations differ from program to program, because of the different concepts applied and their intended area of usage.
Examples of commercial GUI's that supports WinBoard engines:
Have fun with Gandalf
Steen Suurballe and Dan Wulff
Readme files created by:
Steen Suurballe, Mogens Chr. Larsen, Patrick Buchmann, Sergio
Martinez, Gambit-Soft and Frank Quisinsky !