Chess Assistant 5.0
Phase X page, translated by Albert Silver ! Part I I received Chess Assistant 5.0 from Convekta Ltd. barely a week ago for a small review in Phase X. The version in question is the English ‘retail version’, but a German version will probably be available by the end of March 2000. (27.04.2000: Available 05/2000) Gambit-Soft will naturally report on this in the usual form. Here I’d like to point out once more that Phase X is concerned with “WinBoard Engines”. A detailed presentation of the product adorned with pictures (*.gif and *.jpg files) won’t be given here. This would also be completely unnecessary, particularly as such information can be found at the webpages of the respective companies. Furthermore I must recommend Peter Schreiner’s first-class report in Rochade Europa 2/2000. Peter went into great detail with the program and clearly specified the highlights in his usual way, leaving me only to extend a stammering compliment. Information
on Rochade Europa (German chess magazine) can be found at: Now, it has been a long time since I used Chess Assistant, especially as my interest lent itself towards other directions. However, at the time I was truly amazed at the numerous possibilities of Chess Assistant (MS-DOS versions) 1.32 and 1.41a. Even then, it was possible to start a chess program from within Chess Assistant and examine the position in the program’s own GUI. The calculated variations were then inserted into the game’s notation in the form of comments (this is still true today). The speed of its search for games in its powerful (at the time) database of over 150,000 games was not only breath-taking, but without peers. According to my information, a team in Moscow working alone entered the games. I got this information in 1992 from IM Donchenko (who had, or still has (?), quite a bit of contact with the company) who participated then in a series of tournaments in Germany. I remember with pleasure the long nights, in which members of the Moscow Chess Club took on the TOP software Genius, MChess, Zarkov, Chesscard, and Fritz in my realm (the Muscovites stayed in my home during a part of a tournament in Neuss-Norf). They simply didn’t want to sleep, and even in the car (the guests had to do something while traveling to the sights) would play blindfold simuls. :-)) Furthermore, at the time Chess-Base GmbH made Fritz available. Furthermore a
computer chess team managed by a friend and I participated in the Team
Tournament, which marked the first official appearance of Tasc
R30, made available by Monika Weitkus.
The event was won not by the Moscow Chess Club,
nor the Computer Team, but rather a Bundesliga
club from Düsseldorf (with luck in front of the Computer team and
Moscow). The games of the programs Fritz 2.0 and Chess Genius 3.0 (on top
of the Tasc R30 there was also a Mephisto Exclusive
Risc 1MB) can be found on the I wrote a detailed report on the Neuss-Norf tournament for Rochade Europa at the time. Ah yes, lost once more in memories … How
then …?! IM Donschenko played a game against MChess and explained to us (K. Mesropov, V. Novichkov, and myself) that MChess on my computer at the time, a 486/33 MHz with 8 MB, played too many weak positional moves. His position however became grimmer move by move and after some time Donchenko resigned. In order to save the Muscovite’s honour, in speed chess he had a positive score against the best available programs of the time. All the same, in the following evenings he preferred to play against FM Rene Borngässer, while V. Novichkov regularly cast a spell on the programs. V. Novichkov and K. Mesropov played at around 2.300 then, and were also very successful against the numerous programs.
Correct, the subject is Chess Assistant 5.0 ! I think it is important to point out that the games at the time were entered by Convekta Ltd. themselves. By now it is not a problem tracking down games on the Internet to feed our databases, yet even here Chess Assistant offers something special as one can very easily and simply connect to the Chess Assistant Web page through a dialogue box. Every week, approximately 1000 games are offered and integrated directly into the database. Program updates are also not subject to a tiresome procedure, but rather this pleasant one instead. Verdict: TOP ! Chess Assistant 5.0 is available for 299,-- DM. It is compatible with Windows 95 / 98 / NT / 2000, makes small system demands, and offers a database of almost 1.2 million games. The games material of Chess Assistant 5.0 is very carefully chosen, and under no circumstances could I find player names with different spellings or doubled games. Is
the price justified then ? Since I already took off with the Phase X page for Chess Academy 2000 Version 5.0, and wrote more than either necessary or intended, I must no doubt maintain this self-imposed standard. To put it simply, I managed to put myself into a corner. I can’t write anything regarding the last question above other than a first small overview of the program’s features: A
tip concerning the wife/girlfriend !??
Manual, 2.4
Copy Protection, Page 6: It is therefore not as suspected and still user-friendly ! I leave you with this introduction and refer you to the excellent and positive review by Peter Schreiner in Rochade Europa, because I now wish to devote myself to the real subject. I am not simply trying to let myself off the hook, but I don’t know the previous versions and therefore could not review it in detail, plus this is not what Phase X is about !
Chess Assistant as a playing program ! Before our journey begins, a few more comments on new features in Chess Assistant 5.0. As of version 5.0, Chess Assistant can be used as a playing program plus it is a “Multi-engine platform”. Development is obviously going in the direction of the “Office suite”, though here it is called a chess database, learning capabilities, and playing program. Since Chess Academy 2000 also offers such functions, I ask myself what Chess-Base 8.0 will offer users? Based on the abundant possibilities with Chess Tiger 12.0e, plus the possibility to integrate programs such as Shredder 3.0, Shredder 4.0, etc… and the use of the powerful functions of a mature database, Chess Assistant 5.0 has set a new standard and is at the moment without competition. Is
Chess Assistant truly unopposed ?
Let’s compare its possibilities with those of mature modern chess programs:
So what CAN one do ?
Manual,
18.3 Final Hints and Tips, Page 101:
Chess Assistant is well equipped for reliable engine-engine matches and seems get the engines to work, as far as I can see, without problems or restrictions. And this is very important and is hereby emphasized. Now, as a “Winboarder” I make no great demands, because only the engines’ maximum power and playing quality are of real importance to me. However, one thing I don’t like is that in engine - engine matches only one scrolling window with the move’s analysis is shown, that of the engine to move. Here too, we have been spoiled by the new Chess-Base GUIs of Fritz and Junior, or also the Millennium Chess System that clearly display the analysis of both programs. Still, the output of the analysis is clear ! In a resizable window, the main variations are clearly displayed (evaluation of the position – possible in Informant symbols as well -, depth, main line, time to calculate the line). I can also easily recognize which engines are playing against each other, and how much time they have spent. This isn’t self-evident as in the Millennium Chess System one can’t see which engines are playing in a glance. At this stage, I would like to put forth a provisional (the page will still be worked on) judgment of the program. Chess Assistant 5.0 is a top program of the highest class and is a real boon for the professional chess player that makes extensive use of databases and analytical possibilities. For the “computerchess aficionado” or the “engine - engine devotee”, Chess Assistant 5.0 with its integrated playing program has me sitting here, staring at it with wide-eyes, drooling as I play out matches between Chess Tiger 12.0e, Shredder 4.0, Crafty 17.08, and Comet B.15 (naturally with Ponder = Off)! It is a lot of fun, and I must admit that my enthusiasm has returned. I use the Analysis extensively for the many possibilities it leaves at my disposal, and can quickly discover where problems occur the most frequently for engines x or y. I belong to the Non-Pondering group ! Now, I have once more scribbled more than I actually intended, and have yet to write anything about “WinBoard Engines”. I should be somewhat ashamed of myself. Part II Engine setup window ! Chess Assistant has a separate setup window available for making configuring engines and their separate adjustments. I would like to briefly present its options.
I must deal nevertheless with the analysis functions more in detail. I recently lost a game against AnMon after only 37 moves (oh well). In this game there were 3 key positions (more or less). I load the game and the windows splits in three areas. The Explorer bar to the left (which can be alternately activated or de-activated through an icon), the board in the middle, under which are the game’s arrow buttons and the game’s headers in an Excel-type table (White, Black, Result, ECO, Date, etc…). Naturally, this information can be modified according to one’s desires. For example, the dates can be edited directly by a click in the table. To the right is the game notation, and below according to preference is the tree with openings moves statistics or the CAP analysis (a picture would be better). The Windows standards are converted in exemplary fashion; I cannot say this often enough. Now, a click on the Openings Commentary Icon and zip! the first moves are commented with variations and the concluding evaluations. This information comes from the openings database commented by IMs and GMs. I can also see straight away what the approved alternate systems or continuations are. I would now like to see whether there are any games in the included database, Hugebase, which have the same first 9 moves. With just a right-click of the mouse on the 9th move in the game notation, and then a click on position search (a menu opens up with a diagram of the position after the 9th move and further options) and just a few seconds later the result is before me. Yikes, am I alone here? Did I forget to select the Hugebase? Therefore once more I check it and 3 seconds later the 1.2 million game database is searched. These fast search speeds are simply fantastic and if good ol’ Hans Rosenthal (Dalli Dalli moderator) could experience it he would be hopping around the area all day (ok, a slight exaggeration). Oh yes, the game ... Now, the markers or the small pyramids are set in each of the 3 positions, then to analyze the position, choose the engine, insert the comments, and Crafty does its 30 second rounds. Of course, we were using the engine analysis time in the engine setup window. Thus the analysis functions are spread in a number of menus, dialogs, which permit meaningful analysis options, etc…! It remains to be concluded that I should not be surprised at my loss against AnMon. And thus could I contentedly seek out my bed with an appeased conscious for a deserved night’s rest, were it not for this HTML page.
Manual,
6.2 Adjusting Playing Engines, Page 43: I see…, We have discovered an error in the manual (where Maximum is written as opposed to Excellent in the menu). We could spend hours discussing this … however we mustn’t …
Under all these adjustments is a list with all of the engines that have been setup. Below these are the real engine configuration menus.
S T O P While stating that the size of the hash tables can be set is indeed correct, what takes precedence for WinBoard engines ? The Parameters or the external configuration data ?! We now listen attentively… as our tongues orbit the last remaining teeth. This is where my actual part begins ! It would be the first time one could modify the hash tables of a WinBoard engine in the GUI. There must be a file someplace that will provide us with more information. Indeed, there is an Engines.ini in the Chess Assistant directory. We find some very interesting information in the Engines.ini: Excerpt:
We recognize unquestionably the configurations for Crafty, Nimzo 2000, Nimzo 2000b, Comet, and Little Goliath. What do we notice at first about the Convekta Ltd.`s selection of engines? The experienced “Winboarder” immediately recognizes that these are Engines without Parameters but that have a configuration file (WBNimzo2000.ini, WBNimzo2000b.ini, Comet.ics, Lgoliath.ini). For Crafty, aside from the configuration file Crafty.rc, there is a “Configuration Line Parameter” to set the Hash-tables (hash here).
[Hash Options lg2000] IniFile=Goliath.ini IniString=HASHSIZE [0 - 64 MB]= Mode and Units,
eh ?! The Mode and Units commands are documented nowhere and without a clear description I would undoubtedly spend a lot of time trying to find what they accomplish. So, a nice e-mail to Convekta Ltd.and a swift response !
Now we know exactly what they are for, but what actually happens if we start Little Goliath under Chess Assistant 5.0 with 32 Mb of hash tables ? Quite simply, 32 is entered in Goliath.ini, and when we change this to 16 in the GUI, 16 then appears in Goliath.ini. This is absolutely top-notch programming. To sum up:
S T O P Then for example, can I also use the Nalimov tablebases with Comet? Yes, absolutely, and it will be controlled directly from Comet ! What about the engines that require some parameters ? Here lies my main problem: they CANNOT be configured! I tried everything and couldn’t manage to get AnMon to work from within Chess Assistant. Because of this I contacted Convekta Ltd. once more. At this point, I’d like to mention the very pleasant e-mails I received from one of the programmers (Victor Zakharov), who not only asked precise questions but also sought to find a quick solution to the problem. Chess Assistant had been concentrating naturally on the new analysis functions in connection with Chess Tiger and / or the 32-bit MCS engines. These engines were adapted optimally to the program, and then the presumed best of the “WinBoard engines” were pre-configured. This was successful and I could not find any related problems. Little Goliath, Comet, Crafty and Nimzo play perfectly with their books in Chess Assistant engine-engine comparisons without an adapter or converter ! Manual,
18.3 Final Hints and Tips, page 101 Note: It is enough to point out to Convekta Ltd. that WinBoard engines requiring parameters aren’t operational. I took the trouble of describing the problem in detail and sending Config.zip files to Convekta Ltd. One day later there is a provisional update there and it contains a new setting in Engines.ini and AnMon works ! Furthermore, even more interesting options were included in the GUI ! For the moment, the update is in beta stage so I don’t wish to write about these possibilities yet and will end the Phase X Chess Assistant page for the time being. I intend to examine the new options thoroughly and send Convekta Ltd. my results / impressions and suggestions for improvements. 06.03.2000: I will continue to report on this first class GUI later …
Part III Service Pack I A service pack has been available by Chess Assistant since 23/03/2000. The contents can be referred to at the Convekta Ltd. website in which the modifications/improvements are presented clearly. This Service Pack I will be a component of the announced German version or will be already integrated in it. Now, the “WinBoard support” is what is primarily of interest to us. In the last weeks I have extensively tested 35 programs in Chess Assistant 5.0 and passed on my results to Victor (Victor Zakharov, Chess Assistant development team). Essentially, it came down to the following problems (English version 5.0):
To address these problems, uncounted e-mails were exchanged and Victor always showed himself interested in solving them. During this time, Victor sent me 7 updates and now (also concerning WinBoard support) a successful service pack is available ! I selected and tested 35 WinBoard engines and all ran without any problems (almost all, I now have problems with Averno and Francesca). However there are problems with Francesca in WinBoard itself. The playing level “game in x minutes” leads directly to a crash. Nevertheless, Francesca is an absolute enrichment and, with its ca. 2350-2400, is one of the strong WinBoard engines. Really hard to not stray off topic (Francesca) … The new Francesca 0.80 version played without his mistake (06.06.2000) ! The parameters of the programs are configured in Engines.ini. Once this is done the programs can be linked/integrated or selected in the GUI itself. It is also possible to set the size of the hash tables of various programs in the GUI itself (I already reported on this in detail). Furthermore, the WinBoard engines use your personal openings books which makes Chess Assistant suitable for engine-engine comparisons under special circumstances, and I’d like to make a recommendation. Let’s look at my present configuration:
At first glance, everything looks very simple and so it is. The engines’ parameters can be found in the WinBoard.ini from the config.zip for example, or Engine Detail Seiten. I don’t think it’s necessary to offer a Chess Assistant configuration file for downloading. The name of the *.exe file must be heeded. If Gromit is called Gromit_31.exe, then Gromit_31 must be found in between brackets. It should also be noted that programs where neither parameters nor hash tables are configured from within the Chess Assistant GUI should not appear in the engines.ini. At this point a small hint: A WinBoard engine can only be fully made use of in a professional user interface if certain functions are supported.
An overview of the essential “basic functions” can be found in my column “Engine Overview II. Chess Assistant is in constant development and I am curious as to what awaits us ahead. I sent a wish list to Victor and he showed himself to be very interested in realizing the ideas therein. Personally I had great fun in being able to help a little and in exchanging information with these very pleasant people.
Trier, den 25.03.2000, 15:00 Uhr The complete text is translated by Albert Silver ! |
back to the Phase X main page or to the top of the page !