Update Information: March 22, 2013 (Updates)
Engine Updates
DiscoCheck 4.1 (UCI)
C source; Win64, Linux64
- "it scored +15 Elo in my test against DC 4.0.3"
- fixed a bug with 2-fold repetition in the game history instead of 3-fold
- recognizes KPK draws, using a bitbase
- recognize KBPK draws using an eval heuristic
- use QS TT moves in the search, but discard it for IID
- prefetch the TT and Pawn Cache entries before use, to be more cache-friendly (SSE 4.2 only)
- restrict LMR from diving directly into the QS
- tune down some passed pawn weights slightly
https://github.com/lucasart/chess (code repository)
https://github.com/lucasart/chess/tree/master/bin (builds)
NG-Play 8.3 (WB)
C source; Win32
- small optimizations
- bug fixes
http://users.otenet.gr/~yggeorgo/
Toga II 3.0 JA (WB/UCI)
C++ source; Win32, Linux32, Android
- scores 64% against previous Toga versions at various time controls, so should be a decent strength improvement
- multi-PV fixed
- aspiration windows
- hash table used in quiescent search (for lookup as well as store)
- LMR improved (thanks to the authors of Stockfish and Protector)
- TT avoid null-move flag
- new endgame knowledge
- improved mobility evaluation (Ben Tennison)
- piece combo (QN vs QB) adjustment
http://www.computerchess.info/tdbb/phpBB3/download/file.php?id=1402
Kitteneitor has a new code repository address
https://github.com/emdio/kitteneitor
SecondChess has a new code repository address
https://github.com/emdio/secondchess
Chess News
Scid 4.4 RC 1
cross-platform, open source PGN database program for creating opening books, also a Chess GUI
- this is a *release candidate*
http://sourceforge.net/projects/scid (project page)
http://scid.sourceforge.net/index.html (homepage)
http://scid.sourceforge.net/download.html (download)
Down/Problem Chess Websites
Belofte homepage down for 12 days ("this site has been suspended")
ChestUCI homepage down for 7 days (a 110mb.com site)
Dolphin homepage down for 10 days (not found)
Hopeless homepage down for 2 days (no response in 60 seconds)
InmiChess homepage down for 7 days (no response in 60 seconds)
Pyotr homepage down for 7 days (not found)
RDChess homepage down for 2 days (no content)
Safrad homepage down today (no response in 60 seconds)
Toledo Nanochess homepage down for 7 days (a 110mb.com site)
Wiki Changes
Chess Engine List
update by Ron Murawski
- updated links for Kitteneitor and SecondChess
- moved Akkad to Retreated Engine List
- removed a Deep Saros link
http://computer-chess.org/doku.php?id=computer_chess:wiki:lists:chess_engine_list
Kitteneitor
update by Emilio Diaz
- updated link to Kitteneitor code repository
http://computer-chess.org/doku.php?id=computer_chess:engines:kitteneitor:index
SecondChess
update by Emilio Diaz
- updated link to SecondChess code repository
http://computer-chess.org/doku.php?id=computer_chess:engines:kitteneitor:index
Bonus Notifications (recent releases of free stuff)
Warnings:
- do not install unwanted toolbars, etc.
- alpha releases have new features; crashes and bugs are to be expected
- beta releases have new features; they may contain bugs or crash
- release candidate software may contain minor bugs; crashes are rare
Calibre 0.9.24
cross-platform open source ebook manager for all popular ebook readers with format conversion,
news feeds, and integrated e-book viewer
http://calibre-ebook.com/
GCC 4.8.0
open source Gnu C/C++ Compiler for Linux
includes front ends for C, C++, Objective-C, Fortran, Java, Ada, and Go, as well as libraries for these languages
http://gcc.gnu.org/ (homepage)
http://gcc.gnu.org/gcc-4.8/ (grouped 4.8.x announcement)
Linux Mint 201303 "Debian"
Debian-based semi-rolling release distro; MATE & Cinnamon desktops; #1 in popularity
http://linuxmint.com/
http://blog.linuxmint.com/?p=2346 (announcement)
Meaning of Colors
Red = New or Warning
Green = Updated
Gray = Info Only
Engine List: http://computer-chess.org/doku.php?id=computer_chess:wiki:lists:chess_engine_list
Chess News: http://computer-chess.org/doku.php?id=computer_chess:wiki:lists:chess_news_list
NOTE: If you want me to track a website for you, please email me and I will add it.
ron _at_ computer-chess _dot_ org