Engine Updates

Bobcat 20110414 (UCI)
C source; Win32/64
- allow null move pruning in PV nodes
- allow forward pruning in PV nodes
- less check extensions
- allow two extra plies in qs search (from 5 to 7)
- don't stand pat in qs node when in check (but still only captures and promotins are generated thereafter)
- different mobility points for bishop (the amount of extra points per additional square decreases faster)
- different mobility points for rook (the amount of extra points per additional square decreases faster)
- penalty (big) for having open file(s) near own King when opponent still has at least a Queen or two Rooks
- penalty (big) for having semi-open file(s) near own King when opponent still has at least a Queen or two Rooks
- more points (much) when opponent King is attacked by 4 pieces, and up increasing
- slight changes in 'King attack points' values for the different piece types
- removal of the bonus points for major pieces on 7th rank when opponent has a King on 8th rank or Pawn(s) on 7th. This is now a necessary condition for getting the 7th rank bonus in the first place
- possibly less bonus points for Rook on open or semi-open files
- possible score adjustments towards draw for end game KBxKBy with the Bishops on opposite colors
- code cleanup various. Most #define's are now replaced with inline methods/functions, removal of obsolete code, more consistent naming, etc
- removed dependency from <iostream> header file. Result is a 75Kb smaller executabe
- experiments that failed (and thus not in this version) include: singular move extension, passed pawn extensions, root move sorting, lazy eval, better static & dynamic pawn structure evaluation, reduce certain capture moves,..
https://github.com/Bobcat

Chess News
Nothing new today

Down/Problem Chess Websites

BabyChess homepage down for 7 days (404: page not found)
Bearded homepage down for 65 days
ChessMind homepage down for 2 days (no response in 60 seconds)
Darmenios homepage down for 3 days (502: bad gateway)
Frenzee homepage down for 240 days (purposely down until new engine release)
Sorgenkind homepage down for 106 days
Typhoon homepage down for 32 days (no response in 60 seconds)
Usurper homepage down for 105 days (no response in 60 seconds)
Firefly homepage back up
SharpChess homepage back up

Wiki Changes

Links
- added GSwiss & Litchie Pro tournament managers
http://computer-chess.org/doku.php?id=computer_chess:wiki:links

List Index
update by Norbert Raimund Leisner
- fixed a typo
http://computer-chess.org/doku.php?id=computer_chess:wiki:lists:index

Variants Engine List
update by Norbert Raimund Leisner
- fixed a typo
http://computer-chess.org/doku.php?id=computer_chess:wiki:lists:variants_engine_list

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
Nothing new today

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