Engine Updates

DoubleCheck 2.2 (UCI)
C source; Win32/64, Linux32/64, Android
- LMR: rationalised the reduction code. Search reductions should be safer, and more sound. Also code is
easier to read and maintain.
- magic bitboards: The generation of magic bitboards is now based on the code Umko by Borko Boskovic
Reasons for choice:
--- Umko's implementation of magics uses 3 times less memory, so it's more cache friendly
--- Umko's code is copyleft (GPL), whilst Pradu Kannan's copyright terms are incompatible with the letter and the spirit of GPL free software
- added a benchmark() function.
- qsearch SEE pruning:
--- don't prune discovered checks with negative SEE
--- prune the tt_move, like any other
--- removed the PV condition
- most sort: removed the mate killer heuristic (it was useless).
- move sort: forbid captures or promotions to "pollute" history table or killer moves.
- eval: forbid the use of calc_eval() when in check (use -INF instead, handled in the search)
- bugfix: displaying 64bit node counts now works (using the portability macro PRiu64)
http://wbec-ridderkerk.nl/html/details1/DoubleCheck.html (Leo page)

Godel 2.0.5 (WB)
Win32/64, Linux32/64
- analysis mode and the editing of positions now works correctly in Winboard
- Godel can now use the opening books of the Winboard GUI
- fixed a bug in the hint command in the interface with Winboard
- implemented the bk command of the Winboard protocol
- implemented the sd command of the Winboard protocol
- fixed bugs changing the side to move in Winboard
- added a logo for Winboard. Many thanks to Dusan Stamenkovic
https://sites.google.com/site/godelchessengine/

Jim Ablett Win/Linux builds
Sjaak r399 JA (WB)
C source; Win32; variants
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/5047625/sjaak-399-ja.zip (direct link)

Chess News

ChessGUI 0.238 (WB/UCI)
chess GUI / tournament manager by Matthias Gemuh; there is a separate download for a portable version
- bugfixes
http://www.chessgui.com/
http://w2410tmq9.homepage.t-online.de/

Norm Pollock site
PGN, EPD & TXT Utility Suites and Opening Book PGN Databases
- new TXT Utility Suite:
--- "txtBlank" lists the line number of each blank line in the input file
--- "txtNumLines" outputs the number of lines in the input fil
--- "txtRepeat" lists the line numbers of non-blank lines that are repeated elsewhere in the input file
--- "txtSort" sorts the lines of a text file alphanumerically in ascending order; blank lines are included
- Updated EPD Suite:
--- epdList (bugfix)
http://www.hoflink.com/~npollock/chess.html

Tony Mokonen Windows builds
SamChess-KM11 TM (WB)
C source; Win32; plays Knightmate variant only
http://www3.telus.net/tmokonen/SamChess-KM11.zip

Tony Mokonen Windows builds
TSCP-KM TM (WB)
C source; Win32; plays Knightmate variant only
http://www3.telus.net/tmokonen/TSCP-KM.zip (direct link)

Down/Problem Chess Websites

Asterisk homepage down for 26 days
Damas homepage down for 65 days ("Free Web Hosting Discontinued")
Dann Corbit homepage down for 155 days
Safrad homepage down today ("Service Temporarily Unavailable")

Wiki Changes
Nothing new today

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

avast! Free Antivirus 6.0.1367
free antivirus for Win32/64; the program is registerware: you must divulge your email address
http://www.avast.com/free-antivirus-download

CrystalDiskInfo 4.1.3b
open source hard drive monitoring/warning/alarm system using SMART technology
http://crystalmark.info/?lang=en

Freemake Video Converter 3.0.0
convert 200+ video formats; cut/join/scale video; rip & burn DVDs; burn Blu-rays, upload to YouTube; more
http://www.freemake.com/free_video_converter/

PyPy 1.7 (Python)
cross-platform, open source Python implementation; choose JIT (default), no JIT, stackless, or sandboxed;
also available: back ends for .NET and Java (see: 'Features' page);
other languages that run in the JIT: Prolog, Smalltalk, JavaScript, Io, Scheme and Gameboy
"The ... average of all [PyPy] benchmarks is ... 4.7 times faster than CPython"
- PyPy 1.7 implements Python 2.7.1
- new Win32 binary, Win64 binaries are *not* available
http://pypy.org/ (homepage)
http://morepypy.blogspot.com/2011/11/pypy-17-on-win32.html (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