Engine Updates

Jim Ablett Win/Linux builds
BagaturChess 1.2d JA (UCI)
Java source; Win3; mp
http://jimablett.net63.net/

IvanHoe 999946h FT (UCI)
C source; mp; FRC; own GUI; Win32/64, Linux32/64; Ippolit derivative
this is a Franklin Titus build
- pipe fix (NostreDame), RobboExplorer fail when no dynamic 50move Input invalid
- menu for Push buttons in UCI (UnLoad), plus crash (PeterPan), Language into ComradesGUI (NewBuy)
- NewBuy: ->exact with HAS_Total (novel), Yet: minored (in now)
http://chess.cygnitec.com/engine/ivanhoe/

Sjaak r437 (WB)
C source; Win32/64, Linux32/64, Mac32/64; variants
- better overall evaluation of the late end-game, in particular of the mating potential of pieces
- I removed a dangerous form of futility pruning, that could misfire badly in positions with unequal material; I don't remember when I first put this in, but removing it looks like a solid increase in strength. I may not have tested it properly at the time
- it is now possible to define the "castle" move for different variants in the configuration file in the form "castle <side> <from>-<to> with <rook>"
- a number of non-protocol commands are recognised, which make the program a bit more useful when run as a stand-alone; these include "prompt on", "prompt off", "pieceinfo", "board", "maxnodes" and "moves"
- handle the XBoard "memory" command, so the size of the transposition table can be specified in the GUI
- bugfixes in the transposition table replacement strategy
- implementation of the XBoard "pause" command to suspend the thinking
- many evaluation enhancements and fixes for XiangQi; this should improve play considerably, although Sjaak will still be weak
- code cleanup and minor bug fixes
http://www.eglebbk.dds.nl/program/chess-index.html

Chess News

Lantern Chess 4.61 (WB/UCI)
Chess GUI by Mike Adams supporting WB & UCI for ICC online play/chat for Linux, Windows and Mac
http://www.lanternchess.com/ (homepage)
http://www.adammr.com/lanternhelp/lantern-help.html (help)

Down/Problem Chess Websites

Asterisk homepage down for 38 days
Damas homepage down for 77 days ("Free Web Hosting Discontinued")
Dann Corbit homepage down for 167 days

Wiki Changes

FACE Tournament
Gerhard has been busy!
updated pages: download, ratings, face, how it works, conditions, and participants
http://computer-chess.org/doku.php?id=computer_chess:tournaments:face

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

Eclipse 3.8M4
open source extensible IDE framework supporting plugins for almost all programming languages
w/ syntax highlighting, intellisense, code completion, templates, version control, more
http://www.eclipse.org/ (homepage)
http://download.eclipse.org/eclipse/downloads/drops/S-3.8M4-201112091447/index.php (download)

GIMP 2.7.4
Gnu Image Manipulation Program (GIMP); retouch photos, create drawings & renderings, etc.
- this is a *developmental release* (beta), available as source code only
http://www.gimp.org/

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