Engine Updates

GNUchess5 5.07.175b (WB/UCI)
C source; Win32/64, Linux32/64, Mac64 & Android; bugfixed & improved by MVdB; MVdB version supports Gaviota tablebases
- SwapOffSign implemented and used almost everywhere instead of SwapOff (GNU Chess parlance for SEE)
- optimized futility pruning (do pruning without doing the move) both in main search and quiescence search (big elo gain)
- --sig and --version print full name
- only extend checks on non-negative SEE
- SEE pruning (Lucas Braesch). Nice elo gain
- CLOP tuning of king center control in endgame
- CLOP tuning of aspiration search margins
- history ageing (another nice elo gain)
- null threat extension (Lucas Braesch).
- evaluation cache implemented (size still needs to be tuned)
- very rudimentary implementation of KRKP
- rudimentary implementation of KRKRP
- CLOP tuning of futility margins
- CLOP tuning of passed pawn eval
- free passer bonus (nice elo gain)
- reduced delta margin
http://hardy.uhasselt.be/Toga/gnuchess-release/

Chess News

Jim Ablett Puppy Linux Chess Distros
lots of chess software and lots of Linux engines
- for 32-bit or 64-bit CPUs
- burn a bootable CD/DVD from the iso image
- booting from this disk will not affect your Windows or Linux installation
http://jimablett.net63.net/chess_755/chess-distros.html

Norm Pollock site
PGN, EPD & TXT Utility Suites and Opening Book PGN Databases
- updated PGN database: gm2006
http://www.hoflink.com/~npollock/chess.html

SCID 4.4
cross-platform, open source PGN database program for creating opening books, also a Chess GUI
- silent update, version number unchanged
- new Mac compile
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 34 days ("this site has been suspended")
ChestUCI homepage down for 29 days (a 110mb.com site)
Dolphin homepage down for 32 days (not found)
FreeChess homepage down for 6 days (a narod.ru site)
Ifrit homepage down for 6 days (a narod.ru site)
Igor Gorelikov Tools page down for 15 days (a 110mb.com site)
InmiChess homepage down for 29 days (no response in 60 seconds)
Mustang homepage down for 6 days (a narod.ru site)
OBender homepage down for 6 days (a narod.ru site)
Pyotr homepage down for 29 days (not found)
SDChess homepage down for 6 days (a narod.ru site)
SmarThink homepage down for 6 days (a narod.ru site)
Strelka homepage down for 6 days (a narod.ru site)
Toledo Nanochess homepage down for 29 days (a 110mb.com site)
Typhoon homepage down for 7 days (no response in 60 seconds)
Uralochka homepage down for 6 days (a narod.ru site)
WildCat homepage down for 6 days (a narod.ru site)

Wiki Changes

Engine GUI List
update by Norbert Raimund Leisner
- added Kagi Website
http://computer-chess.org/doku.php?id=computer_chess:wiki:lists:engine_gui_list

GUI Protocol List
update by Norbert Raimund Leisner
- Gnome Chess: updated and added links
- Monochess: added more links
- changed name from New Generation Board to ngboard
- Slibo: added another link
http://computer-chess.org/doku.php?id=computer_chess:wiki:lists:gui_protocol_support_list

Linux Engine List
update by Norbert Raimund Leisner
- added a link to various Linux distros
- added Jim Ablett Puppy Linux Chess link
http://computer-chess.org/doku.php?id=computer_chess:wiki:lists:linux_engine_list

Macintosh Engine List
update by Norbert Raimund Leisner
- added link to MacMost Forum
- added Open Directory link to Mac Chess software
- added Chess Knight Free
- added Chess Plus +
http://computer-chess.org/doku.php?id=computer_chess:wiki:lists:macintosh_engine_list

Native Engine List
update by Norbert Raimund Leisner
- added N Schach
http://computer-chess.org/doku.php?id=computer_chess:wiki:lists:native_engine_list

PGN Reader/Viewer/Writer List
update by Norbert Raimund Leisner
- added Chess Game Notation File Converter
http://computer-chess.org/doku.php?id=computer_chess:wiki:lists:pgn_reader_viewer_writer_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

Artistic Style 2.03
open source source code indenter, formatter, and beautifier for the C, C++, C# and Java programming languages
http://astyle.sourceforge.net/

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