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diff --git a/gnu/games/chess/DOCUMENTATION/ARTICLE b/gnu/games/chess/DOCUMENTATION/ARTICLE deleted file mode 100644 index b2ab331d21d..00000000000 --- a/gnu/games/chess/DOCUMENTATION/ARTICLE +++ /dev/null @@ -1,66 +0,0 @@ -[This article was reproduced from a GNU Bulletin.] - - GNU Chess - by Stuart Cracraft - copyright 1987 Stuart Cracraft - - - GNU Chess is a communal chess program. Contributors donate their -time and effort in order to make it a stronger, better, sleeker program. -Contributions take many forms: interfaces to high-resolution displays, -opening book treatises, speedups of the underlying algorithms, additions -of extra heuristics. These contributions are then distributed to the -large user-base so that all may enjoy the fruits of our labor. The -original and continuing purpose of this project is to permanently end -the rampant hoarding of computer chess software that has been the -case for the past 20 years. - - Many people have contributed to GNU Chess. Their contributions have -improved the program from being a patzer (weak program) to being a -grandpatzer (decently strong program). In its growth since initial -release, GNU Chess has gone from approximately class D to expert -strength. It beats the Fidelity Excel commercial unit rather handily. - - GNU Chess's structure is a hybrid of the Shannon Type-A and -Type-B methods. It conducts a full-width search to a fixed-depth -and then continues with a quiescence search for many more ply. -This quiescence search helps the program find positions which -can be safely evaluated and which are not too turbulent. If -a terminal position is too turbulent, the evaluation will be -highly inaccurate. Additional searching by investigating series -of captures, checks, and other potentially imbalance-producing -moves is quite helpful. - - GNU Chess will sacrifice pieces in order to reach known winning -endings. Also, it uses a trade-down bonus to encourage the stronger -side to trade off certain types of pieces thus reaching a more -simplified and therefore ostensibly "clearer" position. - - GNU Chess has certain types of knowledge regarding easier endgames. -This allows it to play these endings somewhat better than might be -expected. - - GNU Chess has time heuristics that it uses to improve its handling -of time-controls and hasten its making of "obvious" moves. - - GNU Chess is interfaced to the SUN Windows and X Windows -display protocols and can display its pieces in elaborate format, -similar to chess diagrams. - - GNU Chess has an opening book which consists of many variations -from MCO (Modern Chess Openings). - - For comparison purposes, GNU Chess running on a VAX 8650 is -stronger than the famous Chess 4.5 running on a CDC 6400. - - We wish to acknowledge the contributions of the following -individuals: (in alphabetical order) Jim Aspnes, Wayne Christopher, -Steve Dougherty, David Goldberg, Richard Greenblatt, David Kittinger, -Richard Stallman, John Stanback, and Ken Thompson. - - Contact information: The author may be reached by a variety of -methods. Via U.S. mail: Stuart Cracraft, 5 Via Amistosa, Suite G, -Rancho Santa Margarita, Ca. 92688 USA. - By Internet: 'cracraft at wheaties.ai.mit.edu' -The author may also be contacted via the Free Software Foundation, Inc. -675 Massachusetts Ave.,Cambridge MA 02139. |