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diff --git a/gnu/games/chess/DOCUMENTATION/HEURISTICS b/gnu/games/chess/DOCUMENTATION/HEURISTICS new file mode 100644 index 00000000000..254b34472ab --- /dev/null +++ b/gnu/games/chess/DOCUMENTATION/HEURISTICS @@ -0,0 +1,122 @@ +This file contains a description of GNU's heuristics. + Copyright (C) 1986, 1987 Free Software Foundation, Inc. + +This file is part of CHESS. + +CHESS is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, +but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY. No author or distributor +accepts responsibility to anyone for the consequences of using it +or for whether it serves any particular purpose or works at all, +unless he says so in writing. Refer to the CHESS General Public +License for full details. + +Everyone is granted permission to copy, modify and redistribute +CHESS, but only under the conditions described in the +CHESS General Public License. A copy of this license is +supposed to have been given to you along with CHESS so you +can know your rights and responsibilities. It should be in a +file named COPYING. Among other things, the copyright notice +and this notice must be preserved on all copies. */ + + -- requested by main author +Heuristic descriptions for CHESS. + +Revision: 12-16-87 + +Copyright (c) 1987 by John Stanback + + Here is a brief description of the heuristics used in the positional + evaluator of the GNU Chess program. Many heuristics are functions of the + stage of the game which is based on the total non-pawn material remaining + for both sides. + + +PAWNS + The material value of a pawn is 100 points. Isolated pawns get a + penalty depending on which file they occupy: + (12,14,16,20,20,16,14,12) for files (a..h). + Doubled pawns (which are not also isolated) get a penalty of 12 + points. Backward pawns (defined simply as not being defended by a + pawn with the square in front also not defended by a a pawn) are + penalized 6 points. A 4 point penalty is also invoked for each attack + by the opponent to a backward pawn and for a backward pawn on a + half-open file. Pawn Advancement in the centre is given a bonus of + about 4 points per rank in the opening increasing to about 8 points + per rank in the ending. Advancement on the edges is given a lower + bonus. Pawns on the e and d files and on the 2nd rank are given a 10 + point penalty. An additional penalty of 15 points is invoked if these + pawns are also blocked. Pawns within 2 squares of the king are given + a 10 point bonus. Passed pawns are given a bonus for increasing rank + which is a function of stage of the game and of whether the opponent + blocks or attacks one or more squares in front of the pawn or if the + opponents king is in the square of the pawn. This bonus ranges from + about 15 points for a pawn on the second rank up to about 300 points + for a passed pawn on the 7th rank which can't be stopped from + queening. + + +KNIGHTS + The material value of a knight is 330 points. The main heuristic for + knights is a bonus for proximity to the centre. This varies from 0 + points in the corners to 30 points in the centre. Knights are also + given a bonus for being within 2 squares of each enemy piece. This + bonus is a function of the stage of the game, equalling 4 points in + the end game. A penalty of 1 point per square is given for distance + from either king. A bonus of up to 8 points (depends on stage) is + given for knights which can't be driven away by enemy pawns. + + +BISHOPS + The material value of a bishop is 330 points. Bishops are given a + bonus as material falls off the board equalling 10 points in the end + game. Bishops get a bonus for mobility and Xray mobility thru pieces + but not pawns. This bonus ranges from -4 points for a totally blocked + bishop up to 18 points for a bishop attacking 12 or more squares. + Xray attacks on an enemy R,Q,K or any undefended piece are given an 8 + point bonus. Bishops are given a bonus of 14 points if they lie on + the edge of the board up to 22 points if the lie in the centre. A + bishop is given a bonus of up to 5 points for each attack to a square + adjacent to the enemy king. + + +ROOKS + The material value of a rook is 520 points. Rook mobility is handled + similiarly to bishops with a bonus of 0 points if blocked up to 20 + points if attacking 12 squares or more. A bonus of 8 points for Xray + attacks is handled as it is for bishops. Rooks are given a bonus of + 10 points for occupying a file with no friendly pawns and a bonus of + 4 points if no enemy pawns lie on that file. After the opening Rooks + are penalized slightly depending on "taxicab" distance to the enemy + king. + + +QUEENS + The material value of a queen is 980 points. The only heuristic for a + queen is that after the opening it is penalized slightly for + "taxicab" distance to the enemy king. + + +KINGS + Kings are given a penalty for proximity to the centre in the opening + and a bonus for proximity to the centre in the endgame. The penalty + is about 24 points for being in the centre in the opening with a + bonus of about 36 points for being in the centre in the endgame. + Kings are penalized for lying on an open or half-open file or if the + adjacent file closest to the corner is open or half-open. This + penalty is up to 23 points in the opening and goes to zero in the end + game. The King is penalized up to 8 points if there are no pawns + immediately adjacent. A penalty is invoked depending on the number of + "safe" checks available by the opponent. This penalty ranges from 6 + points for one such check to 50 points for 4 or more. Depending on + game stage, Kings are given up to 10 points for castling and a + penalty of up to 40 points for moving before castling. + + +SPECIAL + If more than one piece is "hung" (attacked and not defended or + attacked by an enemy piece of lower value) an extra penalty of 10 + points is invoked for that side and the search may be extended one + ply. Pinned or trapped pieces are treated similarly. A special mating + routine is used if one side has only a king and the other has mating + material. + |