"Wlodzimierz Holsztynski (Wlod)" wrote in message
...
On Jul 23, 9:13 am, "Guest" wrote:
MicroMax is surprisingly strong for just 2k of C code.
As Mr. Muller points on in the forum, v4.8 is even stronger.
Indeed, micro-Max 4.8 is stronger than me.
Also, as the author of the programs, H.G.Muller
has written on TalkChess, one can increase his
programs' constant 1e6 to make micor-Max search
more nodes (positions). I may try a recompilation
with 1e7 (ten times more nodes?).
Right. That would be 10 million nodes, as opposed to 1 million nodes. 10
times as many nodes means 10 times the thinking time and stronger play.
Probably a ply and a half, so maybe 100-150 points higher. (You could check
some of the online rating lists if you are curious about v4.8's ratings.)
The program is too simplistic to have time control, so a simple node counter
is used instead.
That means adjusting the node counter and recompiling it to get whatever
time control you want.
It's a little awkward to play, though.
Hard coded node count control, etc.
That's why he also provides a larger
xboard compatible version.
True, it's a bit primitive and hard to play
the way I did, using the simple screen
output + my magnetic chess set. But I am
poor when it comes to software installations,
and I don't know what works for mini-Mac OS X
I would assume there's a version of xBoard for the Mac, but I don't know any
details. Nor do I know if MicroMax would work properly with it. It was
probably designed more for Windows version since that's what Muller uses.
(Apple sold me their lousy "Tiger" just a few
days before their new release, LAmpart or
something - Apple is so dishonest, in the
dirty spirit of con artist Steve Jobs; I am a bit
Not as much as Bill G and the rest of the MicroShaft people.
stuck with my Mac but in the future I will avoid
Hey, it could be worse... You could be using Vista. I have it on my laptop
and I can't stand it.
But there aren't any current XP drivers for it, and the various Linux
distro's (which I don't really like anyway) don't work completely with the
hardware.
So Vista is my only choice.
Apple like a disaster; I am already aiming at using
Ubuntu and a different computer, even if it's older
and loud, but it's not Apple :-).
I've never used a Mac at all, so I don't know what it's like.
I did once think about getting a miniMac and running it as a home server.
Sit it on a shelf somewhere and let it run all the time.
That's pretty much the way MicroMax is.
In spite of its simplicity, it's stronger than
many programs. Only a little positional smarts,
but it's very good tactically.
Actually, micro-Max 4.8 makes a good impression
on me even positionally--perhaps not perfect but
It doesn't have much positional knowledge. Most of what looks like
positional play is done for tactical reasons. That's why simple brute force
programs can do so well.
what do I know? :-) It plays slower than the super-
fast micro-Max 4.0 but still at a good pace.
If your 'more sophisticated' program can't
match MicroChess 4.8 at comparable time controls,
then a programmer knows he has some work to do to
reach minimal acceptable playing quality.
Hint-hint -- Sanny, r u listening???!!!!! :-)
(chuckle)
MicroMax is an excellent example of the power of brute force on modern
hardware.
Thank you for your historical comments,
and for all of them, regards,
Wlod
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