Comments by catugo

H.G.

I tried to set up the second game the same way and I sadly failed.

Here is what I got:

Initial position:

r2zeel2r/1qnbkabnc1/pppppppppp/10/10/10/10/PPPPPPPPPP/1QNBKABNC1/R2ZEEL2R w - - 0 1

.ini file

/settingsFile=settings.ini
/saveSettingsFile=settings.ini
;
/cp
/fcp="fmax.exe"
/fd="./Fairy-Max"
/scp="fmax.exe"
/sd="./Fairy-Max"
;
/variant=apothecary2
/size=middling
/autoLogo true
;
/showTargetSquares=true
/pieceMenu=false
/sweepPromotions=true

fairy .ini file

// Large-board variant
Game: apothecary2 # PNBRQW.A..C......GKpnbrqw.a..c......gk # elven
10x10=3
7 3 4 5 10 11 9 4 3 7
7 3 4 6 10 12 8 4 3 7
p:100 -16,24 -16,6 -15,5 -17,5
p:100 16,24 16,6 15,5 17,5
n:340 14,7 31,7 33,7 18,7 -14,7 -31,7 -33,7 -18,7 45,6 51,6 -45,6 -51,6
b:420 15,3 17,3 -15,3 -17,3
e:370 15,7 17,7 -15,7 -17,7 34,7 30,7 -34,7 -30,7 48,6 -48,6 3,6 -3,6
l:320 47,7 49,7 -47,7 -49,7 19,7 13,7 -13,7 -19,7 16,6 1,6 -1,6 -16,6
z:300 46,7 50,7 -46,7 -50,7 35,7 29,7 -29,7 -35,7 15,6 -15,6 17,6 -17,6
R:725 1,3 16,3 -1,3 -16,3
A:1000 15,3 17,3 -15,3 -17,3 14,7 31,7 33,7 18,7 -14,7 -31,7 -33,7 -18,7
C:1100 1,3 16,3 -1,3 -16,3 14,7 31,7 33,7 18,7 -14,7 -31,7 -33,7 -18,7
Q:1200 1,3 16,3 15,3 17,3 -1,3 -16,3 -15,3 -17,3
k:-1  1,7 16,7 15,7 17,7 -1,7 -16,7 -15,7 -17,7
k:-1  1,7 16,7 15,7 17,7 -1,7 -16,7 -15,7 -17,7
#
# P& fmWfceFifmnD
# N& NmG
# L& CmW
# Z& ZmF
# E& FAmH
# C& RN
# A& BN
# K& K

Where am I wronG?

I did all that and it works, but I'm afraid that now I took away the zebra as a promotion choice as I moved the zebra to the 8th rank!

Well first, I decided to change the promotion rule to:

8th rank:less than a rook

9th rank:also to rook

10th rank: also to the 3 strong pieces

The reason for the initial rule was to not always promote to queen, but we got always promote to rook (I mean practically). The new rule is more flexible, but I'm afraid that it still leads to many rook promotions.

Second: the pawn double move still doesn't work, or it is something I did wrong?

Oh! Ok, Silly me!

Weirdly, no! Even pawns set back to the 2nd rank don't get the 2move!

The thing with the executables happens to me, too. I can't get the new version working. But I'm willing to give it up, as the new promotion rule chages the game significantly and it's unimplementable in Fairy-Max. And I still haven't found a way to write the aanca and griffin in Skaak II.

I managed on my own the easy task of rewriting the weirdPromotion script:

<script>function WeirdPromotion(x1, y1,x2, y2, promo)
{
  if((board[y1][x1] & 15) != 1) return promo; // moved piece is not a Pawn
  if(y2 == 9 || y2 == 0) return ((promo & 15) == 1 ? 9 : promo); // on last rank: cannot stay Pawn
  if((y2 == 7 || y2 == 2) && ((promo & 15) > 6))return board[y1][x1]; // rook or larger than Rook: remains Pawn
  if((y2 == 8 || y2 == 1) && ((promo & 15) > 7))return board[y1][x1]; // larger than Rook: remains Pawn
  return promo; // choice was acceptable
}
</script>

<script>function WeirdPromotion(x1, y1,x2, y2, promo)
{
  if((board[y1][x1] & 15) != 1) return promo; // moved piece is not a Pawn
  if(y2 == 9 || y2 == 0) return ((promo & 15) == 1 ? 11 : promo); // on last rank: cannot stay Pawn
  if((y2 == 7 || y2 == 2) && ((promo & 15) > 7))return board[y1][x1]; // rook or larger than Rook: remains Pawn
  if((y2 == 8 || y2 == 1) && ((promo & 15) > 8))return board[y1][x1]; // larger than Rook: remains Pawn
  return promo; // choice was acceptable
}
</script>

I've made the script chages as you've said. I'm still trying to run 5.0b. I redownloaded from the same link, pasted over what there was with copy and replace in both game directories and double pawn move doesn't work, I think because I'm not running 5.0b. Still working on that.

Actually 5.0b is installed, but not working in winboard!

Now I get it, It is fairy-max 5.0b, but when I paste the new inital position pawns loose their virginity!

It says 5.0b. I think I haven't dowloaded the proper version, I'll retry!

I haven't downloaded the proper version and I don't know how to do that!

Is the link the same one?

This link:

http://hgm.nubati.net/Fairy-Max.zip

provides only FairyMax 5.0b, not Fairy-Max 5.0b2. I'm sure of that. I'm not sure where should I find Fairy-Max 5.0b2.

?t=l worked I got the new version but I have no some trouble with the antivirus after I solve those I see no reason why winboard wouldn't run the new version!

H.G.

It now works pawns and everything, but here is what I've done I hope not to cause you any trouble.

After download in the initial run of the fairy-max5.0b2 avast antivirus started a scan and I interupted it abruptly. I think it has thought that your program did and now it says avast has this program under scrutiny.

Don't worry about me I just abort the antivir and is fine. Fairymax works.

I honestly hope I haven't caused you any trouble.

Actually for now I'm enjoying the fruits of my and especially your work H.G. . Apothecary 1 is quite slick and interesting from the games I see it has an interesting assortment of minor leapers, and the aanca and griffin are quite new on the play field. Apothecary 2 is a bit more stale with not so interesting leapers and usual power pieces. Tomorrow I'll be starting serious work.

H.G. I understand that the power of Aanca and Griffin are virtually unknown, so there is research to be made, but I have to take care of both of my twins so we could see a game with 5 elephants versus 6 zebras or something of sorts. I initially gave more points 3.7 vs 3 to the elephant as the just move enhancement works very well with the rest of the powers. Now I think it's a bit much.

Ok, thanks!

About the promotion rule, I'm not that sure that you are correct, waiting 1 turn to get a rook is a big deal, what can the oposite bishop do in 1 turn to turn the tables. A rook can win you the game. Also now you have to pay 1 turn from rook to queen but I don't think this will come into play unless very weird situations like many pawns vs minor piece and the rest of pieces the same, although the rest of the pieces will be used to capture/block pawns!

I left Fairy-Max at 15min+15secs incr. twice, once with each initial position and not that 2 points are statistically relevant but the game seems to last 70-80 moves ( maybe a bit more for apothecary 2 that is the slower game), so not that bad.

If I decrease the time that much Fairy-Max runs out of time all the time(! and - signs). I also wanted to see how stronger games go, because all the games I've seen so far were pretty imbalanced to a lesser degree the 2 pairs of games at 15 min. The real tests will be at shorter time spans in order to make more points on the graphics.

Also I have a slow computer. Just a probook Laptop.

KPvsK still a win, I forgot about it, and is very important. It seems my rule devalues promotion rather than giving extra options as it was intended. It could work if you fine tune a variant just for it. It is not the case here. I think postponing for a rook could still work in many cases, I just don't see postponing for a queen happening to soon.

I must say I'm pleasantly surprised by the way Fairy-max handles openings. Being said that I used a generous time counter 15mins+15secs, I've seen pawn sacs and fianchetto bishops..

A weird thing is not until now there were no draws in 4 games of each incarnation. Fairy-max usually avoids repetition draws, which is also cool.

I have completed my general view on the 2 twin games:

There were six games of apothecary 1 and six games of apothecary 2.

Scores:

Apothecary 1: white 3-3 black no draws

Apothecary 2: white 2-4 black no draws

Length:

Apothecary 1: 50-80 moves

Apothecary 2: 70-90 moves

Piece values used by Fairy-max:

Apothecary 1

pawn:85
knight:272
bishop:286
wizard:258
champion:272
rook:510
aanca:612
griffin:748
queen:816

Apothecary 2

pawn:85
knight:231
bishop:286
elephant:251
camel:218
zebra:204
rook:510
archbishop:680
marshal:748
queen:816

The high rook was an accident It was supposed to be 493, but I won't redo this.