Comments by catugo

I don't now what you are doing. Please give me more details. Is it a game you play or an older log?

Please try again!

@Greg, Are things ok now?

I think I had solved it. If not I had corrected the error for another Apothecary chess modern preset. So please say that it does not work, if the case.

I have defined the none range piece type definition with (()()): def None-Range (()()); That because the error I mentioned earlier was that the piece that was the joker imitating was not an array.

@Greg,

The preset you have shown me is an older one. The newest ones are: https://www.chessvariants.com/play/pbm/play.php?game%3DApothecary+Chess-Classic%26settings%3DApothecary_Chess-Classic https://www.chessvariants.com/play/pbm/play.php?game%3DApothecary+Chess-Modern%26settings%3DApothecary_Chess-Modern.

Hopefully I'll have the time today to update the older presets.

It looks to me that initializing the joker with none cannot be done. When I had selected rook things work out fine!

@Fergus, As I had said in the previous message on this topic I have an error in my apothecary presets.

https://www.chessvariants.com/invention/apothecary-chess-1 https://www.chessvariants.com/invention/apothecary-chess-2

The for loop in the links above tries to the None piece for checking the legality. I remember the code working. Is it possible that some game code changes hinders this preset? Or is it a regular bug?

I have a problem with the apothecary presets. The ones that are in their final shape give an error at this code (second line-1061)

1060 for (from piece) fn friends 1061 for to fn join const alias #piece "-Range" #from 1062 if fn const alias #piece #from #to and not fn friend space #to and onboard #to 1063 move #from #to 1064 if not sub checked cond == #from #kingpos #to #kingpos 1065 setlegal #from #to 1066 endif 1067 endif 1068 restore 1069 next 1070 next

Do other presets have the same problem, as I remember mine working the last time I had checked?

There is an error in the article probably. When castling is described it says that the king moves 3 squares but this can't happen when castling short as the rook is in the way.

I have corrected the mistake and now it goes like this:

def White_Barren_Pawn 
checkaleap #0 #1 0 1 and cond empty #0 not capture empty #1
or and checkaleap #0 #1 -1 1 or checkaleap #0 #1 1 1 
cond empty #0 capture islower space #1;
def White_Barren_Pawn-Range merge leaps #0 1 0 leaps #0 1 1;

def Black_Barren_Pawn
checkaleap #0 #1 0 -1 and cond empty #0 not capture empty #1
or and checkaleap #0 #1 -1 -1 or checkaleap #0 #1 1 -1 
cond empty #0 capture isupper space #1;

But during my tests I came across the fact that a joker imitating a barren_pawn does not have the ability to capture another joker (although it is fine when capturing a knight).

I'm confused about what you want to say. Isn't it that : and cond empty #0 capture isupper space #1; does exactly that, capture for actual moves, and isupper space #1 checks for a potential victim in potential moves? Where am I wrong?

I have corrected the post move code to:

if != const alias $moved White_Joker:
  if != const alias $moved White_Pawn:
    set last_type_moved const alias $moved;
  else:
    set last_type_moved Black_Barren_Pawn;
  endif;
endif;

and similar for black. This code works.

But the Barren_Pawn worked fine when I had done only the move part of the pawn's powers but now I have added the capture part and nothing is legal anymore. Please help if you may! The code in question is:

def Black_Barren_Pawn
checkaleap #0 #1 0 -1 and cond empty #0 not capture empty #1
or checkleap #0 #1 -1 -1 or checkleap #0 #1 1 -1 
and cond empty #0 capture isupper space #1;

@Fergus

A few weeks ago I have figured out that the joker imitates the pawn in all things which causes the joker moves to not be allowed.

To tackle this issue I have decided to write a Barren_Pawn function that the joker will use when imitating a pawn instead of imitating the regular pawn function. Otherwise things are unchanged. The Barren_Pawn functions are:

def White_Barren_Pawn checkaleap #0 #1 1 0 and empty #1 islower space #1 and or checkaleap #0 #1 1 -1 checkaleap #0 #1 1 1;

def White_Barren_Pawn-Range merge leaps #0 1 0 leaps #0 1 1;

def Black_Barren_Pawn checkaleap #0 #1 -1 0 and empty #1 isupper space #1 and or checkaleap #0 #1 -1 -1 checkaleap #0 #1 -1 1;

def Black_Barren_Pawn-Range merge leaps #0 1 0 leaps #0 1 1;

The piece of code involving the joker imitation is:

if != const alias $moved White_Joker:
  if != const alias $moved Pawn:
    set last_type_moved const alias $moved;
  else:
    set last_type_moved White_Barren_Pawn;
  endif;
endif;

and for black:

if != const alias $moved Black_Joker:
  if != const alias $moved Pawn:
    set last_type_moved const alias $moved;
  else:
    set last_type_moved Black_Barren_Pawn;
  endif;
endif;

I thought it should easily work. Unfortunately it does not. Any idea why that is?

@Fergus

The way I had thought the game, the joker should, when imitating a pawn, get only the regular power and not promotion rights or double move privileges. And that works best with moving some of the lines in the pawn function to the pawn subroutine. It should be rather easy.

@ Greg,

I prefer to keep the name  and maybe rename the settings files used for old games. Can it be done?

@Oisin D.

I need a moment with no ongoing games so that I can change the pieces from Griffin and Aanca to Dragon and Griffin, so please temporarilly delete your pending invitation.

@ Fergus,

I have found the mistake. 
This piece of code was missing and adding it has solved the problem.

if == moved K: 
unsetflag f2;
set Kpos $dest;
endif;

Indeed it is I who has started using this name. It seemed apropiate to me, but at the time I have not put much though into it!

The new sub looks like this:

sub Apothecary_King from to:
if checkleap #from #to 1 1 or checkleap #from #to 1 0: 
return true;
endif;
move #to #from;
     if checkleap #from #to 1 3
     or checkleap #from #to 1 2
     and match rankname #to 1 10
     and flag #from :
         if not sub checked #from:
         move #from #to;
         return true;
         else die You may not perform the special moves out of check.;
         endif;
      endif;    
     return false;
endsub;

When trying to use regular moves out of check, I get the error "you cannot move into check.". This happens with or without the else part.

I have made the distinction between the function and the subroutine. But I still could not make work as expected.

def Apothecary_King
checkleap #0 #1 1 3
or checkleap #0 #1 1 2
and not sub checked #0
and match rankname #1 1 10
and flag #0
or checkleap #0 #1 1 0 
or checkleap #0 #1 1 1;

sub Apothecary_King from to:
if checkleap #from #to 1 1 or checkleap #from #to 1 0: 
return true;
endif;
move #to #from;
     if checkleap #from #to 1 3
     or checkleap #from #to 1 2
     and match rankname #to 1 10
     and flag #from :
         if sub checked #from:
         die You may not perform the special moves out of check.;
          endif;
     else:
     move #from #to;
     return true;
     endif;
endsub;

You are saying the the checked subroutine must be used inside the function?

Like that:

def Apothecary_King
checkleap #0 #1 1 3
or checkleap #0 #1 1 2
and match rankname #1 1 10
and flag #0
and not sub checked $origin
or checkleap #0 #1 1 0 
or checkleap #0 #1 1 1;

because this does not work.

I have separated the 2 codes but never are the special moves availeble. I'm not sure about what to do!

@Fergus

I have tried to implement the ban on special moves while the virgin king is in check. I'm far from the result.

Could you take a look at the link below?

https://www.chessvariants.com/play/pbm/play.php?game=Apothecary+Chess+2&settings=Apothecary2working&submit=Edit

I'd prefer the Dragon with a "D".

Fergus, 

I want to use the same set, not another one, but with a dragon picture instead of a bird picture. Is that even possible or should I make another piece set from the beginning?

To the editors.

Can a piece set be changed or it needs to be redone from the beginning?

I want to change in the apothecary chess standard piece set the bird with the dragon.

 have written the following code but I don't know where to call the subroutine.

sub King from to

    move #to #from;
    if sub checked #from:
    verify or checkleap #from #to 1 0 checkleap #from #to 1 1;
    else:
    verify fn King #from #to;
    endif;
    move #from #to;

endsub;

;

@Fergus,

I have remade the code to work as expected for the king to not be able to use the special moves out of check:

/play/pbm/play.php?game%3DApothecary+Chess+1%26settings%3DApothecary1working

The relevant piece of code for white  is:

if flag f2:
if == moved K:
  if sub checked $origin:;
    if not or checkleap $origin $dest 1 0 checkleap $origin $dest 1 1:
    die A King may not use the special moves out of check.;
  endif;
endif;
endif;
endif;

There is still the problem that the special moves are displayed as legal when a king is in check. Is that solvable?

@HG,

Indeed HG, now the diagram works as expected for me too!...

Thanks!

I'm not sure why but the diagram still does not work.

It behaves the same way.

I'm wondering if you have not tried to put a bishop over an already occupied square. Would this be an error?

I have tested it by pressing restart and it does not go well. The queen and knigt get swaped. But not the way I described in the rules. My code is here:

<script type="text/javascript" src="../membergraphics/MSinteractive-diagrams/betza.js"></script>
<div style="float:left;margin:0 40px 20px 0;">
<div class="idiagram">
files=10
ranks=12
holdingsType=1
promoZone=3
promoChoice=!P*N*B*C*W*R2*J2*Q1*D1*G1
graphicsDir=../graphics.dir/alfaerie/
whitePrefix=w
blackPrefix=b
graphicsType=gif
squareSize=54
symmetry=mirror
shuffle=G:BD,:BN,GDQ
hole::::a1,b1,c1,i1,j1,,a12,b12,c12,i12,j12
pawn:p:ifmnDfmWfceF:pawn:a4,b4,c4,d4,e4,f4,g4,h4,i4,j4,,a9,b9,c9,d9,e9,f9,g9,h9,i9,j9
rook::::a2,j2,,a11,j11:1
queen::::e3,,e10:1
bishop:B:B:bishop:d3,g3,,d10,g10
knight:N:NmHmA:knight:c3,h3,,c10,h10:1
wizard:W:FL:mage:d1,g1,,d12,g12
champion:C:WAD:champion:e1,h1,,e12,h12:1
joker:J:fI:fool:f1,,f12
dragon:D:FyafsF:dragon:i3,,i10
griffin:G:WyafsW:gryphon:b3,,b10
king:K:KimbsLimbsN:king:f3,,f10
</div></div>

I had tested it be pressing restart a few times on the diagram. Refresh gives me the initial position.

HG,

1. I still have not figured out how to make the squares, brouhaha

2. It may be a nice feature to display the brouhaha squares in a different colour

3.I don't think the shuffling works in this particular case (please read the article) but probably a javascript code is possible to do. Unfortuneatly I don't know Java script so if you can help me here I'd really apreciate it.

HG,

About the king: It does not castle bun while virgin it may leap one rank back using a knight or camel jump. I am thinking that in xbetza is : KimbsLimbsN. Is it correct?

The pieces are missing beacuse they should be added by shuffling. But for now I can;t do this. It probably should be treated as a particular case as the algorithm for placing piece from this game is rather weird, but you had said it may be done by java script.

Also I want to see the brouhaha code and the 960 code.

All right, you were correct on that final point, but things are not done.

Let us start from scratch. Maybe I'll understand what is going on.

The code that greg has suggested:

if and flag f2 == moved K:

for the condition that enters the main code in question does not work although the way I see it it should.. It is always false. I have checked for the flag. That works fine so it moved be the == moved K part. But I can't see why!

I know that. This is why the error seems weird to me. I'll get back to you on that!

I see what you say but with that I get always false. And the flag works well. I had checked.  So it is the equality. If i write if and flag f2 moved == K then it works for the king but the code enters for other pieces too which is weird.  So maybe == moved K regardless of how is written does not give the expected answer but all T or all F, which is weird. And that probably means I have trouble somewhere else.

@Fergus,

I'm glad to say I have managed to make it work.

Here is the code that does well:

if flag f2 and moved == K:
move $dest $origin; // Temporarily undo King move
  if sub checked $origin and not checkleap $origin $dest 1 0 or checkleap $origin $dest 1 1:
    die A King may not castle out of check.;
  endif;
move $origin $dest;
endif;

if == moved K: 
unsetflag f2;
set Kpos $dest;
endif;

if sub checked var Kpos:
  die You may not move into check.;
endif;

Later edit:

But althought the code works for white it does not work for black well, and also there is a weird side effect where a queen move on the first square generates the a king may not castle out of check error. So there is still work to do despite the progress.

2nd edit:

I think I have found the bug that generates both problems. It is the first if :

if flag f2 and moved == K:

this is either always true or always false if I move the == ahead of moved but I cannot get it to work in the intended way which is enter the condition when flag f2 of set and the K has just been moved.

I had tried the following in the postmove section 1 but with little succes:

if flag f2 and == moved K:
move $dest $origin; // Temporarily undo King move
  if sub checked $origin:
    die A King may not castle out of check.;
  endif;
move $origin $dest;
endif;

@HG,

I will be changing the pictures once I figure out how.

For now you can use the symbolic apothecary piece set.

@Fergus,

I have noticed that I forgot to ask you how to restrict the king's special moves to when the king is not in check. May you give me a final extra hand for this project?

The preset is here : https://www.chessvariants.com/play/pbm/play.php?game=Apothecary+Chess-Modern&settings=ApothecaryChess-Modern

Can I do the following changes to the apothecary: standard piece set?

I'd like to be able sometime myself because in the near future I hope to come up with some other new games.

Add a dragon (with the letter D) 

Delete the Bird

Rename the AB to A  the CA to L and the CH to H

Considerring the arguments made by Jean-Louis Cazeaux I have changed the names of 2 of the pieces to my original intent so the griffin and aanca became dragon and griffin (meaning the aanca is called griffin now).

I was wondering about that :)!

HG,

The script works wonderfully. Thanks! 

Microsoft edge got updated last night. I think this is why!

ok!

Wow cool thing supporting the imitator. I remember earlier versions were not able. Does the AI work also with it? This could sound silly, but random initial positions are supported?

And by the way, talking about previous moves, is there a way they will be taken into account as I am thinking about the joker in my apothecary chess game.

The game started from regular initial position and it went like this : 1. Ng5 Cd11 2. e5 Ci11 3. j5 Nf8 4. h5 Tg10 5. Ng6 Nxg6 . I'm not sure what needs refreshing.

@HG,

Hello,

I had just tried it and my advanced lyon defended by the DH got captured by the AI. I then tried it again. It seems to happend to player's lyon on 6th rank once the second dk pawn got moved. Maybe if you try reproducing such a position you may find the bug!...

@Thor

I had sent you an invitation with the new preset.

@Thor,

Programming the brouhaha squares in game code is quite easy. In C++ or another language for an engine I'm not sure!

@HG,

That one turn delay makes the game possible, and quite fun in my experience! These principles came up from 4 years of testing with human players!

@HG,

Withouht the brouhaha squares the wizard may quickly capture powerfull pieces in the opening. That was the initial idea but it does not work! Also, this way rooks stay conected.

@Thor,Greg&Fergus

Thanks guys for your thoughts on the matter.

So the crux of the matter it is that the dropping of the joker is not needed but the initial position should be given further consideration. What about then adding another brouhaha square for the joker? This would mean a champion more to the side. King in it's original position. King keeps special initial moves.

https://www.chessvariants.com/play/pbm/diagram-designer.php?submit=Update&code=---wcjwc--%2Fr8r%2F1abngknbq1%2Fpppppppppp%2F10%2F10%2F10%2F10%2FPPPPPPPPPP%2F1ABNGKNBQ1%2FR8R%2F---WCJWC--&shape=square&scale=100&group=Apothecary+Chess&set=apothecary-standard&files=a+b+c+d+e+f+g+h+i+j+&ranks=0+1+2+3+4+5+6+7+8+9+10+11&font=Verdana&point=12&cols=10&board=23.10.01.10.01.10.01.10.01.10.01.32.&colors=339933+CCCC11+DD99DD+FFBBFF&bcolor=111199&tcolor=EEEE22&bsize=16&bgimage=maple-walnut.png&nextfile=50+0&nextrank=0+50