Chess960 - New Opportunities for Proof Games
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FIDE Laws of Chess
FIDE Laws of Chess FIDE Laws of Chess cover over-the-board play. The Laws of Chess have two parts: 1. Basic Rules of Play and 2. Competition Rules. The English text is the authentic version of the Laws of Chess (which was adopted at the 84th FIDE Congress at Tallinn (Estonia) coming into force on 1 July 2014. In these Laws the words ‘he’, ‘him’, and ‘his’ shall be considered to include ‘she’ and ‘her’. PREFACE The Laws of Chess cannot cover all possible situations that may arise during a game, nor can they regulate all administrative questions. Where cases are not precisely regulated by an Article of the Laws, it should be possible to reach a correct decision by studying analogous situations which are discussed in the Laws. The Laws assume that arbiters have the necessary competence, sound judgement and absolute objectivity. Too detailed a rule might deprive the arbiter of his freedom of judgement and thus prevent him from finding a solution to a problem dictated by fairness, logic and special factors. FIDE appeals to all chess players and federations to accept this view. A necessary condition for a game to be rated by FIDE is that it shall be played according to the FIDE Laws of Chess. It is recommended that competitive games not rated by FIDE be played according to the FIDE Laws of Chess. Member federations may ask FIDE to give a ruling on matters relating to the Laws of Chess. BASIC RULES OF PLAY Article 1: The nature and objectives of the game of chess 1.1 The game of chess is played between two opponents who move their pieces on a square board called a ‘chessboard’. -
Solved Openings in Losing Chess
1 Solved Openings in Losing Chess Mark Watkins, School of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Sydney 1. INTRODUCTION Losing Chess is a chess variant where each player tries to lose all one’s pieces. As the naming of “Giveaway” variants has multiple schools of terminology, we state for definiteness that captures are compulsory (a player with multiple captures chooses which to make), a King can be captured like any other piece, Pawns can promote to Kings, and castling is not legal. There are competing rulesets for stalemate: International Rules give the win to the player on move, while FICS (Free Internet Chess Server) Rules gives the win to the player with fewer pieces (and a draw if equal). Gameplay under these rulesets is typically quite similar.1 Unless otherwise stated, we consider the “joint” FICS/International Rules, where a stalemate is a draw unless it is won under both rulesets. There does not seem to be a canonical place for information about Losing Chess. The ICGA webpage [H] has a number of references (notably [Li]) and is a reasonable historical source, though the page is quite old and some of the links are broken. Similarly, there exist a number of piecemeal Internet sites (I found the most useful ones to be [F1], [An], and [La]), but again some of these have not been touched in 5-10 years. Much of the information was either outdated or tangential to our aim of solving openings (in particular responses to 1. e3), We started our work in late 2011. The long-term goal was to weakly solve the game, presumably by showing that 1. -
Learning to Play Chess Using Temporal Differences
Machine Learning, 40, 243–263, 2000 c 2000 Kluwer Academic Publishers. Manufactured in The Netherlands. Learning to Play Chess Using Temporal Differences JONATHAN BAXTER [email protected] Department of Systems Engineering, Australian National University 0200, Australia ANDREW TRIDGELL [email protected] LEX WEAVER [email protected] Department of Computer Science, Australian National University 0200, Australia Editor: Sridhar Mahadevan Abstract. In this paper we present TDLEAF(), a variation on the TD() algorithm that enables it to be used in conjunction with game-tree search. We present some experiments in which our chess program “KnightCap” used TDLEAF() to learn its evaluation function while playing on Internet chess servers. The main success we report is that KnightCap improved from a 1650 rating to a 2150 rating in just 308 games and 3 days of play. As a reference, a rating of 1650 corresponds to about level B human play (on a scale from E (1000) to A (1800)), while 2150 is human master level. We discuss some of the reasons for this success, principle among them being the use of on-line, rather than self-play. We also investigate whether TDLEAF() can yield better results in the domain of backgammon, where TD() has previously yielded striking success. Keywords: temporal difference learning, neural network, TDLEAF, chess, backgammon 1. Introduction Temporal Difference learning, first introduced by Samuel (Samuel, 1959) and later extended and formalized by Sutton (Sutton, 1988) in his TD() algorithm, is an elegant technique for approximating the expected long term future cost (or cost-to-go) of a stochastic dy- namical system as a function of the current state. -
Proposal to Encode Heterodox Chess Symbols in the UCS Source: Garth Wallace Status: Individual Contribution Date: 2016-10-25
Title: Proposal to Encode Heterodox Chess Symbols in the UCS Source: Garth Wallace Status: Individual Contribution Date: 2016-10-25 Introduction The UCS contains symbols for the game of chess in the Miscellaneous Symbols block. These are used in figurine notation, a common variation on algebraic notation in which pieces are represented in running text using the same symbols as are found in diagrams. While the symbols already encoded in Unicode are sufficient for use in the orthodox game, they are insufficient for many chess problems and variant games, which make use of extended sets. 1. Fairy chess problems The presentation of chess positions as puzzles to be solved predates the existence of the modern game, dating back to the mansūbāt composed for shatranj, the Muslim predecessor of chess. In modern chess problems, a position is provided along with a stipulation such as “white to move and mate in two”, and the solver is tasked with finding a move (called a “key”) that satisfies the stipulation regardless of a hypothetical opposing player’s moves in response. These solutions are given in the same notation as lines of play in over-the-board games: typically algebraic notation, using abbreviations for the names of pieces, or figurine algebraic notation. Problem composers have not limited themselves to the materials of the conventional game, but have experimented with different board sizes and geometries, altered rules, goals other than checkmate, and different pieces. Problems that diverge from the standard game comprise a genre called “fairy chess”. Thomas Rayner Dawson, known as the “father of fairy chess”, pop- ularized the genre in the early 20th century. -
PGN/AN Verification for Legal Chess Gameplay
PGN/AN Verification for Legal Chess Gameplay Neil Shah Guru Prashanth [email protected] [email protected] May 10, 2015 Abstract Chess has been widely regarded as one of the world's most popular games through the past several centuries. One of the modern ways in which chess games are recorded for analysis is through the PGN/AN (Portable Game Notation/Algebraic Notation) standard, which enforces a strict set of rules for denoting moves made by each player. In this work, we examine the use of PGN/AN to record and describe moves with the intent of building a system to verify PGN/AN in order to check for validity and legality of chess games. To do so, we formally outline the abstract syntax of PGN/AN movetext and subsequently define denotational state-transition and associated termination semantics of this notation. 1 Introduction Chess is a two-player strategy board game which is played on an eight-by-eight checkered board with 64 squares. There are two players (playing with white and black pieces, respectively), which move in alternating fashion. Each player starts the game with a total of 16 pieces: one king, one queen, two rooks, two knights, two bishops and eight pawns. Each of the pieces moves in a different fashion. The game ends when one player checkmates the opponents' king by placing it under threat of capture, with no defensive moves left playable by the losing player. Games can also end with a player's resignation or mutual stalemate/draw. We examine the particulars of piece movements later in this paper. -
Chess Problems out of the Box
werner keym Chess Problems Out of the Box Nightrider Unlimited Chess is an international language. (Edward Lasker) Chess thinking is good. Chess lateral thinking is better. Photo: Gabi Novak-Oster In 2002 this chess problem (= no. 271) and this photo were pub- lished in the German daily newspaper Rhein-Zeitung Koblenz. That was a great success: most of the ‘solvers’ were wrong! Werner Keym Nightrider Unlimited The content of this book differs in some ways from the German edition Eigenartige Schachprobleme (Curious Chess Problems) which was published in 2010 and meanwhile is out of print. The complete text of Eigenartige Schachprobleme (errata included) is freely available for download from the publisher’s site, see http://www.nightrider-unlimited.de/angebot/keym_1st_ed.pdf. Copyright © Werner Keym, 2018 All rights reserved. Kuhn † / Murkisch Series No. 46 Revised and updated edition 2018 First edition in German 2010 Published by Nightrider Unlimited, Treuenhagen www.nightrider-unlimited.de Layout: Ralf J. Binnewirtz, Meerbusch Printed / bound by KLEVER GmbH, Bergisch Gladbach ISBN 978-3-935586-14-6 Contents Preface vii Chess composition is the poetry of chess 1 Castling gala 2 Four real castlings in directmate problems and endgame studies 12 Four real castlings in helpmate two-movers 15 Curious castling tasks 17 From the Allumwandlung to the Babson task 18 From the Valladao task to the Keym task 28 The (lightened) 100 Dollar theme 35 How to solve retro problems 36 Economical retro records (type A, B, C, M) 38 Economical retro records -
Hypermodern Game of Chess the Hypermodern Game of Chess
The Hypermodern Game of Chess The Hypermodern Game of Chess by Savielly Tartakower Foreword by Hans Ree 2015 Russell Enterprises, Inc. Milford, CT USA 1 The Hypermodern Game of Chess The Hypermodern Game of Chess by Savielly Tartakower © Copyright 2015 Jared Becker ISBN: 978-1-941270-30-1 All Rights Reserved No part of this book maybe used, reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any manner or form whatsoever or by any means, electronic, electrostatic, magnetic tape, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the express written permission from the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews. Published by: Russell Enterprises, Inc. PO Box 3131 Milford, CT 06460 USA http://www.russell-enterprises.com [email protected] Translated from the German by Jared Becker Editorial Consultant Hannes Langrock Cover design by Janel Norris Printed in the United States of America 2 The Hypermodern Game of Chess Table of Contents Foreword by Hans Ree 5 From the Translator 7 Introduction 8 The Three Phases of A Game 10 Alekhine’s Defense 11 Part I – Open Games Spanish Torture 28 Spanish 35 José Raúl Capablanca 39 The Accumulation of Small Advantages 41 Emanuel Lasker 43 The Canticle of the Combination 52 Spanish with 5...Nxe4 56 Dr. Siegbert Tarrasch and Géza Maróczy as Hypermodernists 65 What constitutes a mistake? 76 Spanish Exchange Variation 80 Steinitz Defense 82 The Doctrine of Weaknesses 90 Spanish Three and Four Knights’ Game 95 A Victory of Methodology 95 Efim Bogoljubow -
— I Believe Hostage the Most Interesting, Exciting Variant That Can Be Played with a Standard Chess Set. Mating Attacks Are the Norm
— I believe Hostage the most interesting, exciting variant that can be played with a standard chess set. Mating attacks are the norm. Anyone can hope to discover new principles and opening lines. Grandmaster Larry Kaufman 2008 World Senior Chess Champion — Fascinating, exciting, extremely entertaining—–what a wonder- ful new game! Grandmaster Kevin Spraggett Chess World Championship Candidate — Probably the most remarkable chess variant of the last fi ft y years. Captured men are hostages that can be exchanged. Play is rarely less than exciting, sometimes with several reversals of fortune. Dramatic mates are the rule, not the exception. D.B.Pritchard author of “Th e Encyclopedia of Chess Variants” — Chess is not yet played out, but it is no longer possible to perform at a high level without a detailed knowledge of openings. In Hostage Chess creativity and imagination fl ourish, and fun returns. Peter Coast Scottish Chess Champion — With only a few rule changes, Hostage Chess creates a marvelously exciting variant on the classical game. Lawrence Day International Chess Master — Every bit as intriguing as standard chess. Beautiful roads keep branching off in all directions, and sharp eyed beginners sometimes roll right over the experts. Robert Hamilton FIDE Chess Master Published 2012 by Aristophanes Press Hostage Chess Copyright © 2012 John Leslie. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a re- trieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, digital, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, or conveyed via the Internet or a website without prior written per- mission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations em- bedded in critical articles and reviews. -
Rules of Chess960
Rules of Chess960 A little known and long-discarded offshoot of Classical Chess is the realm of so-called "Randomized Chess" in its various forms. Chess960 stands for Bobby Fischer's new and improved version of "Randomized Chess". Chess960 uses algebraic notation exclusively At the start of every game of a Chess960 game, both players Pawns are set up exactly as they are at the start of every game of Classical Chess. In Chess960, just before the start of every game, both players pieces on their respective back rows receive an identical random shuffle using the Chess960 Computerized Shuffler, which is programmed to set up the pieces in any combination, with the provisos that one Rook has to be to the left and one Rook has to be to the right of the King, and one Bishop has to be on a light- colored square and one Bishop has to be on a dark-colored square. White and Black have identical positions. From behind their respective Pawns the opponents pieces are facing each other directly, symmetrically. Thus for example, if the shuffler places White's back row pieces in the following position: Ra1, Bb1, Kc1, Nd1, Be1, Nf1, Rg1, Qh1, it will place Black's back row Pieces in the following position, Ra8, Bb8, Kc8, Nd8, Be8, Nf8, Rg8, Qh8, etc. (See diagram) In Chess960 there are 960 possible starting positions, the Classical Chess starting position and 959 other starting positions. Of necessity, In Chess960 the castling rule is somewhat modified and broadened to allow for the possibility of each player castling either on or into his or her left side or on or into his or her right side of the board from all of these 960 starting positions. -
2011-10 Working Version.Pmd
$3.95 Northwest Chess October 2011 Northwest Chess Contents October 2011, Volume 65,10 Issue 765 ISSN Publication 0146-6941 Cover art: Robert Herrera Published monthly by the Northwest Chess Board. Office of record: 3310 25th Ave S, Seattle, WA 98144 Photo credit: Andrei Botez POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: Northwest Chess, PO Box 84746, Page 3: Annual Post Office Statement ............................ Eric Holcomb Seattle WA 98124-6046. Page 4: Portland Chess Club Centennial Open .................... Frank Niro Periodicals Postage Paid at Seattle, WA USPS periodicals postage permit number (0422-390) Page 17: Idaho Chess News ............................................. Jeffrey Roland NWC Staff Page 21: SPNI History ....................................................... Howard Hwa Editor: Ralph Dubisch, Page 22: Two Games .................................... Georgi Orlov, Kairav Joshi [email protected] Page 23: Letter to (and from) the editor ....................... Philip McCready Publisher: Duane Polich, Page 24: Publisher’s Desk and press release ...................... Duane Polich [email protected] Business Manager: Eric Holcomb, Page 25: Theoretically Speaking ........................................Bill McGeary [email protected] Page 27: Book Reviews .................................................. John Donaldson Board Representatives Page 29: NWGP 2011 ........................................................ Murlin Varner David Yoshinaga, Josh Sinanan, Page 30: USCF Delegates’ Report ........................................ -
Checkmate Bobby Fischer's Boys' Life Columns
Bobby Fischer’s Boys’ Life Columns Checkmate Bobby Fischer’s Boys’ Life Columns by Bobby Fischer Foreword by Andy Soltis 2016 Russell Enterprises, Inc. Milford, CT USA 1 1 Checkmate Bobby Fischer’s Boys’ Life Columns by Bobby Fischer ISBN: 978-1-941270-51-6 (print) ISBN: 978-1-941270-52-3 (eBook) © Copyright 2016 Russell Enterprises, Inc. & Hanon W. Russell All Rights Reserved No part of this book may be used, reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any manner or form whatsoever or by any means, electronic, electrostatic, magnetic tape, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the express written permission from the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews. Chess columns written by Bobby Fischer appeared from December 1966 through January 1970 in the magazine Boys’ Life, published by the Boy Scouts of America. Russell Enterprises, Inc. thanks the Boy Scouts of America for its permission to reprint these columns in this compilation. Published by: Russell Enterprises, Inc. P.O. Box 3131 Milford, CT 06460 USA http://www.russell-enterprises.com [email protected] Editing and proofreading by Peter Kurzdorfer Cover by Janel Lowrance 2 Table of Contents Foreword 4 April 53 by Andy Soltis May 59 From the Publisher 6 Timeline 60 June 61 July 69 Timeline 7 Timeline 70 August 71 1966 September 77 December 9 October 78 November 84 1967 February 11 1969 March 17 February 85 April 19 March 90 Timeline 22 May 23 April 91 June 24 July 31 May 98 Timeline 32 June 99 August 33 July 107 September 37 August 108 Timeline 38 September 115 October 39 October 116 November 46 November 122 December 123 1968 February 47 1970 March 52 January 128 3 Checkmate Foreword Bobby Fischer’s victory over Emil Nikolic at Vinkovci 1968 is one of his most spectacular, perhaps the last great game he played in which he was the bold, go-for-mate sacrificer of his earlier years. -
Chapter 15, New Pieces
Chapter 15 New pieces (2) : Pieces with limited range [This chapter covers pieces whose range of movement is limited, in the same way that the moves of the king and knight are limited in orthochess.] 15.1 Pieces which can move only one square [The only such piece in orthochess is the king, but the ‘wazir’ (one square orthogonally in any direction), ‘fers’ or ‘firzan’ (one square diagonally in any direction), ‘gold general’ (as wazir and also one square diagonally forward), and ‘silver general’ (as fers and also one square orthogonally forward), have been widely used and will be found in many of the games in the chapters devoted to historical and regional versions of chess. Some other flavours will be found below. In general, games which involve both a one-square mover and ‘something more powerful’ will be found in the section devoted to ‘something more powerful’, but the two later developments of ‘Le Jeu de la Guerre’ are included in this first section for convenience. One-square movers are slow and may seem to be weak, but even the lowly fers can be a potent attacking weapon. ‘Knight for two pawns’ is rarely a good swap, but ‘fers for two pawns’ is a different matter, and a sound tactic, when unobservant defence permits it, is to use the piece with a fers move to smash a hole in the enemy pawn structure so that other men can pour through. In xiangqi (Chinese chess) this piece is confined to a defensive role by the rules of the game, but to restrict it to such a role in other forms of chess may well be a losing strategy.] Le Jeu de la Guerre [M.M.] (‘M.M.’, ranks 1/11, CaHDCuGCaGCuDHCa on ranks perhaps J.