Subject: Rodent games on Pi Tue Jan 05, 2021 11:43 pm
Wanted to take a further look at Rodent4 on the Pi3B. There are upwards of 120 programs on my Pi 3 (Thank you authors for the program work and thank you Scally for the compiles), but if I had to pick a favorite (and that would be difficult)...it would be Rodent. It is a chess universe unto itself, with lots of levels and more importantly: personalities. Lots of personalities: offensive, defensive, wild, timid, slow, violent, safe, contemptuous, etc. So without further ado, some games. Oh...the opponents? Well, what better than my dusty tabletop collection (~25) which are starting to collect moss on the North side. First up, Tasc R30 V2.2. Rodent on Pi is too strong, therefore Rodent4 has been "throttled" to Level14 with an estimate of 2100 Elo. Aktivschach says 2356 for Tasc.
Rodent IV v0.32
Below, a QGD, Lasker that went 12 moves deep in book...nice. Tasc mistep 26. e4? (Rd3) gives Rodent a winnable lead. But, Rodent4 has been tempered with Lev14 and eventually gives back the advantage...34. .. Rxe6? (b5) now means Drawn. But Tasc misplays the Rook and Pawns endgame and after 44. Ra6+?? (Rxg7) its Game Over. Entertaining first Rodent4 game and the old Tasc electronics have been duly exercised. Additionally, it looks like the Rodent4 Elo estimate of 2100 is at least 250 points "cautious" relative to the Aktivschach scale...I'll go down to 2000 for the next game against Mill. CGPro (2326):
Subject: Re: Rodent games on Pi Wed Jan 06, 2021 1:12 am
TheSelfImprover wrote:
I'll just put pgn tags around that for convenience - and I'm glad I did: wild and wonderful!
Thank you for the upgrade....I'm still living circa 1990...so forgive the ancient post methodology.
More importantly, glad you like the game.
I think I'll do the Millennium game tonight, as well.
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Piman
Posts : 114 Join date : 2020-11-23
Subject: Re: Rodent games on Pi Wed Jan 06, 2021 3:06 am
Rodent IV v0.32
OK...got a second game in, and the first bit of good news is that Rodent4 was FF (fully functional) to mate on the Pi (In the past, Rodent has generally locked up the Pi when mate of the opponent was imminent...NOT this time, maybe this issue is fixed in Rod4). The opponent, Millennium CGPro, was lost by move move 30...and Rodent4 on Pi was throttled back to Level13 Elo 2000! I'll let the analyzer do the talking:
[pgn] [Event "30 sec/mv"] [Black "Rodent IV v0.32 L13 2000 Brain"] [Date "Jan 5, 2021"] [Result "0-1"] [Round "Rod4, still powerful @2000"] [Site "Rodent= NO book"] [White "MCGPro Brain London Book"]
PS. to TheSelfImprover for the [pgn] tip. I don't know nothing 'bout no PGN files
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Piman
Posts : 114 Join date : 2020-11-23
Subject: Re: Rodent games on Pi Wed Jan 06, 2021 6:28 pm
Rodent IV v0.32
Next game: Rodent4 vs Atlanta (2267 on Aktivschach); Rod4 has been further handicapped to program level L12...1900 Elo. And still Rodent4 is TOO strong. The rare (for me) Slav: Chameleon by Rodent, and Atlanta (if you'll pardon the expression) "holds its own" for 32 moves. But, 33. Qc2? and 34. Nxf4?? are Game Over. Another excellent win by Rodent4 even at Level 12 1900:
[Event "30 sec/mv"] [Black "Rodent IV v0.32 L12 1900 Brain"] [Date "Jan 6, 2021"] [Result "0-1"] [Round "Rod4, still powerful @1900"] [Site "Rodent= NO book"] [White "Atlanta"]
Subject: Re: Rodent games on Pi Thu Jan 07, 2021 12:23 am
Rodent IV v0.32
Another one bites the dust: Fidelity Mach4 clocked @50MHz (my estimate: Elo 2200). Rod4 was dumbed down to L11 1800...and still won. Rod4 has an excellent Opening Book variety...here a Richter-Rauzer, Larsen. After M4 impudent 13. Bxa7?? the game was essentially over, however the Elo limit kept Rodent4 at bay. Rodent4 1800 was clicking down its play and after 25. .. c4? the game was even again. About 20 moves of tug of war and then Rodent4 calculates the move of the game, 46. .. Bf4! M4 doesn't "see" what's coming and after 47. h3??? it's Game Over. Nice attack ensues. Even at "1800" Rodent4 is stronger than a 2200 (Aktivschach scale rated) machine...that's 400 points. Details below:
[pgn] [Event "30 sec/mv"] [Black "Rodent IV v0.32 L11 1800 Brain"] [Date "Jan 6, 2021"] [Result "0-1"] [Round "Rod4 getting weaker, but still too strong"] [Site "Rodent= NO book"] [White "Fidelity Mach4 68030 50 MHz"]
Subject: Re: Rodent games on Pi Fri Jan 08, 2021 12:22 am
Rodent IV v0.32 @L10 1700
A tabletop wins! Rodent4 dumbed to L10, 1700 finally succumbs to the Mach4 @33 MHz (Elo estimate on Aktivschach: 2160). Excellent game, where Rodent actually had a lead...that is, if the 1700 level can find exchange sac, 25. .. Rxe4! This Level can not, so 25. .. Kf8? followed by 26. .. Re6?, 27. .. Rg5+? and Game Over .. Ke7??? So...this portion of Rodent4 evals (very quick, tiny sample size), finds that the Rodent4 "Levels" equivalent of a tabletop is in the neighborhood of: Rodent4 Level Elo ~ Aktivschach Elo - 450 (maybe, somewhere around 400-450). Very strong, even at 1700, 1800 and 1900 Elo levels. Nice variety of openings, too...this one was a QGD:Ragozin. Here's the game:
Also, Rodent4 appears to be FF on the Pi on the losing side as well.
Next, I'll check out the Rodent4 Personalities against my other dusty tabletops...unfortunately, for the TTs, it might get ugly.
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Piman
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Subject: Re: Rodent games on Pi Fri Jan 08, 2021 3:46 am
Rodent IV v0.32 Amanda From Github: Amanda personality for Rodent IV chess engine; attacker first, then emphasising own mobility
Personality Amanda vs. Star Diamond (a strong tabletop, very nice design...one of my favorites). A frightening game. A Nimzo-Larsen and after SD 10. Bxg7?? Game Over...Amanda was all over SD...SD finally gets it and resigns on move 43. Ooowwww...sad:
[pgn] [Event "30 sec/mv"] [Black "Rodent IV v0.32 Amanda Brain"] [Date "Jan 7, 2021"] [Result "0-1"] [Round "A wipeout, SD resigns"] [Site "Rodent= NO book"] [White "Novag Star Diamond"]
Note: I have old (very old) downloads from Github with Rodent Personality info (personalities_list.pdf is one file I have), but I have no info/details on Amanda. I suspect it is at Rodent4 "Master" level. If anyone has the link, please give us a post.
Looks like the rest of my tabletops are going to be quick fodder for the Rodent4 personalities (but, they will get exercise). Informative how a top level chess "player" dismantles a weak (weaker) opponent.
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nescitus
Posts : 46 Join date : 2020-12-01
Subject: Re: Rodent games on Pi Fri Jan 08, 2021 6:47 pm
Rodent IV doesn't have weak personalities, because it uses Elo settings instead. By extension, there are no master personalities - only those that didn't get weakened
Also, I am glad seeing its opening play - some effort has been put into correct play in the early phase of the game. It's still far from perfect, but it's nice to see decent Queen's Gambit played without a book at weaker levels.
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Piman
Posts : 114 Join date : 2020-11-23
Subject: Re: Rodent games on Pi Fri Jan 08, 2021 9:11 pm
nescitus wrote:
Also, I am glad seeing its opening play - some effort has been put into correct play in the early phase of the game. It's still far from perfect, but it's nice to see decent Queen's Gambit played without a book at weaker levels.
You have a terrific program. Over the next few weeks, I'll try all of the other Rod4 personalities (Cloe to Strangler, I believe). My tabletops are going to have a tough time Also, as you stated, even 1700 continued very well, when book suddenly disappeared....calculating a very book like continuation.
Piman
Posts : 114 Join date : 2020-11-23
Subject: Re: Rodent games on Pi Fri Jan 08, 2021 11:46 pm
First, found the personalities file: rodent-iv/docs/FinalRodent.pdf @ Github site.
Next, Personality Ampere vs Mephisto Master, another fairly strong tabletop. Actually, did not find Ampere on that list, but found this on TalkChess: Ampere, attacker who cares for pawn structure Below, a Sicilian Alapin and Mephisto Master going after the e pawn with 14. Bc5? doesn't work out. By move 20, Ampere pretty much has a winning lead. SF eval on iPad says 22. Kc2?? is Game Over:
Subject: Re: Rodent games on Pi Sat Jan 09, 2021 4:14 am
Personality Cloe (closed positions, pawn storms, but sound pawn structure) vs. Mephisto Master. Cloe selects the King's Indian: Mar del Plata. MM got totally outplayed after book and was already in deep trouble when 20. Bxb7?? ended all hope. Game Over. Very strong play by Rodent4:
[pgn] [Event "30 sec/mv"] [Black "Rodent IV v0.32 Cloe Brain"] [Date "Jan 8, 2021"] [Result "0-1"] [Round "Cloe has quick win"] [Site "Rodent= NO book"] [White "Mephisto Master 2"]
Rodent4 has been FF to mate on the Pi....every single game.
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Piman
Posts : 114 Join date : 2020-11-23
Subject: Re: Rodent games on Pi Sat Jan 09, 2021 10:09 pm
Rod4 Deborah vs. Mephisto Explorer Pro. Deborah is a "defensive player, who likes Bishops". An English, 4 Knights, in which both Black Bishops were gone by move 16...oh well, so much for that Personality's preferences . No matter, by move 28, ExPro had c file issues with its Rooks and opted for an exchange loss 28. RxN, but it's already too late: SF eval says 26. f4? was Game Over...mate at 42:
Another excellent, FF to mate win on the Pi, game by Rodent4.
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Piman
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Subject: Re: Rodent games on Pi Sun Jan 10, 2021 3:24 am
Rod4 Defender vs. Saitek Cougar. Apparently, Personality Defender likes the Bishop pair...which it had by move 26. Unfortunately, Cougar could not keep up in a French:Tarrasch and was toast after 21.Rf1?.... then again, 15.Re1? was already the start (Book move 15. Nf3 is pretty essential). Fine attack by... Defender.
Subject: Re: Rodent games on Pi Mon Jan 11, 2021 10:46 pm
Rod4 Nimzowitsch vs. Saitek Chess Challenger
Nimzowitsch Personality: Not listed in FinalRodent.pdf, however this personality has been in earlier Rodent versions. Very Strong! A Slav that went pretty deep...to White move 11, so CC stays close for 21 moves. But, CC 22. QxR?? (Q for 2 Rs) is simply not good enough in that dangerous position: Game Over.
[pgn] [Event "30 sec/mv"] [Black "Rodent IV v0.32 Nimzowitsch Brain"] [Date "Jan 11, 2021"] [Result "0-1"] [Round "Nimzo pounces on CC mistake"] [Site "Rodent= NO book"] [White "Saitek Chess Challenger 2"]
Subject: Re: Rodent games on Pi Tue Jan 12, 2021 12:16 am
Rod4 Partisan vs. GK2100
Partisan...."starts slowly ...and later goes for vicious attacks". A Sicilian: Sozin-Najdorf and GK chase away move 17. f3? will create lasting trouble...FOR WHITE! At move 20, GK is already in hot water...20. a5?? is the boiling point Rodent4 personalities keep marching to wins, but good news: all my tabletops, though dusty, are still FF (fully functional).
[pgn] [Event "30 sec/mv"] [Black "Rodent IV v0.32 Partisan Brain"] [Date "Jan 11, 2021"] [Result "0-1"] [Round "Partisan has win by move 21"] [Site "Rodent= NO book"] [White "GK 2100"]
Subject: Re: Rodent games on Pi Tue Jan 12, 2021 3:16 am
Rod4 Pawnsacker vs. Centurion
Pawnsacker (energetic, likes flashy moves)...
Oops our first issue: Pawnsacker locked up the Pi at mate in 5. A French....and Centurion held its own until 22. cxd4?? and follow up 23. h6?? NOW definitely Game Over. Pawnsacker was all set to mate and then at move 31: Nada.
More: After a couple of minutes, I packed up the Centurion and started to move the DGT pieces back to the starting position and a thought hit me: Toggle the Pi lever on top. I did, TWICE, to get the Pi to recognize that Partisan plays the Black Pieces. The Pi responded.... All of a sudden the Pi announces "Queen d3 Check". This is the correct continuation. I don't know what happened, but the Pi froze....and then I "unfroze" it. Unfortunately, because I had already moved most pieces back to the starting position...the game wasn't finished. Not sure what's going on; just reporting what happened....Rodent4 was flawless for ALL the previous games.
[pgn] [Event "30 sec/mv"] [Black "Rodent IV v0.32 Pawnsacker Brain"] [Date "Jan 11, 2021"] [Result "*"] [Round "Pawnsacker locks up w/# in 5"] [Site "Rodent= NO book"] [White "Centurion"]
Subject: Re: Rodent games on Pi Tue Jan 12, 2021 4:11 am
Additional note on Pawnsacker....Good News:
Replayed the previous game (lots of Take Backs to recreate exactly) and this time Pawnsacker went Fully to mate....no problems.
Have no idea why the Pi locked previously.
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Piman
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Subject: Re: Rodent games on Pi Wed Jan 13, 2021 2:26 am
Rod4 Pedrita vs. RS2250XL
Tabletop RS2250 puts up a surprisingly good fight. A Caro-Kann, and RS calculates evenly with Pedrita (pawns, defense, restraint) for 23 moves. RS 24. Bf4? starts the downward slide; Nf4 was the correct move. RS (aka, Saitek 2100) Blunder 30. PxP?? (Bg3) is Game Over. [pgn] [Event "30 sec/mv"] [Black "Rodent IV v0.32 Pedrita Brain"] [Date "Jan 12, 2021"] [Result "0-1"] [Round "Pedrita has a fight, but wins"] [Site "Rodent= NO book"] [White "RS2250XL1"]
Note: I've had continuous problems with the DGT eBoard charging system,
FROM DAY ONE:
on power up, with eBoard connected to the external power supply ("Mains" power adapter, if you like), the eBoard RED power LED lights up (not green or yellow), despite a fully charged internal Battery. Toggling that external supply on-off-on magically, suddenly makes the GREEN LED turn on.
Instantly. Magically.
Something is wrong there, and I bet DGT knows what it is. I can't be the only DGT eBoard owner with this issue (BTW, the DGT software update....did NOT fix it).🤪
I have a suspicion....can't confirm it 100%.....but a suspicion nonetheless, that my occasional Pi lock up issues, are related to the eBoard software, not the hardware or THE CHESS PROGRAMS COMPILED FOR THE PI.
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Piman
Posts : 114 Join date : 2020-11-23
Subject: Re: Rodent games on Pi Wed Jan 13, 2021 11:14 pm
Rod4 Preston (mildly materialistic) vs. RS2250XL-2
A Vienna Game and RS2250 quickly gets into trouble at 15. Bf4? (c4 is correct). Then 17. h3? is bad and the final straw was 22. gxf3? Game Over. Mate in 34....Very strong game by Preston.
Subject: Re: Rodent games on Pi Thu Jan 14, 2021 8:56 pm
Rodent IV v0.32 Spitfire vs. GK2000
Spitfire is problematic (replay below game):
With mate in 5, Rod4 Spitfire locks up the Pi Rodent4 Spitfire should have actually LOST to old tabletop GK2000
A QGD: Semi-Tarrasch and after Spitfire 14. .. f5?, SF evaluator actually gives White a +3.2 lead....which is certainly enough for a draw and maybe even a win for White. The GK2000 is mid 1900's in ELO and eventually loses to the superior Rodent4 endgame (GK blunder 32. Na3?? will lose a Knight and the game), however a stronger tabletop (after 14. .. f5?) would have at least drawn.
So, something about the Spitfire personality makes it remarkably weaker than the other Rodent4 personalities....Spitfire is not like the others. Also, this Pi lock up, now convinces me that Rodent4 is NOT FF on the Pi. This game shows clearly that Rodent4, on occasion, still locks up the Pi, when "mate in x" is valid. And this time, I assured that the "fully charged", Green LED was lit, on the DGT eBoard, from the jump.
[pgn] [Event "30 sec/mv"] [Black "Rodent IV v0.32 Spitfire Brain"] [Date "Jan 14, 2021"] [Result "*"] [Round "Spitfire locks up Pi"] [Site "Rodent= NO book"] [White "GK2000"]
Subject: Re: Rodent games on Pi Fri Jan 15, 2021 12:10 am
Rodent IV v0.32 Strangler vs. RS ChessMaster
Very, very odd Rodent4 games; first Spitfire, now Strangler....it's almost if something got corrupted. All the other previous personalities cruised to wins...and against even stronger tabletops. Strangler has difficulty with the GK2000 clone, RS Chess Master (ELO~1968). A Caro-Kann....and by move 26, lowly RSCM has a significant +3.2 eval lead according to SF! As stated with Spitfire: a stronger tabletop would have at least drawn this one. However, in this game, RSCM suddenly falls apart with 26.h3?? (Rd3), then 29. Kg1? (Kg2, numbnuts) and 31. Ra1?????? (what is your problem with Rd3? 🤪): Game Over. Rodent4 Strangler wins (also: plays to checkmate)
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