Comments by catugo

Thanks!

HG,

I missed the reason for using half maos the first time. I'm sorry!

Yes, it seems I have a problem.  I am using time too agressively ... It is not running out of time as such, it is just getting to the point where it is moving instantly with a search depth of 1 because there is no time to do anything more.  And, with a search depth of 1, the sides are stumbling around until a draw is called in positions that should be won.  I am working on updating my time allocation now.

I have observed this too, but I did not knew how to reproduce it. My workaround was to give enough time (2mins+7secs for example).

Thanks, Jean-Louis!

Now I see what you mean. I don't think it is something I have done!

@Fergus Have you any idea about what is going on!

Oklh, that is using the diagram designer, isn't it?

The fen of the position, as is found in chessV, is this:

3J3k1w/10/10/8p1/2P5Pp/1S7P/5s4/10/4c4j/7BK1 w - - 0 78

but I did not manage to do it. Here J stands for joker, w stands for wizard, s stands for maasai pawn. The rest are self explanatory.

And c is a chancellor, but this actually has no importance!

The short story is that black has just captured an chancellor on h10 and white is to move. The version that I have (I think is the last one published) gives now a stalemate. The long story is that any piece moved by white leads to a king capture by black in the next move. Here actually the black chancellor on e2 has a role to play. The difference from the studies we already have is that a role is played by the white joker who inherits and transmits a king (more actually a man I think) power. Is that in the second case a checkmate or a stalemate? It looks like ChessV as white has sacrificed it's chancellor for an easy draw, but is this a way for black to checkmate the opponent? And most important how should it be? I am confused by this myself. Depending on what you can do Greg, I am ready to adjust the rules in these rare cases. The most important thing is though, that the rules are clear for everybody.

Agreed, but I'm not sure if it is a different stalemate.

No matter about my previous comment.

White's previous move was by a chancellor from h8 to h10. That chancellor got captured. I now think I know what you mean, is what's the black joker's current power. The stalemate/checkmate status depends on that. And because the last moved white piece until white moves again is a chancellor that does not attack the king. We have a stalemate here.

And because it was facing a difficult position white decided to go for a draw. Thanks Greg!

Ok, HG, thanks!

Greg, what is the strength of the king used by the joker value evaluation?

I've seen a game where a pawn has promoted to joker and not to rook for no apparent reason. Any insight towards why?!

I'll look into it more deeply hopefully!