ChessBox: Possible to replace the IMPOSSIBLE engine with another (Linux Based)?

[777funk]

ChessBox is like 2500 ELO, this is Grandmaster level. Is it possible for the user to modify the game ChessBox and replace the GNUChess engine it uses with another (such as HoiChess) to dumb it down a hair for mere mortals?

[speachy]

ChessBox is like 2500 ELO, this is Grandmaster level. Is it possible for the user to modify the game ChessBox and replace the GNUChess engine it uses with another (such as HoiChess) to dumb it down a hair for mere mortals?

Maybe the current version of GNUChess (v6.2.1) is capable of competing at 2500 ELO when dialed up all the way, but Chessbox is based on an ancient version of GNUChess (v2, from 1988!) and also has a configurable competency level that scales from ~5 seconds per move to 10 _hours_ per move.  On an engine that's been replaced at least twice since then, and running on a 20-year-old microcontroller with a tiny amount of RAM.

If you're losing to chessbox at level 1, the odds are a less capable engine isn't going to make any real difference.

EDIT: Grammar.

[Bilgus]

per wayback machine (as far back as it goes)
in the year 2000
GNU Chess 5 series: 5.00

- On the Free Internet Chess Server (freechess.org), GNU Chess running on a primitive Pentium 133mhz keeps a blitz rating of about 2000.

so surely we are lower with this much older version

[777funk]

ChessBox is like 2500 ELO, this is Grandmaster level. Is it possible for the user to modify the game ChessBox and replace the GNUChess engine it uses with another (such as HoiChess) to dumb it down a hair for mere mortals?

Maybe the current version of GNUChess (v6.2.1) is capable of competing at 2500 ELO when dialed up all the way, but Chessbox is based on an ancient version of GNUChess (v2, from 1988!) and also has a configurable competency level that scales from ~5 seconds per move to 10 _hours_ per move.  On an engine that's been replaced at least twice since then, and running on a 20-year-old microcontroller with a tiny amount of RAM.

If you're losing to chessbox at level 1, the odds are a less capable engine isn't going to make any real difference.

EDIT: Grammar.

No offense taken. But I will suggest you put Chessbox against Stockfish on Chess.com. It will win until you get above 2300 or a little higher on the fastest thinking setting (easiest to beat). Try it if you doubt me.

[Bilgus]

maybe?

Fidelity Match

In 1990, GNU Chess 1.55 with Hans Eric Sandström's fast move generator defeats Fidelity in a 10 game match [5] [6]:

A 10 game match was conducted between GNU Chess 1.55 running on a Sun SPARCstation-1 and the strong commercial chess machine Fidelity Mach 3. Fidelity Mach 3 is officially rated USCF 2265 (2200 is master). Most observers acknowledge it is a true master. The match result was 7-3 in GNU's favor. After various corrections, we arrive at a putative rating of around 2330 (strong master) for GNU Chess 1.55 on this machine. This result was most unexpected since prior versions of GNU Chess had scored no more than 3 points out of 10 against the Mach 3. The big leap appears to come from: (1) the inclusion of Hans Eric Sandstrom's fast move generator and (2) the Sparcstation-1, which is (apparently) particularly suited to speedy chess processing. Minor modifications to the book, draw factor, and thinking on opponent's time have also helped. Please remember this rating is based on a short match result. Certain moves GNU Chess plays are clearly non-master in quality. Computer masters generally achieve their strength through accuracy of tactics, not subtle positional moves.

https://www.chessprogramming.org/GNU_Chess

but again that all depends on how much time (strength/level)
you give it as well..

Also remember computer scores aren't exactly a one to one to human scores either

If you want to do the work to add another chess engine or even a completely separate plugin we will accept the patch.

[777funk]

maybe?

Fidelity Match

In 1990, GNU Chess 1.55 with Hans Eric Sandström's fast move generator defeats Fidelity in a 10 game match [5] [6]:

A 10 game match was conducted between GNU Chess 1.55 running on a Sun SPARCstation-1 and the strong commercial chess machine Fidelity Mach 3. Fidelity Mach 3 is officially rated USCF 2265 (2200 is master). Most observers acknowledge it is a true master. The match result was 7-3 in GNU's favor. After various corrections, we arrive at a putative rating of around 2330 (strong master) for GNU Chess 1.55 on this machine. This result was most unexpected since prior versions of GNU Chess had scored no more than 3 points out of 10 against the Mach 3. The big leap appears to come from: (1) the inclusion of Hans Eric Sandstrom's fast move generator and (2) the Sparcstation-1, which is (apparently) particularly suited to speedy chess processing. Minor modifications to the book, draw factor, and thinking on opponent's time have also helped. Please remember this rating is based on a short match result. Certain moves GNU Chess plays are clearly non-master in quality. Computer masters generally achieve their strength through accuracy of tactics, not subtle positional moves.

https://www.chessprogramming.org/GNU_Chess

but again that all depends on how much time (strength/level)
you give it as well..

Also remember computer scores aren't exactly a one to one to human scores either

If you want to do the work to add another chess engine or even a completely separate plugin we will accept the patch.

Thank you for the reply. I am no programmer, so probably beyond my ability. I figured HoiChess is another good engine that's open source.

My better option I suppose is to become a 2300 or higher... NOT going to happen. lol.

Regardless, thanks for the reply.

[777funk]

My kids ganged up on the ipod and with all of them (they're better chess players than myself), were able to beat it. They analyzed the game on LiChess.org using Stockfish and that engine shows GNUChess 2 as having made a few mistakes surprisingly. But it still measures mid 2000s on Stockfish Elo strength.

[Bilgus]

I think speachy is working on a patch that will add 3 easier beginning levels

apparently it only went from 0-7 and his plan is to make
it go 0-9 with the levels 0, 1, 2 having significantly less 'strength'
and 3 being the current level 0

Stay tuned

[777funk]

I think speachy is working on a patch that will add 3 easier beginning levels

apparently it only went from 0-7 and his plan is to make
it go 0-9 with the levels 0, 1, 2 having significantly less 'strength'
and 3 being the current level 0

Stay tuned

Very cool! In the mean time, I've ordered the book "Bobby Fischer Teaches Chess". Not going to work for me most likely. But giving it a shot... lol.

And... glad there's a chess at all. Pretty awesome to have everything included with Rockbox. Have used much of it over the years. And THE best Music player there is.