Cougar-ExPro match 1 min/move

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Four.nine
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Cougar-ExPro match 1 min/move

Post by Four.nine »

A forum member who shall remain nameless (Reinfeld), suggested an ExPro-Cougar match. So here you go, Rein:
These two computers are identical and have the exact same Elo on Aktivschach.
But....they're not. No way. ExPro is stronger, but let's have a match:

Cougar- Explorer Pro Match​1/9/18
1 minute/move
[Event "Cougar-ExPro match"]
[Black "ExPro"]
[Date "Jan 9, 2018"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[Round "1"]
[Site "1 min/move"]
[White "Cougar"]

1.d4 c5 2.dxc5 e6 3.e4 Bxc5 4.Nc3 d6 5.Nf3 Ne7 6.Bb5+ Bd7 7.O-O O-O 8.Bf4 Bc6 9.a3 Ng6 10.Bg3 a5 11.Bxc6 Nxc6 12.Na4 Qf6 13.Bxd6 Bxd6 14.Qxd6 Rac8 15.Rad1 Nf4 16.Nc3 Rfd8 17.Qc5 Nd4 18.Qxd4 Rxd4 19.Nxd4 b6 20.g3 e5 21.Nf5 g6 22.Rd6 Nh3+ 23.Kh1 Qg5 24.Nh4 Kg7 25.Rxb6 Qd2 26.Nf3 Nxf2+ 27.Kg2 Qd8 28.Rb7 Ng4 29.Re1 Rb8 30.Rxb8 Qxb8 31.Nd1 Qb7 32.h3 Nf6 33.Nxe5 Nxe4 34.Nf3 Nd2 35.Re3 Nxf3 36.Rxf3 Qb5 37.Kf2 Qd7 38.Ke2 Qxh3 39.b4 Qe6+ 40.Ne3 Qa6+ 41.Kf2 f5 42.Rf4 axb4 43.axb4 Qa2 44.Rc4 Qb2 45.Kf3 Kf7 46.Nd5 Ke6 47.Rc5 Qd4 48.Nf4+ Ke7 49.c3 Qd1+ 50.Kf2 Qd2+ 51.Ne2 Kd6 52.Ra5 Kc6 53.Ra7 Qh6 54.c4 Kb6 55.Rf7 Qd2 56.Rf6+ Ka7 57.b5 Qc2 58.Rc6 g5 59.c5 f4 60.gxf4 gxf4 61.b6+ Kb7 62.Rc7+ Ka6 63.Ra7+ Kb5 64.Rc7 Ka6 65.Ra7+ Kb5 66.Rc7 Ka6 1/2-1/2

A43b: Old Benoni: 2. dxc5 with a book shown only through White move 4. Don’t see this often and I don’t think I’ve seen ExPro play this.
NOTE: ExPro has NO book selection option; therefore a wide variety of oddballs may be in its repertoire. There is a “Hidden Options Mode” that can access the default “Row 2” options, i.e. Selective search and Tournament Book, but that will be left for another Match (actually...next game).
Anyway, Cougar will win a pawn after 12. .. Qf6 13.Bxd6 Bxd6 14.Qxd6, but ExPro has counterplay.


Replay of Game 1 with Hidden Options: Selective Search and Tournament Book (BUT, 1. .. c5 FOR ExPro IS Necessarily FORCED USING TAKEBACK AND MOVING FOR BLACK).

[Event "Cougar-ExPro match"]
[Black "ExPro"]
[Date "Jan 9, 2018"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Round "2"]
[Site "1 min/move"]
[White "Cougar"]

1.d4 c5 2.dxc5 e6 3.e4 Bxc5 4.Nc3 d6 5.Nf3 Ne7 6.Bb5+ Bd7 7.O-O O-O 8.Bf4 Bc6 9.a3 Ng6 10.Bg3 a5 11.Bxc6 Nxc6 12.Na4 Qf6 13.Bxd6 Bxd6 14.Qxd6 Rac8 15.Rad1 Nf4 16.Nc3 Rfd8 17.Qc5 Nd4 18.Qxd4 Rxd4 19.Nxd4 b6 20.g3 Qg5 21.Kh1 Ng6 22.f4 Qc5 23.Kg2 e5 24.Nf5 exf4 25.Rd5 Qc7 26.Nd6 Rd8 27.Rfd1 Qc6 28.Kf3 fxg3 29.hxg3 Kf8 30.Ke3 Qc7 31.Kf2 Qb8 32.Nf5 Rxd5 33.exd5 Qe5 34.Ne3 Qf6+ 35.Kg1 Qf3 36.Nf1 Ne5 37.Rd4 Ke7 38.Rf4 Qh5 39.Ne3 g6 40.Re4 Kd7 41.b4 Qf3 42.Ned1 Qxg3+ 43.Kf1 f5 44.Re3 Qf4+ 45.Ke2 Qh2+ 46.Nf2 Ng4 47.Nd1 Nxe3 48.Nxe3 Qh5+ 49.Kf1 axb4 50.axb4 Qf3 51.Nd1 Qxd5 52.Nd3 Qe4 53.N1b2 f4 54.Nd1 g5 55.N1f2 Qc4 56.Ke2 Qxc2+ 57.Kf3 h5 58.Ke4 Ke6 59.Kf3 Qd2 60.Kg2 g4 61.b5 g3 62.Nxf4+ Qxf4 63.Nh3 Qe4+ 64.Kxg3 h4+ 65.Kf2 Qf5+ 66.Ke1 Qxh3 67.Kd2 Qg2+ 68.Kc3 h3 69.Kc4 h2 70.Kd3 h1=Q 71.Kc4 Qhh3 72.Kd4 Qd5# 0-1
*******************************

NEW: 1/13/2018: ExPro will be set to Max Strength (Selective Search & Tournament book). This requires that ExPro be put in “Hidden Options Mode:
From Explorer Pro Quick Start:
* Hidden “Playing Mode” Options: You can enable Selective Search and Tournament Book! ​Consult Explorer Pro or Chess Challenger Notes for more detail

Note: FOR ADVANCED USERS ONLY! DEFAULT Explorer Pro scored 15-5 in the Division 1 Tournament, BETTER than Mephisto Master 1 AND Cougar both at 12.5-7.5. Apparently, BRUTE FORCE Search and Tournament Book OFF didn’t hurt Ex Pro. But, if you just HAVE to do it, here’s how:

With Power On, Press GO/STOP: LCD Display TURNS OFF. Next, Press GO/STOP and OPTION simultaneously. Display shows +SEL AND there is a notable increase in the pitch of all “keypress” beeps: You have now entered the Hidden Options Zone. If you don't get +SEL, then you didn't press the two keys EXACTLY together. You should also hear “beep” pitch get higher. Try again, it will work.

There are the 8 usual suspects of “OPTIONS” that can be modified (See Cougar, et al, manuals). You only need to change ONE default option for so-called “Maximum Strength” and that is Tournament Book (Because, Selective Search, -SEL was AUTOMATICALLY toggled to +SEL as soon as you entered the Hidden Options Zone): NOW, Press square H2: -bk:tn (Tournament Book) [H2] toggles to +bk:tn. While you’re at it, press A3 and E3. At this point I highly recommend leaving the Hidden Options Zone (The high pitched keypress beep of ExPro just makes me “μP uneasy”). So, to deactivate the availability of these options: press GO/STOP and LEVEL at exactly the same time. When the high pitched keypress beep of ExPro is gone, you’re out. As Heidi says: "You're either in.........or you're out".
******************
Restart of the match:

Game 1: A draw, UNTIL ExPro starts “outcalculating” Cougar in a R+4Ps endgame at about move 47.

Event "Cougar-ExPro MaxStr"]
[Black "ExPro"]
[Date "Jan 13, 2018"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Cougar"]

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 g6 4.d4 cxd4 5.Nxd4 Bg7 6.Be3 Nf6 7.Be2 O-O 8.O-O b6 9.Nxc6 dxc6 10.Qe1 Qc7 11.Rd1 Bb7 12.f4 Rad8 13.f5 Rxd1 14.Bxd1 c5 15.Bf4 Qd7 16.fxg6 hxg6 17.Bf3 Rd8 18.a3 Qe6 19.Qe2 a5 20.Bg5 Nh7 21.Bh4 Bd4+ 22.Kh1 Nf6 23.Rd1 Rc8 24.Bxf6 Qxf6 25.Qe1 Qe5 26.Na4 Qe6 27.Nc3 Bg7 28.Qe2 Rb8 29.Bg4 Qe5 30.Bf3 Qg5 31.Na4 Be5 32.g3 Bc6 33.Nc3 b5 34.Qd2 Qxd2 35.Rxd2 Bxc3 36.bxc3 f5 37.Re2 e5 38.Kg2 Bxe4 39.Bxe4 fxe4 40.Rxe4 Re8 41.a4 bxa4 42.Rxa4 Ra8 43.Kf3 Kf7 44.Ke4 Ke6 45.h4 Ra7 46.Kd3 Kd5 47.Rg4 Rg7 48.c4+ Ke6 49.Ke4 Kf6 50.Kd5 a4 51.Re4 a3 52.Re1 Rd7+ 53.Kxc5 Ra7 54.Kb4 Kf5 55.Ra1 e4 56.c5 e3 57.Kb3 a2 58.Kc3 Ke4 59.c6 Kf3 60.g4 e2 61.Kd2 Kf2 62.h5 gxh5 63.gxh5 Ra6 64.c4 Rb6 65.Kd3 e1=Q 66.Rxe1 Kxe1 67.c7 Rc6 68.c8=Q Rxc8 69.c5 a1=Q 70.Ke4 Qa4+ 71.Kd5 Rd8+ 72.Ke5 Qd4+ 73.Ke6 Qe4+ 74.Kf6 Rf8+ 75.Kg7 Qe7+ 76.Kg6 Qf6+ 77.Kh7 Rh8# 0-1

B34V: Sicilian: accelerated Fianchetto in book through White move 8. There were slight advantages for ExPro throughout the middlegame, until 37. .. e5 (SF says g5) at which point it was a dead even draw. By move 41 we had the salient R+Ps DRAWN endgame position...but my mantra is “Let ‘em play”. And then a little mistake by Cougar 48. c4+?, which now actually gives some “screen” protection to the ExPro passed “a” pawn. But after Cougar 52. Re1, White has that passed “a” pawn “in check”...so still a clear draw, but “Let ‘em play”. Turns out that that pesky “a” pawn needed VERY precise guarding...and Cougar couldn’t do it: ExPro simply “outplayed” Cougar. SF recommends counterattack 54. Kd6!, but Cougar calculated the natural looking backtrack defense 54. Kb4. The position is VERY difficult for Cougar (even for SF) and mistake 57. Kb3? is the move that finally doomed White. On the Black side, EXPro seemed to make all the right moves, like 55. .. e4, 56. .. e3!, 57. .. a2! 60. .. e2 (all pawn pushes for promotion). AND, That was that. The superior ExPro R+Ps endgame play makes me think that significant improvements were made (by someone) to the original Morsch program in the ExPro.

EOM
More tomorrow
Reinfeld
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Location: Tacoma, WA

Post by Reinfeld »

Wow. Wow. How the heck do you know about the hidden options mode? I am gobsmacked.

I'll wait for more results, but you've altered my perception. I was under the impression that Cougar was the Cadillac of this Morsch iteration, with extra features that made me think of buying it. Are you suggesting that ExPro (which I own and love) has a hidden extra book?

- R.
"You have, let us say, a promising politician, a rising artist that you wish to destroy. Dagger or bomb are archaic and unreliable - but teach him, inoculate him with chess."
– H.G. Wells
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Steve B
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Post by Steve B »

Reinfeld wrote:Wow. Wow. How the heck do you know about the hidden options mode? I am gobsmacked.
Yes i echo Reinfeld's bewilderment
i havent checked these undocumented options on my EXPro yet but i do wonder how you stumbled upon them?

Excellent Post 4.9 Regards
Steve
Four.nine
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Post by Four.nine »

Gentlepeople, gentlepeople! Please!
This is completely off topic! This thread was solely for the purpose of documenting a match between Ex.......
Oh...wait....wait a minute. I go off topic virtually every reply post.
Nevermind.


Full disclosure. "Hidden options": not my find. Somebody named diabloNL (I think that was it...some type of Dutch Devil) reported this a while back. And I do believe it was on this forum.
So let's digress:
1. Hidden options are accessible for some Saitek models: those which have hidden Row 2 options.
I will let the curious student document the full list, but here's a freebie: Chess Challenger is one of them.
2. Once you change a Row 2 option, it "sticks". That is: unplug power, come back a couple of days later....and you still have those options selected. Again, I will allow a curious student to determine how long a unit must stay unplugged for the H8 processor to lose the "charge" (also referred to as "mysterious electrical latent battery type stuff" or MELBTS) which loses this altered "saved" information. In order for the unit to return to the default factory conditions, you may have to wait for several weeks or go back into the Hidden Options Zone and deselect the changed options. I'm a lazy POS, so I would just turn the box over and "paper clip" the ALT button.
3. Editorial: Who at Saitek, at the time, made the brilliant decision to handicap the ExPro with default Brute Force and Full Book? (Match spoiler: in the first 10 games, the ExPro Max Strength had a performance rating significantly higher than Cougar).
4. And another thing....Aktivschach. That ratings list has several absurdities, not just the Cougar=ExPro=2056 (AND both lower than 10 MHz Radio Shaft 2250XL).

But...I digress.
Let us get back to the thread at hand:

Games 2-4; ExPro Max Strength up 1-0 after one game.


Game 2: Cougar has a win, then a draw, then loses in N+Ps endgame. ExPro simply outclasses Cougar in the endgame (which needed precision). Unfortunately, ExPro is a total "Hiarcs is great" (very clever) moron in a Q vs 7th rank P clear win, SF was already showing Mate at move 70. At move 75, it was Mate in 12. After genius 77. Kb5??, mate was gone and the eval was +2.3; Black actually had drawing chances. For the next 25 moves, ExPro waltzes the Queen around, singing, “Let’s see if moving to this square does anything”. Finally, move 103. Kc2 “spooks” Cougar which incorrectly “sees” a mate in 4 and moves 103 . .. Kh2 to escape (I am convinced entrenching the K to g1 draws in 27 more futile ExPro Q moves). Thanks to this help from Cougar, Excrement Pro finally mates at move 113.

[Event "Cougar-ExPro MaxStr"]
[Black "Cougar"]
[Date "Jan 14, 2018"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Round "2"]
[White "ExPro max strngth"]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Bg5 Be7 5.Nc3 O-O 6.e3 Nbd7 7.Bd3 c5 8.O-O cxd4 9.Nxd4 dxc4 10.Bxc4 Qa5 11.Bb5 a6 12.Nb3 Qc7 13.Bd3 Bd6 14.f4 Qb6 15.Qe2 h6 16.Bh4 e5 17.Bg3 exf4 18.Bxf4 Ne5 19.Bc2 Be6 20.Qe1 Bc4 21.Rf2 Neg4 22.Bxd6 Qxd6 23.Rf4 Bxb3 24.axb3 Qc5 25.Kh1 Nxe3 26.Ne4 Nxc2 27.Nxc5 Nxe1 28.Rxe1 b6 29.Ne4 Nd5 30.Rf2 Rad8 31.g3 Nb4 32.Re3 Rd1+ 33.Kg2 Rfd8 34.Nc3 R1d7 35.Rfe2 Kh7 36.h3 Kg6 37.Na4 Nd5 38.Re4 Nf6 39.Re5 Rd6 40.Kf3 Rd3+ 41.R2e3 Nd7 42.Re4 Rxe3+ 43.Kxe3 b5 44.Nc3 Nc5 45.Rg4+ Kh7 46.b4 Nd3 47.b3 Nc1 48.Rd4 Rxd4 49.Kxd4 Nxb3+ 50.Kd5 Nd2 51.Kc5 Nf1 52.Ne2 Kg6 53.Kb6 Kf5 54.Kxa6 Ke4 55.Nc3+ Kf3 56.Nxb5 Kxg3 57.Nd6 Nd2 58.b5 Nf3 59.b6 Ne5 60.b7 Nd7 61.Nxf7 Kxh3 62.Kb5 Nb8 63.Kb6 g5 64.Ne5 g4 65.Ka7 g3 66.Kxb8 g2 67.Nf3 Kg3 68.Ng1 Kf2 69.Ka7 Kxg1 70.b8=Q Kh1 71.Qb7 Kh2 72.Qc7+ Kh3 73.Qc5 Kg3 74.Qe3+ Kh4 75.Qf2+ Kh3 76.Kb6 h5 77.Kb5 Kh2 78.Ka4 Kh1 79.Qh4+ Kg1 80.Qxh5 Kf2 81.Qh4+ Kf1 82.Qf4+ Ke2 83.Qg3 Kf1 84.Qf3+ Kg1 85.Kb3 Kh2 86.Qf2 Kh1 87.Qh4+ Kg1 88.Kb2 Kf1 89.Qf4+ Ke2 90.Qg3 Kf1 91.Qf3+ Kg1 92.Qf4 Kh1 93.Qh6+ Kg1 94.Qf6 Kh1 95.Qh4+ Kg1 96.Qe1+ Kh2 97.Qe5+ Kg1 98.Qe2 Kh1 99.Qe4 Kg1 100.Qf5 Kh1 101.Qh3+ Kg1 102.Qf3 Kh1 103.Kc2 Kh2 104.Qf2 Kh3 105.Kd3 Kg4 106.Qxg2+ Kf5 107.Qe4+ Kf6 108.Kd4 Kf7 109.Ke5 Kg7 110.Kf5 Kg8 111.Kf6 Kh8 112.Qb7 Kg8 113.Qg7# 1-0

Game 3:

[Event "Cougar-ExProMaxStrgth"]
[Black "ExPro MaxStrngth"]
[Date "Jan 15, 2018"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Cougar"]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d4 exd4 6.cxd4 Bb4+ 7.Bd2 Bxd2+ 8.Nbxd2 d5 9.exd5 Nxd5 10.Qb3 Nce7 11.O-O O-O 12.Rfe1 a5 13.a4 Nb6 14.Bd3 Bf5 15.Rxe7 Bxd3 16.Re5 Bg6 17.Rae1 Ra7 18.Nc4 Nd5 19.Qb5 c6 20.Qc5 Ra6 21.Qd6 f6 22.R5e2 Ra8 23.Qa3 Qc7 24.Qc5 b6 25.Qa3 Rae8 26.Rxe8 Rxe8 27.Rxe8+ Bxe8 28.Qd6 Qxd6 29.Nxd6 Bg6 30.Nd2 Bc2 31.Nc8 Bf5 32.Nd6 Be6 33.Kf1 Kf8 34.b3 Ke7 35.N6c4 g6 36.Ne4 Bd7 37.Ke2 f5 38.Ng5 h6 39.Nf3 Be8 40.h4 Kf6 41.Nfe5 Ke6 42.g3 g5 43.Kd2 g4 44.h5 Kf6 45.Nd6 Bxh5 46.Nxc6 Ke6 47.Nc4 Be8 48.N6e5 Bh5 49.Ne3 Nf6 50.N5c4 Nd7 51.d5+ Kf6 52.Nd6 Bg6 53.Nec4 Kg5 54.Nc8 Nc5 55.N8xb6 Nxb3+ 56.Ke3 Bf7 57.d6 Nc5 58.Nxa5 Be8 59.Nac4 Kf6 60.Nd5+ Kg5 61.a5 Bf7 62.Ncb6 Be6 63.Nc7 f4+ 64.gxf4+ Kf5 65.a6 Nxa6 66.Nxa6 h5 67.Nb8 h4 68.Nc6 h3 69.Nd4+ Kg6 70.Nxe6 h2 71.d7 h1=Q 72.f5+ Kf7 73.Ng5+ Kf6 74.d8=Q+ Kxf5 75.Ke2 g3 76.Nd5 Qa1 77.Ne7+ Kxg5 78.Qg8+ Kf6 79.Qh8+ Kxe7 80.Qxa1 1-0


Game 4: A draw for 37 moves... and then Cougar missteps doom Black. A clear example of the improved endgame code incorporated, by “someone”, into the Explorer Pro: 38. .. Rc8? (Rd8) isn’t too swift, but 43. .. Kh7???????????? loses instantly.

[Event "Cougar-ExProMaxStrngth"]
[Black "Cougar"]
[Date "Jan 16, 2018"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Round "4"]
[White "ExProMaxStr"]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 O-O 8.c3 d5 9.exd5 Nxd5 10.Nxe5 Nxe5 11.Rxe5 c6 12.d4 Bd6 13.Re1 Qc7 14.Qh5 Bb7 15.Bg5 Rae8 16.Nd2 h6 17.Be3 Nxe3 18.fxe3 Re7 19.a4 c5 20.axb5 axb5 21.Ra7 Qb6 22.Raa1 Qc7 23.Rad1 Rd8 24.Re2 cxd4 25.cxd4 Qd7 26.Rf2 Qc7 27.Nf1 Qd7 28.Rf5 b4 29.Nd2 Bc7 30.Rdf1 Rf8 31.Bd5 Ba8 32.e4 Bb6 33.Nb3 Bxd5 34.Rxd5 Qe6 35.Rf4 Rd7 36.Nc5 Rxd5 37.Qxd5 Qxd5 38.exd5 Rc8 39.d6 Rd8 40.d7 b3 41.Rf3 Bxc5 42.dxc5 Rxd7 43.Rxb3 Kh7 44.c6 Rd1+ 45.Kf2 Rd2+ 46.Kf3 Rd8 47.Rc3 Kg6 48.b4 Kf5 49.b5 Re8 50.b6 g5 51.g4+ Ke5 52.c7 Kd4 53.c8=Q Rxc8 54.Rxc8 Kd5 55.b7 f5 56.b8=Q fxg4+ 57.Ke3 Ke6 58.Qb6+ Kd7 59.Rc7+ Ke8 60.Qb8# 1-0
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paulwise3
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Post by paulwise3 »

The Pro may have "hidden options", the Cougar has them explicit. Indeed the Chess Challenger and the Saitek Centurion also have those hidden options.
Within a week or so I will have the Pro too, and I intend to do also a number of tests. But if it is true that the default is Brute Force, then that is a major omission by Mephisto :-(

For instance a BT-test should make quite clear if they are really different or not.

Regards, Paul
2024 Special thread: viewtopic.php?f=3&t=12741
2024 Special results and standings: https://schaakcomputers.nl/paul_w/Tourn ... 25_06.html
If I am mistaken, it must be caused by a horizon effect...
Reinfeld
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Post by Reinfeld »

OK, this is getting funny now.

First, here's the 2015 thread Four.nine mentions, where diabloNL discovered the "Secret Options" menu in Mephisto Chess Challenger:

http://www.hiarcs.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=7236

Second, here's the item within that thread where Steve confirmed the existence of the same secret menu within ExPro:
Is there anyone with a Mephisto Explorer Pro who can try if this also works on that one?


Hi diabloNL

i can confirm that the Explorer Pro DOES in fact have the same exact secret options that you found in the Chess Challenger
these options are also not documented in the manual
same key-in procedure as well..GO/STOP+OPTIONS on start up
i checked the Book OFF option and it does shut down all opening books when engaged leaving the computer to think on its own from the first move

This Is Becoming A Monumental Discovery Regards
Steve
It seems we have a dedicated chess computer version of Tarrasch's "amaurosis schachistica" here - but let's get back on the topic of ExPro's secret strength.

The extra options suggest that ExPro ranks as the strongest child of GK 2100. Challenger is much closer in play to the original. ExPro, based on Four.nine's current matchup, is stronger than Cougar, and Four.nine also suggests that Cougar is stronger than 2250XL. Or, to rank it more simply:

1. ExPro
2. Cougar
3. 2250XL (still the strongest among RS machines)

Nick's massive testing suite from a few years back also seems to bear this out. Assuming ExPro continues to outperform Cougar, it's one more reason to view ExPro as a best buy (which I've always believed). It also suggests that a match between ExPro and Designer 2325, which ranks a bit higher on the lists, would be worthwhile.

More matches regards,

- R.
"You have, let us say, a promising politician, a rising artist that you wish to destroy. Dagger or bomb are archaic and unreliable - but teach him, inoculate him with chess."
– H.G. Wells
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Steve B
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Post by Steve B »

Reinfeld wrote:OK, this is getting funny now.

here's the item within that thread where Steve confirmed the existence of the same secret menu within ExPro:
lol..and from a 2015 thread..not even 3 yrs ago
i guess my memory is not what it used to be

Undocumented Memory Loss Regards
Steve
Four.nine
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Post by Four.nine »

Excellent post by Reinfeld, saving me a lot of typing, because it pretty much covers everything that I would have wanted to add. With one exception:

1. ExPro
2. Cougar
3. 2250XL (still the strongest among RS machines)

I do not agree with grouping the 10 MHz Radio Shaft with the 16 MHz processors. Every tournament I have run repeats the same result: The 2250XL is just another slightly modified GK2100 clone. In fact, with the default Brute Force (AND Random)...IT IS WEAKER THAN THE GK2100.

But,I digress, yet once more;
gms 5-7: Ex is up 3-1 so far


Game 5: A draw for 38 moves... and then ExPro missteps doom Black. A clear example of the fact that these two programs are: a lot alike.

[Event "Cougar-ExPro Max Strngth"]
[Black "ExPro MaxStrng"]
[Date "Jan 17, 2018"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Cougar"]

1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.c4 e6 4.Bg5 Be7 5.Nc3 O-O 6.e3 h6 7.Bh4 b6 8.cxd5 Nxd5 9.Bxe7 Qxe7 10.Nxd5 exd5 11.Be2 Be6 12.Rc1 c5 13.O-O Re8 14.Bb5 Rc8 15.b3 a6 16.Bd3 Nc6 17.Be2 Ra7 18.Qd2 cxd4 19.Nxd4 Nxd4 20.Rxc8+ Bxc8 21.Qxd4 Qc5 22.Rd1 Be6 23.Qd2 Qe7 24.a4 a5 25.Qd4 Qc5 26.Qd3 Rc7 27.Bf3 Qc2 28.Qb5 Rc6 29.h3 Rd6 30.e4 Bd7 31.Qd3 Qxd3 32.Rxd3 Bc6 33.exd5 Bb7 34.g3 g5 35.Bg2 Kg7 36.Rd4 Kf6 37.f4 gxf4 38.gxf4 Rd7 39.Kf2 Rc7 40.d6 Rc2+ 41.Ke3 Rxg2 42.d7 Rg3+ 43.Ke2 Ba6+ 44.Kd2 Rg8 45.d8=R Rg6 46.R4d6+ Kf5 47.R8d7 Rxd6+ 48.Rxd6 Kxf4 49.Rxb6 Bc8 50.Rxh6 Kg3 51.h4 Kg4 52.Kc3 f5 53.b4 axb4+ 54.Kxb4 f4 55.Rc6 Bf5 56.Rc4 Kg3 57.Rc5 Be4 58.h5 f3 59.h6 f2 60.Rc1 Kg2 61.a5 f1=Q 62.Rxf1 Kxf1 63.a6 Ke2 64.Kc3 Ke3 65.a7 Kf3 66.Kd4 Kf4 67.h7 Bxh7 68.a8=Q Bf5 69.Qf8 Kg5 70.Ke5 Bc2 71.Qf4+ Kg6 72.Qg4+ Kf7 73.Qc4+ Kg6 74.Qxc2+ Kg7 75.Kf5 Kg8 76.Kf6 Kh8 77.Qg2 Kh7 78.Qg7# 1-0

Game 6: Excellent game, but ill-advised Q trade at the end dooms Cougar.

[Event "Cougar-ExProMaxStrngth"]
[Black "Cougar"]
[Date "Jan 17, 2018"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Round "6"]
[White "ExPro MaxStrgth"]

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 e6 4.Nc3 Nf6 5.e3 Nbd7 6.Bd3 Bd6 7.O-O O-O 8.Re1 dxc4 9.Bxc4 c5 10.Nb5 Be7 11.Bd3 cxd4 12.exd4 b6 13.Bg5 a6 14.Nc3 Bb7 15.Qe2 a5 16.Rac1 Rc8 17.a3 Re8 18.Bb5 Nd5 19.Nxd5 Bxg5 20.Rxc8 Bxc8 21.Nxg5 Qxg5 22.Nxb6 Ba6 23.Bxa6 Nxb6 24.Bd3 Rd8 25.Qc2 Rc8 26.Bxh7+ Kh8 27.Qb3 Rc1 28.Rf1 Rxf1+ 29.Kxf1 Kxh7 30.Qxb6 Qd2 31.g3 Kg6 32.Kg2 a4 33.h4 Qd1 34.Qc5 f6 35.Qc6 Qb3 36.g4 Kf7 37.h5 Ke7 38.Qc3 Qd5+ 39.Kg3 Kd7 40.f4 Qb5 41.Qd2 Qb3+ 42.Kf2 Qh3 43.Qe2 Ke7 44.f5 Qh2+ 45.Kf3 Qxe2+ 46.Kxe2 exf5 47.gxf5 Kd6 48.Kd2 Kc6 49.Kc3 Kd6 50.Kc4 Kc6 51.d5+ Kd6 52.Kd4 Kd7 53.Kc5 Kc7 54.d6+ Kb7 55.Kd5 Kb8 56.Kc6 Kc8 57.d7+ Kd8 58.Kd6 g6 59.fxg6 f5 60.g7 f4 61.g8=Q# 1-0

D46o: Semi-Slav : Chigorin in book through White move 9. White wins a pawn after 18. .. Nd5? (Rf8). 22. NxP was part of a massive trade that left Q+R+B+6P vs. Q+R+N+5P by move 24. After 30. QxN, White still has an extra pawn, but SF says the wide open board (in a Q+Ps endgame) only gives White a 0.5 lead. At move 43, Black is still clinging to drawing chances (+1.4 for White), but makes two mistakes: 43. .. Ke7? and later the disastrous Queen trade 45. .. QxQ?????? GAME OVER. White has been programmed to comprehend opposition, thus 48. Kd2! (turns out in this position, even Kd3 works, but the fact that the ExPro understands opposition way before the 6th or 7th rank is impressive and the ExPro will win many games that other GK2100 clones will only be able to draw).One other important note: ExPro already “saw” mate at move 56 (Cougar was clueless and displaying something like +2.5). ExPro is programmed to understand (way back at move 56) that 59. fxg6 will NOT stalemate (and just not to capture the pawn with 59. hxg6).

Game 7: An even game for about 20 moves and then missteps by Cougar. Eventually, ExPro is 5 pawns up: The End.

Event "Cougar-ExProMaxStrng match"]
[Black "ExProMaxStrgnth"]
[Date "Jan 17, 2018"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Cougar"]

1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Bc4 Nc6 4.d3 Bb4 5.Nf3 d6 6.O-O Bxc3 7.bxc3 Na5 8.Bb3 Nxb3 9.cxb3 O-O 10.h3 b6 11.Bg5 h6 12.Bh4 a5 13.Nd2 Re8 14.a4 Bb7 15.Rc1 Re6 16.Nc4 c6 17.Ne3 Qc7 18.f4 exf4 19.Nf5 Ne8 20.Nd4 Re5 21.Nf3 Rh5 22.Re1 Rc8 23.Qc2 c5 24.c4 f5 25.Bf2 Nf6 26.Re2 fxe4 27.dxe4 Re8 28.Rce1 Qc6 29.Nd2 Rhe5 30.Qd3 Nxe4 31.Nxe4 Rxe4 32.Qxe4 Qxe4 33.Rxe4 Rxe4 34.Rd1 Re6 35.Bh4 g5 36.Bf2 h5 37.Rd2 g4 38.Bh4 g3 39.Kf1 d5 40.Rd1 d4 41.Rd2 Be4 42.Bg5 f3 43.Bh4 fxg2+ 44.Kg1 Bb7 45.Bxg3 Re3 46.Bh2 Re1+ 47.Kf2 Rh1 48.Bg1 Rxh3 49.Re2 Rxb3 50.Re7 Bc6 51.Re6 Rb2+ 52.Kg3 Bxa4 53.Rd6 Bc2 54.Kxg2 Bb3+ 55.Kg3 Bxc4 56.Rd7 Bf1 57.Kf3 h4 58.Re7 h3 59.Re1 Bg2+ 60.Kg4 Kf7 61.Rd1 Ke6 62.Re1+ Kd7 63.Bh2 a4 64.Ra1 b5 65.Bf4 c4 66.Be5 Re2 67.Bf4 d3 68.Bh2 d2 69.Rd1 c3 70.Bf4 h2 71.Bxd2 cxd2 72.Kg5 h1=Q 73.Rxh1 Bxh1 74.Kf6 d1=Q 75.Kg5 Qg1+ 76.Kf4 Qg7 77.Kf5 Rf2# 0-1

C28n: Vienna: 3. Bc4 Nc6 4. d3 Bb4 in book for 8 full moves. The game was heading for a draw (they always are) and after ExPro 19. .. Ne8? (Kh7), Cougar actually has a +1.2 lead with 20. Qg4. But, Cougar 20. Nd4 and later 23. Qc2 flips the lead to -1.1 (The Cougar pawn sac at 18. f4 was admirable, but futile).
So, ExPro is up a pawn and piles up all pieces on e4 and now wins THAT pawn at 30. .. Nxe4. A flurry of trades and it is R+B+5P vs. R+B+7P by move 34 and Cougar is in a heap of trouble. A third pawn falls at 43. .. fxg2+ and that, was that. The ExPro finish was forgettable...but then again most mop ups with this level table are second-rate.
However, not forgettable is the fact that ExPro “Selective Search Tournament Book” has now won 5 out of the first 7 games: that IS remarkable.

I Believe Ex Max Strength is up 5-2...not looking good for the Coug
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paulwise3
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Post by paulwise3 »

Just a trivial question, because I do not see you mentioning it:
Did you set the Cougar also at max strength?
2024 Special thread: viewtopic.php?f=3&t=12741
2024 Special results and standings: https://schaakcomputers.nl/paul_w/Tourn ... 25_06.html
If I am mistaken, it must be caused by a horizon effect...
Four.nine
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Post by Four.nine »

paulwise3 wrote:Just a trivial question, because I do not see you mentioning it:
Did you set the Cougar also at max strength?
Good question.

The book was set to Tournament.
Cougar....you already know this....already starts at selective search.

Also important: both 1 min/move

AND: NO Takebacks. Ever. This resets any internal calculations back to zero.
And one more thing: fastest piece movement possible, move pieces (or depress squares) on waiting machine immediately.
Also, no bathroom breaks. Sometimes this gets messy.
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paulwise3
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Post by paulwise3 »

Four.nine wrote:...
Also, no bathroom breaks. Sometimes this gets messy.
Sounds (and smells) interesting... :-P

Edit: Still pleading for the Cougar: could it be it needs an ACL reset?
And what happens if you replay the game with switched colours?
2024 Special thread: viewtopic.php?f=3&t=12741
2024 Special results and standings: https://schaakcomputers.nl/paul_w/Tourn ... 25_06.html
If I am mistaken, it must be caused by a horizon effect...
Four.nine
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Posts: 911
Joined: Tue Mar 21, 2017 7:30 pm

Post by Four.nine »

paulwise3 wrote:
Four.nine wrote:...
Sounds (and smells) interesting... :-P

Edit: Still pleading for the Cougar: could it be it needs an ACL reset?
And what happens if you replay the game with switched colours?
OK OK ...maybe a short break for a number 2.
No mercy for Cougar.
ACL button is the correct term, yes Accumulator Clear.....on a previous post I incorrectly typed ALT

As to switched: You must be physic:
Game 8 (I will post shortly, is reversed colors game 3)

And, presently, I am on Game 14 of a total reversed colors repeat of games 1-10 (except 3 and 8 will be a different opening)

I will post games 8-10 in a short while
Four.nine
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Post by Four.nine »

Games 8-10


Game 8: Nice game by Cougar. A reversed color repeat of Game 3, but Cougar varies early (versus Game 3) with 17. .. Nd7 (ExPro played Ra7). ExPro sacs a pawn for an attack, but blows it. Cougar cleverly exchanges down to a N+6P vs. N+5P endgame...and outcalculates ExPro for the win. Cougar tightens the match to 3-5.

[Event "Cougar-ExProMaxStrngth"]
[Black "Cougar"]
[Date "Jan 19, 2018"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Round "8"]
[White "ExProMaxStrngth"]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d4 exd4 6.cxd4 Bb4+ 7.Bd2 Bxd2+ 8.Nbxd2 d5 9.exd5 Nxd5 10.Qb3 Nce7 11.O-O O-O 12.Rfe1 a5 13.a4 Nb6 14.Bd3 Bf5 15.Rxe7 Bxd3 16.Re5 Bg6 17.Rae1 Nd7 18.Re7 Nb6 19.Qb5 c6 20.Qb3 Ra7 21.Nh4 Qxd4 22.Nxg6 hxg6 23.R1e4 Qd8 24.Nf3 Nc8 25.R7e5 b6 26.Nd4 Qd7 27.Nf3 Rd8 28.Qe3 f6 29.Re6 c5 30.Ne1 Nd6 31.Re7 Qxe7 32.Rxe7 Rxe7 33.Qxe7 Re8 34.Qxe8+ Nxe8 35.Kf1 Kf7 36.Nd3 g5 37.Ke2 Ke6 38.b3 Kd5 39.Nb2 Nd6 40.Kd3 g4 41.Nd1 c4+ 42.bxc4+ Nxc4 43.Nc3+ Kc5 44.h4 gxh3 45.gxh3 Ne5+ 46.Kc2 Kb4 47.h4 Ka3 48.h5 Nd7 49.f4 f5 50.Kd3 Kb3 51.Kd4 Kb4 52.Kd3 Nf6 53.Kd4 Nxh5 54.Nd5+ Kxa4 55.Nxb6+ Kb3 56.Nd7 Nxf4 57.Ke5 Nd3+ 58.Kd4 Kc2 59.Nb6 f4 60.Nc4 a4 61.Na3+ Kb3 62.Kxd3 Kxa3 63.Ke4 0-1


Game 9: When one sees such computer chess, one can only exclaim: “COUGAR”. Cougar outplays ExPro and wins a pawn at 19. Qxd5. BUT, then “changes its mind” with 19. Qe3?? Later, in a Q+Ps endgame, Cougar has wins at 38. f4+, 39. f4+ and 41. Qxd6+ and misses all of them. Now, ExPro wins the ensuing “game of opposition”.


[Event "Cougar-ExProMS"]
[Black "ExProMS"]
[Date "Jan 20, 2018"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Cougar"]

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Nxc6 bxc6 7.e5 Nd5 8.Nxd5 exd5 9.Qd4 Qa5+ 10.c3 Be7 11.Bd3 O-O 12.O-O d6 13.Bf4 dxe5 14.Bxe5 f6 15.Bg3 Re8 16.Rfe1 Ba6 17.Bxa6 Qxa6 18.Re6 Bf8 19.Qe3 Qc8 20.Rxe8 Qxe8 21.Qd2 Qg6 22.b4 Rd8 23.Re1 Re8 24.Rxe8 Qxe8 25.Kf1 g6 26.Qd4 f5 27.Be5 Qd7 28.Ke2 Be7 29.a4 Kf7 30.a5 a6 31.Ke3 Ke6 32.g4 c5 33.bxc5 Qc6 34.gxf5+ gxf5 35.Bd6 Bxd6 36.cxd6 Qxd6 37.Qb6 Ke5 38.h3 h6 39.h4 Ke6 40.Kd4 h5 41.Kd3 Qxb6 42.axb6 Kd6 43.b7 Kc7 44.Kd4 Kxb7 45.Kxd5 Kb6 46.c4 Kc7 47.f3 f4 48.Kc5 Kb7 49.Kd6 a5 50.c5 Kc8 51.Kd5 Kc7 52.Kd4 a4 53.Kc4 a3 54.Kb3 Kc6 55.Kc2 Kxc5 56.Kc3 a2 57.Kb2 Kd4 58.Kxa2 Ke3 59.Kb3 Kxf3 60.Kc2 Ke2 61.Kb3 Kd3 62.Kb4 f3 63.Kc5 f2 64.Kb5 f1=Q 65.Kc5 Qf2+ 66.Kd6 Qxh4 0-1


Game 10: A draw...the first in 10 games. ExPro had a chance to win a pawn with 28. Rd6, but missed it.

[Event "Cougar_ExProMaxStrngth"]
[Black "Cougar"]
[Date "Jan 21, 2018"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[Round "10"]
[White "ExProMaxStr"]

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.c4 b6 4.Nc3 Bb7 5.Bg5 Be7 6.e3 Ne4 7.Bxe7 Qxe7 8.Nxe4 Bxe4 9.Be2 O-O 10.O-O c5 11.Bd3 Bxd3 12.Qxd3 cxd4 13.exd4 Nc6 14.Rfe1 Rfd8 15.d5 Nb4 16.Qd2 Qd6 17.a3 Na6 18.Rad1 exd5 19.Qxd5 Qxd5 20.Rxd5 Nc7 21.Rd6 Ne8 22.Rd3 Nf6 23.b4 Re8 24.Ne5 Rac8 25.Kf1 Re7 26.f4 a6 27.g3 h6 28.h3 Re6 29.Nxd7 Rxe1+ 30.Kxe1 Nxd7 31.Rxd7 Rxc4 32.Kd2 a5 33.bxa5 bxa5 34.Rb7 Kf8 35.Kd3 Ra4 36.Rb3 Ke7 37.h4 Kd6 38.Ke3 f5 39.h5 Kc5 40.Rc3+ Kd6 41.Kf3 Kd5 42.Rd3+ Rd4 43.Re3 Kc4 44.Ke2 Rd7 45.Re5 a4 46.Rxf5 Kb3 47.Rb5+ Kxa3 48.g4 Ka2 49.g5 a3 50.gxh6 gxh6 51.Rb6 Re7+ 52.Kd3 Rd7+ 53.Ke2 Re7+ 54.Kd2 Re4 55.Rxh6 Rxf4 56.Rb6 Ka1 57.h6 Rh4 58.Kc2 Ka2 59.Rd6 Rh2+ 60.Kc3 Rh1 61.Rd7 Rh3+ 62.Rd3 Rxh6 63.Rd2+ Kb1 64.Rd1+ Ka2 65.Rd2+ Kb1 66.Rd1+ Ka2 67.Rd2+ 1/2-1/2

Halftime results: ExPro Max Strength 6W 3L 1D (6.5-3.5) which translates to a performance rating of + 108. It’s only 10 games, but it wasn’t Cougar that finished 6.5-3.5.

***************************************************************************************************************
Here’s what we’re going to do for the second ten games: REPEAT games 1-10 with reversed colors. These two computers, most likely, have virtually the same tournament book, so forcing the machines into the exact lines played in games 1-10 should be fairly easy.
Four.nine
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Post by Four.nine »

Now starts the “reversed colors” set of 10 games...requested by a member and cleverly anticipated already by the two computers in Games 3 and 8!!
For Cougar fans, there is good news and bad news.

First the bad: In the first two games, Cougar gets a right good.............oh, you’ll just have to see for yourself


Game 11: An amazing save by ExPro: blunders into a totally lost position, but creates enough chaos to draw!

[Event "Cougar-ExPro MaxStr"]
[Black "Cougar"]
[Date "Jan 23, 2018"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[Round "11"]
[White "ExPro"]

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 g6 4.d4 cxd4 5.Nxd4 Bg7 6.Be3 Nf6 7.Be2 O-O 8.O-O b6 9.Nxc6 dxc6 10.Qe1 Qc7 11.Rd1 Bb7 12.f4 Rad8 13.f5 Rxd1 14.Bxd1 c5 15.Bf4 Qd7 16.fxg6 hxg6 17.Bf3 Rd8 18.a3 Qe6 19.Qe2 a5 20.Bg5 Nh7 21.Bf4 Bd4+ 22.Kh1 Nf6 23.Rd1 Rc8 24.Re1 Bxc3 25.bxc3 Rd8 26.Bc7 Rd7 27.Bg3 Bc6 28.Qe3 Ba8 29.Qf4 Bb7 30.Qb8+ Kh7 31.e5 Bxf3 32.exf6 Qc6 33.Qf8 Bxg2+ 34.Kg1 exf6 35.Re8 g5 36.Qg8+ Kh6 37.Qh8+ Kg6 38.Rg8+ Kf5 39.Qh7+ Kg4 40.Qh4+ Kf3 41.Qh5+ Ke3 42.Re8+ Be4 43.Qh3 Rd1+ 44.Be1+ Kf4 45.Qg3+ Kf5 46.Qh3+ g4 47.Qh5+ Kf4 48.Qh6+ Kf3 49.Qh4 Kf4 50.Qh6+ Kf5 51.Qh7+ Kf4 52.Qh6+ 1/2-1/2

As with Game1: (FORCED) B34V: Sicilian: accelerated Fianchetto in book through White move 8. As expected, both programs followed the Game 1 moves until ExPro varied unexpectedly early: 21. Bf4 (this move is rated, by SF, better than Cougar previous 21. Bh4). I was somewhat surprised by this early variation; I figured the reversed color games would go 30, maybe 40 moves, before there was a different calculation. Cougar held an early lead (just like ExPro in Game 1), but by move 25 the position had equalized. By move 31, the game was dead even and headed for a draw. But, ExPro blunders with 31. e5?? which is probably good enough for a Cougar win! After 33. Qf8?, SF says Cougar is up -3.2...it’s GAME OVER. But ExPro 35. Re8!? “frightens” the Cougar! Cougar misses 35. .. Rd1+ and panics with 35. .. g5? A -3.5 eval lead dives to -0.7! But, ExPro is still not out of the woods: At move 42, Black 42. .. Kd2 maintains a -1.2 lead. But again, a Cougar misstep, (blocking move 42. .. Be4?) DRAWS the game. The Cougar King is way out in the open now and with the help of a Rook and Bishop, the ExPro Queen just checks the Black King to death (well, checks the K to a draw). An amazing, resourceful “save” by ExPro, which wins this “home and home” B34V Sicilian series 1.5-0.5.

Game 12: ExPro Max Strength wins the reversed colors version of Game 2 (i.e., wins this opening as White... AND as Black!)

[Event "Cougar-ExPro MaxStr"]
[Black "EPMS"]
[Date "Jan 25, 2018"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Cougar"]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Bg5 Be7 5.Nc3 O-O 6.e3 Nbd7 7.Bd3 c5 8.O-O cxd4 9.Nxd4 dxc4 10.Bxc4 Qa5 11.Bb5 a6 12.Nb3 Qc7 13.Bd3 Bd6 14.f4 Qb6 15.Qe2 h6 16.Bh4 e5 17.Bg3 exf4 18.Bxf4 Ne5 19.Bc2 Be6 20.Qe1 Bc4 21.Rf2 Neg4 22.Bxd6 Qxd6 23.Rf4 Bxb3 24.axb3 Qc5 25.Kh1 Nxe3 26.Ne4 Nxc2 27.Nxc5 Nxe1 28.Rxe1 b6 29.Ne4 Nd5 30.Rf2 Rad8 31.g3 Nb4 32.Re3 Rd1+ 33.Kg2 Rfd8 34.Nc3 R1d7 35.Rfe2 Kh7 36.h3 Kg6 37.Na4 Nd5 38.Re4 Nf6 39.Re5 Rd6 40.Kf3 Rd3+ 41.R2e3 R8d6 42.Nc3 Rd2 43.Ne2 Rxb2 44.Nf4+ Kh7 45.Rc3 Rd1 46.Re2 Rf1+ 47.Kg2 Rxe2+ 48.Nxe2 Rb1 49.Kf3 Kg6 50.Rd3 Rf1+ 51.Ke3 Rh1 52.b4 Rb1 53.Nf4+ Kf5 54.Rd4 Re1+ 55.Kf3 Ra1 56.Rd6 Ra3+ 57.Rd3 Rxd3+ 58.Nxd3 Ke6 59.Kf4 Kd5 60.Ne5 Nh5+ 61.Kg4 Kxe5 62.Kxh5 Kf5 63.g4+ Kf4 64.g5 hxg5 65.b5 axb5 66.h4 gxh4 67.Kxh4 b4 68.Kh3 b3 69.Kg2 b2 70.Kf2 b1=Q 71.Ke2 Qc2+ 72.Ke1 Kg3 73.Kf1 Qd1# 0-1

A MOST instructive example of the similarities AND differences between Cougar and Explorer Pro. (FORCED) D60: QGD: Orthodox in opening book for 8 full moves. I had to do a couple of “takebacks” to persuade both computers to follow the line of Game 2. The last TB (I believe) was 6. .. Nbd7; ExPro also has 6. .. b6 programmed in; I ONLY forced the programmed internal book moves. AFTER THAT, I forced NOTHING. NOTHING. And what happened? These two programs played FORTY straight moves EXACTLY the same as Game 2...with colors REVERSED! Then it happened. I knew it would: a variation. ExPro selected 41. .. R8d6...but only AFTER flashing F6D7 (the Game 2 move by Cougar) in the display for a considerable amount of time.
SO: Ostensibly, Cougar and ExPro are the exact same program....until:
UNTIL, some point in the endgame, when new code was introduced making the ExPro program “considerably” stronger than Cougar. I’ll leave the definition of “considerably” to a curious student.
WRT to the game: ExPro, unlike Cougar, took the small lead home for a win (after 60. Ne5??, White was totally dead). One side note: ExPro flashed Mate in 7 at move 68, pretty good for a 16 MHz machine!

One more note: ExPro is 1.5-0.5 in the reversed colors game 11 and 12, after finishing 2-0 in the original games 1 and 2. I am waiting to see if ExPro can finish 6.5-3.5 with reversed colors (after Cougar finished 3.5-6.5). That would be remarkable.
Four.nine
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Post by Four.nine »

Three game post today.
I promised Good News for Cougar fans: Game 13 is it.

Game 13: This will NOT be a reversed colors repeat of Game 3 (That was already done with Game eight). Instead I will Force a “Budapest” which both boxes have in internal book (and I see on a fairly regular basis by all these GK2100 clones).

[Event "Cougar-ExPro MaxStr"]
[Black "Cougar"]
[Date "Jan 25, 2018"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Round "13"]
[White "EPMS"]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e5 3.dxe5 Ng4 4.Nf3 Bc5 5.e3 Nc6 6.Be2 Ngxe5 7.O-O O-O 8.Nc3 d6 9.Nxe5 Nxe5 10.b3 Bf5 11.Bf3 c6 12.Be4 Bg4 13.Qd2 f5 14.Bc2 Qf6 15.f3 Bh5 16.Rb1 a6 17.Na4 Ba7 18.Nc3 b5 19.Rf2 Rae8 20.Bb2 Qh6 21.Re1 f4 22.e4 Bxf3 23.Nd1 Bxd1 24.Bxd1 Bxf2+ 25.Kxf2 Qxh2 26.Bxe5 Qg3+ 27.Kf1 dxe5 28.Bf3 bxc4 29.bxc4 Rb8 30.Qc3 Rfe8 31.Rd1 Kh8 32.c5 Qh2 33.Kf2 g5 34.Be2 g4 35.Bf1 f3 36.Ke1 fxg2 37.Bxg2 Qxg2 38.Qd2 Qh1+ 39.Ke2 Qf3+ 40.Ke1 Rf8 41.Qh2 Qc3+ 42.Qd2 Qg3+ 43.Ke2 Qf3+ 44.Ke1 Qf1# 0-1

A52g: Budapest: Adler in book through White move 10. And things went bad real quick for......ExPro!!! After Cougar 12. .. Bg4, ExPro needs to kick out that Bishop with 13. f3. BUT, ExPro 13. Qd2? and 14. Bc2??????????? are too slow and are actually GAME OVER!!! Unfortunately, now Cougar misses killer 14. .. Nf3+!! (ExPro finally calculates 15. f3, although by now 15. f4 is correct). But, ExPro isn’t done screwing up: 18. Nc3?, 19. Rf2?, 20. Bb2?, 21. Re1? and 22. e4?? ALL sucked. And that was that; all over in 22 moves. ExPro calculated horribly. Cougar wasn’t brilliant, but made enough decent moves to button this one up quickly. The Cougar Bishop control of the a7-g1 diagonal was a key factor in crushing the White position.
The reverse colors series is now tied at 1.5-1.5. Game 18 will be a Forced reverse color repeat of the above game. I hope I remember.

Game 14: An outstanding game by ExPro. Again, wins both sides of the same opening (Games 4 and 14). In this game, ExPro suddenly turns StockFish and varies at move 21.

[Event "Cougar-ExProMaxStrngth"]
[Black "EPMS"]
[Date "Jan 26, 2018"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Round "14"]
[White "Cougar"]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 O-O 8.c3 d5 9.exd5 Nxd5 10.Nxe5 Nxe5 11.Rxe5 c6 12.d4 Bd6 13.Re1 Qc7 14.Qh5 Bb7 15.Bg5 Rae8 16.Nd2 h6 17.Be3 Nxe3 18.fxe3 Re7 19.a4 c5 20.axb5 axb5 21.Ra7 cxd4 22.cxd4 Qc6 23.Nf3 Bb4 24.Rea1 Rxe3 25.Bd1 Re7 26.Qf5 Qb6 27.Bc2 g6 28.Qf4 Re2 29.Bd3 Bxf3 30.Bxe2 Bxe2 31.g3 Bc4 32.R1a6 Qd8 33.Qe5 Kh7 34.Qf6 Qxf6 35.Rxf6 Rd8 36.Rf4 Bd2 37.Rf3 Rxd4 38.Kf2 Bb4 39.Ke3 Rd2 40.b3 Bxb3 41.Rb7 Bc4 42.Rf2 Rd3+ 43.Ke4 Ra3 44.Rb2 Bc5 45.R2xb5 Re3+ 46.Kf4 g5+ 47.Kg4 Be2+ 48.Kf5 Bd3+ 49.Kg4 Kg6 50.R7b6+ Bxb6 51.Rxb6+ f6 52.Rxf6+ Kxf6 53.Kh5 Be2+ 54.Kxh6 Re8 55.Kh7 Bd3+ 56.Kh6 Rh8# 0-1

A reverse colors Game 4, C89m: Ruy Lopez: Marshall in book through White move 13. The game continued to mimic Game 4, until move 21, when ExPro Max Strength suddenly turns SF with 21. .. cxd4! (Cougar calculated 21. .. Qb6 as Black in Game 4). Of the next 11 ExPro moves, ExPro calculated 9 of the SF recommendations (OK, so a couple were forced). But, basically, Cougar was playing against StockFish........and by move 35, it was: GAME OVER.
And one note about ExPro move 21: ExPro, thought long and hard about the Cougar calculation 21. .. Qb6 (well, long and hard for an inanimate object) and then the ExPro display changed to flash: C5D4. Something in that ExPro program was changed (i.e., improved) from Cougar times. ExPro has won both sides of Games 2/12... AND 4/14.
I know ExPro....and it is no Cougar.
ExPro now leads reversed color series 2.5-1.5 and the full match 9-5.

Game 15: This time a “save” by Cougar. ExPro has several winning opportunities and f’s each one of them up.

Event "Cougar-ExPro Max Strngth"]
[Black "Cougar"]
[Date "Jan 27, 2018"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[Round "15"]
[White "EPMS"]

1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.c4 e6 4.Bg5 Be7 5.Nc3 O-O 6.e3 h6 7.Bh4 b6 8.cxd5 Nxd5 9.Bxe7 Qxe7 10.Nxd5 exd5 11.Be2 Be6 12.Rc1 c5 13.O-O Re8 14.Bb5 Rc8 15.b3 a6 16.Bd3 Nc6 17.Be2 Ra7 18.Qd2 cxd4 19.Nxd4 Nxd4 20.Rxc8+ Bxc8 21.Qxd4 Qe6 22.Rd1 Rd7 23.Bg4 f5 24.Bf3 Bb7 25.a3 Ba8 26.b4 g6 27.a4 Rd6 28.b5 axb5 29.axb5 Bb7 30.Ra1 Kh7 31.Qh4 Rd7 32.Qf4 Qf6 33.Rb1 Qc3 34.Qd4 Qxd4 35.exd4 Rc7 36.Re1 Kg7 37.Kf1 Kf6 38.Re5 Rd7 39.g3 g5 40.Bg2 Ba8 41.f4 g4 42.Ke2 Re7 43.h3 h5 44.h4 Rd7 45.Bh1 Re7 46.Ke3 Rd7 47.Bg2 Re7 48.Kf2 Rd7 49.Ke2 Re7 50.Ke3 Rd7 51.Bh1 Re7 52.Ke2 Rd7 53.Kf1 Rd8 54.Bg2 Rd7 55.Ke1 Re7 56.Kd2 Ra7 57.Bxd5 Bxd5 58.Rxd5 Ra3 59.Rd6+ Kg7 60.Rd5 Kf6 61.Rd6+ Kg7 62.Rd5 Kf6 1/2-1/2

A repeat of Game 5 for 20 moves; Cougar varies with 21. .. Qe6 (according to SF, weaker than ExPro Qc5 in Game 5) so ExPro is up +1.1. Material is always even, so ExPro scores the game even and can’t calculate some of the strongest continuations like 31. Ra7 or 42. Re8.
ExPro had a win at 49. Bf1! (49. Bf1! Ra7 Bd3! Ra2+ Ke3 Rg2 Rxf5+ Kg7 Rg5+ Kf7 Rxh5 and GAME OVER), but buggers it with 49. Ke2?? Cougar calculates the daring 56. .. Ra7?! ExPro is now frightened by the “g” pawn and opts for threepeat draw.

ExPro now leads reversed color series 3-2 and the full match 9.5-5.5. Since it is Sunday, all Cougar fans must now with folded hands and bowed heads, pray for a miracle in the final 5 games and petition the Lord with prayer. Petition the Lord with prayer. Petition the Lord with prayer.
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