My new toy: Radio Shack Master

vonderlasa · Post by **vonderlasa** » Sat Mar 14, 2015 2:09 am

Please note that this is not the more common Master 2200X. Little is known about its' strength etc. Radio Small posted its' match victory against the Novag Obsidian. I played 4 games tonight, with RS set to move at average 15 seconds per move (Level F1). No takebacks were allowed. The RS frequently exceeded 15 seconds per move.

[Event "?"]
[Site "Fitchburg,WI"]
[Date "Mar 13, 2015"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Vonderlasa"]
[Black "Radio Shack Master Level F1"]
[Result "1-0"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e5 Nfd7 6. h4 Bxg5 7. hxg5 Qxg5 8.
Nh3 Qe7 9. Nf4 c6 10. Qg4 O-O 11. Bd3 g6 12. Qh3 h5 13. Nxh5 f6 14. Nxf6+ Nxf6
15. exf6 Qg7 16. fxg7 Kxg7 17. Qh7+ Kf6 18. Qxg6+ Ke7 19. Rh7+ Kd8 20. Qg5+ Rf6
21. Qxf6+ Ke8 22. Qe7#
1-0

One of my very few computer crushes. Carbon intelligence triumphs!! This game was played last, so RS was probably tired:) (FYI:I am a USCF Class A Player)

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2015.03.13"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Magnus Carlsen (Age 7½)"]
[Black "Radio Shack Master level F1"]
[Result "0-1"]
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e6 6. Rb1 Be7 7. Be2 Nc6 8. Be3 O-O 9. O-O Nxd4 10. Bxd4 b6 11. Qe1 e5 12. Be3 Bb7 13. f4 Nxe4 14. fxe5 Nxc3 15. bxc3 dxe5 16. Qg3 Qc7 17. Bc1 Rad8 18. Qe1 Be4 19. Qg3 Bc5+ 20. Be3 Rd2 21. Qf2 Rxc2 22. Rb4 Bxb4 23. Bh6 Qxc3 24. Be3 Bd3 25. h4 Rxe2 26. Qg3 Rxe3 27. Rf3 Rxf3 28. gxf3 Rc8 29. Kg2 Qb2+ 30. Kh3 Bf5+ 31. Qg4 Rc2 32. a4 Rh2+ 33. Kg3 Be1 0-1

Somewhere in here RS announced mate in 6.

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2015.03.13"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Magnus Carlsen (Age 11)"]
[Black "Radio Shack Master Level F1"]
[Result "1-0"]
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 Bb4 7. Bd3 Bxc3+ 8. bxc3 Nf6 9. O-O O-O 10. Nxc6 bxc6 11. e5 Nd5 12. Bc5 Re8 13. Qh5 h6 14. c4 Nf4 15. Qf3 Qa5 16. Bd6 g5 17. g3 Nxd3 18. cxd3 Qc3 19. Rfd1 Qa5 20. Qf6 Qd8 21. Qxh6 Ra7 22. d4 Rb7 23. Rd3 Rb2 24. Rf3 g4 25. Rxf7 Rb1+ 26. Rxb1 Kxf7 27. Qh7 1-0

Death on the dark squares!

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2015.03.13"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Radio Shack Master Level F1"]
[Black "Magnus (10 years, 6 months old)"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
1. d4 Nf6 2. Bg5 Ne4 3. Bh4 c5 4. Nd2 Nxd2 5. Qxd2 cxd4 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. O-O-O Qb6 8. Nxd4 Nxd4 9. Qxd4 Qxd4 10. Rxd4 e5 11. Rd5 d6 12. e4 a6 13. a3 Be7 14. Bxe7 Kxe7 15. Be2 f5 16. Rhd1 Rd8 17. Bf3 Rb8 18. exf5 Bxf5 19. h3 Rbc8 20. R5d2 Rc7 21. c3 Rc5 22. Bxb7 Rb8 23. Rxd6 Rxb7 24. Rxa6 Ke8 25. a4 Ke7 26. a5 Rb3 27. Ra7+ Ke6 28. Ra6+ Ke7 29. Ra7+ Ke6 30. Ra6+ Ke7 1/2-1/2

RS sacs a piece and draws Magnus.
Anyone have thoughts on the programmer, is it a GK 2000 clone (my guess), etc.
Enjoy.

Larry · Post by **Larry** » Sat Mar 14, 2015 7:49 am

Congratulations on your new toy. Strange, I've never heard of this
particular model. No mention of it over at www.schachcomputer.info
Some info here:
http://www.spacious-mind.com/html/maste ... puter.html

Being a Morsch program, it's probably either a GK2000 or GK2100.
May you have many hours of fun...
L

Larry · Post by **Larry** » Sat Mar 14, 2015 10:28 am

Having just said I have never heard of this model, here's one on eBay
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1998-Radio-Shac ... 3cf5182841
L

Dave C · Post by **Dave C** » Thu Jul 23, 2015 3:16 am

I also recently purchased a Radio Shack Master. I've noticed that it has the most sensitive sensors on squares when moving chessmen. It requires very little downward pressure to register a move. I really like this feature. Does your Master also have sensitive squares?

Based on its fairly strong play I think it must be an H8 with 10mhz or maybe 16mhz.

Larry · Post by **Larry** » Thu Jul 23, 2015 4:23 am

Dave C wrote:I also recently purchased a Radio Shack Master. I've noticed that it has the most sensitive sensors on squares when moving chessmen. It requires very little downward pressure to register a move. I really like this feature. Does your Master also have sensitive squares?

Based on its fairly strong play I think it must be an H8 with 10mhz or maybe 16mhz.

Yes Dave, mine also has nice to operate squares. It seems the later
production run plastic cases are better than the early ones. A joy to play
chess with them. If you want to see what hard-to-press sensory squares
feel like, try the Radio Shack 2250 sometime. It will build up your muscles.
I'm pretty sure the processor is running at the standard 10mhz, just like
most of the GK2100 clones.
L

Cyberchess · Post by **Cyberchess** » Fri Jul 24, 2015 12:44 pm

Greetings!

This was my travel schachcomputer in the pre-smartphone Y2K era. I purchased the Radio Shack 2200X, the Radio Shack 2250XL and the Master Chess unit on e-bay for next to nothing back then. Since I don’t actually collect dedicated units, my plan was to test out all 3, retain the best performer as my vacation travel unit, and auction off the others. This because I didn’t want to subject my pricey 1996 Novag Diamond to the abuse of brutal baggage handlers, TSA screening, being lugged around from place to place, etc.

After about 2 months of testing, I decided that the Master Chess unit impressed me more than the other 2, though I regret selling the 2250XL, as the larger form factor and LCD screen were desirable features and it is highly coveted by many collectors. The MC is another Frans Morsch clone featuring a 16K program running on an H8 processor @ 16MHZ. It plays a decent middle-game for an inexpensive unit, though the opening book is woefully inadequate (6K), and it has absolutely no endgame enhancements (hash tables, database solutions). Also, the novel ticking clock feature should definitely be disabled prior to checking in at the airport.

Other than that, the board is indeed a joy to play on with its super sensitivity; the pieces stow away nicely in their own compartment, and it runs for a long time on 6 C cells. You can set it to automatically power down at a specified interval if you need to leave the game for extended periods of time. Unlike Novag units, you can set the LCD display to your liking and it will retain your choice as long as good batteries are installed.

The build quality is top notch, as I’ve lugged my unit along on many trips, played many games with it over the years, and it still looks and functions like new.

Plenty of bang for the buck regards,
John

paulwise3 · Post by **paulwise3** » Sat Aug 01, 2015 6:06 pm

If it has a 16k program it must be a GK2000 clone, since the GK2100 has a 32k program.
Still a strong machine to play with!

Best regards,
Paul.

Cyberchess · Post by **Cyberchess** » Sat Aug 01, 2015 7:36 pm

paulwise3 wrote:If it has a 16k program it must be a GK2000 clone, since the GK2100 has a 32k program.
Still a strong machine to play with!

Best regards,
Paul.

Greetings Paul!

I believe that the Saitek GK 2000 is actually a clone of the Radio Shack Master 2200X unit.

Comparison Shopping Regards,
John

paulwise3 · Post by **paulwise3** » Sat Aug 01, 2015 9:53 pm

Cyberchess wrote:
paulwise3 wrote:If it has a 16k program it must be a GK2000 clone, since the GK2100 has a 32k program.
Still a strong machine to play with!

Best regards,
Paul.
Greetings Paul!

I believe that the Saitek GK 2000 is actually a clone of the Radio Shack Master 2200X unit.

Comparison Shopping Regards,
John

Hi John,

This is interesting! Looking at the specs (both 10MHz, where the Master runs on 16MHz) you may be right, but if Nick's pages are correct, there is still a large difference in the openingbook: 28000 vs 2000.
Or could that be a typo? Because the wiki-elo-liste also states they are clones...
And the Master has an 6000 moves openingbook.
So could the RadioShack Master be a GK2000 running on 16MHz? That could explain a lot.
But then, the 2250XL is supposed to be a clone of the GK2100. Could a GK2000 running on 16MHz be stronger then the GK2100 (running on 10MHz)? Or is it then just a question of the playing style you liked more?

Edit: And then, one could even think about the Europa, also a 16k program. What if that runs on 16MHz instead of 2MHz...??

Nice speculation stuff regards,
Paul

Cyberchess · Post by **Cyberchess** » Sat Aug 01, 2015 10:39 pm

paulwise3 wrote:
Cyberchess wrote:
paulwise3 wrote:If it has a 16k program it must be a GK2000 clone, since the GK2100 has a 32k program.
Still a strong machine to play with!

Best regards,
Paul.
Greetings Paul!

I believe that the Saitek GK 2000 is actually a clone of the Radio Shack Master 2200X unit.

Comparison Shopping Regards,
John
Hi John,

This is interesting! Looking at the specs (both 10MHz, where the Master runs on 16MHz) you may be right, but if Nick's pages are correct, there is still a large difference in the openingbook: 28000 vs 2000.
Or could that be a typo? Because the wiki-elo-liste also states they are clones...
And the Master has an 6000 moves openingbook.
So could the RadioShack Master be a GK2000 running on 16MHz? That could explain a lot.
But then, the 2250XL is supposed to be a clone of the GK2100. Could a GK2000 running on 16MHz be stronger then the GK2100 (running on 10MHz)? Or is it then just a question of the playing style you liked more?

Edit: And then, one could even think about the Europa, also a 16k program. What if that runs on 16MHz instead of 2MHz...??

Nice speculation stuff regards,
Paul

Hello Paul:

Yes, I also took note of the huge opening book ROM discrepancy and figured it to be a typo. As I recall, the 2200X unit that I tested pretty extensively didn’t seem to have anything close to a 28K opening module. Something closer to 2K was probably a more accurate assessment, though I have no way knowing for certain.

One thing I do remember clearly was that the 2200X unit made in 1996 was the weakest performer of the 3 aforementioned RS/Saitek/Mephisto units that I tested. The 2250XL finished right dab in the middle, though my assessment was based solely on games that I had played with these machines.

For a while I was thinking that the RS MC was a Saitek Centurion clone (they look much the same), however, looking at Nick’s site, I realize this to be incorrect.

Have we looked into the Mephisto Chess Challenger for comparison?

Befuddled Regards,
John

paulwise3 · Post by **paulwise3** » Mon Aug 03, 2015 10:13 am

Hi John,

Both the Centurion and the mephisto chess challenger are also classified as a GK2100 clone...

So what next ? Regards,
Paul

paulwise3 · Post by **paulwise3** » Mon Aug 03, 2015 11:13 am

You could take a look at http://www.schach-computer.info/wiki/in ... -Elo-Liste, to see pictures of all those machines too. However, your Master is not there...

Cyberchess · Post by **Cyberchess** » Mon Aug 03, 2015 4:14 pm

paulwise3 wrote:Hi John,

Both the Centurion and the mephisto chess challenger are also classified as a GK2100 clone...

So what next ? Regards,
Paul

Greetings Paul!

All these years I thought that the RS MC was a common, albeit slightly modified, clone. Now I realize that I was mistaken.
According to Nick’s position testing, the MC outperforms the 2250XL in selective search, and both outperform the slightly older 2200X unit. This confirms my casual testing results, as I enjoy playing action chess (SD 90) with the dedicated units, and all of my games were played on the selective search setting. Nick also published a Kelly’s Blue Book of Radio Shack units. The Radio Shack Mega 2050X outperformed all 3 units on (presumably) selective search testing, though I’m befuddled as to why? It appears to have the same 16K Frans Morsch program used in many machines, though running on an older H8 processor @ 7MHZ effectively.

http://hiarcs.net/forums/viewtopic.php? ... &start=135

So, to summarize, I would now describe the RS MC as an older 16K Frans Morsch program running on a latter model H8 processor/I/O/board with a 6K opening book ROM. Effective playing strength I would estimate as between U.S.C.F 2150 – U.S.C.F. 2250 @ 40 in 2&1/2.

Glad That I Kept Mine Regards,
John

spacious_mind · Post by **spacious_mind** » Mon Aug 03, 2015 10:47 pm

Cyberchess wrote: Nick also published a Kelly’s Blue Book of Radio Shack units. The Radio Shack Mega 2050X outperformed all 3 units on (presumably) selective search testing, though I’m befuddled as to why? It appears to have the same 16K Frans Morsch program used in many machines, though running on an older H8 processor @ 7MHZ effectively.

Glad That I Kept Mine Regards,
John

Hi John,

See post in the same thread:

http://hiarcs.net/forums/viewtopic.php? ... &start=240

Alain wrote:OK, I have finished the full Par Excellence test, i.e. 7 games x 6 playable levels

Code: Select all

          FIDELITY       FIDELITY       FIDELITY       FIDELITY       FIDELITY       FIDELITY
          Par Excellence Par Excellence Par Excellence Par Excellence Par Excellence Par Excellence
          SPRACKLEN      SPRACKLEN      SPRACKLEN      SPRACKLEN      SPRACKLEN      SPRACKLEN
          Lvl 6 - 60m/5' Lvl 7 - 60m/15'Lvl 8 - 60m/30'Lvl 9 - 60m/1h Lvl 10 - 30m/1hLvl 11 - 40m/2h
          6502 5Mhz      6502 5Mhz      6502 5Mhz      6502 5Mhz      6502 5Mhz      6502 5Mhz
Game #1     Move    pts    Move    pts    Move    pts    Move    pts    Move    pts    Move    pts
         1  7. e5   1,0   7. Bb5+  1,8   7. Bb5+  1,8   7. Bb5+  1,8    7. e5   1,0    7. e5   1,0
         2 8. Bf4   3,0   8. Bg5   1,6   8. Bg5   1,6   8. Bf4   3,0   8. Bf4   3,0   8. Bf4   3,0
         3 9. Bxf6  1,0   9. Qa4+  2,2   9. Rb1   0,0   9. Rb1   0,0   9. Rb1   0,0   9. Rb1   0,0
         4 10. Rb1  2,2   10. Rb1  2,2   10. Rb1  2,2   10. Qd2  2,6   10. b3   0,0   10. b3   0,0
         5 11. Bc4  3,0   11. Bc4  3,0   11. Bd3  1,0   11. Bd3  1,0   11. Bd3  1,0   11. Bd3  1,0
         6 12. 0-0  3,0   12. 0-0  3,0   12. 0-0  3,0   12. 0-0  3,0   12. 0-0  3,0   12. 0-0  3,0
         7 13. Na4  0,0   13. Qc2  1,0   13. Qc2  1,0   13. Qc2  1,0   13. Bc4  0,0   13. Bc4  0,0
         8 14. Qc2  2,0   14. Qc2  2,0   14. Qc2  2,0   14. Qc2  2,0   14. Qc2  2,0   14. Qc2  2,0
         9 15. a5   1,4   15. a5   1,4   15. a5   1,4   15. a5   1,4   15. a5   1,4   15. a5   1,4
        10 16. b3   0,0   16. b3   0,0   16. Qb3  0,0   16. Qb3  0,0   16. b3   0,0   16. b3   0,0
        11 17. Nd2  1,2   17. Nd2  1,2  17. Nxe5  1,6  17. Nxe5  1,6  17. Nxe5  1,6  17. Nxe5  1,6
        12 18. h3   3,0   18. g3   0,0   18. h3   3,0   18. h3   3,0   18. h3   3,0   18. h3   3,0
        13 19. Qb3  0,0   19. Na4  3,0   19. Kh1  0,0   19. Kh1  0,0   19. Na4  3,0   19. Na4  3,0
        1420. Qxa4  3,0  20. Qxa4  3,0  20. Qxa4  3,0  20. Qxa4  3,0  20. Qxa4  3,0  20. Qxa4  3,0
        15 21. Qb3  1,0   21. Qb3  1,0   21. Qb3  1,0   21. Qb3  1,0   21. Qb3  1,0   21. Qb3  1,0
        16 22. b4   4,0   22. b4   4,0   22. b4   4,0   22. b4   4,0   22. b4   4,0   22. b4   4,0
        17 23. d6   1,3  23. dxe6  5,0  23. dxe6  5,0   23. d6   1,3   23. d6   1,3   23. d6   1,3
        18 24. Rc4  0,0   24. Rb1  0,0  24. dxe6  4,0  24. dxe6  4,0  24. dxe6  4,0  24. dxe6  4,0
        1925. exf7+ 5,0  25. exf7+ 5,0  25. exf7+ 5,0  25. exf7+ 5,0  25. Rxd6  3,2  25. Rxd6  3,2
        2026. Rc8+  4,0  26. Rc8+  4,0  26. Rc8+  4,0  26. Rc8+  4,0  26. Rc8+  4,0  26. Rc8+  4,0
        2127. Rxh8  1,0  27. Rxh8  1,0  27. Qc7+  2,0  27. Qc7+  2,0  27. Qc7+  2,0  27. Qc7+  2,0
        2228. Bg4+  4,0  28. Bg4+  4,0  28. Bc4+  2,0  28. Bc4+  2,0  28. Rxh8  4,0  28. Rxh8  4,0
        2329. Bxf5+ 3,0  29. Bxf5+ 3,0  29. Bxf5+ 3,0  29. Bxf5+ 3,0  29. Bxf5+ 3,0  29. Bxf5+ 3,0
        2430. Qc5+  3,0  30. Qc5+  3,0  30. Qc5+  3,0  30. Qc5+  3,0  30. Qc5+  3,0  30. Qc5+  3,0
Total        80     50,1           55,4           54,6           52,7           51,5           51,5
Percentage         62,63%         69,25%         68,25%         65,88%         64,38%         64,38%
Elo         3000    1879           2078           2048           1976           1931           1931

Game #2
         1 6… Nxd4  0,0   6. … e5  2,5   6. … e5  2,5   6. … e5  2,5   6. … e5  2,5   6. … e5  2,5
         27. … Be6  1,0  7. … Be6  1,0  7. … Be7  1,3  7. … Be7  1,3  7. … Be7  1,3  7. … Be7  1,3
         38. … Qxd5 2,2  8. … Qxd5 2,2  8. … Qxd5 2,2  8. … Qxd5 2,2  8. … Qxd5 2,2  8. … Qxd5 2,2
         49. … Be7  2,8  9. … Be7  2,8  9. … Be7  2,8  9. … Be6  4,0  9. … Be6  4,0  9. … Be6  4,0
         5 10… Nf4  0,0  10. … Nf6 3,1  10. … Nf6 3,1  10. … Nf6 3,1  10. … Nf6 3,1  10. … Nf6 3,1
         611. … Nf4 1,7  11. … Nf4 1,7  11. … Nf4 1,7  11. … Nf4 1,7  11. … Nf4 1,7  11. … Nf4 1,7
         712. … 0-0 4,0  12. … Qc7 1,1  12. … 0-0 4,0  12. … 0-0 4,0  12. … Qc7 1,1  12. … Qc7 1,1
         813. … f5  4,0  13. … f5  4,0  13. … f5  4,0  13. … f5  4,0  13. … f5  4,0  13. … f5  4,0
         914. … Bxc 1,0  14. … Qd7 3,6  14. … Qd7 3,6  14. … Qd7 3,6  14. … Bxc 1,0  14. … Qd7 3,6
        1015. … Qxe 1,0  15. … Qxe 1,0  15. … Qxe 1,0  15. … Qxe 1,0  15. … Qxe 1,0  15. … Qxe 1,0
        1116. … f4  0,0  16. … f4  0,0  16. … f4  0,0  16. … f4  0,0  16. … f4  0,0  16. … f4  0,0
        1217. … Be5 4,0  17. … Be5 4,0  17. … f4  0,0  17. … f4  0,0  17. … f4  0,0  17. … f4  0,0
        1318. … Rf7 1,0  18. … Rf7 1,0  18. … Rf7 1,0  18. … Rf7 1,0  18. … Rf7 1,0  18. … Rf7 1,0
        1419. … Qf6 2,9  19. … Qf6 2,9  19. … Qf6 2,9  19. … Qf6 2,9  19. … Qf6 2,9  19. … Qf6 2,9
        1520. … Nxb 0,0  20. … Nxb 0,0  20. … Nxb 0,0  20. … Qf6 4,0  20. … Qe7 2,0  20. … Qe7 2,0
        1621. … Be5 4,0  21. … Be5 4,0  21. … Be5 4,0  21. … Be5 4,0  21. … Be5 4,0  21. … Be5 4,0
        1722. … Bxc 0,0  22. … Bxc 0,0  22. … Bxc 0,0  22. … Bxc 0,0  22. … Bxc 0,0  22. … Bxc 0,0
        1823. … fxg 0,0  23. … fxg 0,0  23. … fxg 0,0  23. … Bxc 0,0  23. … Bxc 0,0  23. … Bxc 0,0
        1924. … exf 4,0  24. … exf 4,0  24. … exf 4,0  24. … exf 4,0  24. … exf 4,0  24. … exf 4,0
        2025. … Rxf 3,0  25. … Rxf 3,0  25. … Rxf 3,0  25. … Rxf 3,0  25. … Rxf 3,0  25. … Rxf 3,0
        2126. … fxg 3,0  26. … fxg 3,0  26. … fxg 3,0  26. … fxg 3,0  26. … fxg 3,0  26. … fxg 3,0
        2227. … gxh 2,0  27. … gxh 2,0  27. … gxh 2,0  27. … gxh 2,0  27. … gxh 2,0  27. … gxh 2,0
        2328. … Qg6 1,0  28. … h1Q 3,0  28. … h1Q 3,0  28. … h1Q 3,0  28. … h1Q 3,0  28. … Qg6 1,0
Total        80     42,6           49,9           49,1           54,3           46,8           47,4
Percentage         53,25%         62,38%         61,38%         67,88%         58,50%         59,25%
Elo         3000    1598           1871           1841           2036           1755           1778

Game #3
         110. … Bd7 3,5  10. … Bd7 3,5  10. … Bd7 3,5  10. … Bd7 3,5  10. … Bd7 3,5  10. … Bd7 3,5
         211. … Bd7 3,8  11. … Bd7 3,8  11. … Bd7 3,8  11. … Bd7 3,8  11. … Bd7 3,8  11. … Qc7 0,0
         312. … Ne5 3,5  12. … Ne5 3,5  12. … Ne5 3,5  12. … Ne5 3,5  12. … Ne5 3,5  12. … Ne5 3,5
         413. … Qc8 3,5  13. … Qc8 3,5  13. … Qc8 3,5  13. … Qc8 3,5  13. … Qc8 3,5  13. … Qc8 3,5
         514. … Qxc 3,1  14. … Qxc 3,1  14. … Qxc 3,1  14. … Qxc 3,1  14. … Qxc 3,1  14. … Qxc 3,1
         615. … Qc7 1,4  15. … Ng4 1,2  15. … Qc7 1,4  15. … Qc7 1,4  15. … Qc7 1,4  15. … Ng4 1,2
         716. … Qc4 1,4  16. … Ng4 0,0  16. … Ng4 0,0  16. … Ng4 0,0  16. … Ng4 0,0  16. … Ng4 0,0
         817. … Qc4 4,0  17. … Qc4 4,0  17. … Qc4 4,0  17. … Qc4 4,0  17. … Qc4 4,0  17. … Qc4 4,0
         918. … Rac 3,8  18. … Rac 3,8  18. … Rac 3,8  18. … Rac 3,8  18. … Rac 3,8  18. … Rac 3,8
        1019. … Nd7 0,0  19. … Qa6 0,0  19. … Qa6 0,0  19. … Bd7 0,0  19. … Bd7 0,0  19. … Bd7 0,0
        1120. … Qa4 2,4  20. … Qa4 2,4  20. … Qa4 2,4  20. … Qa4 2,4  20. … Qa4 2,4  20. … Qa4 2,4
        1221. … Nc4 4,0  21. … Nc4 4,0  21. … Nc4 4,0  21. … Nc4 4,0  21. … Nc4 4,0  21. … Nc4 4,0
        1322. … Bc2 3,8  22. … Bc2 3,8  22. … Bc2 3,8  22. … Bc2 3,8  22. … Bc2 3,8  22. … Bc2 3,8
        1423. … Bxd 4,0  23. … Bxd 4,0  23. … Bxd 4,0  23. … Nxf 3,4  23. … Nxf 3,4  23. … Nxf 3,4
        1524. … Qxb 3,1  24. … Nd7 1,0  24. … Nd7 1,0  24. ...Ra 4,0  24. ...Ra 4,0  24. ...Ra 4,0
        1625. … Qxb 3,0  25. … Qxb 3,0  25. … Qxb 3,0  25. … Qxb 3,0  25. … Qxb 3,0  25. … Qxb 3,0
        1726. … Qc3 0,0  26. … Qb6 1,7  26. … Nc4 1,1  26. … Nc4 1,1  26. … Nc4 1,1  26. … Nc4 1,1
        1827. … Qb6 3,5  27. … Qb6 3,5  27. … Qb6 3,5  27. … Qb6 3,5  27. … Qb6 3,5  27. … Qb6 3,5
        1928. … Rc3 3,5  28. … Rc3 3,5  28. … Rc3 3,5  28. … Rc3 3,5  28. … Rc3 3,5  28. … Rc3 3,5
        2029. … R8c 1,1  29. … R8c 1,1  29. … f5  1,0  29. … f5  1,0  29. … f5  1,0  29. … f5  1,0
        2130. … Qxb 1,0  30. … Qf2 3,5  30. … Qf2 3,5  30. … Qf2 3,5  30. … Qf2 3,5  30. … Qf2 3,5
Total        80     57,4           57,9           57,4           59,8           59,8           55,8
Percentage         71,75%         72,38%         71,75%         74,75%         74,75%         69,75%
Elo         3000    2153           2171           2153           2243           2243           2093

Game #4
         1 16. Bd3  3,4   16. Re2  2,3   16. Re2  2,3   16. Bd3  3,4   16. Bd3  3,4   16. Bd3  3,4
         2 17. Nd5  4,0   17. Nf5  1,9   17. Nf5  1,9   17. Nf5  1,9   17. Nf5  1,9   17. Nd5  4,0
         3 18. Bc2  1,0   18. Bc2  1,0   18. Bc2  1,0   18. Bc2  1,0   18. Bc2  1,0   18. Bc2  1,0
         419. Bxc6  2,1  19. Bxc6  2,1  19. Bxc6  2,1  19. Bxc6  2,1  19. Bxc6  2,1  19. Bxc6  2,1
         5 20. d5   1,8   20. Nd5  0,0   20. Nd5  0,0   20. Nd5  0,0   20. Nd5  0,0   20. Nd5  0,0
         6 21. Bg5  4,0   21. Bg5  4,0   21. Bg5  4,0   21. Bg5  4,0   21. Bg5  4,0   21. Bg5  4,0
         7 22. Qb3  2,9   22. d5   0,0   22. Qd3  3,4   22. Rc1  2,9   22. Rc1  2,9   22. Rc1  2,9
         8 23. Qb3  2,4   23. Qd3  3,3   23. Qd3  3,3   23. d5   4,0   23. Qd3  3,3   23. Qd3  3,3
         9 24. d5   3,7  24. Ref1  1,5   24. d5   3,7   24. d5   3,7   24. d5   3,7   24. d5   3,7
        10 25. Nd5  4,0   25. Nd5  4,0   25. Nd5  4,0   25. Nd5  4,0   25. Nd5  4,0   25. Nd5  4,0
        11 26. Qc4  1,6   26. Qc4  1,6   26. Qc4  1,6   26. Qc4  1,6   26. Qc4  1,6   26. Qc4  1,6
        1227. Ref1  1,7   27. a5   3,7   27. a5   3,7   27. Qc4  0,0   27. Qc4  0,0   27. Qc4  0,0
        1328. Nxb4  1,6  28. Nxb4  1,6  28. Nxb4  1,6  28. Nxb4  1,6  28. Nxb4  1,6  28. Nxb4  1,6
        1429. Rec1  0,0  29. Rec1  0,0  29. Rec1  0,0  29. Rec1  0,0  29. Rec1  0,0   29. Qa3  0,0
        15 30. Qa3  0,0   30. Qa3  0,0  30. Rec1  4,0  30. Rec1  4,0  30. Rec1  4,0  30. Rec1  4,0
        1631. Nxe5  4,0  31. Nxe5  4,0  31. Nxe5  4,0  31. Nxe5  4,0  31. Nxe5  4,0  31. Nxe5  4,0
        17 32. b4   0,0   32. b4   0,0   32. b4   0,0   32. b4   0,0   32. b4   0,0   32. b4   0,0
        1833. Rxb8  4,0  33. Rxb8  4,0  33. Rxb8  4,0  33. Rxb8  4,0  33. Rxb8  4,0  33. Rxb8  4,0
        1934. Qxa6  4,0  34. Qxa6  4,0  34. Qxa6  4,0  34. Qxa6  4,0  34. Qxa6  4,0  34. Qxa6  4,0
        20 35. Rc8  4,0   35. Rc8  4,0   35. Rc8  4,0   35. Rc8  4,0   35. Rc8  4,0   35. Rc8  4,0
Total        80     50,2           43,0           52,6           50,2           49,5           51,6
Percentage         62,75%         53,75%         65,75%         62,75%         61,88%         64,50%
Elo         3000    1883           1613           1973           1883           1856           1935

Game #5
         113. … e5  1,5  13. … e5  1,5  13. … Qc7 1,.7 13. … Qc7 1,.7 13. … e5  1,5  13. … e5  1,5
         214. … Qc7 3,0  14. … Nc6 2,5  14. … Nc6 2,5  14. … Nc6 2,5  14. … Qc7 3,0  14. … Qc7 3,0
         315. … Qc7 1,5  15. … Nc6 3,0  15. … Qc7 1,5  15. … Qc7 1,5  15. … Qc7 1,5  15. … e5  0,0
         416. … Ng4 1,9  16. … Nxd 3,0  16. … Nxd 3,0  16. … Nxd 3,0  16. … Bh3 1,0  16. … Bh3 1,0
         517. … Nd4 2,6  17. … Ne5 3,0  17. … Ne5 3,0  17. … Ne5 3,0  17. … Ne5 3,0  17. … Ne5 3,0
         618. … Qc7 2,7  18. … Qc7 2,7  18. … Qc7 2,7  18. … Qc7 2,7  18. … Qc7 2,7  18. … Qc7 2,7
         719. … Qf5 0,0  19. … Nxc 3,0  19. … Nxc 3,0  19. … Nxc 3,0  19. … Nxc 3,0  19. … Nxc 3,0
         820. … Qc7 1,0  20. … Nxc 3,0  20. … Nxc 3,0  20. … Nxc 3,0  20. … Nxc 3,0  20. … Nxc 3,0
         921. … Bxb 3,0  21. … Bxb 3,0  21. … Bxb 3,0  21. … Bxb 3,0  21. … Bxb 3,0  21. … Bxb 3,0
        1022. … Qg4 1,3  22. … Qg4 1,3  22. … Qg4 1,3  22. … Rxb 3,0  22. … Rxb 3,0  22. … Rxb 3,0
        1123. … Qf5 1,9  23. … e6  2,2  23. … e6  2,2  23. … e6  2,2  23. … e6  2,2  23. … e6  2,2
        1224. … Rb8 3,0  24. … Rb8 3,0  24. … e6  0,0  24. … e6  0,0  24. … e6  0,0  24. … e6  0,0
        1325. … e5  1,7  25. … Qd7 1,7  25. … Qd7 1,7  25. … e5  1,7  25. … e5  1,7  25. … e5  1,7
        1426. … Qd7 2,6  26. … Qd7 2,6  26. … Qd7 2,6  26. … Qd7 2,6  26. … Qd7 2,6  26. … Qd7 2,6
        1527. … e5  0,0  27. … e5  0,0  27. … Qe5 3,0  27. … Qe5 3,0  27. … Qe5 3,0  27. … Qe5 3,0
        1628. … Rxb 2,0  28. … Rxb 2,0  28. … Rxb 2,0  28. … Rxb 2,0  28. … Rxb 2,0  28. … Rxb 2,0
        1729. … Qd4 1,1  29. … Qc3 3,0  29. … e6  0,0  29. … Kg7 1,1  29. … Kg7 1,1  29. … Kg7 1,1
        1830. … a3  2,0  30. … a3  2,0  30. … a3  2,0  30. … a3  2,0  30. … a3  2,0  30. … a3  2,0
        1931. … Qd4 2,2  31. … e6  1,8  31. … Qb2 3,0  31. … Qb2 3,0  31. … Qb2 3,0  31. … Qb2 3,0
        2032. … Qb2 1,9  32. … Kg7 0,0  32. … Kg7 0,0  32. … Kg7 0,0  32. … Kg7 0,0  32. … Kg7 0,0
        2133. … Qd4 0,0  33. … Qd4 0,0  33. … Qd4 0,0  33. … Qd4 0,0  33. … Qd4 0,0  33. … Qd4 0,0
        2234. … gxh 2,0  34. … gxh 2,0  34. … gxh 2,0  34. … gxh 2,0  34. … gxh 2,0  34. … gxh 2,0
        2335. … e6  1,0  35. … e6  1,0  35. … Qa1 2,6  35. … e6  1,0  35. … e6  1,0  35. … e6  1,0
        2436. … Qg3 0,0  36. … Qg3 0,0  36. … Qh2 3,0  36. … Qh2 3,0  36. … Qh2 3,0  36. … Qh2 3,0
        2537. … Qg5 1,1  37. … Qg5 1,1  37. … Qg5 1,1  37. … Qg5 1,1  37. … Qg5 1,1  37. … Qg5 1,1
        2638. … Qg3 0,0  38. … Qg3 0,0  38. … Qg3 0,0  38. … Qg3 0,0  38. … Qg3 0,0  38. … Kf7 2,6
        2739. … Qh2 0,0  39. … Qh2 0,0  39. … Qh2 0,0  39. … Qh2 0,0  39. … Qh2 0,0  39. … Qh2 0,0
        2840. … Qg7 1,0  40. … Qg7 1,0  40. … Qg7 1,0  40. … Qg7 1,0  40. … Qg7 1,0  40. … Qg7 1,0
Total        80     42,0           49,4           49,2           50,4           50,4           51,5
Percentage         52,50%         61,75%         61,50%         63,00%         63,00%         64,38%
Elo         3000    1575           1853           1845           1890           1890           1931

Game #6
         110. … Be6 3,0  10. … Be6 3,0  10. … Be6 3,0  10. … Be6 3,0  10. … Be6 3,0  10. … Be6 3,0
         211. … Bd7 2,0  11. … Bd7 2,0  11. … Bd7 2,0  11. … Bd7 2,0  11. … Bd7 2,0  11. … Bd7 2,0
         312. … Bd7 3,0  12. … Bd7 3,0  12. … Bd7 3,0  12. … Bxb 1,8  12. … Bxb 1,8  12. … Bd7 3,0
         413. … Qc7 1,3  13. … Qc7 1,3  13. … Qc7 1,3  13. … Qc7 1,3  13. … Qc7 1,3  13. … Qc7 1,3
         514. … Qb6 1,8  14. … Qb6 1,8  14. … Qb6 1,8  14. … Qb6 1,8  14. … Qb6 1,8  14. … Qb6 1,8
         615. … Bxf 4,0  15. … Bxf 4,0  15. … Bxf 4,0  15. Bxf6  2,6  15. … Bxf 4,0  15. … Qb6 4,0
         716. … Bh4 2,7  16. … Bh4 2,7  16. … Qb6 2,6  16. … Qb6 3,0  16. … Qb6 2,6  16. … Qb6 2,6
         817. … Qb6 2,1  17. … Bh4 2,4  17. … Rc8 3,0  17. … Rc8 2,7  17. … Rc8 3,0  17. … Rc8 3,0
         918. … Rfd 3,0  18. … Rfd 3,0  18. … b6  2,7  18. … b6  4,0  18. … b6  2,7  18. … b6  2,7
        1019. … d5  4,0  19. … d5  4,0  19. … d5  4,0  19. … d5  4,0  19. … d5  4,0  19. … d5  4,0
        1120. … Nxd 4,0  20. … Nxd 4,0  20. … Nxd 4,0  20. … Nxd 3,0  20. … Nxd 4,0  20. … Nxd 4,0
        1221. … Bxd 3,0  21. … Bxd 3,0  21. … Bxd 3,0  21. … Bxd 2,0  21. … Bxd 3,0  21. … Bxd 3,0
        1322. … Rxd 2,0  22. … Rxd 2,0  22. … Rxd 2,0  22. … Rxd 2,0  22. … Rxd 2,0  22. … Rxd 2,0
        1423. … Rxd 2,0  23. … Rxd 2,0  23. … Rxd 2,0  23. … Rxd 4,0  23. … Rxd 2,0  23. … Rxd 2,0
        1524. … Rxd 4,0  24. … Rxd 4,0  24. … Rxd 4,0  24. … Rxd 3,0  24. … Rxd 4,0  24. … Rxd 4,0
        1625. … e4  4,0  25. … e4  4,0  25. … Qc4 3,0  25. … Qc4 2,6  25. … Qc4 3,0  25. … Qc4 3,0
        1726. … e4  2,6  26. … e4  2,6  26. … e4  2,6  26. … e4  1,7  26. … e4  2,6  26. … Qb6 4,0
        1827. … e3  2,3  27. … e3  2,3  27. … Qf4 1,7  27. … Qf4 1,0  27. … Qf4 1,7  27. … e3  2,3
        1928. … Qc4 3,6  28. … Qc4 3,6  28. … Be5 1,0  28. … Be5 3,1  28. … Be5 1,0  28. … Be5 1,0
        2029. … Bf6 3,1  29. … Be5 4,0  29. … Bf6 3,1  29. … Bf6 4,0  29. … Bf6 3,1  29. … Be5 4,0
        2130. … Qf5 0,0  30. … Qf5 0,0  30. … Qc4 4,0  30. … Qc4 3,0  30. … Qf5 0,0  30. … Qxf 0,0
        2231. … Qd5 3,0  31. … Qd5 3,0  31. … Qd5 3,0  31. … Qd5 3,0  31. … Qd5 3,0  31. … Qd5 3,0
        2332. … Bd4 3,0  32. … Bd4 3,0  32. … Bd4 3,0  32. … Bd4 3,0  32. … Bd4 3,0  32. … Bd4 3,0
        2433. … Qh1 3,0  33. … Qh1 3,0  33. … Qh1 3,0  33. … Qh1+     33. … Qh1 3,0  33. … Qh1 3,0
Total        80     66,5           67,8           66,8           61,6           61,6           65,7
Percentage         83,17%         84,72%         83,50%         77,00%         77,00%         82,10%
Elo         3000    2495           2541           2505           2310           2310           2463

Game #7
         111. dxe5  1,5  11. dxe5  1,5  11. dxe5  1,5  11. dxe5  1,5  11. dxe5  1,5  11. dxe5  1,5
         212. dxe5  1,6  12. cxd6  3,4  12. cxd6  3,4  12. cxd6  3,4  12. cxd6  3,4  12. cxd6  3,4
         313. dxe5  3,0  13. dxe5  3,0  13. dxe5  3,0  13. dxe5  3,0  13. dxe5  3,0  13. dxe5  3,0
         414. dxe5  2,5  14. dxe5  2,5  14. dxe5  2,5  14. dxe5  2,5  14. dxe5  2,5  14. dxe5  2,5
         5 15. Ng5  1,2   15. Nd4  3,5   15. Nd4  3,5   15. Nd4  3,5   15. Ng5  1,2   15. Ng5  1,2
         6 16. e3   1,6   16. e4   3,5   16. e4   3,5   16. e4   3,5   16. e4   3,5   16. e4   3,5
         7 17. h3   3,5  17. Rfd1  3,5  17. Rfd1  3,5   17. f4   0,5  17. Rfd1  3,5  17. Rfd1  3,5
         818. Rcd1  1,6   18. Kh2  3,2   18. Kh2  3,2  18. Rcd1  1,6   18. f4   3,5  18. Rcd1  1,6
         9 19. Kh2  2,0   19. Kh2  2,0   19. Kh2  2,0   19. Kh2  2,0   19. Kh2  2,0   19. Kh2  2,0
        1020. Rcd1  2,4  20. Rcd1  2,4  20. Rcd1  2,4  20. Rcd1  2,4   20. e5   3,5   20. e5   3,5
        1121. … Ne2 0,0  21. … Ne2 0,0  21. Rcd1  3,5   21. Na4  3,4  21. … Ne4 0,0  21. … Ne4 0,0
        12 22. f5   2,9   22. Rd1  2,7   22. Rd1  2,7   22. Rd1  2,7   22. Rd1  2,7   22. Rd1  2,7
        13 23. Nb5  1,0   23. Ne4  3,2   23. Ne4  3,2   23. Ne4  3,2   23. Nb5  1,0   23. Na4  3,0
        14 24. Nc5  3,5   24. Nc5  3,5   24. Nc5  3,5   24. Nc5  3,5   24. Nc5  3,5   24. Nc5  3,5
        15 25. e6   3,5   25. e6   3,5   25. e6   3,5   25. e6   3,5   25. f6   2,6   25. f6   2,6
        16 26. Rd1  2,4   26. Rd1  2,4   26. Rd1  2,4   26. Rd1  2,4   26. Rd1  2,4   26. Rd1  2,4
        17 27. f6   0,0   27. f6   0,0   27. Bc3  2,0   27. Bc3  2,0   27. f6   0,0   27. f6   0,0
        1828. fxg6  3,5  28. fxg6  3,5  28. fxg6  3,5   28. Bh3  2,4   28. Bh3  2,4   28. Bh3  2,4
        19 19. Kg1  0,0   29. Be4  2,7   19. Qc1  0,0   29. Nf4  2,4   29. Nc5  3,5   29. Nc5  3,5
        2030. Qc4+  3,0  30. Qc4+  3,0  30. Qc4+  3,0  30. Qc4+  3,0  30. Qc4+  3,0  30. Qc4+  3,0
        2131. Nxg6  0,7  31. Nxg6  0,7  31. Nxg6  0,7  31. Nxg6  0,7  31. Nxg6  0,7  31. Nxg6  0,7
        2232. Rxd8  3,0  32. Rxd8  3,0  32. Rxd8  3,0  32. Rxd8  3,0  32. Rxd8  3,0  32. Rxd8  3,0
        23 33. Qd3  3,0   33. Qd3  3,0   33. Qd3  3,0   33. Qd3  3,0   33. Qd3  3,0   33. Qd3  3,0
        24 34. Bh3  1,0   34. Bh3  1,0   34. Bh3  1,0   34. Bh3  1,0   34. Nf4  2,5   34. Nf4  2,5
        2535. Bxe5  2,0  35. Bxe5  2,0  35. Bxe5  2,0  35. Bxe5  2,0  35. Bxe5  2,0  35. Bxe5  2,0
Total        80     50,3           62,6           65,5           62,1           59,8           60,0
Percentage         62,87%         78,29%         81,83%         77,60%         74,78%         75,00%
Elo         3000    1886           2349           2455           2328           2244           2250


          FIDELITY       FIDELITY       FIDELITY       FIDELITY       FIDELITY       FIDELITY
          Par Excellence Par Excellence Par Excellence Par Excellence Par Excellence Par Excellence
          SPRACKLEN      SPRACKLEN      SPRACKLEN      SPRACKLEN      SPRACKLEN      SPRACKLEN
          Lvl 6 - 60m/5' Lvl 7 - 60m/15'Lvl 8 - 60m/30'Lvl 9 - 60m/1h Lvl 10 - 30m/1hLvl 11 - 40m/2h
          6502 5Mhz      6502 5Mhz      6502 5Mhz      6502 5Mhz      6502 5Mhz      6502 5Mhz
Total        560   359,1          386,0          395,2          391,1          379,4          383,5
Percentage         64,13%         68,93%         70,56%         69,84%         67,75%         68,48%
Elo         3000    1924           2068           2117           2095           2033           2054

Interesting results so far regards,
Alain

This I think explains quite well, how every computer has a sweet spot. Alain had a theory or a suspicion that perhaps these old programs do not necessarily perform better with more time, because often in their analysis they throw out a previously calculated good move at the next ply with a worse move. In the case of Par Excellence 30 seconds per move was it's sweet spot. It scored ELO 2117 at 30 seconds per move and only ELO 2054 at 3 minutes per move after 7 test games.

With Mega 2050 it might be the same where it reached it's sweet spot in that test game. Whereas other better computers could not achieve it's sweet spot at 30 seconds per move which was the setting for most of these tests.

Hence for these tests that I am doing ideally I would like to have at least 10 test games. Currently I am only playing 5 test games.

Best regards

Cyberchess · Post by **Cyberchess** » Tue Aug 04, 2015 1:15 am

Thanks for shedding some light on this apparently anomalous schachcomputer performance, Nick. It sounds like what you’re describing is that the computer expends most of its allotted time evaluating a good move, considers another that evaluates higher at a shallow depth, then selects that move because it didn’t have enough time left to explore it at a greater depth.

This, as I recall, was the crux of the matter that lead to the “selective search” algorithms replacing the older “brute force” searches. Practical time constraints preclude evaluating a wide variety of moves to a considerable depth, so the computer limits its evaluations only to moves that meet a specified criteria.

The sweet spot would be where it has just enough time not to get itself in a pickle.

Interesting Comparisons Regards,
John