Novag Constellation Quattro

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spacious_mind
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Novag Constellation Quattro

Post by spacious_mind »

With Fernando trying to beat his Novag Super Constellation, I felt like trying out my latest chess computer addition Novag Constellation Quattro. It came out a couple of years after Super Constellation and has an 8 MHz 65C02 processor, which supposedly you have to divide by 2, meaning it plays at 4 MHz. Could by why it was called the Quattro (4 MHz?)

Anyway for the test game I let it play against Krypton Regency.

[Event "Computer Test Game"]
[Site "Alabama"]
[Date "2015.03.30"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Novag Constellation Quattro, LV 3."]
[Black "Krypton Regency, LV 53."]
[Result "1-0"]
[PlyCount "173"]
[EventDate "2015.03.30"]
[EventCountry "USA"]

1. e4 c5 2. c3 Nf6 3. e5 Nd5 4. d4 cxd4 5. Qxd4 e6 {Novag Constellation
Quattro out of book} 6. Nf3 {Krypton Regency out of book} Nc6 7. Qe4 Be7 8. Qg4 g6 9. Bb5 Nc7 10. Bxc6 dxc6 11. O-O c5 12. Nbd2 O-O 13. Ne4 h5 14. Qg3 Kg7 15. Nf6 Rh8 16. Bg5 Qf8 17. Qh4 Bd8 18. Rad1 Nd5 19. Nxd5 exd5 20. Bf6+ Bxf6 21. Qxf6+ Kg8 22. Ng5 Rh6 23. Rxd5 Bf5 24. Rfd1 Re8 25. Rxc5 Qe7 26. Qxe7 Rxe7 27. Ra5 a6 28. Rad5 Kg7 29. Re1 Rh8 30. f4 Rhe8 31. Kf2 Rd7 32. Rxd7 Bxd7 33. Ne4 Rd8 34. Rd1 Kf8 35. Nf6 Ke7 36. Ke3 Bf5 37. Rxd8 Kxd8 38. Kd4 Be6 39. c4 Ke7 40. Kc5 h4 41. Nd5+ Kd7 42. Kb6 Kc8 43. h3 Kb8 44. Ne3 Bd7 45. Kc5 Kc7 46. Nd5+ Kd8 47. Kd6 Bf5 48. Ne3 Bd7 49. c5 Ke8 50. Nd5 Bc6 51. Nf6+ Kf8 52. Nd5 Ke8 53. Nc7+ Kf8 54. f5 gxf5 55. Nd5 Kg7 56. Nf4 Kh6 57. e6 fxe6 58. Kxe6 Kg5 59. Ke5 Be4 60. Ne6+ Kh6 61. Nf4 Kg5 62. a3 a5 63. b4 axb4 64. axb4 Bc6 65. Ne6+ Kg6 66. Kd6 Kf6 67. Nf4 Bb5 68. Nd5+ Kg5 69. Nc7 Bc6 70. Nd5 Bb5 71. Ke5 Bc6 72. Nf4 Bd7 73. Ne6+ Bxe6 74. Kxe6 Kf4 75. b5 Ke3 76. c6 bxc6 77. bxc6 f4 78. c7 Kf2 79. c8=Q Kxg2 80. Ke5 f3 81. Qg4+ Kf2 82. Qxh4+ Kf1 83. Ke4 Kg2 84. Qg4+ Kf1 85. Ke3 f2 86. h4 Ke1 87. Qe2# 1-0

Constellation Quattro pretty much dominated this game but really made it hard for itself, missing countless opportunities to finish the game sooner as in the example position below.

[fen]4rqk1/pp3p2/5Qpr/2pRPbNp/8/2P5/PP3PPP/3R2K1 w - - 0 25[/fen]

Playing White, Novag Constellation Quattro missed the easy move 25. Rd8, a move that would have just crushed, smashed and destroyed Krypton Regency. Instead it chose to play 25. Rxc5 taking the pawn thereby and prolonging the game by another 60 moves :roll:

I played the game at level 3 which is 30 seconds per move average time. Perhaps at Tournament Level 40/2 hrs. it might have been able to find some of those really nice combinations that the game positions catered. Krypton Regency played at Level 53, also 30 seconds per move average time.

Best regards,
Nick
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spacious_mind
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Post by spacious_mind »

I just finished a second game between Novag Constellation Quattro and Krypton Regency.

[Event "Computer Test Game"]
[Site "Alabama"]
[Date "2015.03.31"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Krypton Regency, LV 53."]
[Black "Novag Constellation Quattro, LV 3."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A31"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "2015.03.31"]
[EventCountry "USA"]

1. c4 c5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 {Novag Constellation Quattro out of book} e5 5. Nb5 d5 6. cxd5 Bb4+ {Krypton Regency out of book} 7. N1c3 Qd7 8. a3 Qxb5 9. axb4 Qxb4 10. Ra4 Qd6 11. Nb5 Qb6 12. Rc4 O-O 13. Nc7 Ng4 14. e3 Nxf2 15. Kxf2 Qf6+ 16. Kg1 b5 17. Rc2 Bb7 18. Nxa8 Bxa8 19. Bxb5 Rd8 20. Bc4 Qf5 21. d6 Rd7 22. Rf2 Qg6 23. Qf1 Nc6 24. Bd5 a5 25. Bd2 Bb7 26. Qc4 Nd8 27. Bxb7 Rxb7 28. Bxa5 Rd7 29. Qb5 Qe6 30. Bc7 f6 31. b4 h6 32. Qb8 Qe8 33. b5 Kh7 34. b6 1-0

What an embarrassment for Novag Constellation Quattro. The game was completely lost after 12 moves.

[fen]rnb1k2r/pp3ppp/1q3n2/1N1Pp3/2R5/8/1P2PPPP/2BQKB1R w Kkq - 0 12[/fen]

In the above position Quattro had to play 12. ... Na6 which would have been ok for an interesting game. 12. ... 0-0? was terrible and I should have resigned the game at this point.

So the score is:

Novag Constellation Quattro = 1
Krypton Regency = 1

It looks as if I will have to play a couple of more games in order to decide who the winner would be between the two.

Best regards,
Nick
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Monsieur Plastique
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Post by Monsieur Plastique »

I think these games well illustrate our (or at least my) tendency to look upon classic old machines with rose-coloured glasses. Please tell me that Quattro can find Rd8 in game 1 on tournament level...
Chess is like painting the Mona Lisa whilst walking through a minefield.
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mclane
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Post by mclane »

Quattro IS not so Strong like Regency.
What seems like a fairy tale today may be reality tomorrow.
Here we have a fairy tale of the day after tomorrow....
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Bryan Whitby
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Post by Bryan Whitby »

Hi Nick

I remember when I bought my Novag Quattro long ago, I just couldn't wait for it to arrive. I fell in love with the name Quattro after Audi released their highly successful four wheel drive rally car back in the eighties with that name. And when Novag adopted the same name to a chess computer, it just had to be something special or so I thought. If ever I wanted a chess computer to be good as good as Kasparov, it was the Novag Quattro. Unfortunately, I soon realised to my disappointment that my special one wasn't special at all and I sold it for quite a considerable cheaper than I originally paid for it. Seing your new post made me hope that maybe mine might have been somehow faulty or new software had been added without me knowing but no, my love affair with the original Audi Quattro still remains but definightly not with the Novag Quattro.

Bryan
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Post by spacious_mind »

Chessmaster Ireland wrote:Hi Nick

I remember when I bought my Novag Quattro long ago, I just couldn't wait for it to arrive. I fell in love with the name Quattro after Audi released their highly successful four wheel drive rally car back in the eighties with that name. And when Novag adopted the same name to a chess computer, it just had to be something special or so I thought. If ever I wanted a chess computer to be good as good as Kasparov, it was the Novag Quattro. Unfortunately, I soon realised to my disappointment that my special one wasn't special at all and I sold it for quite a considerable cheaper than I originally paid for it. Seing your new post made me hope that maybe mine might have been somehow faulty or new software had been added without me knowing but no, my love affair with the original Audi Quattro still remains but definightly not with the Novag Quattro.

Bryan
I hear you, it's game play is obviously full of holes just like the other Constellation versions, but there is a charm to them as well. I play them with a sense of humor and tongue in cheek because I know plenty of mistakes will come and of course occasionally a miraculous move. It's all part of the fun when you play any of the old chess computers.

The computer itself is a nice design just like Emerald Classic, Classic Plus and Excalibur Karpov 2294 but without the display. I am happy to have been able to add it to my collection.

Ok here is Game 3:

[Event "Computer Test Game"]
[Site "Alabama"]
[Date "2015.04.01"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Novag Constellation Quattro, LV 3."]
[Black "Krypton Regency, LV 53."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A31"]
[PlyCount "130"]
[EventDate "2015.04.01"]
[EventCountry "USA"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. a4 Bb7 {Novag Constellation Quattro out of book} 9. Nc3 Nd4 10. axb5 {Krypton Regency out of book} Nxb5 11. Nxe5 Nxc3 12. dxc3 d6 13. Nxf7 Rxf7 14. Bxf7+ Kxf7 15. Qf3 Qd7 16. Bf4 Qe6 17. Bg5 Qe5 18. Bh4 Kg8 19. Bg3 Qe6 20. Qf5 Qxf5 21. exf5 Kf7 22. f3 Bc8 23. Ra5 Rb8 24. b4 Rb5 25. Re2 Rxa5 26. bxa5 Bxf5 27. Rd2 Nh5 28. Bf2 Nf4 29. Be3 Bg5 30. Kf2 Ke7 31. Kg3 Ne6 32. Bxg5+ Nxg5 33. Kf4 Kf6 34. Ke3 Bg6 35. Kd4 Ne6+ 36. Kc4 Nd8 37. Kb4 Bf7 38. Rd1 Nc6+ 39. Ka4 Ne7 40. Re1 Nd5 41. c4 Nf4 42. g3 Ne6 43. Re3 Nd4 44. Re4 c5 45. c3 Nc6 46. Rf4+ Ke7 47. Re4+ Kd7 48. Rh4 h5 49. Rf4 Ne5 50. Kb3 g5 51. Rf5 Ke6 52. g4 hxg4 53. fxg4 Nxg4 54. Rxg5 Nxh2 55. Rg3 Nf1 56. Rg2 Bh5 57. Ka2 Ne3 58. Rh2 Bg4 59.
Rh6+ Ke5 60. Rh4 Ke4 61. Ka1 Kd3 62. Rh7 Kxc3 63. Ra7 Nxc4 64. Rxa6 Kb4 65. Rc6 Kxa5 0-1

Krypton Regency may be better as Thorsten commented, but at the end of the day really not by much.

[fen]r2q1rk1/1bp1bppp/p2p1n2/4N3/4P3/1BP5/1PP2PPP/R1BQR1K1 w - - 0 13[/fen]

Regency has a lousy position and Quattro should have really moved the Knight back instead of exchanging a good Bishop and Knight for Rook and Pawn of f7. That immediately favored Regency.

After this Regency builds up good positions, lets Quattro off the hook, builds it again, off the hook, again off the hook etc etc until in the end, the obviously better positions and piece mobility takes care of the win all by themselves because anything other than winning this game looked kind of impossible for Regency.

Therefore so far I would rate them both equally charmingly bad ! :P

Lets see what game 4 brings.

Best regards
Nick
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Post by spacious_mind »

Here is a live commentary for game 4:

[Event "Computer Test Game"]
[Site "Alabama"]
[Date "2015.04.01"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Krypton Regency, LV 53."]
[Black "Novag Constellation Quattro, LV 3."]
[Result "*"]
[ECO "A31"]
[PlyCount "27"]
[EventDate "2015.03.31"]
[EventCountry "USA"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bg5 e6 7. f4 Qb6 8. Nb3
{Novag Constellation Quattro out of book} Nbd7 {Krypton Regency out of book} 9.
Qd4 Be7 10. Qxb6 Nxb6 11. Rd1 Nbd7 12. Be2 O-O 13. O-O h6 14. Bh4 *

[fen]r1b2rk1/1p1nbpp1/p2ppn1p/8/4PP1B/1NN5/PPP1B1PP/3R1RK1 w - - 0 14[/fen]

They just completed the opening of a Sicilian Najdorf. Regency playing white, keeps the pressure on Quattro 14. Bh4 is a good move, better than exchanging the Bishop for the Knight.

Advantage White regards
Nick
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Post by spacious_mind »

Game continues with a iffy moves from both sides:

Rd8 15. a3 g6 16. g3 Nb6 17. e5 dxe5 18. Rxd8+ Bxd8 19. fxe5 g5 20. Bxg5 hxg5 21. exf6

[fen]r1bb2k1/1p3p2/pn2pP2/6p1/8/PNN3P1/1PP1B2P/5RK1 w - - 0 21[/fen]

White keeps a small advantage in the above position of about 1/2 pawn.

But with the next move 21. ... e5?!, Quattro weakens its position yet again.

[fen]r1bb2k1/1p3p2/pn3P2/4p1p1/8/PNN3P1/1PP1B2P/5RK1 w - - 0 22[/fen]

Pawn UP White regards
Nick
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Post by spacious_mind »

Game continues:

e5 22. Ne4 Bh3 23. Rf2 g4?

[fen]r2b2k1/1p3p2/pn3P2/4p3/4N1p1/PN4Pb/1PP1BR1P/6K1 w - - 0 24[/fen]

g4 is another massive mistake blocking in the Bishop.

24. Nbc5 Nd5 25. c4 Ne3 26. Nxb7 Rb8 27. Nxd8 Rxd8 28. c5 Kf8?

[fen]3r1k2/5p2/p4P2/2P1p3/4N1p1/P3n1Pb/1P2BR1P/6K1 w - - 0 29[/fen]

Krypton Regency has a huge advantage & needs to play 32. Nd6! for the game to be quickly over!

Regency however plays:

29. Ng5?

[fen]3r1k2/5p2/p4P2/2P1p1N1/6p1/P3n1Pb/1P2BR1P/6K1 w - - 0 29[/fen]

Regency misses the opportunity for a quick win, still has a good advantage but the game goes on...

Missed Opportunity Regency regards
Nick
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Post by spacious_mind »

The Endgame cometh:

Rc8 30. b4 Rc6 31. Nxh3 gxh3 32. Rf3 Nc2 33. g4 Nd4 34. Rxh3 Rxf6
35. Bd3

[fen]5k2/5p2/p4r2/2P1p3/1P1n2P1/P2B3R/7P/6K1 w - - 0 35[/fen]

It could have been so much easier.

Regency 2 Pawns UP regards
Nick
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Post by spacious_mind »

It's might be just getting interesting.

Ke7 36. Re3 Kf8 37. Kg2 Re6 38. h4 f6 39. g5 Kg7 40. g6 f5 41. h5 e4

[fen]8/6k1/p3r1P1/2P2p1P/1P1np3/P2BR3/6K1/8 w - - 0 42[/fen]

Quattro still has a little game left in him regards
Nick
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Post by spacious_mind »

The Final Straw.

42. Bc4

[fen]8/6k1/p3r1P1/2P2p1P/1PBnp3/P3R3/6K1/8 w - - 0 42[/fen]

From this position 42. ... Re8 would have been the best bet for Quattro. Quattro however played 42. ... Rf6? and that was really the end after this move.

Rf6? 43. Rh3 Kh6 44. Rg3 Nc6 45. g7 Ne7 46. g8=Q Nxg8 47. Rxg8 Kxh5 48. Be2+ Kh4 49. Ra8 f4 50. Bxa6 f3+ 51. Kf2 Kg5 52. Bb7 e3+ 53. Kf1 e2+ 54. Kf2 Rf7 55. Rg8+ Kf4 56. c6 Re7 57. Rf8+ Kg4 58. Ke1 Rc7 59. b5 Rg7 60. b6 Rh7 61. Rxf3 Rh5 62. c7 1-0

Final Position

[fen]8/1BP5/1P6/7r/6k1/P4R2/4p3/4K3 w - - 0 62[/fen]

Final Score

Quattro = 1
Regency = 3

I might go back to game and game two and set up the positions to see if in game 1 Quattro finds the Rd8 move at tournament level and also game 2 if it would play Na6. If so I might continue from those positions at tournament level to see how the game would evolve with more thinking time for both players.

Regency is better at 30 seconds per move but Quattro did show in game 1 that it can beat Regency if the conditions are right.

Best regards,
Nick
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Post by spacious_mind »

Well, I have my answers:

Game 1 Position

[fen]4rqk1/pp3p2/5Qpr/2pRPbNp/8/2P5/PP3PPP/3R2K1 w - - 0 25[/fen]

In this position at Level 7 = Tournament Level 40 moves in 2 hours, Novag Constellation Quattro still plays 25. Rxc5? instead of 25. Rd8!

Game 2 Position

[fen]rnb1k2r/pp3ppp/1q3n2/1N1Pp3/2R5/8/1P2PPPP/2BQKB1R w Kkq - 0 12[/fen]

Same with this position, Novag Constellation Quattro continues to play 12. ... 0-0? instead of 12. ... Na6!

So once again with these old computers playing Tournament Level has little/zero improved effect in comparison to playing Active Chess at 30 seconds per move average time.

Best regards
Nick
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Post by Monsieur Plastique »

Wow. I really did not expect this from a Constellation. The Quattro was the last and best evolution of the 16K 6502 based Constellation programs.

Anyone have a Novag VIP (16K 6301Y) to test this on? Next time I have time to get to my chess computer cupboard I am going to test these positions on my Europa and Star Opal.
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Post by basri.hassan »

spacious_mind wrote:Well, I have my answers:

Game 1 Position

[fen]4rqk1/pp3p2/5Qpr/2pRPbNp/8/2P5/PP3PPP/3R2K1 w - - 0 25[/fen]

In this position at Level 7 = Tournament Level 40 moves in 2 hours, Novag Constellation Quattro still plays 25. Rxc5? instead of 25. Rd8!

Game 2 Position

[fen]rnb1k2r/pp3ppp/1q3n2/1N1Pp3/2R5/8/1P2PPPP/2BQKB1R w Kkq - 0 12[/fen]

Same with this position, Novag Constellation Quattro continues to play 12. ... 0-0? instead of 12. ... Na6!

So once again with these old computers playing Tournament Level has little/zero improved effect in comparison to playing Active Chess at 30 seconds per move average time.

Best regards
I checked also and found the same for Level 7 as you. However on Level 8 for game position 1 it selects 25. Rd8
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