SciSys Olympiade

Mike Watters · Post by **Mike Watters** » Fri May 01, 2015 10:33 pm

Hi Steve

Starting with the Companion II this is a Kaare Danielsen program according to Danielsen himself in the interview referred to here -
http://www.schach-computer.info/wiki/in ... sen,_Kaare

Another Danielsen Companion II reference here - http://www.schaakcomputers.nl/hein_veld ... n%20II.pdf
with a mention of the Olympiade at the end.

The Companion II and Olympiade are externally identical except for the colour. They both have the same pcb. They both have the SciSys-W 0609V171 singlechip processor, as does the Concord II which is also known to have the Danielsen 4K program. I haven't opened the Concord, Explorer and Mark 8 but would expect to find a 0609V in them also. All Danielsen machines. Having opened up most SciSys's I have not found this processor in any other machine.

Like you I have not found any contemporary published material mentioning the Olympiade. Selective Search got going too late and most published sources ignored the lesser offerings from Hong Kong anyway. So we cannot be 100% certain that the programmer is Danielsen, but it would be extraordinary if it wasn't. Julio Kaplan/Craig Barnes were the only other programmers actively working for SciSys at the time and Barnes has not mentioned any connection with the Companion II, Olympiade etc.
Maybe Hein will turn up something from his archives.

Thanks for starting the thread Bill, and for the kind comment.
Glad to hear the A0/A1 modules are still going strong. I'd almost forgotten you like a bargain.

All the best
Mike

Post by **Steve B** » Fri May 01, 2015 10:57 pm

Mike Watters wrote:
Like you I have not found any contemporary published material mentioning the Olympiade. Selective Search got going too late and most published sources ignored the lesser offerings from Hong Kong anyway. So we cannot be 100% certain that the programmer is Danielsen

Thanks
Nor can we be certain of the program Rom and Ram sizes nor the Opening book size etc.etc.

Computers in identical housings dont necessarily mean they have the same programmer
The Fidelity Voice Sensory and Sensory Champion leap to mind

anyway.. i saw you made a definitive statement on your site that the Olympiade was programmed by Danielsen and the program was 4K so i thought you had a written source you were quoting that i missed in my research

That Clears That Up Regards
Steve

Mike Watters · Post by **Mike Watters** » Sat May 02, 2015 9:12 am

Steve B wrote:
Thanks
Nor can we be certain of the program Rom and Ram sizes nor the Opening book size etc.etc.

Computers in identical housings dont necessarily mean they have the same programmer
The Fidelity Voice Sensory and Sensory Champion leap to mind

anyway.. i saw you made a definitive statement on your site that the Olympiade was programmed by Danielsen and the program was 4K so i thought you had a written source you were quoting that i missed in my research

That Clears That Up Regards
Steve

Well of course it is the pcb and chip which are the most persuasive evidence of what ROM, RAM and program is contained in the Olympiade.
SciSys went to the lengths of ordering tens of thousands (estimate) of a bespoke chip (0609V171) containing ROM, RAM and program, put it in a number of different chess computers spanning 1983-1985 including the Olympiade.

That isn't evidence from a book, journal or manufacturer but it is probably more reliable than some published sources. So not a definitive statement just the best information I have currently available. For a definitive statement I would have to disassemble the chip and know what I was doing.

Archaeological regards
Mike

BillT · Post by **BillT** » Sun May 03, 2015 1:45 pm

So to game 2 of the SciSys Olympiade V Conchess std match.

Not sure I've seen a game thrown away so obviously with a horrible blunder by Olympiade on move 86 going from a possible mate in 10 (according to Droidfish) to a draw .....probably due to playing moves at this late stage in probably only 5 -10 seconds max per move, and also not having the knowledge of the draw by insufficient material.....shame.

anyway here's the game if anyone wants a laugh

[Event "Norfolk UK"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2015.05.03"]
[Round "2"]
[White "SciSys Olympiade 1 minute"]
[Black "Conchess std 1 minute"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nd4 4. Nxd4 exd4 5. Qh5 Qe7 6. e5 Qc5 7. Na3 Bd6 8.
f4 Qd5 9. Bc4 Qxg2 10. Qxf7+ Kd8 11. Bd5 Nh6 12. Bxg2 Nxf7 13. exd6 Re8+ 14.
Kf2 Nxd6 15. d3 Nf5 16. Bd2 c6 17. Nc4 d5 18. Ne5 Be6 19. Bf3 Kc7 20. Rhg1 Rad8
21. Ba5+ b6 22. Bd2 a6 23. a4 a5 24. b4 axb4 25. Bxb4 Kb7 26. Bh5 g6 27. Bf3
Ne3 28. c4 Nc2 29. Rab1 Kc7 30. Bd2 Na3 31. Rbc1 c5 32. Bxd5 Bxd5 33. cxd5 Rxd5
34. Bb4 Rf8 35. Kg3 Nb1 36. Bxc5 bxc5 37. Rxb1 Ra8 38. Ra1 Rf8 39. a5 Kb7 40.
a6+ Ka8 41. a7 g5 42. Rgf1 Rg8 43. Rg1 gxf4+ 44. Kxf4 Rxg1 45. Rxg1 Kxa7 46.
Rg7+ Ka6 47. Rxh7 Rd8 48. Rh6+ Kb5 49. Ke4 Re8 50. Rh7 Kb4 51. Rb7+ Ka5 52.
Ra7+ Kb6 53. Rg7 Rh8 54. Rg2 Rh4+ 55. Kd5 Rh5 56. Re2 Kb5 57. Rc2 Kb6 58. Ra2
Kc7 59. Rc2 Kb6 60. Re2 Kb5 61. Rc2 Kb6 62. Ra2 Kc7 63. Rc2 Kb6 64. Re2 Kb5 65.
Rc2 Kb6 66. Ra2 Kc7 67. Rc2 Kb6 68. Re2 Kb5 69. Rc2 Kb6 70. Rb2+ Ka5 71. Ra2+
Kb4 72. Rc2 Rg5 73. Rc4+ Kb3 74. Rxc5 Rh5 75. Kxd4 Rh4+ 76. Ke3 Rxh2 77. Nf3
Rg2 78. Nd4+ Ka4 79. Nc2 Rh2 80. d4 Rg2 81. d5 Rg4 82. d6 Rg6 83. d7 Rd6 84.
Rc7 Kb5 85. Nd4+ Ka5 86. Nc6+ ???????????? Kb6 87. d8=Q Rxd8 88. Nxd8 Kxc7 1/2-1/2

Match score now 0.5 - 1.5

Apart from the awful blunder, Olympiade seemed to be at least on a level with Conchess so it should be a good match, I do wonder if Olympiade will ever win a game though ...even a won game. Theres a lesson there perhaps for human v computer ....never give up !

I think I'm looking forward to the rest of the games, how many do you think needs to be played to get a reliable comparison between the 2?

Cheers
Bill

spacious_mind · Post by **spacious_mind** » Sun May 03, 2015 2:01 pm

Steve B wrote:
Mike Watters wrote:
Like you I have not found any contemporary published material mentioning the Olympiade. Selective Search got going too late and most published sources ignored the lesser offerings from Hong Kong anyway. So we cannot be 100% certain that the programmer is Danielsen
Thanks
Nor can we be certain of the program Rom and Ram sizes nor the Opening book size etc.etc.

Computers in identical housings dont necessarily mean they have the same programmer
The Fidelity Voice Sensory and Sensory Champion leap to mind

anyway.. i saw you made a definitive statement on your site that the Olympiade was programmed by Danielsen and the program was 4K so i thought you had a written source you were quoting that i missed in my research

That Clears That Up Regards
Steve

Well we can be certain it is a Danielsen, I had tested Olympiad, Companion II and Mark 8 and they all play 90%+ the same moves.

Regards

Post by **Steve B** » Sun May 03, 2015 2:59 pm

BillT wrote:
I think I'm looking forward to the rest of the games, how many do you think needs to be played to get a reliable comparison between the 2?

Cheers
Bill

Thats hard to say really
whenever i am trying to establish a rating guesstimate on a computer OR compare the strengths of two computers i use a 10 game match(1 Min./Move Avg.) as a minimum but 20 games would be enough to give you a USCF provisional rating
not sure if you need to go to all of that trouble though
its great to have any recorded games for the Olympiade let alone a large match

I'm Easy Regards
Steve

BillT · Post by **BillT** » Sun May 03, 2015 7:25 pm

Game 3

[Event "Norfolk UK"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2015.05.03"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Conchess std 1 minute"]
[Black "SciSys Olympiade 1 minute"]
[Result "1-0"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nc6 3. Nc3 Bf5 4. Bf4 Nf6 5. h3 Nb4 6. Rc1 h5 7. e3 a5 8. Be2
e6 9. a3 Nc6 10. Bb5 Bd6 11. Bxc6+ bxc6 12. Bg5 Rb8 13. Bxf6 Qxf6 14. Rb1 Kd7
15. O-O c5 16. dxc5 Bxc5 17. e4 Bg6 18. exd5 e5 19. Qe2 Ke7 20. Rfe1 Bd6 21.
Nxe5 Qxe5 22. Qd2 c5 23. Qg5+ Kd7 24. Rxe5 Bxe5 25. Qxe5 Bxc2 26. Rc1 Rxb2 27.
Na4 Ra2 28. Nb6+ Kd8 29. Qb8+ Ke7 30. Qe5+ Kd8 31. Qd6+ Ke8 32. Re1+ Be4 33.
Rxe4# 1-0

Match score now 0.5 - 2.5

Nice win for Conchess.......looks like Olympiade needs a Mount Gay XO.
Hey...what a good idea!! I just bought a new bottle too..

Cheers
Bill

BillT · Post by **BillT** » Tue May 05, 2015 7:49 pm

Game 4

Not sure what to say about this game......blacks 77th move!!!!! ...or am I missing something?? seeing is believing .I set up the position again after the game to check that the Conchess still plays the awful R-H6.....yep,it does!
It goes from crazy to ridiculous.!
Its actually becoming embarrasing to think that I lose games to these computers,I must be a worse player than I thought!
And then to cap it all.....Olympiade can't go on and win a Q+P V Knt+p..

it ends up a 3 fold draw

Score now 1-3

[Event "Norfolk UK"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2015.05.04"]
[Round "4"]
[White "SciSys Olympiade 1 minute"]
[Black "Conchess std 1 minute"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c5 4. cxd5 exd5 5. dxc5 d4 6. Na4 b5 7. cxb6 axb6 8.
e4 Bd7 9. b3 Bxa4 10. bxa4 Bb4+ 11. Bd2 Bxd2+ 12. Kxd2 Nf6 13. Bb5+ Kf8 14. Qf3
Nbd7 15. Ne2 Ne5 16. Qa3+ Kg8 17. f3 Rc8 18. Rac1 Rxc1 19. Rxc1 Nh5 20. f4 Ng6
21. Qf3 Nf6 22. e5 Nd5 23. Nxd4 Ndxf4 24. Ke3 Qf8 25. g3 Qa3+ 26. Nb3 Ne6 27.
Rc8+ Nef8 28. e6 fxe6 29. Qf2 Qe7 30. Nd4 Qb7 31. Rc1 Ne7 32. Kf4 Nfg6+ 33. Ke3
Nd5+ 34. Ke4 Nf6+ 35. Kd3 Qe4+ 36. Kd2 e5 37. Nf3 Qb4+ 38. Kd1 Qd6+ 39. Qd2
Qxd2+ 40. Kxd2 e4 41. Bc4+ Kf8 42. Nd4 Ne5 43. Be6 Nf3+ 44. Nxf3 exf3 45. Rc8+
Ne8 46. Rc4 Ke7 47. Bd5 f2 48. Re4+ Kd6 49. Bc4 Rf8 50. Rd4+ Kc5 51. Rh4 f1=Q
52. Bxf1 Rxf1 53. Rh5+ Kc6 54. Rxh7 Rf2+ 55. Kd3 Rxa2 56. Rh4 Nd6 57. Kc3 Re2
58. Kd3 Re1 59. Rh8 Rd1+ 60. Ke3 Re1+ 61. Kd3 Rd1+ 62. Ke3 Nc4+ 63. Kf4 Rd4+
64. Kg5 Ne5 65. Kf5 Nd3 66. Rc8+ Kb7 67. Rc3 Nb2 68. Re3 Rd5+ 69. Kg6 Rd7 70.
Re4 Kc6 71. Re6+ Kc5 72. Re5+ Kd4 73. Kf5 Rf7+ 74. Kg6 Rf6+ 75. Kxg7 Kxe5 76.
g4 Nxa4 77. g5 Rh6 ??????? What?? 78. gxh6 Nc5 79. h7 b5 80. h8=Q Kd4 81. Kf6 b4 82. Kf5+ Kd3
83. Qe5 Kc4 84. Qf4+ Kc3 85. Qc7 Kd4 86. Qe5+ Kc4 87. Qf4+ Kc3 88. Qe5+ Kc4 89.
Qe2+ Kd5 90. Qd2+ Kc4 91. Qf4+ Kc3 92. Qc7 Kd4 93. Qe5+ Kc4 94. Qf4+ Kc3 95.
Qe3+ Kc4 96. Qf4+ Kc3 97. Qe5+ Kc4 98. Qe2+ Kd5 99. Qd2+ Kc4 100. Qf4+ Kc3 101.
Qe5+ Kc4 102. Qe2+ Kd5 103. Qd2+ Kc4 104. Qf4+ Kc3 105. Qc7 Kd4 106. Qe5+ Kc4
107. Qf4+ Kc3 108. Qc7 Kd4 109. Qd6+ Kc4 110. Qf4+ Kc3 111. Qc7 Kd4 112. Qd6+
Kc4 113. Qf4+ Kc3 114. Qc7 Kd4 115. Qe5+ Kc4 116. Qf4+ Kc3 *

If anybody has the time and inclination to play through this game I'd be interested in their thoughts...

Can't wait for game 5 Regards
Bill

BillT · Post by **BillT** » Sat May 09, 2015 7:31 am

So ..to game 5.

[Event "Norfolk UK"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2015.05.07"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Conchess std 1 minute"]
[Black "SciSys Olympiade 1 minute"]
[Result "1-0"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. c3 c4 5. Nf3 Be7 6. Be2 Nc6 7. O-O g5 8. Be3 g4
9. Nfd2 h5 10. b3 cxb3 11. axb3 Nh6 12. Bxh6 Rxh6 13. f3 gxf3 14. Nxf3 a5 15.
Qd2 Rh8 16. Na3 h4 17. Qf4 h3 18. Nd2 Rh7 19. Bb5 hxg2 20. Bxc6+ bxc6 21. Kxg2
Bg5 22. Qf2 Rb8 23. Rfb1 f5 24. exf6 Qxf6 25. Qxf6 Bxf6 26. Nc2 Rg7+ 27. Kh1
Bg5 28. Nf3 Rb5 29. Nxg5 Rxg5 30. Na3 Rb7 31. Nc2 Ra7 32. Re1 Rg4 33. Nb4 Kd7
34. Nd3 Kd6 35. Nc5 Rg5 36. b4 e5 37. dxe5+ Rxe5 38. Rxe5 Kxe5 39. Nd3+ Ke4 40.
Nc5+ Ke5 41. Nd3+ Ke4 42. Nb2 Be6 43. bxa5 d4 44. cxd4 Kxd4 45. Ra4+ Kc3 46.
Nd1+ Kb3 47. Ra1 Bd5+ 48. Kg1 Rg7+ 49. Kf1 Bc4+ 50. Kf2 Rf7+ 51. Ke3 Re7+ 52.
Kd4 Rd7+ 53. Kc5 Rh7 54. Rb1+ Kc2 55. Rb2+ Kxd1 56. Kxc4 Rh4+ 57. Kd3 Rh3+ 58.
Kc4 Ra3 59. Kb4 Ra1 60. h4 c5+ 61. Kb5 c4 62. Kxc4 Rxa5 63. Rb5 Rxb5 64. Kxb5
Ke2 65. h5 Kd3 66. h6 Kc3 67. h7 Kd4 68. h8=Q+ Kd5 69. Qg8+ Ke4 70. Kc4 Kf3 71.
Kd4 Kf4 72. Qg6 Kf3 73. Qe4+ Kf2 74. Qe3+ Kg2 75. Ke4 Kf1 76. Qd2 Kg1 77. Kf3
Kf1 78. Qc1# 1-0

Match score now 1 - 4

Olympiade calls for a timeout.

Conchess std at 2 mhz seems comfortable against the 3.6mhz of Olympiade. Although I am wondering what the score would be if I limited both boards to a maximum of 1 minute per move as each board seems different in the time taken on the average 1 min setting. (My feelings are that the Conchess is better at realizing when a longer evaluation is needed ie based on the position at the time).I guess this is better programming.
Olympiade is moving very quickly when in the endgame. Could it be that the program/level/timings is not adjusted for the faster processor?

To game 6 regards
Bill

Post by **Steve B** » Sat May 09, 2015 10:01 am

Good Stuff Bill
looks like the Conchess Standard Module owns the Olympiade
question..which Conchess board are you using??

Escorter,Ambassador or Monarch Regards
Steve

BillT · Post by **BillT** » Sat May 09, 2015 11:03 am

Hi Steve.
Thanks for your post (I was wondering if anybody was reading my drivel !!)
I am using my reserve Ambassador board,its beautiful in virtually pristine condition and all original pieces. I have had to replace most of the reed switches over time (the originals are rubbish)but it works flawlessly now, all buttons are shiny brass too and work easily and reliably.I get lots of pleasure maintaining these boards which often go wrong but are an easy fix (usually).....ahhhh I can smell the old electronic aroma...like you used to get from the old TV set and I find especially in the SciSys Sensor Chess board ! (pah....who needs substances !)
I also have number 1 Ambassador board which is in even better condition and has the upgraded program in it...the addon module A0/A1.(courtesy of Mike).

Would love to get hold of a really nice condition Escorter with the copper colours, and an S or a T module of some sort to go with it,but then reality kicks in when the Mrs says "I have enough already" and anyway....where on earth would you store any more chess computers.????? I bet most of us have heard those words a few times

Dreaming regards

Bill

Post by **Steve B** » Sat May 09, 2015 11:22 am

BillT wrote:

Would love to get hold of a really nice condition Escorter with the copper colours, and an S or a T module of some sort to go with it,but then reality kicks in when the Mrs says "I have enough already" and anyway....where on earth would you store any more chess computers.????? I bet most of us have heard those words a few times
Bill

You got that right
Years ago i hit upon the perfect solution to that problem when my collection was growing ...

EX-Wife Regards
Steve

BillT · Post by **BillT** » Sun May 10, 2015 8:17 pm

Game 6

Wow...Olympiade has recovered its composure and respect by way of the time out it seems.
A nice crushing win takes the score to 2 - 4.

[Event "Norfolk UK"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2015.05.09"]
[Round "6"]
[White "SciSys Olympiade 1 minute"]
[Black "Conchess std 1 minute"]
[Result "1-0"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 d5 3. cxd5 Qxd5 4. Nc3 Qa5 5. Nf3 Bf5 6. Qb3 Be4 7. Bd2 Qb6 8.
Qxb6 cxb6 9. Ng5 Bc2 10. Rc1 Bg6 11. Bf4 Nc6 12. d5 Nd4 13. e4 h6 14. Nf3 Nxf3+
15. gxf3 a6 16. Bd3 Bh5 17. Ke2 Rc8 18. e5 Nd7 19. e6 Nc5 20. exf7+ Bxf7 21.
Bf5 e6 22. dxe6 Bxe6 23. Bg6+ Bf7 24. Bxf7+ Kxf7 25. Ne4 Re8 26. Ke3 g5 27. Bc7
b5 28. Rc2 b4 29. Rd1 b3 30. axb3 Nxb3 31. Rd7+ Kg6 32. Bd6 Bxd6 33. Rxd6+ Kh5
34. Rc3 Na1 35. Rd1 Rxe4+ 36. fxe4 Re8 37. Rxa1 Re5 38. Kd4 Rb5 39. b3 Rb4+ 40.
Ke5 Rb5+ 41. Ke6 Rb6+ 42. Kf5 g4 43. e5 Rb4 44. e6 Rb5+ 45. Kf6 Rd5 46. e7 Rd6+
47. Ke5 Re6+ 48. Kxe6 Kg5 49. e8=Q Kf4 50. Qh5 a5 51. Qf5# 1-0

The excitement mounts in anticipation of a great fight back from the Olympiade.

Game 7 soon regards.

Bill

BillT · Post by **BillT** » Sat May 16, 2015 10:22 am

Game 7...what a cracker.!......"Queen sac" by Olympiade
I think the Olympiade should be renamed "The Hustler".
The fightback continues in a 23 move mate for black game.....this from a machine that couldnt win a Q v N+P game earlier in the match.....strange.
If not for that game the match would be all square.

[Event "Norfolk UK"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2015.05.15"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Conchess std 1 minute"]
[Black "SciSys Olympiade 1 minute"]
[Result "0-1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 d5 5. Bb5 Bd7 6. exd5 Nxd4 7. Bxd7+ Qxd7
8. Qxd4 Nf6 9. Nc3 Bd6 10. Bg5 Qe7+ 11. Kf1 c5 12. dxc6 Bc5 13. Bxf6 gxf6 14.
cxb7 Rd8 15. Qa4+ Kf8 16. Qc6 f5 17. Qc8 Bd6 18. Nb5 Qf6 19. Nxd6 Qxd6 20. c4
Qd3+ 21. Kg1 Kg7 22. Qc7 Qd1+ 23. Rxd1 Rxd1# 0-1

The aids for Conchess are now calling for a timeout.

I'm calling for another Mount Gay XO ,Angastura and orange peel cockail with ice.....phew.....if you've never tried this.......you should ! (maybe this is why I dont win many games )

Overall score now 3 - 4.

Mount Gay regards
Bill

BillT · Post by **BillT** » Sun May 24, 2015 10:31 pm

Game 8

Another crazy draw from a won position for Olympiade

[Event "Norfolk UK"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2015.05.24"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Scisys olympiade 1 minute"]
[Black "Conchess std 1 minute"]
[Result "1/2 – 1/2"]

1. Nc3 Nf6 2. e4 d5 3. e5 Ng4 4. d4 Bf5 5. h3 Nh6 6. Bxh6 gxh6 7. g4 Be4 8. f3
Bg6 9. h4 h5 10. gxh5 Bxh5 11. Qd2 Bg7 12. Qg5 Bg6 13. h5 Bh6 14. Qxh6 Bxc2 15.
e6 fxe6 16. Qxe6 Qd7 17. Qxd5 Qxd5 18. Nxd5 Kd8 19. Rc1 c6 20. Nxe7 Kxe7 21.
Rxc2 Rd8 22. Rh4 Kf6 23. h6 Kg5 24. Rch2 Nd7 25. Rg4+ Kf6 26. Rf4+ Kg5 27. Re4
Nf6 28. Re5+ Kg6 29. Bd3+ Kf7 30. Ne2 Nd7 31. Rg5 Rf8 32. Bxh7 Rad8 33. Nf4
Rfe8+ 34. Be4 Kf6 35. Rg6+ Kf7 36. b4 a6 37. Kd1 Ne5 38. Rg7+ Kf8 39. Ng6+ Nxg6
40. Bxg6 Rxd4+ 41. Rd2 Red8 42. Rf7+ Kg8 43. Rg7+ Kh8 44. Rh7+ Kg8 45. Rg7+ Kh8
46. Rh7+ Kg8 47. Rg7+ Kh8 48. Rh7+ Kg8 49. Rg7+ Kh8 50. Rh7+ Kg8 51. Rg7+ Kh8
52. Rh7+ Kg8 53. Rg7+ ½ ½

If I'd let it go on.... the repetion would still be going now...

RxD4......go on .....RxD4........go on...play RxD4 !!!!

The score should be 4 - 4 but its 3.5 - 4.5

Missed opportunities regards

Bill