autochess

[zappa79]

Sorry for this dumb question, but I have searched everywhere to be able to configure houdini 2.0 in arena GUI, but I am unable to find all the specific engine settings!

Arena always asks for the engine.ini for that specific engine, where do I find it, or how do I create it?

Thanks in advance!

I don't own Houdini 2.0 / 2.0b so I can't really simulate the problem on your end. In the directory of your Arena GUI (Arena.exe), you will find these files: ArenaENG.cfg and engines.ini. Try manually looking into / editing these files. I'm guessing you should start with engines.ini.

Thank you for replying, I have found the two files and they look like follows:

ArenaENG.cfg:

Code: Select all

[Engines]
SOS 5.1 for Arena=%ArenaPath%\Engines\SOS\SOS-51_Arena.exe||0|Rudolf Huber|1||Germany||100|0|0|0|||||0||Bundle,Arena Partner|
Rybka 2.2 32 bit=%ArenaPath%\Engines\Rybka\Rybka v2.2n2.mp.w32.exe||0|Vasik Rajlich|1||USA||100|0|0|0|||||0||Bundle|
Rybka 2.2 64 bit=%ArenaPath%\Engines\Rybka\Rybka v2.2n2.mp.x64.exe||0|Vasik Rajlich|1||USA||100|0|0|0|||||63||Bundle|
AnMon 5.75=%ArenaPath%\Engines\AnMon\AnMon_5.75.exe||0|Christian BARRETEAU|2||France||100|0|0|0|||||0||Bundle,Arena Partner|
Nejmet 3.07=%ArenaPath%\Engines\Nejmet\Nejmet_307.exe||0|Jean-Christophe GABILLARD|1||France||100|0|0|0|||||0||Bundle,Arena Partner|
Hermann 2.6 32 bit=%ArenaPath%\Engines\Hermann\Hermann_2.6_32.exe||0|Volker Annuss|1||Germany||100|0|0|0|||||0||Bundle,Arena Partner|
Hermann 2.6 64 bit=%ArenaPath%\Engines\Hermann\Hermann_2.6_64.exe||0|Volker Annuss|1||Germany||100|0|0|0|||||0||Bundle,Arena Partner|
Spike 1.2=%ArenaPath%\Engines\Spike\Spike1.2.exe||0|V. Böhm & R. Schäfer|1||Germany||100|0|0|0|||||0||Bundle,Arena Partner|
Dragon 4.6=%ArenaPath%\Engines\Dragon\Dragon_46.exe||0|Bruno LUCAS|1||France||100|0|0|0|||||0||Bundle,Arena Partner|
Ruffian 1.0.5=%ArenaPath%\Engines\Ruffian\Ruffian_105.exe||0|Per-Ola Valfridsson|1||Sweden||100|0|0|0|||||0||Bundle,Arena Partner|
Houdini_15a_x64=%ArenaDrive%\Program Files (x86)\ChessBase\Engines\Houdini_15a_x64.exe||10||0|%ArenaPath%\engines.ini|||100|0|1|0|||||0|||
Houdini_20_Pro_x64=%ArenaDrive%\Program Files\Houdini 2 Chess\Houdini_20_Pro_x64.exe||0||1||||100|0|1|0|||||8|||

[Rybka 2.2 64 bit]
Hash=32
Max CPUs=2
Display Draw Scores=false
Engine Priority=NormalAndLow
Display PV Tips=false
CPU Usage=100
Win Percentage to Hash Usage=false
Display Current Move=true
Compensate Lost Time=true
NalimovPath=<empty>
NalimovCache=1
NalimovUsage=Never
Preserve Analysis=false
Ponder=true
MultiPV=1
UCI_ShowRefutations=false
UCI_LimitStrength=false
UCI_Elo=1200
Server Buffer=false
UCI_EngineAbout=www.rybkachess.com
Outlook=Neutral
Rate Of Play=Normal
Time Usage=Varied
Emergency Time Buffer=Medium

[Houdini_15a_x64]
Hash=128
Threads=4
Split_Depth=10
Ponder=true
Contempt=1
Analysis_Contempt=false
MultiPV=1
GaviotaTbPath=E:\Pågående projekt\Schack\Tablebases\Gaviota
GaviotaTbCache=64
Hard_Probe_Depth=24
Soft_Probe_Depth=16

[Houdini_20_Pro_x64]
Hash=128
Threads=8
Split Depth=10
Ponder=false
Contempt=1
Analysis Contempt=false
MultiPV=1
GaviotaTbPath=<empty>
GaviotaTbCache=64
Hard Probe Depth=24
Soft Probe Depth=16
Mate Search=0
Numa Offset=0
Numa=true
Strength=100
UCI_Chess960=false
Never Clear Hash=false
Hash File=<empty>
Learning File=<empty>
Learning Threshold=10
Learning=false

I guess that this is where I should make my changes?

The Engines.ini makes absolutly no sense to me, it is too large to paste the whole file here, but here is a little part of it:

Code: Select all

;Arena 2.0.x Update 2010-11-26 Version 213  by Hans Eriksson from Sweden
;Latest Update Feb 7, 2007 Version 163 by Martin Blume from Germany
;Last Update from Pedro: October 23, 2006 Version 162 by Pedro Beltran from Mexico

[WBFeatures]
(Active)Thinker_32-bit=AEMPO
(Active)Thinker_32-bit-smp4=AEMPO
(Active)Thinker_64-bit=AEMPO
(Active)Thinker_64-bit-smp4=AEMPO
(Passive)Thinker_32-bit=AEMPO
(Passive)Thinker_32-bit-smp4=AEMPO
(Passive)Thinker_64-bit=AEMPO
(Passive)Thinker_64-bit-smp4=AEMPO
31337=AEMPOT
Abrok=AEMPO
Adam=EPO
Adamant=EO
AICE=AMPO
Ajedrez=
AjedrezTactico=AEO
AjetacWinboard=AEMPO
Akiba=E
AlaricWB=AEMPOT
Alarm=AEMPO
AlChess=
Aldebaran=E
Alex=EMPOT
Alex187=EMPOT
Alex190=EMPOT
Alex191=EMPOT
Alex192=EMPOT
Alex192a=EMPOT
Alex194=EMPOT
Alex194a=EMPOT
Alex196=EMPOT
Alex200=EMPOT
Alex201=EMPOT
Alex203_w7_32bits=EMPOT
Alex203_xp_32bits=EMPOT
Alex207a=EMPOT
Alex210=EMPOT
Alex212=EMPOT
Alex212a=EMPOT
Alf=O
Alfil=EO
Alfil811=EO
Alfil811Optimized=EO
AlfonsoX=
Alibaba_117wb_ja=A
Alibaba-118wb-32-ja=A
Alibaba-123wb-32-ja=A
Alibaba-128wb-32-ja=A
Alibaba-131wb-32-ja=A
Alibaba-136wb-32-ja=A
Alice=
AliChess=AEMPOT
Amateur=EMPO
Amundsen=E
Amundsen-080-32-ja=E
Amundsen-080-64-ja=E
Amundsen_0_65_1=E
Amundsen_win32=E
Amundsen_x64=E
Amy=AEMPOT
Amy-07=AEMPOT
Amy-08=AEMPOT
Amy-08m=AEMPOT
Amy-082-intel=AEMPOT
Amy-082-net=AEMPOT
Amy-083-intel=AEMPOT
Amy-083-net=AEMPOT
Amy-084=AEMPOT
Amy-084-Intel=AEMPOT
Amy-084-ms-net=AEMPOT
Amy-085-net=AEMPOT
Amy-086-net=AEMPOT
Amy-mingw-087=AEMPOT
Amy-net-087=AEMPOT
Amyan=AEMO
Amyani=AEMO
Amyanm=AEMO
Amyimmx=AEMPOT
Amym=AEMPOT
Amymmx=AEMPOT

I have searched trough the whole file, and I can not find anything about any version of the houdini engine!

Thanks in advance!

[Prima]

Just suggesting, if you haven't already; try configuring Houdini 2.0/b in Arena GUI. Then save the Houdini 2.0/b settings. This ought to create settings for Houdini 2.0/b in both ArenaENG.cfg and engines.ini files. Attempt loading & using Houdini 2.0/b engine. Is the Arena GUI still asking for Houdini 2.0/b's ini file?

[XsupremeX]

I have installed Houdini in Arena just to try helping you.

1st - Install Houdini 2.0

Then just follow the pictures, Arena didnt ask me for any .ini file.

[elcriollito]

Houdini cares for the children of the world.
10% of the revenues generated by Houdini 2 will be donated to Unicef to support their ongoing efforts to improve children's living conditions all over the world.

[Prima]

Houdini cares for the children of the world.
10% of the revenues generated by Houdini 2 will be donated to Unicef to support their ongoing efforts to improve children's living conditions all over the world.

I would be skeptical with what I read / hear, pertinent to Robert Houdart's "good works".

Robert Houdart CLAIMS Houdini is original but evidence [code comparison, position evaluation/analysis, move-choice etc] shows he actually used RobboLito 0.85g / 0.09 [GPL] codes. A big contradiction to his claim of originality and "using just ideas" of GPL engines. Nor does he answer with a simple "yes" / "no" answer when probed about the GPL codes found in Houdini. The fact that he's generally evasive & NOT forthcoming should raise a red flag to buyers - where hard-earned money is involved apropos a commercial engine proven to contain GPL codes. And to boot, Rober Houdart refuses to comply with GPL rule/law, as mandated by FSF.

With that established, the "10% of Houdini revenues donated towards children" may or may not be true. Buyer's risks. Or personal assessment. I chose not to use his Houdini 2.0/b engines [cracked or not]. Nor will I support a proven liar, in anyway, shape, or form.

[XsupremeX]

Houdart Announcement !!!

The Houdini 2.0c update is going to be released soon.
It contains a number of corrections and improvements.

Corrections:
- Nalimov EGTB probing would not recognize KvK end game.
- Nalimov EGTB: Houdini would exit when a corrupt table base file was encountered.
- On some Windows systems the internal timer would overflow after approx. 30 minutes.

Improvements:
- New MultiPV_cp option to limit multi-PV analysis to moves within a range of the best move.
- New FiftyMoveDistance option to make the 50-move rule kick in earlier.
- New UCI_Elo and UCI_LimitStrength options as UCI standard-compliant alternative to Strength option.
- Houdini now exits when it detects that the communication with the GUI is broken.

We'll keep you posted!

http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Houdini-Chess-Engine

[XsupremeX]

Correct info site: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Houdini-C ... 0926948947

[KimDongHwan]

Its been too long since my last activity in this forum..
although there r so many chess forum like this, but im not interested and never make even single post..
I hv Houdini 2.0c Pro and using winboard 4.52b..
Please tell me which Opening Book & EGTB is the best for Winboard + Houdini 2.0c Pro.
I'm still using "Performance.bin" Books..
Maybe someone can help me..
My last post at this forum was about Rybka 4 Engine..which i hd give to so many members here..
At that time, there r still Houdini 1.5x..and of course no match for Rybka 4..

But now I can make sure to u all that Houdini 2.0c Pro is the strongest Engine today..I had tested so many times, even with better Hardware , Rybka 4 cannot beat Houdini 2.0c Pro..(the different between Hardware only at Processor's Clock and RAM, Rybka 4 use Core2Duo 2.8 Ghz + 4 GB RAM DDR2 -vs- Houdini 2.0c Pro use Core2Duo 2.66 Ghz + 2 GB RAM DDR2)

[Prima]

Please tell me which Opening Book & EGTB is the best for Winboard + Houdini 2.0c Pro.
I'm still using "Performance.bin" Books..

1a. To see the best opening .bin books, check this thread
post12927.html#p12927
1b. To download available good .bin books, check this sub forum
polyglot-books-f49.html
OR
opening-books-bin-format-t1331.html (last pages for most recent)

Performance.bin by the late Marc Lacrosse is antediluvian. You want to get recent books made from games of (1) stronger engines, (2) better & faster Hardware/s (Multiprocessors, bit-boards & clock-speed), and (3) revised opening theories / books.

EDIT: I forgot to answer your inquiries pertinent to EGTBs, in my initial response. So here goes...

Considering there are various EGTBs, you want to select EGTBs based on your favorite engine or the Strongest engine for competitive game play. On this premise, the strongest engine using ONLY Nalimov TBs is Rybka 4.1. Similarly, the strongest engine using ONLY Gaviota TBs is Houdini 1.5a. However, Houdini 2.0 uses both Nalimov & Gaviota TBs. If you purchased Houdini 2.0, setting Winboard GUI to use Nalimov TBs is more efficient, as Nalimov TBs has up to 6-piece endings - assuming you have 6-pieces.

Maybe someone can help me..
At that time, there r still Houdini 1.5x..and of course no match for Rybka 4..

Houdini 1.5a is, and has, always been definitely stronger than Rybka 4.0 / 4.1 by a margin of 50 - 60 ELOs. There are numerous Engine Test sites validating this fact.

But now I can make sure to u all that Houdini 2.0c Pro is the strongest Engine today..I had tested so many times, even with better Hardware , Rybka 4 cannot beat Houdini 2.0c Pro..(the different between Hardware only at Processor's Clock and RAM, Rybka 4 use Core2Duo 2.8 Ghz + 4 GB RAM DDR2 -vs- Houdini 2.0c Pro use Core2Duo 2.66 Ghz + 2 GB RAM DDR2)

Rybka 4.1 cannot beat Houdini 1.5a, let alone Houdini 2.0 series. However, pursuant to Houdini family, there are some that state Houdini 1.5a is stronger or better than Houdini 2.0 series. Others state Houdini 2.0 series is better than Houdini 1.5a. Your discretion here.

'Hope these clarifies some concerns.

[KimDongHwan]

Thanks for your hel p..first pardon me if my English Grammar is bad..
i hv already download Gaviota EGTB about <6 GB(already compressed from its respected site) ,
Please help my next question, from where in this forum i can make clear howto set it up with Winboard (i mean both Nalimov or Gaviota to use it with Winboard)..i dont use Arena, Aquarium or another GUI..and where to download Nalimov EGTB? i have complete series of Fritz since DOS version with 3.5 " floppy, and also Rybka and Chessmaster..should i download Nalimov again or just take it from Fritz (how to take it?).. is there any kind of bugs if we use Gaviota or Nalimov with Winboard? I found many articles that Gaviota was better than Nalimov if we are using Houdini..but according to your previous reply, i can make sure that 6 man EGTB must be better..