RE: Evaluation Methods for Programs

NR & Pham,

Actually I have developed a Chinese Chess program for fun, based on the free 
codes from Pham. At first I did it completely in Java, but later for speed I 
change the engine to C and keep the GUI in Java (calling the C DLL via JNI).

My evaluation function is quite simple:
1. material+position, i.e. a rook weight 154 originally, but 166 or more 
somewhere,
2. attacking score
3. protecting score

It can play reasonably good chess initially and midgame at 6-PLY even 
without 
opening book. However, the endgame is quite weak (cannot win with a rook 
against a bare king and a passed pawn, it keeps chasing the pawn vertically 
or 
checking the king forever!!)

Edward Yu
[EMAIL PROTECTED]

>===== Original Message From [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Pham Hong Nguyen) 
=====
>>
>> What is your opinion of this one?  Many places I read talk about the
>> river being very important.  My limited understanding has shown that it
>> becomes an interesting feature of the board.
>
>
>It is up to you. I think it is ok though I use just little bit on my
>eval funtion. Note that some ideas actually cross to some others, so
>if you implement some, you can ignore others.
>
>>
>>
>> Actually I have never coded a western chess engine.  I started with
>> xiangqi as it seemed more interesting to work on something that hasn't
>> been 'done to death' as chess has.  But, with that I pay the price that
>> it does become interesting.
>>
>
>You may need to visit some sites to play online more frequently, that
>may help you to improve your xiangqi skills and bring you some new
>ideas.
>
>Good luck :)
>Pham