Hi!

After a short break after releasing Chronos 1.9.7, I am reviving some issues within the project (site, source code, testing, etc.) and this time I will post what was the latest version of the engine before starting the rest period.

This version is no more than version 1.9.7, but with intensive code reviews to improve the speed of the engine (nps) and some minimal details in draw detection rules... no new techniques, new ideas or new chess knowledge in this version.

I think that ELO gain is minimal, so I do not publish this version as "1.9.8", but still I think it's a version that is clearly strongest than 1.9.7.

As always, I hope that computer chess fans can enjoy Chronos!

Direct download link: clic here.
Also new test results: here.

Version 1.9.7 is released!.

It really was not quite right with version 1.9.6, I thought it would be ranked higher than +40 ELO over 1.9.5 but only got +25 to +30 and, besides that, I have seen many games lost against engines ranked -100 or -200 ELO.

Based on that I have reviewed some of the testing procedures to try to avoid "surprises" when the version begins to play in
long time controls.

The new version shows 60% to 65% win perc. against 1.9.6 in almost all the tests I've done. I also see good and stable results against other strong engines that are part of the current set of Chronos's sparrings.

Finally, I dont know if 1.9.7 win +40 ELO over 1.9.6 (which is the goal of each new version), but I think it will improve the score in general and, most importantly, fix the things that do not like about 1.9.6!

Direct link to download: clic here.

After almost 4 months of work, a new version of Chronos saw the light!!.

Until now, to improve the final version of the engine was the hardest work I've done since the beginning of the Chronos development. I tried many improvements in recent months, many did not improve the engine strength in any way, but still have been accepted by clarifying and improving the source code. Some other ideas have not been implemented and will be tested for the next versions, I think a few are quite innovative and can create dramatic changes in style and engine strength...

I am trying to build each version of the engine a little stronger than the previous one in (at least) 40 ELO points, so this has been the goal of this release. Due to the limited testing environment I have, I can only test a limited number of matches with short time controls, so I'm not 100% sure of having reached the release goal, anyway I think the new version shows an improvement.

I hope to further improve the engine and offer better and stronger version for all who enjoy chess!!.

Direct link to download: clic here.

After some time without programming or test Chronos, I have now renewed energy to return to daily work!.
Recently, I was only following all the tournaments where the engine has engaged, and I've seen that there is much potential in the latest version, and still a lot of available space for new improvements.

I hope shortly to publish a new and stronger version!.

Chronos 1.9.5 won again the FACE (FreeAvailableChessEngines) tournament, this time the division 4!
According to the rules of the tournament the first three engines will be promoted to Division 3, so Chronos, Anatoli 0.35k and Danasah 3.97b are now playing the tougher division 3. In this new and difficult division the expected position of Chronos is around fifth place, so let's see what happens!.

Thanx again to admins of computer-chess.org for conduct this tournament!

Details: FACE

Chronos 1.9.4 won the edition 9, division 5 chess tournament of Freely Available Chess Engines (FACE).
According to the rules of the tournament the first two engines will be promoted to Division 4, so Chronos and Rotor, who shared the same score at the end, will be promoted to a new and tough division. The time controls was 40 moves in 5 minutes, repeating.

Thanx to admins of computer-chess.org for conduct this long tournament!

Details: FACE

Chronos won his second tournament at CCRL!!.

This was a very important tournament for me, which I have followed with great expectation for being the first in which Chronos participated.
The tournament was quite long, with many participants of similar strength. Fortunately, Chronos was able to maintain leadership in the last rounds, with a margin that gave me enough security.

Final Standings

32.0 - Chronos 1.9.4
28.0 - GreKo 6.25
27.5 - Dragon 4.6
27.0 - Amateur 2.82
26.5 - Diablo 0.5.1
26.0 - Djinn 0.925x
26.0 - Sorgenkind 0.4
24.0 - Delphil 1.9f
24.0 - Patzer 3.80
23.5 - Horizon 4.4
23.5 - Gaia 3.5
22.5 - Queen 4.02a
22.0 - Sage 3.53
21.5 - Amy 0.87b
21.5 - Cheese 1.3
21.0 - Gosu 0.16
21.0 - Counter 1.0
21.0 - Comet B68
20.0 - Thor's Hammer 2.28
20.0 - Phalanx XXII
19.5 - Flux 2.2
19.5 - LittleThought 1.03
18.0 - RomiChess P3k
16.5 - Brutus 6.1

Thanx again to Graham Banks, who organized and carried out the tournament.

For details and complete pgn click here.