X-Git-Url: http://winboard.nl/cgi-bin?p=gnushogi.git;a=blobdiff_plain;f=doc%2Fgnushogi_17.html;h=a822bd622b049b6a467cb1855df844ed2fcba45c;hp=ce3a0f5884f7c8cf897c0d89f0f9976f0d62e9e9;hb=1aca00e04580e7b3effefa535edb469876ecce74;hpb=8ae7e7d1b257ef36d8a9fd1cd88807954ef10764 diff --git a/doc/gnushogi_17.html b/doc/gnushogi_17.html index ce3a0f5..a822bd6 100644 --- a/doc/gnushogi_17.html +++ b/doc/gnushogi_17.html @@ -1,534 +1,162 @@ + + + - +GNU Shogi manual: Shogi variants -GNU Shogi manual - gnushogi - - - [Contents]   [Back]   [Prev]   [Up]   [Next]   [Forward]  

- - -

gnushogi

-

- - - -

-This section describes how to run the "gnushogi" program. - - -

-SYNOPSIS - - - -

-gnushogi [ [[-]a] [-b bookfile] [-B binbookfile] [-C] [-h langfile] -[-L langfile] [-r length] [-R] [-s pathname] [-l pathname] [-S binbooksize] -[-t] [-c size] [-T size] [-v] [-x] [-X] arg1 arg2 ] - - -

-DESCRIPTION - - -

-GNU shogi (gnushogi) plays a game of japanese chess (shogi) against the -user or it plays against itself. - - -

-At startup gnushogi reads the binbook file if it is present. It then -looks for a book file. If it is present it adds its contents to the -binbook data. If the binbook file is writable a new combined binbook -file is written. - - -

-Gnushogi is a modified version of the gnuchess program. It has a simple -alphanumeric board display, or it can be used with the xshogi program -under X windows. The program gets its opening moves from the file -gnushogi.bbk which is located in a directory specified in the Makefile. -To invoke the program type: - - -

- -
`gnushogi -C' -
-simple curses based version - -
`gnushogi -X (or just gnushogi)' -
-xshogi compatible version - -
`gnushogi -R' -
-raw test display version -
- -

-TIME CONTROLS - - -

-If one argument is given, it is the search time per move in -[minutes:]seconds. So gnushogi 30 will generate one move every 30 -seconds, while gnushogi 5:00 will generate one move every 5 minutes. - - -

-If two or more arguments are given, they will be used to set tournament -time controls with the first argument of each pair being the number of -moves and the second being the total clock time in minutes[:seconds]. -Thus, entering gnushogi 60 5 will set the clocks for 5 minutes (300 -seconds) for the first 60 moves, and gnushogi 30 3:30 will allow 3 -minutes and 30 seconds for 30 moves. - - -

-gnushogi 30 5 1 :30 will allow 5 minutes for the first 30 moves and 30 -seconds for each move after that. Up to 4 pairs of controls may be -specified. - - -

-If no argument is given the program will prompt the user for level of -play. - - -

-For use with xshogi see the documentation on that program. -See section xshogi. - - -

-BOOK - - -

-The book gnushogi.tbk consists of a sequence of openings. An opening -begins with a line starting with a # (the rest of the line is a -comment). Following this is a series of moves in algebraic notation -alternating black and white separated by white space. A move may have a -? after it indicating this move should never be made in this position. -Moves are stored as position:move so transpositions between openings can -take place. - - -

-HASHFILE - - -

-The hashfile if created should be on the order of 4 megabytes; you can -create such a hashfile by typing "gnushogi -c 22" (see below). This -file contains positions and moves learned from previous games. If a -hashfile is used the computer makes use of the experience it gained in -past games. Tests run so far show that it plays no worse with the -hashfile than without, but it is not clear yet whether it provides a -real advantage. - - -

-LEGAL MOVES - - -

-Note: Piece letters are determined by the language file. What is -specified here is the default (English). - - -

-Once gnushogi is invoked, the program will display the board and prompt -the user for a move. To enter a move, use the notation 7g7f where the -first letter-number pair indicates the origin square and the second -letter-number pair indicates the destination square. An alternative is -to use the notation P7f where the first letter indicates the piece type -(P,L,N,S,G,B,R,K). To promote append a + the type of the new piece to -the move, as in 2d2c+ or P2c+. Note that you must use capital letters -for the pieces by default. - - -

-COMMAND-LINE OPTIONS - - -

- -
`-a' -
-Do not search on opponent's time. - -
`a' -
-Do search on opponent's time. - -
`-b bookfile' -
-Use bookfile for opening book. - -
`-B binbookfile' -
-Use binbookfile for binary opening book. - -
`-c size' -
-Create a new HASHFILE. File size is 2^size entries of approximately 65+? -bytes. - -
`-C' -
-Use curses-based display mode. - -
`-h' -
-Do not use hashfile. - -
`h' -
-Do use hashfile. - -
`-l pathname' -
-Pathname of the loadfile used with get or xget. - -
`-L lang' -
-Use language lang from the file gnushogi.lang. If -L is not specified -it uses the first language in the file. + + + + + -
`-P plylevels' -
-Number of plys to include in the binbookfile. For generating a -binbookfile. - -
`-r length' -
-Rehash length times in searching entries for position in -transposition table. - -
`-R' -
-Use raw text display mode. This can be used for dumb terminals or for -systems that don't have curses. - -
`-s pathname' -
-Pathname of the save file to use with the save command. - -
`-S size' -
-Size of binbookfile for memory based books. For creating a binbookfile. - -
`-t' -
-Show statistics for HASHFILE. - -
`-T size' -
-Set the transposition table size to 2^size entries. - -
`-v' -
-Show version and patchlevel. - -
`-x value' -
-Use value as the evaluation window xwndw. - -
`-X' -
-Use xshogi display mode (the default). - -
- -

-COMMANDS - - -

-In addition to legal moves, the following commands can be entered at the -gnushogi prompt. Note: command names are determined by the language -file and may vary with the implementation. The default language is -English. - - -

- -
`alg' -
-allow algebraic input (not implemented). - -
`Awindow' -
-change Alpha window (default score + 90). - -
`Bwindow' -
-change Beta window (default score - 90). - -
`beep' -
-toggles beeping after each move (default: on). - -
`bd' -
-updates the current board position on the display. - -
`book' -
-turns off use of the opening library. - -
`both' -
-causes the computer to play both sides of a shogi game. - -
`black' -
-causes the computer to take the white pieces, if the computer is to move -first. - -
`bsave' -
-saves a game to disk as a book textfile. The program will prompt the -user for a file name. - -
`gamein' -
-toggles game mode time control. Assumes the time specified for time -control is the time for a complete game. Input with the level command -should be the game time and the expected number of moves in a game. go -command must be given. - -
`coords' -
-show coordinates on the display (visual only). - -
`contempt' -
-allows the value of contempt to be modified. - -
`debug' -
-asks for a piece as color piece, as wb or bn, and shows its calculated -value on each square. - -
`debuglevel' -
-sets level of debugging output if compiled with debug options. - -
`depth' -
-allows the user to change the search depth of the program. The maximum -depth is 29 ply. Normally the depth is set to 29 and the computer -terminates its search based on elapsed time rather than depth. If depth -is set to (say) 4 ply, the program will search until all moves have been -examined to a depth of 4 ply (with extensions up to 11 additional ply -for sequences of checks and captures). If you set a maximum time per -move and also use the depth command, the search will stop at the -specified time or the specified depth, whichever comes first. - -
`easy' -
-toggles easy mode (thinking on opponents time) on and off. The default -is easy mode ON. If easy mode is disabled, the keyboard is polled for -input every so often and when input is seen the search is terminated. It -may also be terminated with a sigint. - -
`edit' -
-allows the user to set up a board position. - - - -Pieces are entered by typing a letter (p,l,n,s,g,b,r,k) for -the piece followed by the coordinate. Here, letter case is ignored. - -The usual warning about the language file applies. - -
`exit' -
-exits gnushogi. - -
`first' -
-tells the computer to move first. Computer begins searching for a move. -(same as "go"). - -
`force' -
-allows the user to enter moves for both sides. To get the program to -play after a sequence of moves has been entered use the "black" or -"white" commands. - -
`get' -
-retrieves a game from disk. The program will prompt the user for a file -name. - -
`go' -
-tells the computer to move first. Computer begins searching for a move. -(same as "first"). - -
`hash' -
-use/don't use hashfile. - -
`hashdepth' -
-allows the user to change the minimum depth for using the hashfile and -the number of moves from the beginning of the game to use it. - -
`help' -
-displays a short description of the commands and the current status of -options. - -
`hint' -
-causes the program to supply the user with its predicted move. - -
`level' -
-allows the user to set time controls such as 60 moves in 5 minutes etc. -In tournament mode, the program will vary the time it takes for each -move depending on the situation. If easy mode is disabled (using the -"easy" command), the program will often respond with its move -immediately, saving time on its clock for use later on. - -
`list' -
-writes the game moves and some statistics on search depth, nodes, and -time to the file "shogi.lst". - -
`material' -
-toggle material flag - draws on no pawns and both sides < rook. - -
`new' -
-starts a new game. - -
`p' -
-evaluates the board and shows the point score for each piece. The total -score for a position is the sum of these individual piece scores. - -
`post' -
-causes the program to display the principal variation and the score -during the search. A score of 100 is equivalent to a 1 pawn advantage -for the computer. - -
`quit' -
-exits the game. - -
`random' -
-causes the program to randomize its move selection slightly. - -
`rcptr' -
-set recapture mode. - -
`remove' -
-backout the last level for both sides. Equal to 2 undo's. - -
`reverse' -
-causes the board display to be reversed. That is, the black pieces will -now appear at the top of the board. - -
`rv' -
-reverse board display. - -
`save' -
-saves a game to disk. The program will prompt the user for a file name. - -
`switch' -
-causes the program to switch places with the opponent and begin -searching. - -
`test' -
-performs some speed tests for MoveList and CaptureList generation, and -ScorePosition position scoring for the current board. - -
`time' -
-set computer's time remaining, intended for synchronizing clocks among -multiple players. - -
`tsume' -
-toggle tsume mode. In tsume mode, not all possible moves will be -generated. If a king is in check, only moves that get the king out of -check are generated. If the king is not in check, only moves that give -check to the opponent's king are generated. - -
`undo' -
-undoes the last move whether it was the computer's or the human's. You -may also type "remove". This is equivalent to two "undo"'s -(e.g. retract one move for each side). - -
`white' -
-causes the computer to take the black pieces, if the computer is to move -first the go command must be given. - -
`xget' -
-read an xshogi position file. - -
`xsave' -
-save as an xshogi position file. - -
`xwndw' -
-change X window. The window around alpha/beta used to determine whether -the position should be scored or just estimated. Note: this has -nothing to do with xshogi or X windows; the terms are completely -separate. - -
+ -

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+
+

2.4 Shogi variants

+ +

+ +Several historical variants of shogi exist. Most of these were invented +before modern shogi (in some cases hundreds of years before), are much +larger than modern shogi and are not played with drops. Thus, in many +ways they are really more like giant chess games than like modern shogi. +The only one of these games to have survived in Japan is Chu (middle) +shogi, which is still played a little bit. Thanks to the efforts of +George Hodges and John Fairbairn of the Shogi Association (two British +shogi enthusiasts), these games were resurrected and rules and sets for +them can still be purchased from George Hodges (see section 5. References and links). I hope to eventually extend GNU shogi so that it can play at +least some of these games. There are also several non-historical +variants of shogi; I don't know much about them but you can find +information about them on the internet (see section 5. References and links). +

+ +The historical variants include: +

+ +

    + +
  1. +Tori (bird) shogi, played on a 7x7 board with 32 pieces in all; this is +the only variant that is known to have been played with drops. +

    + +

  2. +Wa shogi, played on an 11x11 board with 54 pieces. This game can be +played with or without drops but the historical evidence favors the view +that it was played without drops. However, most people who have tried +it claim it is a much better game with drops, being even more intricate +than standard shogi. +

    + +

  3. +Chu (middle) shogi, played on a 12x12 board with 92 pieces. This was +(and is) by far the most popular of the variants, and has 21 different +kinds of pieces in the starting line-up alone (along with several others +that appear upon promotion). Unlike modern shogi, there are a +tremendous number of ranging pieces and the game is definitely not +played with drops. There is also an amazing piece called the Lion which +has a double king move and can capture two pieces at once! Chu shogi +has a small but fanatical following, some of whom consider it better +than modern shogi. +

    + +

  4. +Dai (great) shogi, played on a 15x15 board with 130 pieces. Other than +the larger board, this game is very similar to Chu shogi. +

    + +

  5. +Tenjiku (exotic) shogi, played on a 16x16 board with 176 pieces. This +game is possibly the most complex tactical game in existence. There are +many astoundingly powerful pieces, including one (the Fire Demon) that +can capture up to eight opposing pieces in a single move! Despite the +size of the game, checkmates can occur very suddenly (and often very +early on) if one player makes a wrong move. Tenjiku also has a small +but fanatical following, one of whom (Colin Adams) has written a book on +the game which is available for download at +http://www.colina.demon.co.uk/tenjiku.html. +

    + +

  6. +Dai-dai (great-great) shogi, played on a 17x17 board with 192 pieces. +The opening setup alone has 64 different kinds of pieces! This game and +the larger ones that follow sound pretty outlandish, but they have +actually been played; a game of Dai-dai can supposedly be played in +about 12 hours. +

    + +

  7. +Maka-dai-dai (great-great-great) shogi, played on a 19x19 board with 192 +pieces. For those for whom Dai-dai shogi is just too small :-) +

    + +

  8. +Tai (grand) shogi, played on a 25x25 board with 354 pieces! Until +recently, this was thought to be the biggest chess game ever devised, +but now there is... +

    + +

  9. +Kyoku tai (extremely grand?) shogi, played on a 36x36 board with 402 +pieces. The rules for this have just been unearthed in an old Japanese +book. Hopefully someone will soon organize a postal Kyoku tai shogi +championship; maybe their distant ancestors could finish it :-) +

    + +It is thought that the really huge games (Dai-dai and up) were never +really played to any significant extent (gee, wonder why?) and were +devised merely so that the creators could have the fun of inventing +enormous games, amazing their friends and confounding their enemies. +However, the games up to Tenjiku shogi at least appear to be quite +playable, assuming one has the time. +

    + +

+

+ + +

+ + + + + + + + + + +
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+ +This document was generated +by Michael C. Vanier on July, 7 2004 +using texi2html