XieXie Master 1
Contents
1. Bite http www clubsianagi com E vent ca Game 25m 30030 This window is used to enter information on the game When saving the game the same dialog appears Here you can input some comments which are valid for the whole game 3 4 7 Clock window L Clock Rescalable clock 3 4 8 Miniclock window Ut Clock Black DO 00 a0 DO OLI pem Pu o MEO Pause Set time This clock is used when there is no room in your screen You can right click on it to set time or to pause clock 15 XieXie Master User Manual Advanced operations 3 5 Analyzing a game XieXie is able to analyze the games you have played and give you his opinion Just use menu thinking Analyze the game Color ta analyze First hall move il W Red Last half move Es Cancel W Black Time in 2 Output in I Comment Window Note 1 First move and last move is expressed in half moves Note 2 Time in seconds is the time you allocate to analyze 1 move The greater is this value the more accurate is the evaluation At any moment you can stop the analyze by selecting again the menu Thinking Analyze the game If you have checked comment window the results can be reviewed in the comment windows What you only have to do is to replay the moves and see what thought XieXie in the same position Example After XieXie has analyzed the game we can see that in the position below XieXie doesn t2. For fast games set the hash table smaller For instance you can take about 5 10 Mb for games using 5min move Game knowledge If knowledge is set to 0 XieXie will play like a robot that means tactically very strong but strategically very weak The more knowledge you use the slower is the thinking of XieXie Press the default button if you want to play with the standard XieXie This must be the best choice XieXie Master User Manual 3 6 3 Scoring function in XieXie engine Evaluation of XieXie is based on material score For instance XieXie has a score of 5 00 that means XieXie is ahead of 1 cannon or 1 knight or a great positional advantage If you don t agree you can change pieces values and then XieXie will play a different style according to your new settings Properties Default Annuler Appliguer Suppose XieXie is playing black If you set red cannon to 600 and black horse to 400 XieXie will try to trade opponent s cannons with his own horses as his horses have less points This is useful when you know XieXie s opponent likes to play cannons XieXie Master User Manual 3 6 4 Learning Here you can configure how XieXie learns from good moves Properties a X General configuration Pieces Learning Learning table size in Mb b Leaming table used i 40 Learning Killer table used 53 Use leaming Learn good moves Total amnesy Default OF Annuler am
3. 20 4 2 Getting games from Club Xiang Qi eeeesssssssssssseseeenn nemen eene eene 20 49 Backio defdulisu etr p IE e I EM eds 20 XieXie Master User Manual 5 Wrequenthy ASked Questions us eie on ol Aaa eve hn sat NIU dai Undo a cM UNE EU 20 X Howcanlplayalowetr level eedesezec ee eerte eu xn e eee rm nate emt 20 How campi Mener level uiia eve biete one uo det me MD itu lu teas Ei cp dU UMS 2l 23 2 wes dormiat SUP POMC iode topi UE etia EOS ERA Ue ob Pub Due Peta d La eb therein 21 2 9 JHow can LsdVe d Caine ossa Hed vedi enit Ra lashes towne ante eieaes 22 De HOW Cat tecna pOSILIOH 7 sesto coetu ote in Ga avi de eee Se ee 22 5 5 How can I search mates or Chinese chess problems puzzles 23 KO HOw Cane citer Toime ose a IRURE RR EDD Na pA AR MN ier eau 23 5 7 Whatis pondering sreco kaaa aaa enn 23 5 8 How can I choose the opening book eesssssssssssseseeeeeeeeen nnn 23 59 How can use the contempt 1actor uis tette e etae e t Leeds Conte a edu up ue aae 23 5 10 When I open the logs clock bar graph Does it affect to the speed of search 23 Sei How many I 10 1S Xie X16 Ss tdeo Stet Doe v unn nt 24 5 12 How can I update the version get SUPPOTt ccccccceccccceeeeeeeeeeeaeeeeeeeeeeeeees 24 XieXie Master User Manual 2 Starting out 2 1 Introduction XieXie Master belongs to the top Chin
4. o Knowledge must not be 0 except against some sw players o Pieces values must be set to default Note that to play at his highest level XieXie must have his learning option enabled See engine configuration That allows XieXie learn and use his opponent s best skills In fast games disable all sounds Menu preferences sound None Using sounds can slow down XieXie JJ If the thinking time is too long you can force XieXie play faster with one click on the Flash button on the toolbar d stronger level let XieXie think longer Use menu Level custom to set the time XieXie must think on a move Level Advanced player is not the highest level of XieXie To get a 5 2 Files format supported XieXie reads the following formats XBF XGF EGF XieXie binary file format CCF AXF WXF format AXF WXF AXF WXF format MXQ Move sky file format XQN Proprietary ASCII file format 90 you can easily view internet games or exchange data with other Chinese chess programs with XieXie 21 XieXie Master User Manual 5 3 How can I save a game Use the File menu or the toolbars If you can t save that s maybe because the XieXie is still thinking To stop the thinking click on the flash button X in the toolbar Jy You know XieXie is thinking when the thinking window has activity 5 4 How can I setup a position To setup a position choose menu game Setup Position When you are in setup mode the word Setup Mode is dis
5. 23 XieXie Master User Manual 5 11 How many Elo is XieXie This question is very difficult to answer as XieXie is not allowed to play against humans in human championship But this is my estimation 5 minutes game 10 minutes game 1 hour game AMD K7 2800 2450 ELO 2380 ELO 2350 ELO K7 1 5 GHz 2420 ELO 2350 ELO 2300 ELO K7 800 MHz 2380 ELO 2300 ELO 2220 ELO Celeron 600 2310 ELO 2250 ELO 2170 ELO Read this carefully that doesn t mean that in 5 min game XieXie plays better that only means XieXie wins stronger player when the timing is short In theory XieXie program plays better if you let him think longer 5 12How can l update the version get support Just send a mail at tang pascal free fr or ptang caramail com with your home and Internet coordinates If you find a bug you can also report it to the authors They will do their best to deliver a corrected version If you need any answers about the program feel free to email them they will answer as soon as possible For XieXie updates opening books news etc just go to site WWVW CC Xiexie com Note Don t make illegal copies of XieXie Or you will kill Xiang Qi software development Thanks 24
6. EO e ade ra R TUR 9 Doz T edOOlDdPucacobuedio EV MINI aM Lai sedi 9 2 Keyboard SDOPICULS uode amenities a Em pad dte irm cu vec ad vtae deutet s 11 Me eliam uice C A ee 12 SUI TMak Ido W sene E te ene ee nae ee 12 34 2 Bat Crap Window ereer aaen a A T Gas eaten E edu pu bodie 13 IE Xie Bst SVIDOO Wena ey EP toi cd pub eet Pr ere ne 13 SAA ITOPSSAVIBUON queo Seta uten aM nto Mu ate m CI ILU 14 Er ME Comments WIJO W erein aane sd ae a EA RS 14 3 4 6 Game informations WITIdOW coiere todo puente ee ve date gem eee esos 15 AET COCK Wi OW sons ie oases can aire O 15 z4 Miniclock Wind Ow oseaan ai a a avede Rees 15 Advanced Operio NS oae edet T N 16 Do Aane Oy CAUNG erae T E E AE 16 3 50 Customizing ThE Chess GN ONS esa esta prece eden ve lode E T T 17 3 6 1 Consume Xie Xie CDSN eenn a oe ee E 17 2 0 2 General COMMOUL AU OM a siete eerte rr AAN nET e E E T O tre 17 3 6 3 Scoring function in XieXie ENENG si r nnne nnns 18 SO LEIN sherohen iaa theses ile t aire eda bh ouaat a ty 19 3 6 4 1 Learning table size eese nnns 19 990942 Leaning table USGG erenn ne ttu EE eti EAE 19 3 6 4 3 Learning killer table used 00 cc cccccccccesessesssessssseeeeeeeseeeeeees 19 SiO USCLAR aaea TL 19 2049 earn GOOG MOVE Sorser 19 a Ek EA E E AA Tm 20 4I Gene ames tronrMOVesky ooh edet t ea ee
7. XieXie Master User Manual XieXie Master 1 0 10 User Manual q xieXieMaster 1 0 10 gt Licensed to toto il m x Fie Game Preferences Thinking Windows Licence 8 e u e 76 9 c ajaj oja gt x OF Version 1 0 10a Author Pascal TANG XieXie Master User Manual 1 Indexes MEME 0 ER UE Utm ET 2 ME cionis ec 4 Zh MATEO CMC UIC 3 aconecaed cutem imtatte Rd toL tia toot nae tan eee ae 4 2 1 1 XieXae is designed for the beginner seeeseeeeen 4 2 1 2 XieXae is designed for advanced players ccccccccccccceeecceessssssssesseeeeeeeeeeeees 4 2 2 PYST dure mei S adsolet mE Oeo o dedi hed dua ons cede nadia od adus tt 5 2 24 1 Minimum system requirements eer ha tendere Rea ne ers eoe Res eaa E 5 2 2 2 Recommended system requirements uos coe e ot Pie VH E a S beds 5 20 CAMO SS aena eni eee incen dae encase a ea ip icu alae eat tau eM Nea ined E 5 2 CAMINO TNC Wap AIAG egstaissketutete nit reas tte a tbt vidue hens tdii tese t ota otia vi edute tees edid tige tud 6 2 9 SMIGVIBDE PIECES utu issue tou Cet Ic MN Ee LE e 6 he AM MN oT teers EE 7 zb CCS S IMON a E a O A 7 LL ME E aa E T EU 7 LE MUGI saand E E A RE E a 7 2 157 Menm Pre hen CCS eaen E see 7 Dey Memu TMk Mo inann A T TE 8 Sob 2Menu WV OW Ss acca ach ance Saw ts hats boa retta totus cies aliut aces 8 2 10 Mentoe eena a Oe ee 9 IE Ment re Eee rient studi e edet betae con enit
8. best move Printing Horizontal and vertical symetries for the board representation XieXie Master User Manual 2 4 Starting a new game Press button zi to start a new game To play red just move the pieces at the beginning of the game To play black at the beginning of the game press button t That forces XieXie to play the current side the red side 2 5 Moving pieces There are 2 possibilities to enter moves by drag and drop default mode or by click and click See menu preferences Move selection JJ To review your game you can replay and unmove using cursors of your keyboard arrows left and right LD roy f To review your game you can click on the score curve window XieXie Master User Manual 3 The game 3 1 XieXie s menu 3 1 1 Menu File New game Restarts the current game Red always move first Loads the game onto the chessboard Save the current game Save on each Automatic game saving This is used to recover the games if the move PC crashes Copy to You can copy the chess board or the game list onto the clipboard clipboard This is used to paste the chessboard or the game list in your own editor Print Print the move list Ext Exitprogram 3 1 2 Menu Game Setup Allows you to set a new board position No computer Allows you to input free moves without XieXie starts thinking mode Stop thinking Stop the chess engine 3 1 3 Menu Preferences This op
9. d player is not the highest level of XieXie To get a XieXie Master User Manual 2 2 System requirements XieXie runs under Windows NT 4 Windows 2000 and Windows XP XieXie could tun under Windows 95 Windows 98 Windows Millennium but with some minor graphics bugs 2 2 1 Minimum system requirements You will need a PC with a 486 DX2 66 processor and 64 MB of RAM XieXie will run under such a system but needs more powerful hardware to play at full strength 2 2 2 Recommended system requirements The recommended configuration is a PC with a fast processor Athlon XP or Intel Pentium IV with 128 MB of RAM or more and a sound card for the sound effects and the tutorial commentary 2 3 Features Respects 99 the complex Chinese chess repetition rules Accepts game comments Accepts moves annotations Adaptive levels Analyzes your past games and tells you the right move Reads games from internet Chinese chess site such as MoveSky or Club Xiang Qi Plays games from any position Engine configuration o Size of hash tables O Contempt factor o Amount of knowledge used o Value of pieces O Use learning or not Learn from human players and from good moves Score curve window Play human vs human game Play human vs computer game Position setup possible Several timing game time time move fixed depth etc Infinite thinking Hint Supports AXF and WXF notation Endgame knowledge inside Next
10. done a mistake Ipi xi max 7 42 a f Mu E red 7 93 blue 7 4 move 22 2 J You can also click or move the mouse on this window to go to the position in the game you want 3 4 3 Game list window Depending on the notation used AXF WXF etc each move is recorded on a game sheet If you go back on your moves the move is automatically dimmed on the sheet If the game is a long one and not all the moves appear in the game list window use the scroll box on the right hand side The next moves will automatically be entered at the end of the list whatever the section of the list currently displayed 13 XieXie Master User Manual 3 4 4 Logs window This window is only used for debugging purposes 3 4 5 Comments window This window is used to enter comments and annotations for each move 7 Comments a a X 28 d amp a8 7 Reset comments Jy Right click on the window to open the popup menu Possible annotations Very bad move Bad move Even LN Good move UNE Very good move During a game XieXie annotates the best moves automatically The Edit box in the comments window is used to enter comments on the game XieXie Master User Manual 3 4 6 Game informations window i Game informations A B olx Red siesiemaster D ate 2003 05 05 21 52 20 COT R ed EL 2275 R ound Black Danken Author Black EL 2227 Time Control R esull 1 0
11. ere he has generated the licence file Enter registration You can enter or modify the registration code code 3 1 7 Menu About XieXie Shows the about dialog 3 2 The toolbar Bl ola e 218 oof aa Gm Life ae Open game file m Save game file a aT m XieXie Master User Manual Replay all This option applies a vertical symetry to the board This option applies a horizontal symetry to the board Choose set of pieces Choose set of boards Small board Big board Select French language Select Spanish language Select German language Select English language Enter Edit mode This mode is used to enter moves from a game If this button is not pressed XieXie start thinking after each user s move Stop thinking This button tells XieXie to stop thinking and to play the best current move Start thinking This button tells XieXie to start the thinking on the current position XieXie Master User Manual This button tells XieXie to ignore last move and try to find another move Level Infinite If selected XieXie will thinks undefinitely until the user press the Tells XieXie to give an idea on how to move Hint 3 3 Keyboard shortcuts JU You can use the keyboard arrows to replay or take back a move XieXie Master User Manual 3 4 Auxiliary windows 3 4 1 Thinking window Nb nodes visited Current move analyzed Time spent Speed Ti
12. ese chess program on the world XieXie Master is the big brother of XieXie Junior who did very well in the internet tournaments Main XieXie results First tournament summer 2002 at CXQ 6 Computer Olympiads 2002 3 bronze medal 7 Computer Olympiads 2003 2 silver medal XieXie s level improves every released version 2 1 1 XieXie is designed for the beginner opecial novice levels have been included First Steps 1 First Steps 2 First Steps 3 These levels are adaptive but are easier to beat These are the spirit of these levels First Steps 1 can never win it is not designed to First Steps 2 can win but cannot see all the tactical combinations First Steps 3 can win see more tactical combinations than First Steps 2 It is the best way to start playing Chinese chess and to improve You can also play handicaped games if needed more below Game analyze helps also the beginner in Chinese chess what move is wrong and what is the correct move in a given position 2 1 2 XieXie is designed for advanced players XieXie Master gives the advanced players the possibility to configure the XieXie s chess engine o Chinese chess pieces value o Chinese chess knowledge o Contempt factor analyze the games comment the game annotate the moves understand standards like AXF WXF d stronger level let XieXie think longer Use menu Level custom to set the time XieXie must think on a move Level Advance
13. exie 5 Frequently Asked questions 5 1 How can I play a lower level If XieXie is too strong for you you have a few possibilities Set the strength lower in the Game level menu For example choose First steps 1 Retrieve pondering option see further Retrieve learning option in menu Thinking Learning Use learning Inhibit all XieXie Experience by clicking menu Thinking learning Use learning Set handicap for red side in the game Handicap menu there you can free 2 horses if you want Handicap is always set on red side Flip the board in the menu preferences Rotate board or directly click to the toolbar Force XieXie play first by choosing the menu Thinking Play on the current position or in the toolbar the green circle button You can simulate 3 moves first by using the setup position function choose game setup position menu make your 3 moves and choose game end Setup position menu 20 XieXie Master User Manual How can I play a higher level If XieXie is too weak for you you can Set the strength higher in the Game level menu For example choose 20 seconds per move XieXie will think 20 seconds to move You can play with handicap You can change your computer Chinese chess program strength is strongly related to your hardware Maybe your computer is too slow or has too little memory Check that pondering is enabled Verify the configuration of the chess engine o Hash table size must be small fro fast games
14. like black move h1 h3 he prefers h1 g1 Hence the move h1 h3 is annotated as very bad move 6 i JComments Bad move score 4 87 Better move score 0 83 S Gg s x 16 XieXie Master User Manual 3 6 Customizing the chess engine 3 6 1 Configuring XieXie engine You have the possibility to customize the A I Artificial Intelligence engine Use menu Thinking Chess menu configuration Or just double click the chessboard The following dialog appears Properties sA x General configuration Pieces Learning Contempt factor for Red i Contempt factor for Black fo Hash table size in Mb 255 Game knowledge Default Annuler Appliguer 3 6 2 General configuration Contempt factor This factor goes from 500 to 500 you can put higher but that s nonsense The higher it is the more coward is the play of XieXie That is useful against very strong players XieXie will always look for a draw Against weak player it is recommended to set the factor of the XieXie s color negative so XieXie will try to avoid repetition draw Default value is O Hash table size Hash table is an allocated memory to store computed positions That allows XieXie to think faster while she doesn t need to recompute computed moves The more memory you have the faster is the search But it is recommended not to set the size to high It must be strictly inferior to available free memory
15. me spent in pondering O x Wi Thinking Wem A X gam b 38 N odes E34 Time Used P d 33 Current i0 i2 4 35 6 0 40236 0 09 0 30 hl g RHS8 g 1 19 18 b cz b3 c7 75752 2 0 42 e d 128505 1 04 O61 h g2 h3 g7 1 1 19 18 b cz b3 c al al g 237059 eee 9 a 0 ore 0 04 1 03 h gz hS3 g i0 9 8 b c2 b9 c7 al al a3 a8 B 60 30 S555555 el 14 LI UT 0 46 3 33 h g2 hS8 g 0 1 19 48 b0 c2 b9 c7 al al a8 a8 g3 g4 3 3 U 1352351 0 70 433 hz e2 b3 c h g2 g3 e 3 1864626 gt 6 95 0 18234 0 35 0 17 B3 c h g2 g3 e i0 h0 h3 f8 h hb 5 23867 gt 0 20 amp 0 38304 0 07 0 27 b9 c7 h g2 g9 e7 iD h0 hS f8 hD h4 a9 a8 6 57782 0 34 7 gy 106714 074 053 1b9c7 Hg h g OH P9 HOHE a9a8 b c2 162222 gt O17 8 0 198905 0 11 a bS cz h g2 h8 g7 i hD i9 h9 h hB aS a8 b c2 c6 c5 8 210773 gt 1 25 3 0 625956 0 58 244 b3 c hl gz h3 gz IO AU i3 h3 h hB he hb gb h3 hi bce Move predicted Nodes Score of the ply Ply reached When characters is displayed on the thinking windows this means that the winning side is going to kill the weak side 2 be XieXie Master User Manual 3 4 2 Bar graph window The bar graph window displays the curve of XieXie evaluation function also called score curve This is very useful if you play against XieXie when you have
16. p ppligquer 3 6 4 1 Learning table size It represents how much memory in Mb XieXie used for learning Usually 4 Mb is enough 3 6 4 2 Learning table used It represents the percentage of the tables filling up If it exceeds 50 9o that means the learning table is maybe too small The size of the learning table must be enlarged 3 6 4 3 Learning killer table used It represents the percentage of the tables filling up used for killing moves If it exceeds 50 96 that means the learning table is maybe too small The size of the learning table must be enlarged 3 6 4 4 Use learning When this option is checked XieXie to use his experience from past games So XieXie cannot fall into the same traps But checking it slows down the search 3 6 4 5 Learn good moves When this options is checked XieXie learns the moves from his opponent That option is not CPU time consuming XieXie Master User Manual 4 Tips and tricks 4 1 Getting games from MoveSky Use the save button of the MoveSky client Then use XieXie to open and study the game with your favourite Chinese chess program XieXie o 4 2 Getting games from Club Xiang Qi Go to Records section Choose your player Right Click on the game number and select save target as Save your file Filename must be ended with html Read the saved file with XieXie 4 3 Back to defaults If you want XieXie come back to defaults value press the Shift Key while starting Xi
17. play against the computer to enter a game just deactivate computer by choosing the Game No computer mode menu Or click on the toolbar g When this button is pressed you only have to enter your moves without being disturbed by XieXie 5 7 What is pondering XieXie is able to think on the opponent s time this is called pondering This option is set by default 5 8 How can I choose the opening book You can choose the kind of opening in the menu thinking opening book You have 3 kinds of books Tournament lines used by GM in tournament games Normal Random book Blitz most common opening book 5 9 How can l use the contempt factor The contempt factor is used to control draw situations By repetition By unsufficient attacking pieces This is normally set to O It is expressed in cent pawns For example if you want XieXie to be more aggressive and not to claim for a draw just set the contempt factor to 100 or 200 for the color XieXie plays If XieXie plays with a stronger player contempt factor of XieXie must be set to 200 because a draw is a good result If XieXie must play with a weak player a draw is not a good result so the contempt factor of XieXie must be set to 200 or more for example 5 10 When I open the logs clock bar graph Does it affect to the speed of search Opening windows does not affect the speed of search So open as many windows you can display on your screen monitor
18. played on the board When the desired position is set click on game End setup position You can also use mouse s right button W i XiexieMaster 1 0 10 gt Licensed to toto f O x W i XiexieMaster 1 0 10 gt Licensed to toto n Ioj xi Fie Game Preferences Thinking Windows Licence re Game Preferences Thinking Windows Licence Bi m e Z1 co w i e 216 co Ae zr e BN D MUI f xiexiemast 9D ooppp D A pee oopppi 1 p 9 End setup position Empty chessboard Revert colors Add red pawn Add red adviser Add red elephant Add red horse Add red cannon Add red chariot Add black pawn Add black adviser Add black elephant Add black horse Add black cannon Add black chariot Initial position Empty board Cancel Setup End Setup Move your piece freely if you want to remove a piece just put it out the chessboard To add pieces choose among those which are at the right of the chessboard and drag them on the board If the piece on the right is grayed that means that all available pieces of this kind are already on board To get more features please use the mouse right button on the chessboard 22 XieXie Master User Manual 5 5 How can I search mates or Chinese chess problems puzzles Setup the position click on the infinite symbol on the toolbar and let XieXie think all night week month 5 6 How can I enter a game In the default mode you
19. tion applies a horizontal symetry to the board Choose the board style Animation Notation Choose the notation used in the gamelist Use sounds or not Using sound slow down the speed of XieXie especially in fast games XieXie Master User Manual 3 1 4 Menu Thinking If this item is checked XieXie will think on the opponent s time Opening book none no book is used normal randomized book tournament normally best book blitz most common book Chess engine Customize XieXie chess engine See below configuration current position game press that button to force XieXie plays Red if you want the analyze to stop Asks XieXie to find out the second best move For that XieXie would take back the current move and look for the next best move LL NN Gives a possible move Warning this is not the strongest move 3 1 5 Menu Windows Shows or activates the clock window Thinking window Shows or activates the thinking window Shows or activates the game list window Gamelist Bar graph Shows or activates the bar graph window This window show the evolution of the score during the game nur eer MN used to enter information about the game enables to comment the game and annotate the moves Shows or activates the logs window This windows is only used for debug XieXie Master User Manual 3 1 6 Menu Licence Generate licence Generate a licence file The popup menu tells you wh
Download Pdf Manuals
Related Search