A More Human Way to Play Computer Chess

TL;DR

This paper introduces a human-inspired forward-pruning technique for computer chess using 'Move Tables' that incorporate long and short-term memories, improving search efficiency and reducing blunders, achieving top-level playing strength.

Contribution

It presents a novel move table-based forward-pruning method with automatic feature analysis, enhancing search accuracy and mimicking human-like decision processes in chess algorithms.

Findings

Eliminates obvious blunders from forward pruning

Achieves competitive top-level playing strength

Incorporates automatic key square analysis for guided search

Abstract

This paper suggests a forward-pruning technique for computer chess that uses 'Move Tables', which are like Transposition Tables, but for moves not positions. They use an efficient memory structure and has put the design into the context of long and short-term memories. The long-term memory updates a play path with weight reinforcement, while the short-term memory can be immediately added or removed. With this, 'long branches' can play a short path, before returning to a full search at the resulting leaf nodes. Re-using an earlier search path allows the tree to be forward-pruned, which is known to be dangerous, because it removes part of the search process. Additional checks are therefore made and moves can even be re-added when the search result is unsatisfactory. Automatic feature analysis is now central to the algorithm, where key squares and related squares can be generated automatically and used to guide the search process. Using this analysis, if a search result is inferior, it can re-insert un-played moves that cover these key squares only. On the tactical side, a type of move that the forward-pruning will fail on is recognised and a pattern-based solution to that problem is suggested. This has completed the theory of an earlier paper and resulted in a more human-like approach to searching for a chess move. Tests demonstrate that the obvious blunders associated with forward pruning are no longer present and that it can compete at the top level with regard to playing strength.