I have a question for you Mess Experts and let me know if I am doing anything wrong.
I wanted to test Mephisto II on Level A3 and thought I would do a shortcut by just entering the FEN to the Start Position and then hit STA to start the calculation and I noticed differences to entering the moves directly into Mephisto II using ENT button and then use STA to start calculating and using Mess Winboard with "Paste FEN" and enter STA on Mephisto II.
This is the Test start position:
These are the results:
Mephisto II (Set1)
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 d5 5. exd5 Nxd5 6. Nxf7 Kxf7 (START)
MessChess using key entry and STA Key
3.579 Mhz = 15 Seconds 7.e1-g1
6.144 Mhz = 8 Seconds 7.e1-g1
MessChess using Winboard and FEN and STA
r1bq1b1r/ppp2kpp/2n5/3np3/2B5/8/PPPP1PPP/RNBQK2R w KQ - 0 7
3.579 Mhz = 31 Seconds 7.Qf3
6.144 Mhz = 18 Seconds 7.Qf3
Mephisto II (Set2)
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 d5 5. exd5 Nxd5 6. Nxf7 Kxf7 (START)
MessChess using key entry and STA
3.579 Mhz = 13 Seconds 7.e1-g1
6.144 Mhz = 8 Seconds 7.e1-g1
MessChess & CBEmu using Winboard and FEN and STA
r1bq1b1r/ppp2kpp/2n5/3np3/2B5/8/PPPP1PPP/RNBQK2R w KQ - 0 7
3.579 Mhz = 31 Seconds 7.Qf3
6.144 Mhz = 18 Seconds 7.Qf3
I have tried CBEmu, MessChess, MessExtra and MessNew and they all seem to work correctly when entering the moves directly into Mephisto II (Set 1 & Set 2).
It is only when I try to use CBEmu or MessChess with Winboard that I get the discrepancy.
It may not seem important but in actuality it is, as there can be big difference in strength of the move it plays since more time generally means stronger move as in this example. It's the difference between winning and losing a game:
Code:
0.66 7.Qf3+
-3.38 7.Nc3
-3.48 7.0-0
Let me know if I am doing something wrong or if there is a way to use a FEN where it correctly follows the time as per the original modules.
Also, if this is a Winboard problem can this difference also apply with other ROMs. If yes, then I will have to continue to manually enter the moves to a start position, when using Mess.
Best regards
Nick