WinBoard Help

Hi guys,

I downloaded WinBoard and the Imortal (Crazyhouse) chess engine. However, while I tried to play around with the code a bit, I didn't really know how to install Imortal on WinBoard. I did read some texts about installing engines in WinBoard, but they didn't help...I keep doing something wrong when I'm setting up the file. Can someone please make a video tutorial about how to get a crazyhouse chess engine working on WinBoard? I'd be very glad if you do!

I have created a basic guide on installing xboard engine in winboard GUI version 4.8.0. This is only pdf file.

In your case you may start at procedure no. 3.

http://www.mediafire.com/download/8brjbe2wj3r94gl/How_to_install_an_xboard_engine_in_winboard_GUI.pdf

try to turn off your antivirus (avast blocked the engine exe in my case, turning it off solved the issue)

I can't thank you enough for your excellent guide, duropo! I'm using both Imortal v1 and Sunsetter now and am having a great deal of fun analyzing crazyhouse positions. Thanks a bunch! Also thank you mathace for taking the time to reply (my antivirus said there's a virus in Imortal v2, so I didn't risk downloading it...).

@4

I checked Imortal v2 with virustotal and it is fine.

What anti-virus do you use?

Yeah I thought so. It's the Microsoft one on my old PC that's not allowing me to download it.

By the way, since you were so kind as to help me, I wonder if you can answer the following questions I have?

1) I only get one move in the engine output; how can I change the text so that I see multiple moves by the engine?

2) How do I add more cores for the engine to use?

3) How do I keep the engine from switching sides? That is to say, when I input a White move, it gives a certain evaluation. Then, after I play Black's response, the evaluation shifts to Black's perspective. In other words, I get +0.3 for 1. e4, say, and then I get -0.3 (as the engine now reads the evaluation from Black's perspective) for 1...e5. The icons change color as well (For example, Sunsetter will have a white circle next to it which will then change to a black one when I play Black's response).

@6

1) Not all engines support multipv feature. As far as I know only Imortal v2 has this feature.

Try to do this.
a. Load Imortal v2
b. Press Engine/Engine #1 Settings...
c. Change MultiPV to 2 or 3 and press OK
d. In Main board, press Mod/Analyze Mode, to show engine analysis in Engine Output window.

2) To access the GUI number of core options, goto
Options/Common Engine...
then change the value in Max nr of CPUs. This also depends on the engine, there are engines that do not support multi-core. And there might be xboard engine that does not support smp and core features as specified in xboard protocol. In this case it is better to always read the engine documentation or readme file.

3) Perhaps one way for the engine not to switch sides, is to play against it.
The other way is to press Mode/Analyze Mode, to see the engine analysis, then press Mode/Edit Game, and you enter a move that you like, then press again Mode/Analyze Mode, so that the engine will analyze the current position on the board, then Mode/Edit Game, and so on.

BTW I created a team below for computer engine, GUI, game analyses and other stuff so that subject like this would get organized a bit. Join if you like, no applicant screening.

http://en.lichess.org/team/crazyhouse-engine-development-and-game-analyses

1) Oh that's cool. I have a question, though: The "Windows Security Essential" keeps telling me "Virus detected" whenever I download Imortal v2 and doesn't allow me to download it. I used to be able to download it just fine but I wouldn't get the .exe file because I did not allow administrator privileges. Now, whenever I right click on Windows Explorer and type "Run as administrator," it gives this "Virus detected" message. I tried searching around on the Internet but again nothing really helpful turned up - as usual with these types of problems, you have to search A LOT to find the solution. Therefore, since I assume you have some computer proficiency, I thought I might ask you to save myself the time.

2) Thanks, I did just that and it worked perfectly.

3) Also nice. It's not that big of a problem anyway.

Awesome team; I'm definitely joining and will try my best to breathe life into it!

1) I suggest that you need to update your MSE-Microsoft Security Essential, if it has not been updated yet, they may have new virus signature updates. Then try to download Imortal v2. If this will not work. Disable MSE and download Imortal v2. Once you have the file, enable MSE and go to setting, there could be a way there to except a folder or file from scanning.

Thanks a lot - it worked! The problem in searching for my question online was that people weren't getting this problem from MSE (it was AVG rather). Anyway, now I'm having great fun analyzing with Imortal v2 - thanks again.