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you a plausible value for the hash tables. You should try to use the maximum, since
that speeds up the engine tremendously. But if you go too high then Windows will
start "swapping" on your hard drive, which will slow down the program to a snail's
pace. So if your hard disk is being accessed constantly during analysis it means that
the hash table size is too large. Reduce it until there is no hard disk activity during
analysis.
The programs Deep Fritz and many others "learn" with their hash tables. If you are
analyzing a very complex position and go down certain lines these programs remember
them, especially winning and losing variations. When you return to the position they
suddenly understand it much better. It is then that they come up with new and
interesting ideas.
3.10.6 Engine parameters
Boa rd w indow : Hom e
Add Kibit ze r - Engine pa ra m e t e rs.
This is a function for experts – normally the default values will do fine when you work
with an analysis engine.
The engine parameters influence the analysis style of the engines. For instance
increasing aggressiveness will generally make a program find mate combinations faster.
In certain engines you will find more and different parameters to set. For example,
Nimzo allows you to set piece values, which is useful when you are solving studies.
3.10.7 UCI Engines
What is UCI?
This program was designed as a multi-engine system. This means that the graphical
user interface and the actual chess engine (the module that calculates moves) are
strictly separated. They use a pre-defined interface to communicate with each other.
UCI stands for Universal Chess Interface. It is a new communications standard defined
by St e fa n M e y e r-Ka hle n. The UCI interface is closely related to the "Winboard"
protocol. This means that existing Winboard engines can be very easily adapted by the
authors to run under our interface.
For these programmers the new UCI interface has the following advantages:
The engine can be run under an interface which has numerous advanced testing
facilities that allow them to improve the strength of the engine.
ChessBase 2014