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Copyright ©

Amateur 2.82
Will Singleton  (Los Angeles, CA)
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Required files:
	amateur282.exe
	hash_values
	movefile

Suggested files:
	amateur.ini
	book_normal.bin

Major winboard functions not present:
	analyze mode
	takeback during game
	st mode



Program Options
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See the file "amateur.ini", which is self-explanatory.


Books
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The book, "book_normal.bin", is a separate download.



History
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Version 2.82   January 30, 2005   Maintenance release.
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Adjusted time-control to give more time at end of standard tc games
Modified selection of book moves to be more restrictive
Fixed a pv bug
Reduced use of lazy eval
(still have not added extended level command for uci-gui compatibility)


Version 2.80   February 25, 2004  Maintenance release.
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Fixed a SEE bug
Tweaked null-move and qsearch
Added center-control
Changed connected passer scoring
Reduced effect of root mobility
Adjusted the time-control
Modified selection of book moves
Removed option to use small book


Version 2.70   November 14, 2003  Maintenance release.
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Fixed some bugs, added some stuff.


Version 2.66   August 29, 2003  Maintenance release.
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Fixed some bugs, including a pawn-hash error present since 2.48.
Improved multi-cut.
Book selectivity default changed.


Version 2.57   July 4, 2003  Maintenance release.
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Fixed some bugs, added some stuff.


Version 2.50   May 30, 2003  Maintenance release.
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Lots of itty-bitty stuff.
More fixes to avoid time losses.
Reworked the pawn hash to include more stuff.
Added a root score-drop strategy.
Added multi-cut algorithm.


Version 2.4    Oct 12, 2002  Maintenance release.
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Fixed time-loss problem.
Some tactical improvement.


Version 2.3    Sep 27, 2002  Maintenance release.
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Fixed null-move bug in endgame.
Adjusted time management.


Version 2.2    Sep 16, 2002  Maintenance release.
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Fixed sign problem in eval.
Removed wide book option.


Version 2.1    Sep  9, 2002  Improved winboard version.
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New books (small/normal), with setting for wide or selective.
Added resign option; if enabled, will resign if two consecutive scores < -900.
Better time management.
Reduced extensions for normal game play.
Eval improvements.
Bug fixes:
If ponder guess was correct, sometimes moved immediately regardless of opponent time used.
Wrong-color bishop bug fixed.
Draw score hashing fixed.
Fixed trapped code for a7/h7/a2/h2 BN captures.
Adjusted contempt-factor scores, some were reversed.


Version 2.0    Jul 12, 2002  First winboard release, limited winboard support.
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Version 1.0    Jan  1, 2002  Macintosh release (engine for Fixation internet chess interface).
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Amateur has competed in all six ICC CCT events.
See http://www.vrichey.de/chess/ for further info.
Thanks to Dann Corbit for help with porting to windows.
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