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Settings Window


The Settings Window is located in the Options menu. Here you can change various settings, such as sound, comm ports for autoplay, engine strength and other parameters, set up hashtables and specify the filenames of Nalimov endgame databases you want Der Bringer to use. Click on the tabs in the illustration to go directly to their descriptions.


 Settings Tab 

Sound If selected, Der Bringer provides several sound options, most of which are new to Version 1.8. Errors are signaled with a chime even if this box is unchecked. You can select chimes for the various options, use standard Windows sounds, or create and use customized .WAV files (using Windows Sound Recorder). To select a .WAV file, click on the dotted button to the right of the WAV-file name field. Standard Windows sound files are usually located in the folder C:\Windows\Media.

When you click on the Sounds button, this window pops up:



Write Logfile If this box is checked, Der Bringer creates a log file in the directory in which the file Bringer.exe is located. The log file contains Der Bringer calculations, as well as further information that is useful when you are analyzing positions or games. This file is readable with a text editor, e.g. WordPad or Notepad. It can become very large, therefore you should delete or edit the file occasionally.

Permanent Brain If this box is checked, Der Bringer calculates during your reflection time. If your countermove was expected by Der Bringer, it may respond immediately, without using more calculation time.

Resign hopeless positions If this box is checked, Der Bringer will offer to resign the game when it cannot find a winning move. You can continue the game. If you don't check this box, Der Bringer doesn't let you know when it thinks you have a sure win.

Sliding pieces If this box is checked, the pieces appear to slide across the board, rather than simply popping into their new position. This option should be unchecked for blitz games as it slows down the program slightly

Record Winboard commands If this box is checked, Der Bringer logs all commands received from Winboard or Fritz. As this slows down the program, don't use it if you don't have to.

In ICS Games ICS is the Internet Chess Server, where you can play against other humans or against computers. Bringer has been tested on FICS (Free Internet Chess Server) as well.
  • If 'whisper on' is checked, Der Bringer displays its evaluation of the position and search information after it makes its move to anyone who may be watching the game, except the opponent.
  • If ' kibitz' is on, this information is also displayed to the opponent.
  • If 'Both out' is checked, no information is revealed.
Operator time This feature is used when a human operator must move a man or piece on a real chessboard after Der Bringer announces its move, and then activate a standard chess clock. The time delay prevents Der Bringer from being penalized for the finite time it takes the human to perform this task.

Autoplayer port For computer-to-computer play through a null-modem cable, use this box to specify the serial port used. See also the Autoplayer menu.

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 Hashtables Tab 

Displays a window where you can adjust the size of Der Bringer's hash tables. (more)

 Endgame databases 

Here you can specify up to four Nalimov endgame tablebases for Der Bringer to use. If you have the tablebases installed, Der Bringer will use them when applicable, instead of calculating moves. In 'Cache in kB' you select the size of the cache which Der Bringer reserves for the endgame tablebases. Cache sizes from one to 16 MB are typical, depending on available system memory. Der Bringer does not load the tablebases into memory until it needs them. Nalimov endgame tablebases are available from Professor Hyatt's Crafty website,  ftp://ftp.cis.uab.edu/pub/hyatt/

 Engine Settings 

This window lets you tune the performance of the Der Bringer engine.



Piece values You can modify the value Der Bringer gives to each piece. The default values are: Knight 335, Bishop 340, Rook 520, Queen 1000. These ratings are equal to PAWN VALUE x 100; ie, a Knight is considered to be worth 3.35 pawns. You can return to these default settings at any time by clicking on the Reset button in the Piece values area of the window.

Reduce strength You can lower the relative Elo of Der Bringer to improve your chances of winning sometimes. The lowest possible setting is 1360. Note that the actual strength depends on many factors, including processor speed, hashtable size and pondering time. This is only a relative number. Good luck!

Restrict search SEE means Smart Exchange Evaluator, a new function in Version 1.8. It reduces the chances of calculating an obviously bad move.

Ignore uninteresting moves Allows Der Bringer to make a decision about whether to consider moves it thinks are not likely to bring good results. To have Der Bringer consider all possible moves (with reduced performance), leave this unchecked.

Endgame tablebases There are three options for how frequently Der Bringer will access the tablebases:
  1. The default setting. Der Bringer sometimes accesses the endgame databases, instead of calculating. (Checking the databases slows performance.)
  2. Der Bringer often accesses the databases.
  3. Der Bringer always accesses the databases.
Note: The difference in performance between (2) and (3) is small.

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