Novag Constellation Expert with Printer required
 

Hello,

I please need kind support from someone owning a Novag Constellation Expert and the Novag printer.

I would like to run the Khmelnitsky test, using the emulator in debug mode, as a workaround for the lack of display.

For this I need to spot the memory position where the computed score is stored, which is far from easy (up to now, I failed).
I assume it would be helpful to have some samples of positions (out of book!) with the associated score, this can be done using the printer (option: Set Level + Print Evaluation). The positions can be setup and quite simple ones, no need for many pieces.

This would also require a static score (no pondering) which I guess can be achieved using training levels, as they stop the search once the selected depth is reached (option: Set Level + Training Level). Any low depth level would be good enough for the purpose. Such a depth level is as well expected to be independant from the CPU speed.

I can't commit I can achieve my goal, as the score can be stored using specific encoding, but worth a try, isn't it?
Thanks & regards,
Eric

Re: Novag Constellation Expert with Printer required
 

Hello Tibono,

You are not alone ;-)

White : King D2
Black : King D5 Rook D6
Level 4


1 D2-E3 D5-E5
- 4,57 4,05
I RESIGN
00:02:02 00:01:28
2 E3-F3 D6-D3
- 4,68 4,28
3 F3-G4 D3-C3
- 4,61 4,32
4 G4-G5 C3-G3
- 4,71 4,70
5 G5-H4 E5-F4
- 4,83 4,82
6 H4-H5 G3-G5
- 4,59 4,86
7 H5-H6 F4-F5
- 4,82 4,80
8 H6-H7 G5-G6
- 4,64 97,00
9 H7-H8 F5-F6
- 4,67 98,00
10 H8-H7 F6-F7
- 4,55 99,00
11 H7-H8 G6-H6
-99,00 0,00
CHECK MATE

Cordially.

AW: Novag Constellation Expert with Printer required
 

Thanks a lot Mychess.

I worked hard (a dozen hours :wall:), but achieved spotting the RAM location and encoding for the score.

The score is located at &h0222 and &h0223 of the maincpu memory.
&h0223 is the heavy byte of the score word.

The heavy bit of the heavy byte acts as the sign (1=positive score, 0=negative score). The score is always the computer's one.

To convert the hex word into a decimal value:
- add &h8000 to the hex score which is concat RAM(&h0223);RAM(&h0222)
(you can get the same result with Xor'ing the score and &h8000)
- convert the above result into decimal
- divide this decimal value by 256, you got it!

examples from Mychess' data
move 2. ... D6-D3 RAM(&h0222)=48, RAM(&h0223)=84
score is &h8448
+ &h8000 = &h0448 = 1096
1096 / 256 = 4,28

move 4. G4-G5 RAM(&h0222)=4A, RAM(&h0223)=7B
score is &h7B4A
+ &h8000 = &hFB4A = -1206
-1206 / 256 = -4,71

Beware the score is computed continuously, this means you need to use the latest value displayed just before the move is announced, as this triggers a new computation (the pondering phase starts).

Worth pointing out: the printed value (using the printer, I mean) is truncated after the second decimal (not rounded).

The formula can easily be entered in a worksheet in order to provide the decimal score from the two bytes input.

Specific values are used to announce "mate in" (based on distance to mate, in half-moves)
8. ... G5-G6 score is &hF800 (printed as 97) = mate in 3
9. ... F5-F6 score is &hFA00 (printed as 98) = mate in 2
10. ... F6-F7 score is &hFC00 (printed as 99) = mate in 1
11. ... G6-H6++ score is &h0001 (printed as checkmate)

Now I can run the Khmelnitsky test!

A guide on how to get the RAM values:
- run MessExtra.exe from the MessExtra sub-directory (don't use CB-Emu.exe from the parent directory)
- from the GUI, open the Properties menu for the Novag Constellation Expert device
- on the Debug tab, enable Activate Integrated Debugger
- run the device as usual, an additional "Debug" window should appear
- use the Debug menu to run the emulation (or F5 from the Debug window)
- use the Debug menu to open a new memory window (or Ctrl-M from the Debug window). You may either let the default drop-down memory area (named Rockwell R65C02 ':maincpu' program space memory) or select memory/:maincpu/0/00000000-0000ffff. The data we are interested in is present in both options, at the very same offset.
- input 222 in the top/left blank area, and hit enter. This will shift the display to the RAM address we want to observe. You can reduce the window size, as only a couple of bytes are useful on display.

Have fun!
MfG,
Eric

Re: Novag Constellation Expert with Printer required
 

Hello Tibono,

Me too ... (ie I also worked hard).

However, I simulated a printer always ready, and use the evaluation printer option.

Then I put a viewpoint @b62
Cordially.

AW: Novag Constellation Expert with Printer required
 

By the way, the same trick applies to the Super Constellation, the score location being slightly different: &h022F and &h0230.
Grüße,
Eric

Re: Novag Constellation Expert with Printer required
 

Hello,

So a Khmelnitsky test for the super Constellation too ;) ?

Cordially.

AW: Re: Novag Constellation Expert with Printer required
 

Maybe so, yes, as I am aware the Super Conny is a beloved one for many. I currently reached 40% of the test for the Expert, then I will need to build graphs and update my web page with the result. The Super Conny should be next.
Franz' work is a real asset to make the test more easy, fast and reliable using MessChess and the auto-setup from test positions (I got them all in a pgn file, ready to use). And of course the debug mode can also be used the same way with MessChess, as with MessExtra.
Cheers,
Eric

AW: Novag Constellation Expert with Printer required
 

Hello,
the KT test is now completed for the Constellation Expert :juchu:
You can find it in this page.
Ready for the Super Constellation now... please stay tuned.
MfG
Eric

AW: Novag Constellation Expert with Printer required
 

Hi,

after 20% progress in the test for the Super Constellation, as Ivan the Terrible would voice it: 'I think, I am onto something...'

First, a highlight about the hex score encoding method: the heavy weight byte relates to pawn-units whilst the light byte relates to the decimal fraction of the score.
Now, to the point: I noticed a blatant behavior discrepancy about the score management of the Super Constellation, compared to the Constellation Expert.

With the Expert, the score evolves in a very usual way, along with the computing time and depth reached: the light byte changes more frequently than the heavy byte. To apply a change to the heavy byte, the search needs to identify a change in the material balance, or to consider a large impact from positional change(s). Many variations within the search tree only provide small adjustments to the score, thru positional evaluation.

With the Super Constellation, the behavior follows another way: after a few seconds the score gets steady (due to the selection of the best move so far) and from then, the light byte value does not change any more. Along with the computing time and depth, the heavy byte may change (an in-depth capture being discovered), but the light weight byte is not any more changed by any positional concern. As far as I could check, it only may change along with a change in the material score, which I assume is a change in the root best move so far.

To my understanding, this reveals a PSH strictly applied either at root or at low depth in the search tree, providing a positional score per root move, followed by a material trading evaluation only for the rest of the tree search.

On another hand, the Constellation Expert is deemed to benefit from an improved positional play, and the fact is its score can be positionally refined much deeper within the search tree.

This is just all my understanding, but anyone can experiment in this field using the debug mode of the emulator; feel welcome to share your own outcomes!

Kind regards/MfG
Eric

Re: Novag Constellation Expert with Printer required
 

Hello Tibono,

I think that the score is the sum of 2 parts :

material points = (@223h) with 77AB : 01 1E 03 05 03 09 , the king has a value of 30 pawns.

positionnal points = (@222h)

And so 256 positionnal points = one material point = 1 pawn = 1 :
I agree with your understanding.

Cordially.