Return static eval when reaching MAX_PLY

Makes more sense than returning a draw score. Tested
with reduced MAX_PLY = 30 and passed both short TC
LLR: 2.95 (-2.94,2.94) [-1.50,4.50]
Total: 17434 W: 3345 L: 3194 D: 10895

And long TC
LLR: 2.97 (-2.94,2.94) [0.00,6.00]
Total: 2610 W: 488 L: 373 D: 1749

With current limit of MAX_PLY = 100 the patch should not
introduce any measurable change, nevertheless is the correct
approach.

Idea of returning eval is from  Michel Van den Bergh.

bench: 8430785

diff --git a/src/search.cpp b/src/search.cpp
index 0cd490850cdbe57007053b4ed59bdc87131ddd72..ad13c4ba304c1a898d0a5684504d68c7e7fee47b 100644 (file)
--- a/src/search.cpp
+++ b/src/search.cpp
@@ -512,7 +512,7 @@ namespace {
     {
         // Step 2. Check for aborted search and immediate draw
         if (Signals.stop || pos.is_draw() || ss->ply > MAX_PLY)
-            return DrawValue[pos.side_to_move()];
+            return ss->ply > MAX_PLY && !inCheck ? evaluate(pos) : DrawValue[pos.side_to_move()];
 
         // Step 3. Mate distance pruning. Even if we mate at the next move our score
         // would be at best mate_in(ss->ply+1), but if alpha is already bigger because
@@ -1078,7 +1078,7 @@ moves_loop: // When in check and at SpNode search starts from here
 
     // Check for an instant draw or if the maximum ply has been reached
     if (pos.is_draw() || ss->ply > MAX_PLY)
-        return DrawValue[pos.side_to_move()];
+        return ss->ply > MAX_PLY && !InCheck ? evaluate(pos) : DrawValue[pos.side_to_move()];
 
     // Decide whether or not to include checks: this fixes also the type of
     // TT entry depth that we are going to use. Note that in qsearch we use