Tweak check extension condition

There are two concepts with this patch:

Limit check extensions by using move count.
The idea is to limit search explosion.

Always extend check if the first move gives check.
The idea is to save expensive SEE calls, since the vast
majority of first move will have SEE value >= 0, also
first move may still be strong even if the SEE is negative.

STC:
LLR: 2.95 (-2.94,2.94) [0.00,5.00]
Total: 16503 W: 3068 L: 2873 D: 10562

LTC:
LLR: 2.97 (-2.94,2.94) [0.00,5.00]
Total: 37202 W: 5261 L: 5014 D: 26927

bench: 8543366

diff --git a/src/search.cpp b/src/search.cpp
index d03a251fe2d3516a9130868fb3073cce7aee8792..b24e8c4ea1e6d87f2e0b55b9452990e632e7f2b0 100644 (file)
--- a/src/search.cpp
+++ b/src/search.cpp
@@ -608,7 +608,7 @@ namespace {
     Depth extension, newDepth, predictedDepth;
     Value bestValue, value, ttValue, eval, nullValue;
     bool ttHit, inCheck, givesCheck, singularExtensionNode, improving;
-    bool captureOrPromotion, doFullDepthSearch;
+    bool captureOrPromotion, doFullDepthSearch, moveCountPruning;
     Piece moved_piece;
     int moveCount, quietCount;
 
@@ -919,8 +919,13 @@ moves_loop: // When in check search starts from here
                   ? ci.checkSquares[type_of(pos.piece_on(from_sq(move)))] & to_sq(move)
                   : pos.gives_check(move, ci);
 
+      moveCountPruning =   depth < 16 * ONE_PLY
+                        && moveCount >= FutilityMoveCounts[improving][depth];
+
       // Step 12. Extend checks
-      if (givesCheck && pos.see_sign(move) >= VALUE_ZERO)
+      if (   givesCheck
+          && (    moveCount == 1
+              || (!moveCountPruning && pos.see_sign(move) >= VALUE_ZERO)))
           extension = ONE_PLY;
 
       // Singular extension search. If all moves but one fail low on a search of
@@ -956,8 +961,7 @@ moves_loop: // When in check search starts from here
           &&  bestValue > VALUE_MATED_IN_MAX_PLY)
       {
           // Move count based pruning
-          if (   depth < 16 * ONE_PLY
-              && moveCount >= FutilityMoveCounts[improving][depth])
+          if (moveCountPruning)
               continue;
 
           // Countermoves based pruning