sync_cout << "info nodes " << RootPos.nodes_searched()
<< " time " << Time::now() - SearchTime + 1 << sync_endl;
- // When we reach max depth we arrive here even without Signals.stop being raised,
- // but if we are pondering or in infinite search, according to UCI protocol,
- // we shouldn't print the best move before the GUI sends a "stop" or "ponderhit"
- // command. We simply wait here until GUI sends one of those commands (that
- // raise Signals.stop).
+ // When we reach the maximum depth, we can arrive here without a raise of
+ // Signals.stop. However, if we are pondering or in an infinite search,
+ // the UCI protocol states that we shouldn't print the best move before the
+ // GUI sends a "stop" or "ponderhit" command. We therefore simply wait here
+ // until the GUI sends one of those commands (which also raises Signals.stop).
if (!Signals.stop && (Limits.ponder || Limits.infinite))
{
Signals.stopOnPonderhit = true;
// Age out PV variability metric
BestMoveChanges *= 0.8;
- // Save last iteration's scores before first PV line is searched and all
- // the move scores except the (new) PV are set to -VALUE_INFINITE.
+ // Save the last iteration's scores before first PV line is searched and
+ // all the move scores except the (new) PV are set to -VALUE_INFINITE.
for (size_t i = 0; i < RootMoves.size(); ++i)
RootMoves[i].prevScore = RootMoves[i].score;
beta = std::min(RootMoves[PVIdx].prevScore + delta, VALUE_INFINITE);
}
- // Start with a small aspiration window and, in case of fail high/low,
- // research with bigger window until not failing high/low anymore.
+ // Start with a small aspiration window and, in the case of a fail
+ // high/low, re-search with a bigger window until we're not failing
+ // high/low anymore.
while (true)
{
bestValue = search<Root>(pos, ss, alpha, beta, depth * ONE_PLY, false);
- // Bring to front the best move. It is critical that sorting is
- // done with a stable algorithm because all the values but the first
- // and eventually the new best one are set to -VALUE_INFINITE and
- // we want to keep the same order for all the moves but the new
+ // Bring the best move to the front. It is critical that sorting
+ // is done with a stable algorithm because all the values but the
+ // first and eventually the new best one are set to -VALUE_INFINITE
+ // and we want to keep the same order for all the moves but the new
// PV that goes to the front. Note that in case of MultiPV search
// the already searched PV lines are preserved.
std::stable_sort(RootMoves.begin() + PVIdx, RootMoves.end());
// If search has been stopped break immediately. Sorting and
// writing PV back to TT is safe becuase RootMoves is still
- // valid, although refers to previous iteration.
+ // valid, although it refers to previous iteration.
if (Signals.stop)
break;
// When failing high/low give some update (without cluttering
- // the UI) before to research.
+ // the UI) before a re-search.
if ( (bestValue <= alpha || bestValue >= beta)
&& Time::now() - SearchTime > 3000)
sync_cout << uci_pv(pos, depth, alpha, beta) << sync_endl;
// In case of failing low/high increase aspiration window and
- // research, otherwise exit the loop.
+ // re-search, otherwise exit the loop.
if (bestValue <= alpha)
{
alpha = std::max(bestValue - delta, -VALUE_INFINITE);
sync_cout << uci_pv(pos, depth, alpha, beta) << sync_endl;
}
- // Do we now need to pick now the sub-optimal best move ?
+ // If skill levels are enabled and time is up, pick a sub-optimal best move
if (skill.enabled() && skill.time_to_pick(depth))
skill.pick_move();
if (depth > 4 && depth < 50 && PVSize == 1)
TimeMgr.pv_instability(BestMoveChanges);
- // Stop search if most of the available time is already consumed. We
+ // Stop the search if most of the available time has been used. We
// probably don't have enough time to search the first move at the
// next iteration anyway.
if (Time::now() - SearchTime > (TimeMgr.available_time() * 62) / 100)
stop = true;
- // Stop search early if one move seems to be much better than others
+ // Stop the search early if one move seems to be much better than others
if ( depth >= 12
&& BestMoveChanges <= DBL_EPSILON
&& !stop
if (stop)
{
// If we are allowed to ponder do not stop the search now but
- // keep pondering until GUI sends "ponderhit" or "stop".
+ // keep pondering until the GUI sends "ponderhit" or "stop".
if (Limits.ponder)
Signals.stopOnPonderhit = true;
else
// search<>() is the main search function for both PV and non-PV nodes and for
// normal and SplitPoint nodes. When called just after a split point the search
// is simpler because we have already probed the hash table, done a null move
- // search, and searched the first move before splitting, we don't have to repeat
- // all this work again. We also don't need to store anything to the hash table
- // here: This is taken care of after we return from the split point.
+ // search, and searched the first move before splitting, so we don't have to
+ // repeat all this work again. We also don't need to store anything to the hash
+ // table here: This is taken care of after we return from the split point.
template <NodeType NT>
Value search(Position& pos, Stack* ss, Value alpha, Value beta, Depth depth, bool cutNode) {
// 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
// a shorter mate was found upward in the tree then there is no need to search
- // further, we will never beat current alpha. Same logic but with reversed signs
- // applies also in the opposite condition of being mated instead of giving mate,
- // in this case return a fail-high score.
+ // because we will never beat the current alpha. Same logic but with reversed
+ // signs applies also in the opposite condition of being mated instead of giving
+ // mate. In this case return a fail-high score.
alpha = std::max(mated_in(ss->ply), alpha);
beta = std::min(mate_in(ss->ply+1), beta);
if (alpha >= beta)
ttMove = RootNode ? RootMoves[PVIdx].pv[0] : tte ? tte->move() : MOVE_NONE;
ttValue = tte ? value_from_tt(tte->value(), ss->ply) : VALUE_NONE;
- // At PV nodes we check for exact scores, while at non-PV nodes we check for
- // a fail high/low. Biggest advantage at probing at PV nodes is to have a
+ // At PV nodes we check for exact scores, whilst at non-PV nodes we check for
+ // a fail high/low. The biggest advantage to probing at PV nodes is to have a
// smooth experience in analysis mode. We don't probe at Root nodes otherwise
// we should also update RootMoveList to avoid bogus output.
if ( !RootNode
if (SpNode)
{
- // Shared counter cannot be decremented later if move turns out to be illegal
+ // Shared counter cannot be decremented later if the move turns out to be illegal
if (!pos.legal(move, ci.pinned))
continue;
// Singular extension search. If all moves but one fail low on a search of
// (alpha-s, beta-s), and just one fails high on (alpha, beta), then that move
// is singular and should be extended. To verify this we do a reduced search
- // on all the other moves but the ttMove, if result is lower than ttValue minus
- // a margin then we extend ttMove.
+ // on all the other moves but the ttMove and if the result is lower than
+ // ttValue minus a margin then we extend the ttMove.
if ( singularExtensionNode
&& move == ttMove
&& !ext
ext = ONE_PLY;
}
- // Update current move (this must be done after singular extension search)
+ // Update the current move (this must be done after singular extension search)
newDepth = depth - ONE_PLY + ext;
// Step 13. Pruning at shallow depth (exclude PV nodes)
}
}
- // Check for legality only before to do the move
+ // Check for legality just before making the move
if (!RootNode && !SpNode && !pos.legal(move, ci.pinned))
{
moveCount--;
: - search<NonPV>(pos, ss+1, -(alpha+1), -alpha, newDepth, !cutNode);
}
- // Only for PV nodes do a full PV search on the first move or after a fail
- // high, in the latter case search only if value < beta, otherwise let the
+ // For PV nodes only, do a full PV search on the first move or after a fail
+ // high (in the latter case search only if value < beta), otherwise let the
// parent node fail low with value <= alpha and to try another move.
if (PvNode && (pvMove || (value > alpha && (RootNode || value < beta))))
value = newDepth < ONE_PLY ?
++BestMoveChanges;
}
else
- // All other moves but the PV are set to the lowest value, this
- // is not a problem when sorting becuase sort is stable and move
- // position in the list is preserved, just the PV is pushed up.
+ // All other moves but the PV are set to the lowest value: this is
+ // not a problem when sorting because the sort is stable and the
+ // move position in the list is preserved - just the PV is pushed up.
rm.score = -VALUE_INFINITE;
}
// case of Signals.stop or thread.cutoff_occurred() are set, but this is
// harmless because return value is discarded anyhow in the parent nodes.
// If we are in a singular extension search then return a fail low score.
- // A split node has at least one move, the one tried before to be splitted.
+ // A split node has at least one move - the one tried before to be splitted.
if (!moveCount)
return excludedMove ? alpha
: inCheck ? mated_in(ss->ply) : DrawValue[pos.side_to_move()];
ss->currentMove = bestMove = MOVE_NONE;
ss->ply = (ss-1)->ply + 1;
- // Check for an instant draw or maximum ply reached
+ // 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()];
- // Decide whether or not to include checks, this fixes also the type of
+ // 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
// only two types of depth in TT: DEPTH_QS_CHECKS or DEPTH_QS_NO_CHECKS.
ttDepth = InCheck || depth >= DEPTH_QS_CHECKS ? DEPTH_QS_CHECKS
}
}
- // Detect non-capture evasions that are candidate to be pruned
+ // Detect non-capture evasions that are candidates to be pruned
evasionPrunable = InCheck
&& bestValue > VALUE_MATED_IN_MAX_PLY
&& !pos.capture(move)
&& pos.see_sign(move) < 0)
continue;
- // Check for legality only before to do the move
+ // Check for legality just before making the move
if (!pos.legal(move, ci.pinned))
continue;
// value_to_tt() adjusts a mate score from "plies to mate from the root" to
// "plies to mate from the current position". Non-mate scores are unchanged.
- // The function is called before storing a value to the transposition table.
+ // The function is called before storing a value in the transposition table.
Value value_to_tt(Value v, int ply) {
// value_from_tt() is the inverse of value_to_tt(): It adjusts a mate score
- // from the transposition table (where refers to the plies to mate/be mated
+ // from the transposition table (which refers to the plies to mate/be mated
// from current position) to "plies to mate/be mated from the root".
Value value_from_tt(Value v, int ply) {
// allows() tests whether the 'first' move at previous ply somehow makes the
- // 'second' move possible, for instance if the moving piece is the same in
- // both moves. Normally the second move is the threat (the best move returned
- // from a null search that fails low).
+ // 'second' move possible e.g. if the moving piece is the same in both moves.
+ // Normally the second move is the threat (the best move returned from a null
+ // search that fails low).
bool allows(const Position& pos, Move first, Move second) {
Square m1to = to_sq(first);
Square m2to = to_sq(second);
- // The piece is the same or second's destination was vacated by the first move
+ // The piece is the same or second's destination was vacated by the first move.
// We exclude the trivial case where a sliding piece does in two moves what
// it could do in one move: eg. Ra1a2, Ra2a3.
if ( m2to == m1from
if (m1from == m2to)
return true;
- // If the threatened piece has value less than or equal to the value of the
- // threat piece, don't prune moves which defend it.
+ // If the threatened piece has a value less than or equal to the value of
+ // the threat piece, don't prune moves which defend it.
if ( pos.capture(second)
&& ( PieceValue[MG][pos.piece_on(m2from)] >= PieceValue[MG][pos.piece_on(m2to)]
|| type_of(pos.piece_on(m2from)) == KING))
Bitboard occ = pos.pieces() ^ m1from ^ m1to ^ m2from;
Piece pc = pos.piece_on(m1from);
- // The moved piece attacks the square 'tto' ?
+ // Does the moved piece attack the square 'm2to' ?
if (attacks_bb(pc, m1to, occ) & m2to)
return true;
Bitboard xray = (attacks_bb< ROOK>(m2to, occ) & pos.pieces(color_of(pc), QUEEN, ROOK))
| (attacks_bb<BISHOP>(m2to, occ) & pos.pieces(color_of(pc), QUEEN, BISHOP));
- // Verify attackers are triggered by our move and not already existing
+ // Verify attackers are triggered by our move and not already exist
if (unlikely(xray) && (xray & ~pos.attacks_from<QUEEN>(m2to)))
return true;
}
}
- // When playing with strength handicap choose best move among the MultiPV set
- // using a statistical rule dependent on 'level'. Idea by Heinz van Saanen.
+ // When playing with a strength handicap, choose best move among the MultiPV
+ // set using a statistical rule dependent on 'level'. Idea by Heinz van Saanen.
Move Skill::pick_move() {
best = MOVE_NONE;
// Choose best move. For each move score we add two terms both dependent on
- // weakness, one deterministic and bigger for weaker moves, and one random,
+ // weakness. One deterministic and bigger for weaker moves, and one random,
// then we choose the move with the resulting highest score.
for (size_t i = 0; i < PVSize; ++i)
{
}
- // uci_pv() formats PV information according to UCI protocol. UCI requires
- // to send all the PV lines also if are still to be searched and so refer to
- // the previous search score.
+ // uci_pv() formats PV information according to the UCI protocol. UCI
+ // requires that all (if any) unsearched PV lines are sent using a previous
+ // search score.
string uci_pv(const Position& pos, int depth, Value alpha, Value beta) {
/// RootMove::extract_pv_from_tt() builds a PV by adding moves from the TT table.
-/// We consider also failing high nodes and not only BOUND_EXACT nodes so to
-/// allow to always have a ponder move even when we fail high at root, and a
-/// long PV to print that is important for position analysis.
+/// We also consider both failing high nodes and BOUND_EXACT nodes here to
+/// ensure that we have a ponder move even when we fail high at root. This
+/// results in a long PV to print that is important for position analysis.
void RootMove::extract_pv_from_tt(Position& pos) {
void Thread::idle_loop() {
// Pointer 'this_sp' is not null only if we are called from split(), and not
- // at the thread creation. So it means we are the split point's master.
+ // at the thread creation. This means we are the split point's master.
SplitPoint* this_sp = splitPointsSize ? activeSplitPoint : NULL;
assert(!this_sp || (this_sp->masterThread == this && searching));
break;
}
- // Do sleep after retesting sleep conditions under lock protection, in
+ // Do sleep after retesting sleep conditions under lock protection. In
// particular we need to avoid a deadlock in case a master thread has,
// in the meanwhile, allocated us and sent the notify_one() call before
// we had the chance to grab the lock.
sp->slavesMask &= ~(1ULL << idx);
sp->nodes += pos.nodes_searched();
- // Wake up master thread so to allow it to return from the idle loop
- // in case we are the last slave of the split point.
+ // Wake up the master thread so to allow it to return from the idle
+ // loop in case we are the last slave of the split point.
if ( Threads.sleepWhileIdle
&& this != sp->masterThread
&& !sp->slavesMask)
sp->masterThread->notify_one();
}
- // After releasing the lock we cannot access anymore any SplitPoint
- // related data in a safe way becuase it could have been released under
- // our feet by the sp master. Also accessing other Thread objects is
- // unsafe because if we are exiting there is a chance are already freed.
+ // After releasing the lock we can't access any SplitPoint related data
+ // in a safe way because it could have been released under our feet by
+ // the sp master. Also accessing other Thread objects is unsafe because
+ // if we are exiting there is a chance that they are already freed.
sp->mutex.unlock();
}
/// check_time() is called by the timer thread when the timer triggers. It is
-/// used to print debug info and, more important, to detect when we are out of
-/// available time and so stop the search.
+/// used to print debug info and, more importantly, to detect when we are out of
+/// available time and thus stop the search.
void check_time() {