We evaluate defended and unsafe squares for a passed pawn push based on friendly and enemy rooks and queens on the passed pawn's file. Prior to this patch, we further required that these rooks and queens be able to directly attack the passed pawn. However, this restriction appears unnecessary and worth almost exactly 0 Elo at LTC.
The simplified code allows rooks and queens to attack/defend the passed pawn through other pieces of either color.
STC:
LLR: 2.95 (-2.94,2.94) [-3.00,1.00]
Total: 29019 W: 6488 L: 6381 D: 16150
http://tests.stockfishchess.org/tests/view/
5cdcf7270ebc5925cf05d30c
LTC:
LLR: 2.96 (-2.94,2.94) [-3.00,1.00]
Total: 54224 W: 9200 L: 9133 D: 35891
http://tests.stockfishchess.org/tests/view/
5cddc6210ebc5925cf05eca3
Bench:
3415326
// in the pawn's path attacked or occupied by the enemy.
defendedSquares = unsafeSquares = squaresToQueen = forward_file_bb(Us, s);
// in the pawn's path attacked or occupied by the enemy.
defendedSquares = unsafeSquares = squaresToQueen = forward_file_bb(Us, s);
- bb = forward_file_bb(Them, s) & pos.pieces(ROOK, QUEEN) & pos.attacks_from<ROOK>(s);
+ bb = forward_file_bb(Them, s) & pos.pieces(ROOK, QUEEN);
if (!(pos.pieces(Us) & bb))
defendedSquares &= attackedBy[Us][ALL_PIECES];
if (!(pos.pieces(Us) & bb))
defendedSquares &= attackedBy[Us][ALL_PIECES];