Volker Annuss, a German computer chess programmer and author of the Chess Engine Communication Protocol compatible engine Hermann [1], an Arena partner engine [2]. According to the Arena Partner site, Volker started chess programming in 1986 with the program Deep Thought for Atari ST. The only common thing with another famous program was the name, the computer in Douglas Adams' novel Hitchhikers guide to the galaxy. After a break Volker Annuss developed Hermann, using bitboards as basic data structure, and neural networks for material evaluation and timing [3]. In 2011, Hermann was completely restructured, evolving to Arminius, which had its tournament debut at the DOCCC 2011 [4].
Volker Annuss [5]

Photos

Volker Annuss and Ralf Dörr in Hermann vs. Argonaut, ICT 2006 [6]
Ivo Tops and Volker Annuss in Hermann vs. Tzunami, ICT 2009 [7]
Winners ICT 2009, Johan de Koning of The King (2nd), Harvey Williamson of Hiarcs (1st) and Volker [8]

Forum Posts

• Trusted testers wanted by Volker Annuss, CCC, May 05, 2009 » Glaurung
• Re: Chess program with Artificial Neural Networks (ANN)? by Volker Annuss, CCC, January 08, 2010 » Neural Networks, Material, Time Management, Hermann
• Fixed shift magics with 800KB lookup table by Volker Annuss, Winboard Forum, September, 05, 2010 » Magic Bitboards
• Re: Is there place for neural networks in chess engines? by Volker Annuss, CCC, December 04, 2011 » Neural Networks
• Re: "panic time" and "easy moves" by Volker Annuss, CCC, February 17, 2013 » Time Management
• The effect of dual channel RAM by Volker Annuss, CCC, March 01, 2015 » Memory
• Another way of evaluating material imbalances by Volker Annuss, CCC, January 01, 2017 » Material
• Black magic bitboards by Volker Annuss, CCC, August 03, 2017 » Magic Bitboards

External Links

• Hermann webpage
• Timing with a neural network by Volker Annuss, March 23, 2005, from Free chess graphical user interface (GUI) Arena for chess engines, News-Ticker, Page 6, 86, FQ

References

1. ^ Hermann webpage
2. ^ Free chess graphical user interface(GUI) Arena for chess engines - Partners
3. ^ Timing with a neural network by Volker Annuss, March 23, 2005, from Free chess graphical user interface (GUI) Arena for chess engines, News-Ticker, Page 6, 86, FQ
4. ^ Pandix wins Dutch Open, CSVN site, October 22, 2011
5. ^ Free chess graphical user interface(GUI) Arena for chess engines - Photo on Partners site
6. ^ 6th International CSVN Tournament 2006 - Photo Gallery
7. ^ 9th International CSVN Tournament 2009 - Photo Gallery
8. ^ 9th International CSVN Tournament 2009 - Photo Gallery

What links here?