Critter

**[[Home]] * [[Engines]] * Critter**
|| [[image:Disneyland-CritterCountry-sign.jpg link="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Disneyland-CritterCountry-sign.jpg"]] ||~   || **Critter**,
an [[UCI]] compatible [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cross-platform|cross-platform]] chess engine by [[Richard Vida]], executables freely available for personal use to run under [[Windows]], [[Linux]], [[Android]] and [[Mac OS]] <ref>[[http://www.vlasak.biz/critter/|Critter for win32/64, linux and android platforms]] hosted by [[Emil Vlasák]], Mac OS version compiled by [[Jeremy Bernstein]]</ref> . Starting in late 2008, Critter was first written in [[Pascal|Object Pascal]] compiled with [[Delphi]], now available as [[Open Source Engines|open source engine]] <ref>[[http://www.talkchess.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=40414|for Pascal fans: Critter]] by [[Richard Vida]], [[CCC]], September 16, 2011</ref> <ref>[[http://critterchess.sourceforge.net/|SourceForge.net: Critter Chess - Project Web Hosting - Open Source Software]]</ref> , and was ported to [[C]] / [[Cpp|C++]] in 2009 <ref>[[http://www.talkchess.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=29562|Critter: Pascal vs C]] by [[Richard Vida]], [[CCC]], August 27, 2009</ref> . It consistently evolved through various board representations from [[0x88]] to [[Bitboards|bitboards]], as acknowledged by Richard Vida, also incorporating ideas from strong open source programs like [[Ippolit]] <ref>[[http://www.talkchess.com/forum/viewtopic.php?topic_view=threads&p=468701&t=44000|Re: World Computer Chess Championship ?]] by [[Richard Vida]], [[CCC]], June 11, 2012</ref> , to a world class engine which achieved top five of most [[Engine Rating Lists|engine rating lists]] <ref>[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Critter_%28chess%29|Critter (chess) from Wikipedia]]</ref> .In 2012, Critter had its over the board debut at the [[ICT 2012]], where it became strong runner-up behind the [[Rybka]] cluster. ||
|| Critter Country <ref>[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Critter_Country|Critter Country from Wikipedia]] run by [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Walt_Disney_Company|The Walt Disney Company]]</ref> ||~   ||^   ||
[[toc]]
=Description= 
Critter applies a [[Principal Variation Search|principal variation search]] with [[Aspiration Windows|aspiration windows]], [[Null Move Pruning|null move pruning]] <ref>[[http://www.schach-welt.de/interviews/richard-vida|Interview with Richard Vida]] by [[Frank Quisinsky]], February 20, 2010</ref> and other state of the art [[Pruning|forward pruning]], [[Reductions|reduction]] and [[Extensions|extension techniques]], such as the [[Botvinnik-Markoff Extension|Botvinnik-Markoff extensions]] <ref>[[http://www.talkchess.com/forum/viewtopic.php?topic_view=threads&p=468701&t=44000|Re: World Computer Chess Championship ?]] by [[Richard Vida]], [[CCC]], June 11, 2012</ref> . It can [[Parallel Search|search in parallel]] with up to eight [[Thread|threads]] <ref>[[http://www.talkchess.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=33774|Critter goes SMP (version 0.60 is released)]] by [[Richard Vida]], [[CCC]], April 13, 2010</ref> , supports [[Gaviota Tablebases|Gaviota tablebases]] <ref>[[http://www.talkchess.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=34470&|Critter 0.70 is out]] by [[Richard Vida]], [[CCC]], May 23, 2010</ref> , and is able to play [[Chess960]] <ref>[[http://www.talkchess.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=35565|Critter 0.80]] by [[Richard Vida]], [[CCC]], July 24, 2010</ref> . Critter features a [[Tapered Eval|tapered eval]] with a [[Score|score pair]] class and overloaded operators <ref>[[http://www.talkchess.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=301746#301746|Re: talk about IPP's evaluation]] by [[Richard Vida]], [[CCC]], November 07, 2009 » [[Ippolit]], [[SIMD and SWAR Techniques]]</ref> <ref>[[http://www.talkchess.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=38523|My experience with Linux/GCC]] by [[Richard Vida]], [[CCC]], March 23, 2011</ref> , and [[Blockage Detection|blockage detection]] in late [[Endgame|endgames]] <ref>[[http://www.talkchess.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=41569|Chiron 1.1 bug?]] by [[Richard Vida]], [[CCC]], December 24, 2011</ref> .

=Selected Games= 
[[ICT 2012]], round 7, [[Rybka]] - [[Critter]] <ref>[[http://rybkaforum.net/cgi-bin/rybkaforum/topic_show.pl?tid=24906|Leiden Round 7: Rybka vs Critter]] by Ray, [[Computer Chess Forums|Rybka Forum]], May 13, 2012</ref> <ref>[[http://www.csvn.nl/index.php?option=com_docman&task=cat_view&gid=39&Itemid=26&lang=en|ICT 12 - PGN download]], [[CSVN]]</ref>
[[code]]
[Event "ICT12"]
[Site "Leiden"]
[Date "2012.05.13"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Rybka"]
[Black "Critter"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 c6 4.e3 Bd6 5.b3 f5 6.Bd3 Nf6 7.O-O Qe7 8.Bb2 O-O
9.Qc1 b6 10.Ba3 Bb7 11.Bxd6 Qxd6 12.Nc3 dxc4 13.Bxc4 Nbd7 14.Re1 b5
15.Bd3 b4 16.Na4 c5 17.Nxc5 Bxf3 18.gxf3 Rfc8 19.Bc4 Nxc5 20.dxc5 Rxc5
21.a3 bxa3 22.Qxa3 Nd5 23.Red1 Qc7 24.Kg2 Rd8 25.Bxd5 Rdxd5 26.Qa4 Qe7
27.Rxd5 Rxd5 28.Qxa7 Qxa7 29.Rxa7 Rb5 30.Re7 Rb6 31.Kg3 Kf8 32.Rd7 Rxb3
33.Kf4 Rb5 34.h4 h6 35.Kg3 Rb8 36.h5 Re8 37.Rb7 Re7 38.Rb5 Kf7 39.e4 Kf6
40.exf5 exf5 41.Kf4 Re2 42.Rxf5+ Ke6 43.Rb5 Rxf2 44.Rb6+ Kf7 45.Rb7+ Kf6
1/2-1/2
[[code]]
=Release Dates= 
* Critter 0.38 : 2009-05
* Critter 0.39a : 2009-06
* Critter 0.42 : 2009-10
* Critter 0.52 : 2010-01
* Critter 0.52b : 2010-02
* Critter 0.60 : 2010-04
* Critter 0.70 : 2010-05
* Critter 0.80 : 2010-07
* Critter 0.90 : 2010-11
* Critter 1.0 : 2011-03
* Critter 1.01 : 2011-03
* Critter 1.2 : 2011-06
* Critter 1.4 : 2011-12
* Critter 1.4a : 2012-01
* Critter 1.6 : 2012-06
* Critter 1.6a : 2012-06

=See also= 
* [[Various Classifications#Fiction|Fiction]]
* [[Various Classifications#Mammal|Mammal]]

=Publications= 
* [[Arno Nickel]] (**2012**). //[[http://www.edition-marco-shop.de/epages/64079634.sf/de_DE/?ObjectPath=/Shops/64079634/Categories/Schachgeschehen/Computerschach|Die schöne neue Welt der Schachengines]]//. [[http://www.zeitschriftschach.de/|SCHACH]] 2,3,5,6 2012, [[http://www.edition-marco-shop.de/WebRoot/Store14/Shops/64079634/5177/F0A3/C389/D0DD/3A71/C0A8/2935/25F6/Die_schoene_neue_Welt_der_Schachengines.pdf|pdf]] (German) <ref>Part 1 covers [[Houdini]], [[Rybka]], [[Komodo]], [[Stockfish]], [[Critter]], [[Naum]], [[Chiron]] and [[Spike]]</ref>

=Forum Posts= 
==2009== 
* [[http://www.talkchess.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=27504|Critter 0.34 : 2146]] by [[Patrick Buchmann]], [[CCC]], April 18, 2009
* [[http://www.talkchess.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=28064|Critter 0.38 : 2330]] by [[Patrick Buchmann]], [[CCC]], May 22, 2009
* [[http://www.talkchess.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=29114|Critter 0.40 released]] by [[Richard Vida]], [[CCC]], July 26, 2009
* [[http://www.talkchess.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=29199|Critter 0.40 : 2471]] by [[Patrick Buchmann]], [[CCC]], August 01, 2009
* [[http://www.talkchess.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=29562|Critter: Pascal vs C]] by [[Richard Vida]], [[CCC]], August 27, 2009 » [[C]], [[Pascal]]
* [[http://www.talkchess.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=30053|Critter 0.42 available]] by [[Richard Vida]], [[CCC]], October 08, 2009 » [[Pascal]]
* [[http://www.talkchess.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=30093|Critter 0.42 : 2649]] by [[Patrick Buchmann]], [[CCC]], October 11, 2009
==2010== 
* [[http://www.talkchess.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=32030|Critter 0.52 available]] by [[Richard Vida]], [[CCC]], Jan 25, 2010 » [[C]]
* [[http://www.talkchess.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=32370|Critter 0.52b added to the IPON list ...]] by [[Ingo Bauer]], [[CCC]], February 04, 2010
* [[http://www.talkchess.com/forum/viewtopic.php?topic_view=threads&p=335316&t=33059|Strange knight underpromotion by Critter]] by [[Richard Vida]], [[CCC]], March 04, 2010
* [[http://www.talkchess.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=33774|Critter goes SMP (version 0.60 is released)]] by [[Richard Vida]],[[CCC]], April 13, 2010
* [[http://www.talkchess.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=33801|Critter 0.60: 2718]] by [[Patrick Buchmann]], [[CCC]], April 14, 2010
* [[http://www.talkchess.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=34470|Critter 0.70 is out]] by [[Richard Vida]], [[CCC]], May 23, 2010
* [[http://www.talkchess.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=35565|Critter 0.80]] by [[Richard Vida]], [[CCC]], July 24, 2010
* [[http://www.talkchess.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=36854|Critter 0.90 released]] by [[Richard Vida]], [[CCC]], November 29, 2010
* [[http://www.talkchess.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=37041|Critter - looking at static evaluation]] by [[Richard Vida]], [[CCC]], December 11, 2010
==2011== 
* [[http://www.talkchess.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=38435|Critter 1.0 available]] by [[Richard Vida]], [[CCC]], March 16, 2011
* [[http://www.talkchess.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=38515|Critter 1.0 for Linux]] by [[Richard Vida]], [[CCC]], March 22, 2011 » [[Linux]]
* [[http://www.talkchess.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=38523|My experience with Linux/GCC]] by [[Richard Vida]], [[CCC]], March 23, 2011
* [[http://www.talkchess.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=38575|Critter bugfix update]] by [[Richard Vida]], [[CCC]], March 28, 2011 <ref>[[http://www.talkchess.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=38533|Difficult position to Critter]] by [[Jouni Uski]], [[CCC]], March 24, 2011</ref>
* [[http://www.talkchess.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=39488|Critter 1.2 update + new homepage]] by [[Richard Vida]], [[CCC]], June 25, 2011 » [[Android]]
* [[http://www.talkchess.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=39577|Critter 1.2 SEEMS to be a member of the Ippo family]] by [[Kai Laskos]], [[CCC]], July 02, 2011
* [[http://www.talkchess.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=40414|for Pascal fans: Critter]] by [[Richard Vida]], [[CCC]], September 16, 2011
==2012 ...== 
* [[http://www.talkchess.com/forum/viewtopic.php?topic_view=threads&p=468701&t=44000|Re: World Computer Chess Championship ?]] by [[Richard Vida]], [[CCC]], June 11, 2012
* [[http://www.talkchess.com/forum/viewtopic.php?topic_view=threads&p=469334&t=44065|Re: Critter 1.6 released!]] by [[Richard Vida]], [[CCC]], June 15, 2012
* [[http://www.talkchess.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=48010|Continuation of Critter would be very appreciated]] by [[Michael Scheidl|Mike Scheidl]], [[CCC]], May 15, 2013

=External Links= 
==Chess Engine== 
* [[http://www.vlasak.biz/critter/|Critter for win32/64, linux and android platforms]] hosted by [[Emil Vlasák]]
* [[http://critterchess.sourceforge.net/|SourceForge.net: Critter Chess - Project Web Hosting - Open Source Software]] (Pascal Version)
* [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Critter_%28chess%29|Critter (chess) from Wikipedia]]
* [[http://www.computerchess.org.uk/ccrl/4040/cgi/compare_engines.cgi?family=Critter&print=Rating+list&print=Results+table&print=LOS+table&print=Ponder+hit+table&print=Eval+difference+table&print=Comopp+gamenum+table&print=Overlap+table&print=Score+with+common+opponents|Critter]] at [[CCRL|CCRL 40/40]]
==Misc== 
* [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Critter|Critter (disambiguation page) from Wikipedia]]
* [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Critter|Little Critter from Wikipedia]]
* [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Critter_Country|Critter Country from Wikipedia]]
* [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Critters_%28film_series%29|Critters (film series) from Wikipedia]]
* [[http://www.artifexcreations.co.uk/critter.htm|Critters animatronic critter hand puppet replica]] by [[http://www.artifexcreations.co.uk/index.htm|Andy Wright]]

=References= 
<references />
=What links here?= 
[[include page="Critter" component="backlinks" limit="60"]]
**[[Engines|Up one level]]**