GREAT NEWS :) :)  :)

Now, let's start with some questions.

1, Is the ELO improvement still top secret ? ;-)

1a, If so, is it because you are still tuning the program, (especially against the new and foreseable competitors)?

2, Did you improve somewhat the scaling factor for 2, 4, 8... cores relatively from Rybka 3?

3, Are the Rybka 3+ bugfix (bishop under promotion, hashtable bug, etc) incorporated in Rybka 4?

4, Could you say anything about possible playing style change, program personnalities, analysis enhancements, possible new UCI options?

5, What about those (hateful) rumors of a dumbed down version to preserve some elbow room for the rental model?

6, Given the fresh reception to the rental model, is that project still on track?

7, Are you still 100% involved with Rybka or is your disappearance from this forum connected with the pursuit of other interests?

Thanks for any clarification and information sharing.

That's good news. I hope the documentation of the new features won't be delayed for too long after the release ;)

Good news.
I wonder if you could put in the same package many different versions (even a little bit weaker) of rybka4 engines, like you did for rybka3 with FRC, Human etc. It's very important for the chess community to have the feeling that we did not pay a lot for an engine (if you release Rybka4, Rybka4 FRC, Rybka4 Agressive, Rybka4 Strategic, Rybka4 Human for example with a price of 50 Euros for single CPU and 100 Euros for Multiple CPU (and may be Cluster Rybka4 in another package, we will be not only very happy to test all these engines, this will make the community speek much more about your product and this will also make free advertising for you.

> - Rybka 4 will be a normal UCI engine, without copy protection, and will be available in the first part of May.

First out of how many parts?

This will be a lighter version than the ones in your upcoming rental version. So there exist a stronger version than this reserve for the rental right?

Welcome back to the forum and thank you for the formal announcement.
I'm looking forward to buying this!
Will you do some limited beta testing before the May release and if so can I apply?

Don't forget also that the free engines are becoming stronger and stronger ...... But i hope rybka4 will still be a leader and rise computer chess to another level not yet reached.

I wonder if you could put in the same package many different versions (even a little bit weaker) of rybka4 engines, like you did for rybka3 with FRC, Human etc.

It's very important for the chess community to have the feeling that we did not pay a lot for an engine.
Releasing some beta engines is as always wellcomed by all of us, and it gives us the feeling that for the same 50 or 100 bucks we pay for much more than a single engine. Example of possible names (Rybka4, Rybka4 FRC, Rybka4 Agressive, Rybka4 Strategic, Rybka4 Human, but you can also try to make Kasparov Rybka Tal Rybka (different personnalities)), and why not an extra CLUSTER Rybka for those who are ready to pay more.

Such a strategy will also provide you a free advertising as all the curious chess community will try to make different matches to test your different engines. As you said before there is a 3000 different single rybka versions, with different strengths and style of play, it seems that you can choose aming those beta versions (may be try to improve them a lot by taking some of your latest best ideas that you use for your final product).
You can also give games for the community with names like Rybka 3.xxxxx to analyse and to help you choose the name but also the style of play of the engines.
I'm ready to help for thsi task for free (mail: dr_zied_haddad at yahoo dot fr.

I got a friend with which i discussed a lot a few years ago, and that was involved in the development of Rybka2 versions. I gave him a lot of ideas (when i was used to develop settings for Shredder) which i think you are using right now; I'm happy to see that some of my ideas are used by others and are working. These ideas are not so clever, but practicle, and i'm sure that without the help of this friend you ae able to do the same work or even better.

Hope to see a good product with a good strategy, without having the chess community being suspicous about you making money by giving a beta product.

What we must be sure about is that even the final version is still a beta.
Your strategy to release a dozen of different engines as it was for Rybka 1 1.2 2 etc was good, the only problem is that you released so much beta versions in a very short period of time, so think about releasing a beta each 21-30 days after working on developing these versions Think also about enlarging your circle of persons of Confidence with some fresh ideas and without any interest. Some players that use your engine for example to analyse correspondance games and play correspondance games, but also to make some tournament tests.
It's always interesting to see how your engine does in different situations.

Sincerely yours

Zied HADDAD, M.D, Ph.D in anaesthesiology and intensive care.

Will an FRC version be available ? :-)

"Aquarium users can use either version of the book."

They can only "read" the chessbase version, to clarify :)

I hope (this or feature versions of Rybka) will provide more that evaluation of the position, but other "quantities" you feel characterize a position (k.safety ie)
Besides as you said in your interview in NewInChess, Engines are tools and we should treat them that way.

I wonder if you could put in the same package many different versions (even a little bit weaker) of rybka4 engines, like you did for rybka3 with FRC, Human etc.

It's very important for the chess community to have the feeling that we did not pay a lot for an engine.
Releasing some beta engines is as always wellcomed by all of us, and it gives us the feeling that for the same 50 or 100 bucks we pay for much more than a single engine. Example of possible names (Rybka4, Rybka4 FRC, Rybka4 Agressive, Rybka4 Strategic, Rybka4 Human, but you can also try to make Kasparov Rybka Tal Rybka (different personnalities)), and why not an extra CLUSTER Rybka for those who are ready to pay more.

Such a strategy will also provide you a free advertising as all the curious chess community will try to make different matches to test your different engines. As you said before there is a 3000 different single rybka versions, with different strengths and style of play, it seems that you can choose aming those beta versions (may be try to improve them a lot by taking some of your latest best ideas that you use for your final product).
You can also give games for the community with names like Rybka 3.xxxxx to analyse and to help you choose the name but also the style of play of the engines.
I'm ready to help for this task for free (mail: dr_zied_haddad at yahoo dot fr.

Your strategy to release a dozen of different engines as it was for Rybka 1 1.2 2 etc was good, the only problem is that you released so much beta versions in a very short period of time, so think about releasing a beta each 21-30 days after working on developing these versions Think also about enlarging your circle of persons of Confidence with some fresh ideas and without any interest. Some players that use your engine for example to analyse correspondance games and play correspondance games, but also to make some tournament tests.
It's always interesting to see how your engine does in different situations.

Finally, you must be honest and give more informations about the strength of Rybka4. Poeple will buy it even if it's only 25 rating points more (depends on the number of engines and price). The addicted to computer chess will buy your engines, the others will wait for the first published results of different tests to assess it's strength. With a strategy not revealing the real strength of Rybka4, your work will not be granted success.
With many free engines (no matter the controversy concerning stolen rybka code etc.) that are stronger than Rybka3, few are poeple who'd like to spend a few bucks for a product that doesn't tell the truth. But you'll get allies even if you are weaker, but honest.

Sincerely yours

Zied HADDAD, M.D, Ph.D in anaesthesiology and intensive care.

I will buy Rybka 4. Good luck.
Paulo Soares

When can I buy it?

Wouldn't it make sense to have an announcement on the Rybka website?

> &nbsp; * Other software users are encouraged to upgrade their chess software. <img class="sic sic_sml_pos" src="/mwf/epx.png" alt=":-)">

Now why on earth would anyone downgrade their software to Chessbase or Aquarium?

Such bloated software is only required by those who like "pretty" (pretty rubbish to be precise).

:)

Christopher