Eighth PAL/CSS Freestyle Tournament with $16,000 prize fund
24.03.2008 – A “Freestyle tournament” is one in which computer assistance – or help in any conceivable form – during the game is allowed and encouraged. The Eighth PAL/CSS Freestyle tournament will take place on the Playchess server on two weekends, April 11-13 and April 25-27. The main sponsor, the PAL Group in Abu Dhabi (UAE), has provided a $16,000 dollar prize fund. Join the fun.
The tournament is open to everyone. All games are played on the Internet, in a special room on the Playchess server. Participants need to have an account on the server, which is free for the duration of the tournament. If you are not already a member of this giant Internet community (with over 100,000 active members) you can download the software at Playchess.com and set up an account within minutes.
Which program would be best to use for this tournament?
Multiprocessor-Rybka, and/or -Zappa if you have a fast multicore computer. Most participants will use several engines for analysis, on 2 or 3 computers…
It is high level engine sport. Of course, the stronger chess player the operator is, the better. Advanced computer chess analysis experience is very important. There are also teams participating which may include an IM or GM.
Programs: Rybka 2.3.2a, Zappa Mexico II, Fritz 11 and latest “deep” versions of Hiarcs, Shredder, Toga can be recommended; may be in special positions Junior too;
“Freestyle Advice by Nelson Hernandez
If you want my advice, you will enter the next Freestyle tournament and do your best. There’s more to this than just winning or losing. Actual fighting experience in a competitive arena is very valuable as you learn all kinds of subtle things that you didn’t anticipate beforehand.
To play Freestyle (or to centaur) you have to look at every phase from opening to endgame and figure out what it takes to improve each one. Believe me, beyond a certain point the cost, time and labor involved to continue improving is really absurd. But it is hard to draw a line as those little extra efforts every day do add a small fraction of +1 ELO. Freestyle, like almost any serious competition, is more than a hobby–it is a lifestyle choice. (A borderline-insane, financially ruinous, wildly irrational, labor-intensive, never-ending-until-you-quit-or-die lifestyle choice.) Anything less than 100% dedication means you’re going to be at a competitive disadvantage against the top players.
I think your practice approach is a good one and, if you stick to it, you should get progressively better. “