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The AutoplayerYou go here with "Extras![]() With this function you can play automated test matches with two programs on two separate computers. This has the advantage that every program has total control and CPU time on its computer. You need a null-modem cable to connect the two computers. On the "Options" tab you have to select the correct Com port.
You can select the number of games to be played in the input field "Number of Games". This must be done before the match starts. This setting is only possible if Arena acts as master. The current match scores are shown in the top right corner. It has the form "won games here/ won games opponent/ draws/ unknown result". Arena does not adjudicate games or tries to somehow determine the result. Only games with a clear result are counted as win, loss or draw. Everything else falls into the "unknown" category. A clear result is mate, stalemate, threefold repetition, not enough material, 50-moves rule. If the engine running under Arena has given up and Arena acts as master or the opponent sends a resign command in extended mode is also considered a clear result. If an opponent doesn't move for some time because maybe he has given up, this is counted as "unknown" result. This applies also if Arena is told by the master to end and save the game. If "Master" is selected, Arena works as master, otherwise as slave. With "Start Connection" you start the connection to the opponent and the match. You should first start the Slave, then the master. With "Cancel" you can abort an ongoing match. Currently there is no possibility to resume it. With "Close" you can close the Autoplayer dialogue. If you also want to abort the match, you should press "Cancel" previously.
As there is no way to communicate the opponent's name over the Autoplayer protocol you can and have to set the name in the "Opponent Name" edit field. Important if you save the games in a PGN file. The name of the match can be set, too. This name will be saved in the "Event" tag in the PGN file. Under "Port" you have to choose the port where the serial cable is connected to. If "Save Games" is selected, the games are automatically saved in a PGN file. You can type in the name of this file in the edit field right underneath. The "Timeout" should be chosen according the average move time, that is expected for the current time control. You should take 7 times of that value, maybe even more. The timeout is only valid if Arena acts as master. The timeout is necessary if the slave on the other side does not move for the given period, e.g. if he has given up and does not send a move. "Start with back" means that the engine running on the master starts playing with black in the first game. If "Switch Colours" is off, this stays that way during the whole match. This setting is only valid if Arena acts as master. "Switch Colours" has the effect, that with every start of a new game the programs switch sides from white to black or vice versa. This setting is only valid if Arena acts as master.
"Use Extended Mode" means that, draw offers, accepting and rejecting draws and resigns are communicated over the Autoplayer, if both Autoplayers support this. "Send Under promotions" means that the newer protocol version is used, where under promotions are allowed. The first version of the Autoplayer had no under promotions. If you play against an old program with Autoplayer without under promotions, you should switch off "Send Under promotions" here. "Debug" means that more information is displayed in the list on the "debug" tab sheet.
Here all communication (except acknowledge bytes) are shown with their meanings, if known. How to set-up your computers for the use of the Autoplayer:
1. Check that your computers are connected with the null-modem cable.
5. Select the correct Com port in the Autoplayer configuration.
Important Arena settings: If you run Arena as master, you can and should turn resigning on, either in the configuration of the engine or, if you run a UCI engine, in the UCI options tab of the Engines/Install and Select dialog. If you run Arena as slave, you should turn resigning on, if you are using extended mode (tab sheet extended, this is the recommended way). If you are not using extended mode, you should turn resigning off. In this case there is no way to tell the opponent, when an engine running under Arena resigns, so the opponent master program has to time out and you lose time in most cases. Almost all GUIs support extended mode nowadays. The opponent program should be run with "Extended Mode = On", if you test against Arena. The extensions of the protocol like resigning are supported. Credits The Autoplayer is a development of Dr. Christian Donninger. The extensions for the protocol regarding draw offering and resigning that exist are supported. Many drivers and implementations exists in commercial software. The Autoplayer is used to thoroughly test chess programs and engines in long test matches.
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