Hi. I wrote checkers AI and it works fine but now I want to make it better adding opening book and endgame database. I found a lot information about endgame database so it shouldn't be problem but no clue about opening book. I'm wondering if there is any opening book database or way to generate it. I'll be grateful for any informations.

I can think of four ways of generating an opening book:
(1) Get your hands on a database of games played by strong players, and then pick moves that were played enough times and with good outcomes.
(2) Enlist an expert player, give him a tool to edit the book and let him build it up. This is what I did in Torquemada, my Spanish-checkers program.
(3) Let your program think for a long time and write down the move it picks. This will at least save time in the actual game.
(4) Whenever your program finds itself in a position that it doesn't like, write down the position and its score. These positions will then be loaded in the hash tables when playing future games, so your program won't make the same mistake again. I believe Chinook did something like this.

[EDIT: Typo]

[Edited by - alvaro on July 30, 2010 1:49:04 PM]

Just find an online database and get it into your game. Checkers also uses a card system where they choose openigs at random to prevent draws, you could start by implementing that.

Quote:

Original post by mrchrismnh Just find an online database and get it into your game. Checkers also uses a card system where they choose openigs at random to prevent draws, you could start by implementing that.

There are many variants of checkers throughout the world. This feature of randomized openings is particular to American checkers. Since he is from Poland, he is probably programming international checkers.

"The most widely played game of the Checkers Family. It is played on a 10 by 10 checkerboard and it features backward capturing men and "flying" kings which ..."


I had no idea of such a thing, I feel awfully provincial now.

alvaro I'm programing international checkers. I'll consider Your advice, thank You for answer. mrchrismnh I searched for opening book database but couldn't find any.

There are Checkers databases available. I remember seeing one, years ago, that came on CDs. Unfortunately I don't remember where. Sorry.

This might be a good starting point:
http://www.gothicchess.com/7_piece.pdf

Yeah, if it's a popular board game you can count on the thing having so much opening theory available it's damn near solved, you just gotta ferret it out. Look online where people are playing and ask some strong players, they can point you in the right direction.

Thanks You for answers but still can't find any opening book database... I would be grateful if someone could give me direct link.