
    HIARCS 13 series UCI Chess Engines for Apple Macintosh & PC Windows
			    by Mark Uniacke
Copyright (c) 1992-2010 Applied Computer Concepts Limited. All Rights Reserved.
			http://www.hiarcs.com
			   23rd December 2010

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Thank you for downloading the new HIARCS UCI chess engine for your computer.
We hope you will enjoy the product and will purchase and register it to
activate the full capabilities.

The following files are included in the Hiarcs 13 UCI package:
1) H13License.txt      - Please read before installing/using the HIARCS product.
2) H13ReadMe.txt       - Useful info for those who actually read it!
3) Hiarcs13.2SP.exe    - Hiarcs 13.2 SP UCI engine. (single processor version)
4) Hiarcs13.2MP.exe    - Hiarcs 13.2 MP UCI engine. (multiprocessor version)
5) Hiarcs13aBook.hcs   - Hiarcs 13.1 opening book, subscribe for latest books.

On PC the following files are also present:
6) Hiarcs13.2SP.bmp    - Hiarcs 13 SP UCI bitmap image for engine logo.
7) Hiarcs13.2MP.bmp    - Hiarcs 13 MP UCI bitmap image for engine logo.
8) ACTIVATE-H13SP.bat  - batch file to activate the Hiarcs 13 SP engine.
9) ACTIVATE-H13MP.bat  - batch file to activate the Hiarcs 13 MP engine.

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Introduction to HIARCS
----------------------

HIARCS stands for Higher Intelligence Auto Response Chess System.

The HIARCS chess engine was first developed in 1980 but its current roots
began in 1986. HIARCS 13 is a significant evolution of the past World Software
Champion HIARCS engine.

This HIARCS 13 series chess engine is/will be available on the Apple Macintosh,
PC Windows, Pocket PC, Palm, iPhone and iPad platforms.

UCI stands for Universal Chess Interface and is the way a chess GUI and chess
engine communicate in a standardised way.

On Apple Macintosh we strongly recommend the Sigma Chess GUI for using HIARCS.
The HIARCS UCI chess engine can be used in any fully UCI compatible Graphical
User Interface (GUI).

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Acknowledgements
----------------

Apple Macintosh Versions
Much thanks is due Ole Christensen for his invaluable help over a number of
years and the his excellent Sigma Chess GUI application.
Thanks also to Richard Fowell for his excellent beta testing on the Macintosh
and general assistance over many Hiarcs versions dating back more than a decade.

PC Versions
Special thanks to Harvey Williamson, Eric Hallsworth, Rob Osborne, Enrico
Carrisco and Christian Goralski for their excellent beta testing and
suggestions without which this product would not be what it is today.

Harvey, Rob, Christian and Enrico operate HIARCS in many tournaments with much
success due to their dedication and hardwork with a little help from HIARCS.

A special thank you to Harvey Williamson who has put in so many hours in
many different ways to help HIARCS.

We thank Eugene Nalimov and Andrew Kadatch for their kind permission to use
their access code (copyright (c) Eugene Nalimov) and decompression code
(copyright (c) Andrew Kadatch) for Nalimov tablebases in the HIARCS chess
engine.

THANK YOU!


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HIARCS UCI Engine Parameters
----------------------------

The default settings will be given in parentheses.

Multi-core/processor Options
----------------------------

Core Threads
This option is only available in the Multiprocessing version of HIARCS UCI.
It allows you to configure the number of threads the HIARCS chess engine will
use during its thinking. The default is to utilise as many CPUs as available
up to a maximum of 16. If you wish to run HIARCS 13 MP UCI on only one
processor core you can set this value to 1.
Default is the maximum CPU cores (<=16) in your machine.

Busy Threads (ON)
This option when set makes HIARCS utilise threads as always busy - that is
to say they do not go to sleep when no work is available.
The default is ON.



Position Cache Options
----------------------

Hash
The hash table is the typically large area of memory used by the HIARCS
chess engine to record calculations to speed up future computations.
This can be set from 1Mb to 2Gb. You are recommended to use 50% of your
machines physical RAM for Hash tables. Please check that your hash table
size setting does not cause disk activity. If so HIARCS will run
SIGNIFICANTLY SLOWER - in this case please decrease the hash table size
and try again.
HIARCS can benefit from large hash tables even in blitz time controls.


Clear Hash
This allows you to clear the hash table of its information. This option does
not normally need to be used.


Retain Hash (ON)
This option enables HIARCS to maintain its hash table between moves and this
improves its play as well as its learning ability and analysis.
The default is ON.


Position Learning (ON)
This setting allows HIARCS to learn from the games it plays. This can improve
its play in future games.
The default is ON.



Search and Playing Style
------------------------

Playing Style (Active)
HIARCS has three different playing styles, namely, Active, Aggressive and Solid.
The Active style is the default and believed to be best.


Smart Search (ON)
This setting allows HIARCS to apply some smartness to its search selections.
The default is ON and this is the best setting.


Search Selectivity (4)
The HIARCS search is selective - it tries to cut out irrelevant moves and
variations. You can set the selectivity from 0 (no selectivity) to 7
(extremely selective).
The default and strongest setting is 4.


Optimistic Search (ON)
This setting tells Hiarcs to search with a more optimistic view typically
leading to deeper searching. The default is ON.


Combinations (ON)
This setting makes HIARCS look deeply at tactical combinations. This setting
can help HIARCS find combinations sooner.
The default is ON.


Hyper-Modern Play (ON)
This setting make HIARCS play in a more Hyper-Modern style. This has been known
to make HIARCS play sharper chess and sometimes increase the performance level.
It is particularly effective against Human chess players.
The default is ON.


Hiarcs Draw Value (0)
This setting enables you to specify in centipawns if HIARCS should favour
a draw or not. Positive numbers means HIARCS will prefer draws, negative
it will try to avoid them. This is a dangerous option expecially in endgames.
The default is 0 which neither likes or dislikes draws.
Special note: The HIARCS style normally means it naturally avoids draws and
plays actively.


Swindle Opponent (ON)
In positions which are normally drawn (for example K+R v K+B), the swindle
setting tells HIARCS to keep pressing for the win if it is the stronger side.
This is most applicable against human opponents or computer opponents who do
not use endgame tablebases.
Default is ON.



Opening Book Options
--------------------

OwnBook (ON)
This setting allows HIARCS to use it's own opening book. Hiarcs 13 uses 
the book named Hiarcs13aBook.hcs located in the HIARCS data folder.
Hiarcs 13 uses book learning.  The default is ON and is best.

PLEASE NOTE: You should turn the GUI book off or load an empty book so that
Hiarcs will be able to play from its own book. Otherwise the GUI will play
the book moves from its own book and not ask the Hiarcs engine for a
move in the opening.


Book Status
This option string is read only and tells you the book name used and if the
book is loaded ok or not.
You will get a warning if the opening book is read only as that means book
learning cannot operate.  If Hiarcs cannot load or read the book you will
get an error here.


Book Positions
This setting informs you of the number of positions in the book which is loaded.
The standard tournament book has 2,070352 positions and 288,222 variations!


Book Mode (Tournament)
This setting allows you to choose the style of the opening book from Wild,
Suprise, Dynamic and Tournament.
Please use the default "Tournament" for serious chess.


Book Learning (ON)
This setting allows HIARCS to use its experiences with the current book
to make decisions about which moves are good and bad in the book. HIARCS has
clever book learning so please use it!
The default is ON.



Endgame Tablebase Options
-------------------------

Use Tablebases (Normally)
This setting allows you to choose how often HIARCS accesses the Nalimov
endgame tablebases. The available options are Often, Normally, Rarely and
Never.
The default is Normally.


Nalimov Cache
This sets the amount of memory used to cache endgame tablebases. Typically this
is between 1Mb and 256Mb with 32Mb a commonly used amount.


Nalimov Path
The is the location of your endgame tablebases. HIARCS UCI can use up to 6
piece tablebases.



Miscellaneous Options
---------------------

UCI Elo (2330)
This enables you to select a limited strength HIARCS based on a specific Elo
rating. This option is only applicable if the UCI_LimitStrength option is
set.


UCI_LimitStrength (OFF)
This option when ON makes HIARCS weaken its play down to the Elo level setting
UCI_Elo.
The default is naturally OFF.


UCI_SearchMoves (ON)
This option allows certain moves only to be searched which is useful for
analysis.


UCI_Chess960 (OFF)
This option is used to inform UCI chess GUIs that HIARCS UCI can play Fischer
Random Chess or Chess960.


GUI Time Lag (OFF)
Some GUIs deduct from the engine clock the time the GUI consumes updating
the display. This can mean that for each move the GUI takes 50 milliseconds or
more extra time away from the engine leading to time trouble for the engine in
that GUI. We noticed this in the Shredder UCI GUI. However, in the Chessbase
Fritz and Arena GUIs we did not see any such problems.
The default is OFF. It should be OFF for all Chessbase GUIs and Arena. When
using HIARCS UCI in the Shredder UCI GUI it should be switched ON.


Verbose UCI (OFF)
Some GUIs seem to react very slowly to UCI output. This option when OFF
reduces the amount of information which is output to the GUI and can make
the GUI more responsive. We noticed when this option is ON the Chessbase
GUIs become slower during engine use so we recommend this option is
switched OFF especially in Chessbase GUIs. The Shredder UCI GUI is much better
at handling verbose UCI output.
The default is OFF.


AutoSave PGN (OFF)
This option when ON tells HIARCS to write each game it plays to an autosave.pgn
file in its folder. This can be a useful reference of the games played.
However be aware the file will grow over time.
The default is OFF.


CPU Usage (100%)
This is the percentage of CPU time you wish HIARCS to use. On lower percentage
values HIARCS will yield/sleep some of the time and this allows other processes to use the CPU more often. Any setting lower than 100 will weaken HIARCS,
potentially significantly.


Licensed To
This gives the name Hiarcs is licensed to.


UCI_EngineAbout
This gives some brief information about HIARCS.


MultiPV (1)
The MultiPV option (only available on the registered/activated HIARCS versions)
enables HIARCS to pass the evaluations and continuations of the "k" best
candidate moves, where "k" can be up to 127 to the UCI GUI. This form of
analysis is sometimes called "k-best" for "multi-variation". The default value
is 1.

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Books
-----
The opening book was originally developed by Eric Hallsworth and Mark Uniacke.
In recent years it has had some important assistance from Harvey Williamson
and an anonymous World Class player.


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Purchase and Activation
-----------------------

In order to activate the full features of HIARCS you must purchase the
HIARCS product.

Apple Mac HIARCS
To purchase, visit http://www.hiarcs.com and select the Macintosh Hiarcs link
and go to the "How to Buy" page. Follow the online instructions to
purchase at the secure online payment system.

PC Chess HIARCS
To purchase, visit http://www.hiarcs.com and select the PC Hiarcs link
and go to the "How to Buy" page. Follow the online instructions to
purchase at the secure online payment system.


After purchase please note the information in the purchase email carefully.
It may require some action on your part.  You will need a License Name and
Code/Key to activate HIARCS.

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Further assistance
------------------
For help and tips go to our web pages: http://www.hiarcs.com and read the
FAQ page for your product:

for HIARCS on PC: http://www.hiarcs.com/pcuci_faq.htm
for HIARCS on Mac: http://www.hiarcs.com/mh_faq.htm


Lastly THANK YOU for showing an interesting in our software and supporting
HIARCS chess products.

