Critter (chess)

Critter
Developer	Richard Vida
Stable release	1.6a / June 2012
Repository	{{URL|example.com|optional display text}}
Written in	C++
Engine
Operating system	Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, Android
Type	Chess engine
License	Proprietary
Website	www.vlasak.biz/critter/

Critter is a cross-platform UCI chess engine by Slovakian programmer Richard Vida which is free for non-commercial use. The engine has achieved top five on most chess engine Elo rating lists.

History

Richard Vida started working on Critter in late 2008. The first version was originally written in Object Pascal but the code was later converted to C++ using Bitboard technology because Delphi did not perform well under 64-bit processors. Critter had its over-the-board (OTB) debut at the ICT 2012, where it became a strong runner-up behind the Rybka cluster.

Notable games

Tornado vs Critter,
nTCEC S2, Stage 2, 3.6

	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h
8	File:Chessboard480.svg d8 black queen f8 black rook g8 black king a7 white queen e7 black pawn f7 black pawn g7 black bishop h7 black pawn f6 black knight g6 black pawn f5 black bishop d4 black rook e3 white pawn g3 white pawn a2 white pawn b2 white pawn d2 white knight f2 white pawn g2 white bishop h2 white pawn a1 white rook c1 white bishop e1 white king h1 white rook								8
7									7
6									6
5									5
4									4
3									3
2									2
1									1
	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h

Here Critter played 16...Ng4, sacrificing a rook for a strong attack.

• Tornado vs Critter, nTCEC S2, Stage 2, 3.7, 0–1 Critter sacs two pawns and the exchange to build up a strong attack.
• Toga vs Critter, nTCEC S2, Stage 2, 4.6, 0–1