🚀 go-pugleaf

One question raised by a user of GNU chess 5.02 was;

"Why did you make the hash table so large?"

The answer is that it plays better chess at slower time controls
if the hash tables utilises more memory. All the developers
being fanatical computer users all had lots of memory to waste
on playing chess.

If you don't have enough memory, or always play at fast time
controls (less than about 5 minute blitz), GNU chess will play
below par with the default HASHTABLE size (On current home
PC's). On some it will be exceedingly slow to start.

I did some quick testing with 5.02, and found that relatively
small hash tables are normally as good or better at fast time
controls (It takes time, given the current methods of handling
hash tables, to update them every move).

I am tempted to reduce the HASHSLOT size to a very low value
suitable for smaller, slower computers, or blitz chess, on the
grounds that it is easier for a knowledgable user to beef it up,
than a less knowledgable one to reduce it to something that
works on older PC's.

I'm assuming that most of GNU chess opponents who play slow time
controls will either be interested enough to tune it up, or get
beaten most of the time anyway and won't notice the difference
(Except it is faster to surf along side).

 Opinions sought.

	Simon

PS: The command to change the hash table sizes when GNU chess is
running is "hashsize".

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