CXG Sphinx
CXG Sphinx,
a dedicated chess computer series manufactured by Newcrest Technology Ltd., Hong Kong under the brand name CXG [2] [3] . The 1987 models CXG Sphinx 40 [4] and CXG Sphinx 50 [5] with magnetic sensory board were the flagships with 68000 processor and a program supplied by David Levy from Intelligent Software's estate. It was based on Cyrus 68K written by Mark Taylor advised by Levy.
Contents
The Great Sphinx
The 16-bit Sphinx by Mark Taylor applied the SEX Algorithm, fractional extensions and reductions, most notably already a kind of LMR, considering forced tactical moves such as checks, captures, and mate threats [6] . The Sphinx, running on a 68020 processor, played the Manufacturers group of the WMCCC 1987 in Rome with three incarnations, and had a hard time versus three Mephisto Roma by Richard Lang, while the games were more closely than the results suggested [7] . CXG Sphinx further played Aegon 1988 and Aegon 1989.
CXG Sphinx 40 [8]
Selected Games
WMCCC 1987, round 6, Newcrest Technology Sphinx C - Mephisto Roma A [9]
[Event "WMCCC 1987 (Manufacturers)"] [Site "Rome, Italy"] [Date "1987.09.19"] [Round "6"] [White "Newcrest Technology Sphinx C"] [Black "Mephisto Roma A"] [Result "0-1"] 1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e3 Bg4 5.Bxc4 e6 6.h3 Bh5 7.Nc3 a6 8.a3 c5 9.d5 b5 10.Ba2 c4 11.dxe6 Qxd1+ 12.Nxd1 fxe6 13.Ng5 Bxd1 14.Kxd1 e5 15.Bb1 Nbd7 16.Ne6 Rc8 17.Nxf8 Rxf8 18.Ke2 Nc5 19.Rd1 e4 20.f4 Nd3 21.Ra2 Nh5 22.Kd2 Ng3 23.Ra1 g5 24.Kc2 gxf4 25.exf4 Ne2 26.Be3 Nexf4 27.Rf1 Nxg2 28.Rxf8+ Kxf8 29.Bh6+ Kf7 30.Kc3 Rc5 31.Bc2 Rh5 32.Rf1+ Ke6 33.Bg7 Rxh3 34.Kd4 Rg3 35.Bh6 Nh4 36.Kxe4 Rg4+ 37.Ke3 Nf5+ 0-1
8-Bit Sphinx
Titan
The unrelated 8-bit CXG Sphinx Titan [10], the first Sphinx, was already released in 1986. The program was based on Enterprise by Kaare Danielsen running on the 6800 compatible Newcrest 6301Y controller, quite similar to the CXG Advanced Star Chess and CXG Super Enterprise models [11].
Galaxy & Dominator
The medium class 6502 Sphinx Galaxy [12] and Sphinx Dominator [13] were based on Nona or even Quest by Frans Morsch, released in 1989. Interesting to recognize is the fact that all three original programs, Cyrus 68K, Nona and Enterprise played the WCCC 1986 in Cologne.
Concerto, Legend & Accolade
In the early 90s there were various Sphinx programs based on Gyula Horváth's Pandix adapted for the H8 processor, Concerto, Legend and Accolade [14] .
See also
Forum Posts
- CXG Sphinx Accolade by klute, Hiarcs Forum, August 06, 2008
- Collector's Corner..The Riddle Of The Sphinx by Steve Blincoe, Hiarcs Forum, October 29, 2011
- Collector's Corner..What Does A collector Do In A Blizzard? by Steve Blincoe, Hiarcs Forum, February 09, 2013 [15]
- Horvath Play Styles by Spacious Mind, Hiarcs Forum, December 27, 2014
External Links
- Newcrest Technology Sphinx's ICGA Tournaments
- Chess Computers - The UK Story from Chess Computer UK by Mike Watters
- Dans la famille CXG , je veux... from blitzchess.fr by Eric Belot (French)
- Die Akte Sphinx, Articles by Thomas Mally, Modul 1988-1991, hosted by Schachcomputer.info Wiki (German)
CXG Sphinx Timeline
| Year | Model | Processor | MHz | ROM KiB | RAM KiB | Author |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | CXG Sphinx Titan | 6301Y | 8 | 16 | 2.25 | Kaare Danielsen |
| 1987 | CXG Sphinx 40 | 68000 | 8 | 16 | 256 | Mark Taylor |
| CXG Sphinx 50 | 68000 | 8 | 16 | 256 | Mark Taylor | |
| 1989 | CXG Sphinx Dominator | 6502 | 4 | 32 | 8 | Frans Morsch |
| CXG Sphinx Galaxy | 6502 | 4 | 32 | 8 | Frans Morsch | |
| 1992 | CXG Sphinx Accolade | H8 | 10 | 32 | 1 | Gyula Horváth |
| CXG Sphinx Concerto | H8 | 10 | 32 | 1 | Gyula Horváth | |
| CXG Sphinx Legend | H8 | 10 | 32 | 1 | Gyula Horváth | |
| CXG Sphinx Seville | HD614042SJ02 | 3.58 | 4 | 1/8 | Mark Taylor |
Sphinx
Misc
References
- ↑ The Great Sphinx partially excavated, published between 1867 and 1899. Most probably in De l'Égypte et de la Nubie, vol. 1-2, éd. Bonfils, Alais (Alès, FR), 1878, Great Sphinx of Giza from Wikipedia
- ↑ CXG Electronic Chess Computers from The Spacious Mind
- ↑ CXG from Schachcomputer.info Wiki
- ↑ CXG Sphinx 40 from Schachcomputer.info Wiki (German)
- ↑ CXG Sphinx 50 from Schachcomputer.info Wiki (German)
- ↑ David Levy, David Broughton, Mark Taylor (1989). The SEX Algorithm in Computer Chess. ICCA Journal, Vol. 12, No. 1
- ↑ Kaare Danielsen (1987). The 7th World Microcomputer Chess Championship, Rome, Italy, September 14-20, 1987. ICCA Journal, Vol. 10, No. 3
- ↑ The Ultra Rare Collection by Chewbanta
- ↑ Rome 1987 - Chess (Manufacturers) - Round 6 - Game 1 (ICGA Tournaments)
- ↑ CXG Sphinx Titan from Schachcomputer.info Wiki (German)
- ↑ CXG Super Enterprise from Schachcomputer.info Wiki (German)
- ↑ CXG Sphinx Galaxy from Schachcomputer.info Wiki (German)
- ↑ CXG Sphinx Dominator from Schachcomputer.info Wiki
- ↑ Horvath Play Styles by Spacious Mind, Hiarcs Forum, December 27, 2014
- ↑ February 2013 nor'easter from Wikipedia
- ↑ List of computers from Schachcomputer.info Wiki
