Volker Annuss

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Volker Annuss, a German computer scientist and software developer, as computer chess programmer author of the chess engines Hermann and Arminius. As mentioned on the Arena site, Volker started chess programming in 1986 with the program Deep Thought for Atari ST. The only common thing with another famous program was the name, the computer in Douglas Adams' novel Hitchhikers guide to the galaxy. After a long break, Volker Annuss developed Hermann, using bitboards as basic data structure, and neural networks for material evaluation and timing. Since 2006, Volker regularly participates at CSVN tournaments in Leiden, with Hermann, and since DOCCC 2011 with the completely restructured successor Arminius. As of August 2017, Volker introduced Black Magic Bitboards.

=Photos= Volker Annuss and Ralf Dörr in Hermann vs. Argonaut, ICT 2006 PT 51: Volker Annuss (Arminius 3rd), Harvey Williamson (HIARCS 1st) and Hans van der Zijden (Komodo 2nd)

=Forum Posts=

2010 ...

 * Re: Chess program with Artificial Neural Networks (ANN)? by Volker Annuss, CCC, January 08, 2010 » Neural Networks, Material, Time Management, Hermann
 * Fixed shift magics with 800KB lookup table by Volker Annuss, Winboard Forum, September, 05, 2010 » Magic Bitboards
 * Re: Programmers: what's the story behind the name of your engine by Volker Annuss, CCC, June 21, 2011
 * Re: Is there place for neural networks in chess engines? by Volker Annuss, CCC, December 04, 2011 » Neural Networks
 * Re: "panic time" and "easy moves" by Volker Annuss, CCC, February 17, 2013 » Time Management

2015 ...

 * The effect of dual channel RAM by Volker Annuss, CCC, March 01, 2015 » Memory
 * Another way of evaluating material imbalances by Volker Annuss, CCC, January 01, 2017 » Material
 * Black magic bitboards by Volker Annuss, CCC, August 03, 2017 » Magic Bitboards
 * Arminius 2018-11-23 is out by Volker Annuss, CCC, December 23, 2018

2020 ...

 * Re: YBW engines past and present? by Volker Annuss, CCC, January 09, 2021 » Lazy SMP, Young Brothers Wait Concept

=External Links=
 * Hermann webpage
 * Arena Chess GUI for Linux and Windows - Hermann
 * Timing with a neural network by Volker Annuss, March 23, 2005, Arena, News-Ticker, Page 6, 86

=References= Up one level