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Created page with "'''Home * Engines * Chess System Tal''' '''Chess System Tal''' (Complete Chess System 2 - TAL, CSTal, AI Factory Chess Tal), <br/> a commercial chess progra..."
'''[[Main Page|Home]] * [[Engines]] * Chess System Tal'''
'''Chess System Tal''' (Complete Chess System 2 - TAL, CSTal, AI Factory Chess Tal), <br/>
a commercial chess program developed by [[Chris Whittington]] in the mid 90s as successor of the [[Complete Chess System]], marketed through his company [[Oxford Softworks]]. The first version was a [[MS-DOS]] program, Chess System Tal II, released in 1999 ran under [[Windows]]. Chess System Tal is famous for its entertaining, strong human playing style with focus on [[King Safety|King attacks]] and speculative [[Sacrifice|sacrifices]], resembling that of the former World Champion [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mikhail_Tal Mikhail Tal]. Chess System Tal II was further marketed by [[Ubisoft]] <ref>[http://www.spieletipps.de/pc/chess-system-tal-2/ Chess System Tal 2 (PC) bei spieletipps] (German)</ref> and continued by [[Jeff Rollason|Jeff Rollason's]] [[AI Factory]] <ref>[http://www.aifactory.co.uk/AIF_Games_Chess_Tal.htm AI Factory Chess Tal]</ref> <ref>[http://www.aifactory.co.uk/AIF_Competitions.htm#chess AI Factory World Championships and Competitions - Chess]</ref>, who now own the rights on the CSTal sources <ref>[https://www.stmintz.com/ccc/index.php?id=429044 Re: For those interested in: A) Chess Tal B) New engines] by [[Thorsten Czub]], [[Computer Chess Forums|CCC]], May 30, 2005</ref>.
=Tournament Play=
CSTal played two [[World Microcomputer Chess Championship|World Microcomputer Chess Championships]], the [[WMCCC 1995]], the [[WMCCC 1997]], and three [[Aegon Tournaments]], [[Aegon 1995]], [[Aegon 1996]] and [[Aegon 1997]] <ref>[http://www.csvn.nl/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=124&Itemid=50 AEGON Tournaments Computer Results Summary Latest 3 Tournaments], [[CSVN]] site</ref>.
=Photos=
[[FILE:cstalczub.jpg|none|border|text-bottom|487px|link=http://www.thorstenczub.de/aegon.html]]
Chess System Tal at [[Aegon 1996]] operated by [[Thorsten Czub]] <ref>[http://www.thorstenczub.de/aegon.html Aegon 1996-97] by [[Thorsten Czub]]</ref> <ref>[http://www.amazon.com/Attack-Mikhail-Tal/dp/1857440439 Amazon.com: Attack with Mikhail Tal (9781857440430): Mikhail Tal, Iakov Damsky, Ken Neat]</ref>
=Selected Games=
[[WMCCC 1995]], round 4, [[Chess Genius]] - [[Chess System Tal]] <ref>[https://www.game-ai-forum.org/icga-tournaments/round.php?tournament=56&round=4&id=4 Paderborn 1995 - Chess - Round 4 - Game 4 (ICGA Tournaments)]</ref>
<pre>
[Event "WMCCC 1995"]
[Site "Paderborn, Germany"]
[Date "1995.10.11"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Chess Genius"]
[Black "Chess System Tal"]
[Result "0-1"]
1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.g3 d5 5.cxd5 Nxd5 6.Bg2 Nb6 7.O-O Be7 8.a3 O-O
9.b4 Re8 10.Rb1 Bf8 11.d3 a5 12.b5 Nd4 13.Nd2 Rb8 14.e3 Ne6 15.Nf3 Ng5 16.Nxg5
Qxg5 17.Ne4 Qd8 18.Qc2 Bg4 19.f4 exf4 20.Rxf4 Be6 21.Rf2 f5 22.Nc3 Bf7 23.Ne2
Qd7 24.Qc3 Nd5 25.Bxd5 Qxd5 26.Nd4 Re5 27.Qxc7 Ra8 28.Qc3 Rae8 29.Nf3 Rxe3
30.Bxe3 Rxe3 31.Nd4 g6 32.Re2 Bc5 33.Rxe3 Bxd4 34.Qc8+ Kg7 35.Re1 f4 36.gxf4
Qf3 37.Qc7 Bxe3+ 38.Rxe3 Qxe3+ 39.Kg2 Qe2+ 40.Kg1 Qxd3 41.Qxb7 Qxa3 42.b6 Qc5+
43.Kf1 a4 44.Qc7 Qxc7 45.bxc7 Be6 46.h4 a3 0-1
</pre>
=Description=
given in 1997 from the [[ICGA]] tournament site <ref>[https://www.game-ai-forum.org/icga-tournaments/program.php?id=31 Chess System Tal's ICGA Tournaments]</ref> :
CSTal is designed to play in the romantic and dangerous style of Michael Tal, famous for his daring and aggressive style of play.
Programmer Chris Whittington has developed a radically different approach to chess programming, concentrating on speculative chess knowledge within the [[Evaluation Function|evaluation function]]; and the use of [[Pruning|forward pruning]] techniques which rely on this evaluation function knowledge.
One effect of using a high knowledge-based approach is that CSTal operates at a [[Nodes per Second|nodes per second]] rate much less than programs with simple evaluation functions. The risks and benefits of this strategy are obvious; on the one side CSTal is able to steer games towards tactical king-attack complexities, and to execute stunning sacrifices. On the other side the disparity in effective search depth means that state of the art search programs will have the advantage if the position does not contain factors where CSTal's knowledge is able to give it the edge.
CSTal's computer-computer games are often very exciting and double-edged, with the result in doubt until the end. It is capable of causing serious upsets to top programs, but also of being seriously upset itself.
In a materialistic world, in the materialistic world of computer chess, Chess System Tal offers the alternative pathway of idealism.
=See also=
==Engines==
* [[Chess Player 2150]]
* [[Chess Simulator]]
* [[Complete Chess System]]
==People==
* [[Thorsten Czub]]
* [[Jeff Rollason]]
* [[Chris Whittington]]
=Forum Posts=
==1996 ...==
* [http://groups.google.com/group/rec.games.chess.computer/browse_frm/thread/e32a20ebb61e20f9 Chess System Tal beta testers] by [[Chris Whittington]], [[Computer Chess Forums|rgcc]], October 22, 1996
* [http://groups.google.com/group/rec.games.chess.computer/browse_frm/thread/e1052ee6e0c1716c ICCA Press Release: 14th WMCCC Jakarta] by [[Bruce Moreland]], September 15, 1996
* [http://groups.google.com/group/rec.games.chess.computer/browse_frm/thread/ea500961cdc4cf14 Whats happening with Chess System Tal?] by Torstein Hall, [[Computer Chess Forums|rgcc]], December 3, 1996
* [https://www.stmintz.com/ccc/index.php?id=10025 Chess System Tal] by [[Chris Whittington]], [[CCC]], September 22, 1997
* [https://www.stmintz.com/ccc/index.php?id=12508 CS Tal reply] by [[Detlef Pordzik]], [[CCC]], November 29, 1997
: [https://www.stmintz.com/ccc/index.php?id=12565 Re: CS Tal reply] by [[Christophe Théron]], [[CCC]], December 02, 1997
* [http://groups.google.com/group/rec.games.chess.computer/browse_frm/thread/2351569ef701d0fb Chess System Tal on ICC] by [[Chris Whittington]], [[Computer Chess Forums|rgcc]], November 12, 1998
* [https://www.stmintz.com/ccc/index.php?id=47726 Chess System Tal II for Windows] by Didzis Cirulis, [[CCC]], April 01, 1999
* [http://groups.google.com/group/rec.games.chess.computer/browse_frm/thread/349f33a61897f59c Chess System Tal upgrade 2.01] by [[Chris Whittington]], [[Computer Chess Forums|rgcc]], April 23, 1999
* [http://groups.google.com/group/rec.games.chess.computer/browse_frm/thread/8b379902631fd4f1 CSTal 2.50 Developer's Version] by [[Chris Whittington]], [[Computer Chess Forums|rgcc]], June 4, 1999
* [http://groups.google.com/group/rec.games.chess.computer/browse_frm/thread/9eb9daca8c6b7546 Chess System Tal] by [[Vladimir Medvedev]], [[Computer Chess Forums|rgcc]], November 23, 1999
==2000 ...==
* [https://www.stmintz.com/ccc/index.php?id=89555 Where does one buy Chess System Tal?] by James A. Tackett, [[CCC]], January 18, 2000
* [https://www.stmintz.com/ccc/index.php?id=219232 complete rewrite of Chess System Tal] by [[Thorsten Czub]], [[CCC]], March 23, 2002
* [https://www.stmintz.com/ccc/index.php?id=242458 What's the strength of chess system tal II?] by Yang Sheng, [[CCC]], July 25, 2002
* [https://www.stmintz.com/ccc/index.php?id=272182 Want to order System TAL II ....still available?] by Art Basham, [[CCC]], December 21, 2002
* [https://www.stmintz.com/ccc/index.php?id=282219 Some Analysis by Chess System Tal 2 of Game 5 Kasparov-DJ] by Ludicrous, [[CCC]], February 06, 2003 » [[Kasparov versus Deep Junior 2003]]
* [https://www.stmintz.com/ccc/index.php?id=354828 CSTAL 2 in another interface?] by Randy Adams, [[CCC]], March 16, 2004
==2005 ...==
* [https://www.stmintz.com/ccc/index.php?id=429003 For those interested in: A) Chess Tal B) New engines] by [[Fernando Villegas]], [[CCC]], May 30, 2005
* [http://www.talkchess.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=21299 Chris Whittington's Chess System Tal!] by [[Swaminathan Natarajan|Swaminathan]], [[CCC]], May 22, 2008
==2010 ...==
* [http://www.talkchess.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=42174 Rating list with Virtual Chess 2 and/or Chess System Tal ?] by [[Vincent Lejeune]], [[CCC]], January 26, 2012 » [[Virtual Chess]]
* [http://www.talkchess.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=53174 what is known about CSTal's inner workings?] by [[Pawel Koziol]], [[CCC]], August 04, 2014
* [http://www.foro.meca-web.es/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=72&start=50#p9325 Re: La Máquina Preservadora. Programas de Ajedrez] by duct, [[Computer Chess Forums|Meca Foro]], May 20, 2016 (Spanish)
* [http://www.hiarcs.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=8184 "reincarnations" of Chess System Tal 2] by jarek, [[Computer Chess Forums|Hiarcs Forum]], December 26, 2016
=External Links=
* [https://www.game-ai-forum.org/icga-tournaments/program.php?id=31 Chess System Tal's ICGA Tournaments]
* [http://www.aifactory.co.uk/AIF_Games_Chess_Tal.htm AI Factory Chess Tal]
* [http://www.mobygames.com/game/chess-system-tal Chess System Tal for DOS (1997)] from [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MobyGames MobyGames]
* [http://www.mobygames.com/game/chess-system-tal-ii Chess System Tal II for Windows (1999)] from [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MobyGames MobyGames]
* [http://www.schachversand.de/d/detail/software/58.html Chris Wittington - Chess System Tal: 25,31 Euro - Schachprogramm] from [[Schachversand Niggemann]] (German)
* [http://www.schachversand.de/d/detail/software/201.html Chris Wittington - Chess System Tal II: 50,11 Euro - Schachprogramm] from [[Schachversand Niggemann]] (German)
* [http://www.thorstenczub.de/complcss2.html Complete Chess System 2 - TAL] hosted by [[Thorsten Czub]]
* [http://www.thorstenczub.de/cwnow.html Was macht eigentlich: Chris Whittington ?] by [[Thorsten Czub]] (German)
* [http://www.thorstenczub.de/ihatematerialists.html i hate materialists] by [[Chris Whittington]], hosted by [[Thorsten Czub]]
* [http://www.thorstenczub.de/cst_f_v.html Chess System Tal - A Promise Finally Accomplished?] by [[Fernando Villegas]], hosted by [[Thorsten Czub]]
* [http://www.thorstenczub.de/tal_lebt_inscw.html Tal lebt!] by [[Karsten Bauermeister]], hosted by [[Thorsten Czub]] (German)
=References=
<references />
'''[[Engines|Up one Level]]'''
'''Chess System Tal''' (Complete Chess System 2 - TAL, CSTal, AI Factory Chess Tal), <br/>
a commercial chess program developed by [[Chris Whittington]] in the mid 90s as successor of the [[Complete Chess System]], marketed through his company [[Oxford Softworks]]. The first version was a [[MS-DOS]] program, Chess System Tal II, released in 1999 ran under [[Windows]]. Chess System Tal is famous for its entertaining, strong human playing style with focus on [[King Safety|King attacks]] and speculative [[Sacrifice|sacrifices]], resembling that of the former World Champion [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mikhail_Tal Mikhail Tal]. Chess System Tal II was further marketed by [[Ubisoft]] <ref>[http://www.spieletipps.de/pc/chess-system-tal-2/ Chess System Tal 2 (PC) bei spieletipps] (German)</ref> and continued by [[Jeff Rollason|Jeff Rollason's]] [[AI Factory]] <ref>[http://www.aifactory.co.uk/AIF_Games_Chess_Tal.htm AI Factory Chess Tal]</ref> <ref>[http://www.aifactory.co.uk/AIF_Competitions.htm#chess AI Factory World Championships and Competitions - Chess]</ref>, who now own the rights on the CSTal sources <ref>[https://www.stmintz.com/ccc/index.php?id=429044 Re: For those interested in: A) Chess Tal B) New engines] by [[Thorsten Czub]], [[Computer Chess Forums|CCC]], May 30, 2005</ref>.
=Tournament Play=
CSTal played two [[World Microcomputer Chess Championship|World Microcomputer Chess Championships]], the [[WMCCC 1995]], the [[WMCCC 1997]], and three [[Aegon Tournaments]], [[Aegon 1995]], [[Aegon 1996]] and [[Aegon 1997]] <ref>[http://www.csvn.nl/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=124&Itemid=50 AEGON Tournaments Computer Results Summary Latest 3 Tournaments], [[CSVN]] site</ref>.
=Photos=
[[FILE:cstalczub.jpg|none|border|text-bottom|487px|link=http://www.thorstenczub.de/aegon.html]]
Chess System Tal at [[Aegon 1996]] operated by [[Thorsten Czub]] <ref>[http://www.thorstenczub.de/aegon.html Aegon 1996-97] by [[Thorsten Czub]]</ref> <ref>[http://www.amazon.com/Attack-Mikhail-Tal/dp/1857440439 Amazon.com: Attack with Mikhail Tal (9781857440430): Mikhail Tal, Iakov Damsky, Ken Neat]</ref>
=Selected Games=
[[WMCCC 1995]], round 4, [[Chess Genius]] - [[Chess System Tal]] <ref>[https://www.game-ai-forum.org/icga-tournaments/round.php?tournament=56&round=4&id=4 Paderborn 1995 - Chess - Round 4 - Game 4 (ICGA Tournaments)]</ref>
<pre>
[Event "WMCCC 1995"]
[Site "Paderborn, Germany"]
[Date "1995.10.11"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Chess Genius"]
[Black "Chess System Tal"]
[Result "0-1"]
1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.g3 d5 5.cxd5 Nxd5 6.Bg2 Nb6 7.O-O Be7 8.a3 O-O
9.b4 Re8 10.Rb1 Bf8 11.d3 a5 12.b5 Nd4 13.Nd2 Rb8 14.e3 Ne6 15.Nf3 Ng5 16.Nxg5
Qxg5 17.Ne4 Qd8 18.Qc2 Bg4 19.f4 exf4 20.Rxf4 Be6 21.Rf2 f5 22.Nc3 Bf7 23.Ne2
Qd7 24.Qc3 Nd5 25.Bxd5 Qxd5 26.Nd4 Re5 27.Qxc7 Ra8 28.Qc3 Rae8 29.Nf3 Rxe3
30.Bxe3 Rxe3 31.Nd4 g6 32.Re2 Bc5 33.Rxe3 Bxd4 34.Qc8+ Kg7 35.Re1 f4 36.gxf4
Qf3 37.Qc7 Bxe3+ 38.Rxe3 Qxe3+ 39.Kg2 Qe2+ 40.Kg1 Qxd3 41.Qxb7 Qxa3 42.b6 Qc5+
43.Kf1 a4 44.Qc7 Qxc7 45.bxc7 Be6 46.h4 a3 0-1
</pre>
=Description=
given in 1997 from the [[ICGA]] tournament site <ref>[https://www.game-ai-forum.org/icga-tournaments/program.php?id=31 Chess System Tal's ICGA Tournaments]</ref> :
CSTal is designed to play in the romantic and dangerous style of Michael Tal, famous for his daring and aggressive style of play.
Programmer Chris Whittington has developed a radically different approach to chess programming, concentrating on speculative chess knowledge within the [[Evaluation Function|evaluation function]]; and the use of [[Pruning|forward pruning]] techniques which rely on this evaluation function knowledge.
One effect of using a high knowledge-based approach is that CSTal operates at a [[Nodes per Second|nodes per second]] rate much less than programs with simple evaluation functions. The risks and benefits of this strategy are obvious; on the one side CSTal is able to steer games towards tactical king-attack complexities, and to execute stunning sacrifices. On the other side the disparity in effective search depth means that state of the art search programs will have the advantage if the position does not contain factors where CSTal's knowledge is able to give it the edge.
CSTal's computer-computer games are often very exciting and double-edged, with the result in doubt until the end. It is capable of causing serious upsets to top programs, but also of being seriously upset itself.
In a materialistic world, in the materialistic world of computer chess, Chess System Tal offers the alternative pathway of idealism.
=See also=
==Engines==
* [[Chess Player 2150]]
* [[Chess Simulator]]
* [[Complete Chess System]]
==People==
* [[Thorsten Czub]]
* [[Jeff Rollason]]
* [[Chris Whittington]]
=Forum Posts=
==1996 ...==
* [http://groups.google.com/group/rec.games.chess.computer/browse_frm/thread/e32a20ebb61e20f9 Chess System Tal beta testers] by [[Chris Whittington]], [[Computer Chess Forums|rgcc]], October 22, 1996
* [http://groups.google.com/group/rec.games.chess.computer/browse_frm/thread/e1052ee6e0c1716c ICCA Press Release: 14th WMCCC Jakarta] by [[Bruce Moreland]], September 15, 1996
* [http://groups.google.com/group/rec.games.chess.computer/browse_frm/thread/ea500961cdc4cf14 Whats happening with Chess System Tal?] by Torstein Hall, [[Computer Chess Forums|rgcc]], December 3, 1996
* [https://www.stmintz.com/ccc/index.php?id=10025 Chess System Tal] by [[Chris Whittington]], [[CCC]], September 22, 1997
* [https://www.stmintz.com/ccc/index.php?id=12508 CS Tal reply] by [[Detlef Pordzik]], [[CCC]], November 29, 1997
: [https://www.stmintz.com/ccc/index.php?id=12565 Re: CS Tal reply] by [[Christophe Théron]], [[CCC]], December 02, 1997
* [http://groups.google.com/group/rec.games.chess.computer/browse_frm/thread/2351569ef701d0fb Chess System Tal on ICC] by [[Chris Whittington]], [[Computer Chess Forums|rgcc]], November 12, 1998
* [https://www.stmintz.com/ccc/index.php?id=47726 Chess System Tal II for Windows] by Didzis Cirulis, [[CCC]], April 01, 1999
* [http://groups.google.com/group/rec.games.chess.computer/browse_frm/thread/349f33a61897f59c Chess System Tal upgrade 2.01] by [[Chris Whittington]], [[Computer Chess Forums|rgcc]], April 23, 1999
* [http://groups.google.com/group/rec.games.chess.computer/browse_frm/thread/8b379902631fd4f1 CSTal 2.50 Developer's Version] by [[Chris Whittington]], [[Computer Chess Forums|rgcc]], June 4, 1999
* [http://groups.google.com/group/rec.games.chess.computer/browse_frm/thread/9eb9daca8c6b7546 Chess System Tal] by [[Vladimir Medvedev]], [[Computer Chess Forums|rgcc]], November 23, 1999
==2000 ...==
* [https://www.stmintz.com/ccc/index.php?id=89555 Where does one buy Chess System Tal?] by James A. Tackett, [[CCC]], January 18, 2000
* [https://www.stmintz.com/ccc/index.php?id=219232 complete rewrite of Chess System Tal] by [[Thorsten Czub]], [[CCC]], March 23, 2002
* [https://www.stmintz.com/ccc/index.php?id=242458 What's the strength of chess system tal II?] by Yang Sheng, [[CCC]], July 25, 2002
* [https://www.stmintz.com/ccc/index.php?id=272182 Want to order System TAL II ....still available?] by Art Basham, [[CCC]], December 21, 2002
* [https://www.stmintz.com/ccc/index.php?id=282219 Some Analysis by Chess System Tal 2 of Game 5 Kasparov-DJ] by Ludicrous, [[CCC]], February 06, 2003 » [[Kasparov versus Deep Junior 2003]]
* [https://www.stmintz.com/ccc/index.php?id=354828 CSTAL 2 in another interface?] by Randy Adams, [[CCC]], March 16, 2004
==2005 ...==
* [https://www.stmintz.com/ccc/index.php?id=429003 For those interested in: A) Chess Tal B) New engines] by [[Fernando Villegas]], [[CCC]], May 30, 2005
* [http://www.talkchess.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=21299 Chris Whittington's Chess System Tal!] by [[Swaminathan Natarajan|Swaminathan]], [[CCC]], May 22, 2008
==2010 ...==
* [http://www.talkchess.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=42174 Rating list with Virtual Chess 2 and/or Chess System Tal ?] by [[Vincent Lejeune]], [[CCC]], January 26, 2012 » [[Virtual Chess]]
* [http://www.talkchess.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=53174 what is known about CSTal's inner workings?] by [[Pawel Koziol]], [[CCC]], August 04, 2014
* [http://www.foro.meca-web.es/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=72&start=50#p9325 Re: La Máquina Preservadora. Programas de Ajedrez] by duct, [[Computer Chess Forums|Meca Foro]], May 20, 2016 (Spanish)
* [http://www.hiarcs.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=8184 "reincarnations" of Chess System Tal 2] by jarek, [[Computer Chess Forums|Hiarcs Forum]], December 26, 2016
=External Links=
* [https://www.game-ai-forum.org/icga-tournaments/program.php?id=31 Chess System Tal's ICGA Tournaments]
* [http://www.aifactory.co.uk/AIF_Games_Chess_Tal.htm AI Factory Chess Tal]
* [http://www.mobygames.com/game/chess-system-tal Chess System Tal for DOS (1997)] from [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MobyGames MobyGames]
* [http://www.mobygames.com/game/chess-system-tal-ii Chess System Tal II for Windows (1999)] from [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MobyGames MobyGames]
* [http://www.schachversand.de/d/detail/software/58.html Chris Wittington - Chess System Tal: 25,31 Euro - Schachprogramm] from [[Schachversand Niggemann]] (German)
* [http://www.schachversand.de/d/detail/software/201.html Chris Wittington - Chess System Tal II: 50,11 Euro - Schachprogramm] from [[Schachversand Niggemann]] (German)
* [http://www.thorstenczub.de/complcss2.html Complete Chess System 2 - TAL] hosted by [[Thorsten Czub]]
* [http://www.thorstenczub.de/cwnow.html Was macht eigentlich: Chris Whittington ?] by [[Thorsten Czub]] (German)
* [http://www.thorstenczub.de/ihatematerialists.html i hate materialists] by [[Chris Whittington]], hosted by [[Thorsten Czub]]
* [http://www.thorstenczub.de/cst_f_v.html Chess System Tal - A Promise Finally Accomplished?] by [[Fernando Villegas]], hosted by [[Thorsten Czub]]
* [http://www.thorstenczub.de/tal_lebt_inscw.html Tal lebt!] by [[Karsten Bauermeister]], hosted by [[Thorsten Czub]] (German)
=References=
<references />
'''[[Engines|Up one Level]]'''
