A Tutorial about Cutechess GUI

[Sedat Canbaz]

Hello Chess Friends,

Well, due to frequent questions, requests etc.
I've realized to share my experience with all of you!
And I hope that it will be useful for new incomers...

1st of all,
If you are as new tester under Cutechess GUI, before
I recommend to create same name folders as mine..
In this way...I think it will be much easier for you!

And let's give a start...
Via downloading my pre-configurated settings:
https://mega.nz/file/ighwxSTZ#O5w8mSF-w ... yXPXm0W_Qg

You have to create some useful folders before e.g
Install your favorite engines, endgames, books...

Btw, here are chess files/ directories (on my notebook):

For engine folder:
C:\1chess\engines

For book suite folder:
C:\1chess\book

For syzygybases 4-men:
C:\1chess\tbs\syz

PGN Output folder:
C:/1chess/games.pgn
--------------------------------------------------------------

After all these above steps...
Now you can go to folder, where Cutechess keeps
Its own GUI and Engine settings, for example my:
C:\Users\ryzen\AppData\Roaming\cutechess

Now you can delete the both defaults settings,
Later copy-paste my pre-configurated settings...

And now you have to create engine players etc,
How to do this, open your Cutechess GUI program

Go to Tools --> Settings --> Engines
Now you can copy-paste to default location:
C:\1chess\engines

And now let's start creating X Engine player

Go to Tools --> Settings --> Engines

Click the button + (located bellow on left side)
E.g click/create in similar ways as other GUIs...
And after the engine player creation...you need
Manually extra settings to add e.g change the Hash
From default hash size to 128 MB hash etc.
How to do this (about adding these command lines)
Double click over the created X engine player
And click over Advanced, from here you can change
The hash setting, paste endgames commands etc.
E.g to add endgames command, on syzygy directory:
C:\1chess\tbs\syz

After all these steps...it's time for other important
Settings, such as Book, Time Control, Concurrent, Move
Overhead etc.

And so on.. I mean in case of creating newer engines..
Note: Once you created all eng...it will save automatically..
But a good idea to close Cutechess GUI, to take affects!
Because in case of power cut, all this work may lost....

IMPORTANT NOTE:
Be very careful with 'Concurrent games' option !!
One mistake... all your games can be affected a lot!
E.g on my current notebook, which is up to 16 threads
If Ponder OFF, 1 Thread, I set Concurrent games: 8
Note also that when I run matches as Ponder ON,
Then I change the Concurrent option to max: 4

Btw, for anyone missed, interested:
You can find Concurrent games option under:
Tools --> Settings --> Tournaments

To be more clear, the Concurrent games option can be
Very useful for CPUs over than 4 and above of course!
On other hand, it's not bad idea to use it.. you can produce so
Many games in short time, sure if you have machine with many CPUs
E.g, on my 2x Epyc 7B12 (SMT OFF), as usual I set Concurrent: 64

In other words, the Concurrent option depends on your PC's cores!
It is something like you have a bus with many seats..
Road=Chess / Bus=Computer / Seats=Games / Driver=Tester
Btw, what I can say more over it: have a good journey!)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
And now it's time to configure the book suite settings:
Go to Tools --> Settings --> Games

Choose the book suite, which you wish to be used..
In my case, usually I use Balsa (for less than 3600 Elo+)
But if 3700+ tours: I use Unique suite, not so bad choice!

Meanwhile,
You can use any other book as you wish, no problem by my side )
You may know, more better...but be carefll with weak suites!
You may have PC with 100 CPUs or more, but based on testings:
Forget about error-margin...We can't expect much quality games!
And it does not matter such as Rapid or very Slow TC etc.
In other words, I'd prefer Bullet, but Strong opening over
40/120 + via weak opening! sure this is my view...
And I respect... anyone is free to run any test...

And be aware..from the same menu dialog:
Tools --> Settings --> Games

You can set your favorite Time Control, plus
You can set Thinking on opponents time (Ponder ON)
And many other GUI settings such use openings
In order: Random or Sequential etc.

Meanwhile, do not forget to set PGN output e.g
Go to: Tools --> Settings --> Tournaments
Add the below command in PGN output dialog:
C:/1chess/games.pgn

Ok..that's all for now, more info very soon,
E.g about how to run a new tournament etc. )

One thing more,
Sorry that it's a littler bit long tutorial..but otherwise
I can not...plus in this way, I believe that progress will
Be in better way, right ?)

Good Luck..

Best,
Sedat

[Anton101]

Wonderful contribution, Sedat, Thank you.

[Desvelemosafrica]

Hello Chess Friends,

Well, due to frequent questions, requests etc.
I've realized to share my experience with all of you!
And I hope that it will be useful for new incomers...

1st of all,
If you are as new tester under Cutechess GUI, before
I recommend to create same name folders as mine..
In this way...I think it will be much easier for you!

And let's give a start...
Via downloading my pre-configurated settings:
https://mega.nz/file/ighwxSTZ#O5w8mSF-w ... yXPXm0W_Qg

You have to create some useful folders before e.g
Install your favorite engines, endgames, books...

Btw, here are chess files/ directories (on my notebook):

For engine folder:
C:\1chess\engines

For book suite folder:
C:\1chess\book

For syzygybases 4-men:
C:\1chess\tbs\syz

PGN Output folder:
C:/1chess/games.pgn
--------------------------------------------------------------

After all these above steps...
Now you can go to folder, where Cutechess keeps
Its own GUI and Engine settings, for example my:
C:\Users\ryzen\AppData\Roaming\cutechess

Now you can delete the both defaults settings,
Later copy-paste my pre-configurated settings...

And now you have to create engine players etc,
How to do this, open your Cutechess GUI program

Go to Tools --> Settings --> Engines
Now you can copy-paste to default location:
C:\1chess\engines

And now let's start creating X Engine player

Go to Tools --> Settings --> Engines

Click the button + (located bellow on left side)
E.g click/create in similar ways as other GUIs...
And after the engine player creation...you need
Manually extra settings to add e.g change the Hash
From default hash size to 128 MB hash etc.
How to do this (about adding these command lines)
Double click over the created X engine player
And click over Advanced, from here you can change
The hash setting, paste endgames commands etc.
E.g to add endgames command, on syzygy directory:
C:\1chess\tbs\syz

After all these steps...it's time for other important
Settings, such as Book, Time Control, Concurrent, Move
Overhead etc.

And so on.. I mean in case of creating newer engines..
Note: Once you created all eng...it will save automatically..
But a good idea to close Cutechess GUI, to take affects!
Because in case of power cut, all this work may lost....

IMPORTANT NOTE:
Be very careful with 'Concurrent games' option !!
One mistake... all your games can be affected a lot!
E.g on my current notebook, which is up to 16 threads
If Ponder OFF, 1 Thread, I set Concurrent games: 8
Note also that when I run matches as Ponder ON,
Then I change the Concurrent option to max: 4

Btw, for anyone missed, interested:
You can find Concurrent games option under:
Tools --> Settings --> Tournaments

To be more clear, the Concurrent games option can be
Very useful for CPUs over than 4 and above of course!
On other hand, it's not bad idea to use it.. you can produce so
Many games in short time, sure if you have machine with many CPUs
E.g, on my 2x Epyc 7B12 (SMT OFF), as usual I set Concurrent: 64

In other words, the Concurrent option depends on your PC's cores!
It is something like you have a bus with many seats..
Road=Chess / Bus=Computer / Seats=Games / Driver=Tester
Btw, what I can say more over it: have a good journey!)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
And now it's time to configure the book suite settings:
Go to Tools --> Settings --> Games

Choose the book suite, which you wish to be used..
In my case, usually I use Balsa (for less than 3600 Elo+)
But if 3700+ tours: I use Unique suite, not so bad choice!

Meanwhile,
You can use any other book as you wish, no problem by my side )
You may know, more better...but be carefll with weak suites!
You may have PC with 100 CPUs or more, but based on testings:
Forget about error-margin...We can't expect much quality games!
And it does not matter such as Rapid or very Slow TC etc.
In other words, I'd prefer Bullet, but Strong opening over
40/120 + via weak opening! sure this is my view...
And I respect... anyone is free to run any test...

And be aware..from the same menu dialog:
Tools --> Settings --> Games

You can set your favorite Time Control, plus
You can set Thinking on opponents time (Ponder ON)
And many other GUI settings such use openings
In order: Random or Sequential etc.

Meanwhile, do not forget to set PGN output e.g
Go to: Tools --> Settings --> Tournaments
Add the below command in PGN output dialog:
C:/1chess/games.pgn

Ok..that's all for now, more info very soon,
E.g about how to run a new tournament etc. )

One thing more,
Sorry that it's a littler bit long tutorial..but otherwise
I can not...plus in this way, I believe that progress will
Be in better way, right ?)

Good Luck..

Best,
Sedat

Thanks sedat, because I was a bit lost with this interface that has very good options. I needed it. And also with the default settings. This is fabulous. Because I had it installed in the path c:\Programfiles x86\Cutechess, etc. I'm going to delete all of that and apply those changes. Thank you very much, my dear friend.

[Sedat Canbaz]

Wonderful contribution, Sedat, Thank you.

You are welcome dear Anton )

Greetings

[Sedat Canbaz]

Thanks sedat, because I was a bit lost with this interface that has very good options. I needed it. And also with the default settings. This is fabulous. Because I had it installed in the path c:\Programfiles x86\Cutechess, etc. I'm going to delete all of that and apply those changes. Thank you very much, my dear friend.

Not at all.. dear Jordi )

Greetings

[Sedat Canbaz]

Continuing...

New GUI Settings:
https://mega.nz/file/L4BDnYTL#HW5Npo5Jf ... o9DILAHVUg

Before starting about how to run a new tournament,
I'd like to point out that (via Cutechess GUI),
It's possible to create Polyglot (BIN) books too!
The process is so easy, only with several steps...

E.g just in case of creation BIN book, go to
Tools --> Game Database --> Import...
Select the database (from the left panel), then
Click 'Create Opening Book'(located in the below)
Set Maximum Opening Depth (Default 20), Name it..
That's all, the opening book have to be created...

Btw, more details about 'Concurrent games' option,
Via Concurrent: You'll be able to run parallel,
Stimously matches (e.g many games in same time)!
Just one example, if we set Concurrent games: 8
That means 8 (eight) games will be played stimously!
And if I'm not wrong, no any GUI has this great option,
Exception only Cutechess and Banksia has this future!
Meanwhile, Banksia is another excellent GUI for sure,
Which offers various options too and worth giving a try!
------------------------------------------------------

How to create a new tournament (under Cutechess):

1st of all,
Before running, be sure that everything is all right
With Engines, Book, Concurrent, Time Control settings!

How to run a new tournament:
Tournament --> New...

From the left panel,
You may give Event, Site name...
------------------------------------------------------

In tournament type section:
Select Round-Robin or Gauntlet
Or Knockout or Pyramid

Note:
Concurrent option is deactivated on Knockout, Pyramid!
But on other hand, it's quite normal...no surprise !)
------------------------------------------------------

In Rounds section,
You are free to put any numbers as you wish..
Anyhow, time is money! so please be careful!
I mean with wrong configurations..the target will
Be not completed successfully...so please check
And be more carefully with these Rounds numbers!

For example, here are some numbers,
Which may help you to decide, learn...

Rounds: 100
Games per encounter: 2

If two players, 200 games will played

And as other example:

Rounds: 500
Games per encounter: 2

If two players, 1000 games will played
------------------------------------------------------

Plus from the current Tournament menu setup:
You have choices to change the Time Control,
Or Book, even the Engines's hash tables etc..
Just in case, these new settings will be used
Only for the current tour! e.g, in next tour,
Main GUI, Engine, Book.. settings will be used!
------------------------------------------------------

After all these actions... final steps are coming:
From the Player's panel, click + button and Select
The Engines, which you wish to test.. and click OK
That's all... the tournament should be started..!!
And as we see.. not so complicated as it looks !)

What I can say more (for better performance),
Recommended to be used light operating systems,
Disable unnecessary programs in system tray, plus
The unwanted ones which are running in Background!
Btw, about checking the hardware/processor speed:
Periodically and often run chess benchmarks!

One thing more,
Don't use dots, free spaces etc. when naming engine.exe
Sure same words are going for opening book names too!!
Just one example: stockfish151 = all right
Sto c k fish 1 5. 1 = wrong

Why I say like this,
Reason...sometimes I've seen errors, reported by GUIs
Like engine is not found or crash messages...etc.

For solution, if names with dots plus with space,
I edit them... and later I am going to create...

Ok..that's all for right now..see you later )

Sure for any questions, please feel free to ask...

Best,
Sedat

[Homayoun]

Very useful information and tutorial. Many thanks.

[Sedat Canbaz]

Very useful information and tutorial. Many thanks.

Not at all..it is my pleasure )

[Sedat Canbaz]

Meanwhile, (if you are Windows 8/10 user)
How to speed up your hardware's speed...
Here are some simple, but effective ways:

Which Services to Disable in Windows System,
Sure I mean for Better Performance / Gaming:

AllJoyn Router Service
Application Layer Gateway Service
Bluetooth Support Service
Computer Browser
Connected User Experiences and Telemetry
Diagnostic Policy Service
Downloaded Maps Manager
Geolocation Service
Fax
IP Helper
Offline Files
Print Spooler
Program Compatibility Assistant Service
Retail Demo Service
Remote Registry
Remote Desktop Configuration and Remote Desktop Services
Secondary Logon
Server
Smart Card
TCP/IP NetBIOS Helper
Touch Keyboard and Handwriting Panel Service
Windows Biometric Service
Windows Connect Now
Windows Image Acquisition
Windows Insider Service
Windows Media Player Network Sharing Service
Windows Mobile Hotspot Service
Windows Search
Windows Update

Note:
All these settings have to be disabled via services.msc
And to take effects...you need to restart your computer!

If you are not aware, how to open Windows services.msc:
Press Windows + R, type services.msc in Run dialog,
And hit Enter key to open it

Note also that with the above settings, my PCs are running
Properly and very fast... and since a long period of time!
Anyhow be very careful... one mistake your operating system
May work with errors, freezes​​..in short: use it in your own risk!

Greetings

[Desvelemosafrica]

Meanwhile, (if you are Windows 8/10 user)
How to speed up your hardware's speed...
Here are some simple, but effective ways:

Which Services to Disable in Windows System,
Sure I mean for Better Performance / Gaming:

AllJoyn Router Service
Application Layer Gateway Service
Bluetooth Support Service
Computer Browser
Connected User Experiences and Telemetry
Diagnostic Policy Service
Downloaded Maps Manager
Geolocation Service
Fax
IP Helper
Offline Files
Print Spooler
Program Compatibility Assistant Service
Retail Demo Service
Remote Registry
Remote Desktop Configuration and Remote Desktop Services
Secondary Logon
Server
Smart Card
TCP/IP NetBIOS Helper
Touch Keyboard and Handwriting Panel Service
Windows Biometric Service
Windows Connect Now
Windows Image Acquisition
Windows Insider Service
Windows Media Player Network Sharing Service
Windows Mobile Hotspot Service
Windows Search
Windows Update

Note:
All these settings have to be disabled via services.msc
And to take effects...you need to restart your computer!

If you are not aware, how to open Windows services.msc:
Press Windows + R, type services.msc in Run dialog,
And hit Enter key to open it

Note also that with the above settings, my PCs are running
Properly and very fast... and since a long period of time!
Anyhow be very careful... one mistake your operating system
May work with errors, freezes​​..in short: use it in your own risk!

Greetings

Many thanks!!!!!