There is the "3D Pieces, Level 5" branch published a while ago. Since 3D mode is now legitimized on this site, here is the "3D Pieces (any%)" branch.
Goals
Aims for fastest checkmate, subject to the following rules:
- Must be 1 player vs CPU, starting from a new game (no SETUP BOARD).
- 3D mode at all times.
Note: Any CPU difficulty is permitted. Start to force CPU to move is permitted. Technically, glitches are also permitted, but none of the known glitches make it any faster.
Wasn't there a previous TAS on this site with this same category?
How did you manipulate the CPU moves? These moves are clearly not what the CPU plays on Novice.
By pressing start to force CPU to move, you can make the CPU play moves that are even worse than those found on Novice. I found out about this trick from speedrun.com (thanks ShesChardcore!) and I simply used the same strategy here. Pressing start at different times can give a different CPU move.
Table of moves and comments
| Move | White | Comment | Black | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | e3 | h6 | CPU move when force move is used right away. | |
| 2 | Qf3 | Faster than 2. Bc4, 3. Qf3, 4. Qxf7#. | Rh7 | Forced right away. Faster than 2... e5. |
| 3 | Bc4 | h5 | Faster than 3... Rh8 on 3D mode. | |
| 4 | Bxf7# | 1-0 |
Note that, unlike on speedrun.com which ends time when the game plays the checkmate jingle, in this TAS time is ended on last input. Note that the sequence after the end of input is longer than the entire input itself!
nymx: Claiming for judging.
nymx: After a group discussion with our senior judges, I have come to a conclusion on this submission.
- Optimization is extremely tight. The only frames for saving, are used to manipulate the "forced move" on the CPU's part. As Fractal stated, this is not really RNG...but taking a move that is being tested, which on different frames...can be bad chess moves. I do find it odd though, that pressing "Start" earlier actually shows a "Book Move"....probably going through many iterations to confirm that current move for countering "White's" turn.
- Audience feedback was light, yet positive...with all votes being "Yes".
- Movie's branch, "3D Pieces", is acceptable to that of an any% branch. Having passed on any glitches, which failed to save time, this branch would have obsoleted any existing glitched runs.
Accepting as a "3D Pieces" branch, under a "Standard" publication.
Thanks to ikuyo for your review.
Zapp Brannigan: If we hit that bullseye, the rest of the dominoes will fall like a house of cards. Checkmate.