If it’s not too much trouble, I’d like a list of the game numbers, and their
solution lengths (not counting automoves, and assuming the “liberal” form of
an automove, which I call a Raymond, or Full, automove, not the Horne
original automove – what’s the accepted terminology?). Short solutions are
the last thing on my Solver To-Do list.
How does your solver decide the optimum point to use the ephemeral cells for
a multi-card move?
-Gary
From: dannyjones183
Sent: Monday, October 15, 2012 10:30 AM
To: fc-solve-discuss_at_yahoogroups.com
Subject: Ephemeral Freecells
Previously, I mentioned that Michael Keller was working on a new variant for
his interactive FreeCell program. In fact, I wrote a solver for him to
generate solutions. The heart of my solver was to eventually go into his
program. Out of consideration, I've held off on sharing his idea, but I
think it's now time to share since it's in his FAQ page.
His idea is to limit one or more freecells to where they could be used only
once to store a card. He calls these ephemeral freecells. An example is the
traditional 8x4 layout with "c" and "d" being ephereral freecells and being
described as 8x2e2. This makes many solutions more difficult than the
traditional 8x4 scenario, but not the excessive difficulty of an 8x2
scenario. Note: there is nothing preventing the 5H from being moved in and
out of the "c" freecell and then later being moved in and out of the "d"
freecell. However, the 5H would then be the only card to ever use these
freecells.
A drawback is that FcPro can't be used to replay solutions because some
multi-card moves might use the ephemeral freecells to move more cards than
expected, or (indirectly) use the ephemeral freecells a second time.
Oh well, just a thought for a new scenario to consider.
Aside note: I am corrently generating short solutions for the first 2,500
deals. If anyone would like a copy, let me know.
Regards, Danny A. Jones
Received on Mon Oct 15 2012 - 10:51:24 IST