Bitboard Methods for Games

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Browne, Cameron¹

Affiliations: QUT, Brisbane, Australia

Note: [1] email:c.browne@qut.edu.au

Abstract: Bitboards allow the efficient encoding of games for computer play and the application of fast bitwise-parallel algorithms for common game-related operations. This article describes: (1) a selection of bitboard techniques including an introduction to bitboards and bitwise operations, (2) a classification scheme that distinguishes filter, query and update methods, and (3) a sampling of bitboard algorithms for a range of games other than chess, with notes on their performance and practical application.

DOI: 10.3233/ICG-2014-37202

Journal: ICGA Journal, vol. 37, no. 2, pp. 67-84, 2014