[tempguy9999]

Branching increases because a piece is not constrained by other pieces. A (say) 20% branch increase will increase exponentially through the tree. Branching is probably higher earlier in the game now because there are more otherwise blocking pieces in play.

> Gaining positional advantage at cost of anything other than pawn is probably not worth it

This kind of post makes me want to give up on HN. I have actually played it (albeit a very long time ago) and you are wrong. Please try it.

But even if true, and only a pawn dies, it drastically changes the nature of the game as a white pawn is a barrier to white pieces. Make that barrier permeable and the entire game changes.

> Taking your own pieces would be sub-optimal choice in every-case other then avoiding mate

Or inflicting mate, if you're blocked from that by your own piece. Or opening an attack that otherwise blocked. Or freeing pieces otherwise useless (bishops seem to get this badly, though maybe it's just me - I was never a great player). Any major piece otherwise trapped can now escape by taking any lesser piece of its own that's fenced it in.

It totally changes the game. Position is just as important as pieces, and maybe more at different times.

[me_me_me]

> This kind of post makes me want to give up on HN. I have actually played it (albeit a very long time ago) and you are wrong. Please try it.

And yet you have not brought up a single example.

It hard to imagine a self sacrifice that would be better than just taking a bad trade.