diff --git a/src/opt/maxres.cpp b/src/opt/maxres.cpp
index 579a7c6e9..11d87a98e 100644
--- a/src/opt/maxres.cpp
+++ b/src/opt/maxres.cpp
@@ -12,62 +12,79 @@
 using namespace opt;
 
 struct maxres::imp {
-    ast_manager&    m;
-    solver&         s;
-    expr_ref_vector m_B;
-    expr_ref_vector m_D;
-    expr_ref_vector m_asms;    
-    app_ref_vector  m_clss;
-    model_ref       m_model;
-    expr_ref_vector m_soft_constraints;
-    volatile bool   m_cancel;
-    rational        m_lower;
-    rational        m_upper;
-    obj_map<expr, app*> m_asm2cls;
+    struct info {
+        app*     m_cls;
+        rational m_weight;
+        info(app* cls, rational const& w):
+            m_cls(cls), m_weight(w) {}
+        info(): m_cls(0) {}
+    };
+    ast_manager&     m;
+    solver&          s;
+    expr_ref_vector  m_B;
+    expr_ref_vector  m_D;
+    expr_ref_vector  m_asms;    
+    model_ref        m_model;
+    expr_ref_vector  m_soft_constraints;
+    volatile bool    m_cancel;
+    rational         m_lower;
+    rational         m_upper;
+    obj_map<expr, info> m_asm2info;
+    ptr_vector<expr> m_new_core;
+    mus              m_mus;
+    expr_ref_vector  m_trail;
 
-    imp(ast_manager& m, solver& s, expr_ref_vector& soft_constraints):
-        m(m), s(s), m_B(m), m_D(m), m_asms(m), m_clss(m), m_soft_constraints(soft_constraints),
-        m_cancel(false)
+    imp(ast_manager& m, solver& s, expr_ref_vector& soft_constraints, vector<rational> const& weights):
+        m(m), s(s), m_B(m), m_D(m), m_asms(m), m_soft_constraints(m),
+        m_cancel(false),
+        m_mus(s, m),
+        m_trail(m)
     {
+        // TBD: this introduces an assertion to solver.
+        init_soft(weights, soft_constraints);
     }
 
     bool is_literal(expr* l) {
         return 
             is_uninterp_const(l) ||
-            m.is_not(l, l) && is_uninterp_const(l);
+            (m.is_not(l, l) && is_uninterp_const(l));
     }
 
-    void add_soft(expr* e) {
+    void add_soft(expr* e, rational const& w) {
         TRACE("opt", tout << mk_pp(e, m) << "\n";);
         expr_ref asum(m), fml(m);
         app_ref cls(m);
         cls = mk_cls(e);
-        m_clss.push_back(cls);
+        m_trail.push_back(cls);
         if (is_literal(e)) {
-            m_asms.push_back(e);
+            asum = e;
         }
         else {
             asum = m.mk_fresh_const("soft", m.mk_bool_sort());
             fml = m.mk_iff(asum, e);
             s.assert_expr(fml);
-            m_asms.push_back(asum);
         }
-        m_asm2cls.insert(m_asms.back(), cls.get());
+        new_assumption(asum, cls, w);
+        m_upper += w;
+    }
+
+    void new_assumption(expr* e, app* cls, rational const& w) {
+        info inf(cls, w);
+        m_asm2info.insert(e, inf);
+        m_asms.push_back(e);
+        m_trail.push_back(e);        
     }
 
     lbool operator()() {
         expr_ref fml(m);
-        ptr_vector<expr> core, new_core;
+        ptr_vector<expr> core;
         solver::scoped_push _sc(s);
-        for (unsigned i = 0; i < m_soft_constraints.size(); ++i) {
-            add_soft(m_soft_constraints[i].get());
-        }
-        m_upper = rational(m_soft_constraints.size());
         while (true) {
             TRACE("opt", 
                   display_vec(tout, m_asms.size(), m_asms.c_ptr());
                   s.display(tout);
                   tout << "\n";
+                  display(tout);
                   );
             lbool is_sat = s.check_sat(m_asms.size(), m_asms.c_ptr());
             if (m_cancel) {
@@ -85,37 +102,21 @@ struct maxres::imp {
                 s.get_unsat_core(core);
                 TRACE("opt", display_vec(tout << "core: ", core.size(), core.c_ptr()););
                 SASSERT(!core.empty());
+                is_sat = minimize_core(core);
+                SASSERT(!core.empty());
                 if (core.empty()) {
                     return l_false;
                 }
-#if 1
-                // minimize core:
-                mus ms(s, m);
-                for (unsigned i = 0; i < core.size(); ++i) {
-                    app* cls = 0; 
-                    VERIFY(m_asm2cls.find(core[i], cls));
-                    SASSERT(cls);
-                    SASSERT(m.is_or(cls));
-                    ms.add_soft(core[i], cls->get_num_args(), cls->get_args());
-                }
-                unsigned_vector mus_idx;
-                is_sat = ms.get_mus(mus_idx);
                 if (is_sat != l_true) {
                     return is_sat;
                 }
-                new_core.reset();
-                for (unsigned i = 0; i < mus_idx.size(); ++i) {
-                    new_core.push_back(core[mus_idx[i]]);
-                }
-                core.reset();
-                core.append(new_core);
-                
-#endif
+                remove_core(core);
+                rational w = split_core(core);
                 TRACE("opt", display_vec(tout << "minimized core: ", core.size(), core.c_ptr()););
-                max_resolve(core);
+                max_resolve(core, w);
                 fml = m.mk_not(m.mk_and(m_B.size(), m_B.c_ptr()));
                 s.assert_expr(fml);
-                m_lower += rational::one();
+                m_lower += w; 
                 break;
             }
             IF_VERBOSE(1, verbose_stream() << "(opt.max_res lower: " << m_lower << ")\n";);
@@ -123,6 +124,57 @@ struct maxres::imp {
         return l_true;
     }
 
+    lbool minimize_core(ptr_vector<expr>& core) {
+        m_mus.reset();
+        for (unsigned i = 0; i < core.size(); ++i) {
+            app* cls = get_clause(core[i]);
+            SASSERT(cls);
+            SASSERT(m.is_or(cls));
+            m_mus.add_soft(core[i], cls->get_num_args(), cls->get_args());
+        }
+        unsigned_vector mus_idx;
+        lbool is_sat = m_mus.get_mus(mus_idx);
+        if (is_sat != l_true) {
+            return is_sat;
+        }
+        m_new_core.reset();
+        for (unsigned i = 0; i < mus_idx.size(); ++i) {
+            m_new_core.push_back(core[mus_idx[i]]);
+        }
+        core.reset();
+        core.append(m_new_core);
+        return l_true;
+    }
+
+    rational get_weight(expr* e) {
+        return m_asm2info.find(e).m_weight;
+    }
+
+    app* get_clause(expr* e) {
+        return m_asm2info.find(e).m_cls;
+    }
+
+    rational split_core(ptr_vector<expr> const& core) {
+
+        // find the minimal weight:
+        SASSERT(!core.empty());
+        rational w = get_weight(core[0]);
+        for (unsigned i = 1; i < core.size(); ++i) {
+            rational w2 = get_weight(core[i]);
+            if (w2 < w) {
+                w = w2;
+            }
+        }
+        // add fresh soft clauses for weights that are above w.
+        for (unsigned i = 0; i < core.size(); ++i) {
+            rational w2 = get_weight(core[i]);
+            if (w2 > w) {
+                new_assumption(core[i], get_clause(core[i]), w2 - w);
+            }
+        }
+        return w;
+    }
+
     void display_vec(std::ostream& out, unsigned sz, expr* const* args) {
         for (unsigned i = 0; i < sz; ++i) {
             out << mk_pp(args[i], m) << " ";
@@ -130,7 +182,14 @@ struct maxres::imp {
         out << "\n";
     }
 
-    void max_resolve(ptr_vector<expr>& core) {
+    void display(std::ostream& out) {
+        for (unsigned i = 0; i < m_asms.size(); ++i) {
+            expr* a = m_asms[i].get();
+            out << mk_pp(a, m) << " : " << get_weight(a) << "\n";
+        }
+    }
+
+    void max_resolve(ptr_vector<expr>& core, rational const& w) {
         SASSERT(!core.empty());
         expr_ref fml(m), asum(m);
         app_ref cls(m);
@@ -144,7 +203,6 @@ struct maxres::imp {
         // d_i := (!core_{i+1} or d_{i+1})    for i = 0...sz-2
         // soft (!d_i or core_i) 
         //
-        remove_core(core);
         for (unsigned i = core.size()-1; i > 0; ) {
             --i;
             expr* d_i1 = m_D[i+1].get();
@@ -155,11 +213,10 @@ struct maxres::imp {
             asum = m.mk_fresh_const("a", m.mk_bool_sort());
             cls = m.mk_implies(d_i, b_i);
             fml = m.mk_iff(asum, cls);
-            s.assert_expr(fml);
-            m_asms.push_back(asum);
             cls = mk_cls(cls);
-            m_clss.push_back(cls);
-            m_asm2cls.insert(asum, cls);
+            m_trail.push_back(cls);
+            new_assumption(asum, cls, w);
+            s.assert_expr(fml);
         }
     }
 
@@ -199,9 +256,7 @@ struct maxres::imp {
         for (unsigned i = 0; i < m_asms.size(); ++i) {
             if (core.contains(m_asms[i].get())) {
                 m_asms[i] = m_asms.back();
-                m_clss[i] = m_clss.back();
                 m_asms.pop_back();
-                m_clss.pop_back();
                 --i;
             }
         }
@@ -217,11 +272,12 @@ struct maxres::imp {
 
     bool get_assignment(unsigned index) const {
         expr_ref tmp(m);
-        m_model->eval(m_soft_constraints[index], tmp);
+        VERIFY(m_model->eval(m_soft_constraints[index], tmp));
         return m.is_true(tmp);
     }
     void set_cancel(bool f) {
         m_cancel = f;
+        m_mus.set_cancel(f);
     }
     void collect_statistics(statistics& st) const {
     }
@@ -232,10 +288,22 @@ struct maxres::imp {
         ;
     }
 
+    void init_soft(vector<rational> const& weights, expr_ref_vector const& soft) {
+        m_soft_constraints.reset();
+        m_upper.reset();
+        m_lower.reset();
+        m_asm2info.reset();
+        m_trail.reset();
+        m_soft_constraints.append(soft);
+        for (unsigned i = 0; i < m_soft_constraints.size(); ++i) {
+            add_soft(m_soft_constraints[i].get(), weights[i]);
+        }
+    }
+
 };
 
-maxres::maxres(ast_manager& m, solver& s, expr_ref_vector& soft_constraints) {
-    m_imp = alloc(imp, m, s, soft_constraints);
+maxres::maxres(ast_manager& m, solver& s, expr_ref_vector& soft_constraints, vector<rational> const& weights) {
+    m_imp = alloc(imp, m, s, soft_constraints, weights);
 }
 
 maxres::~maxres() {
diff --git a/src/opt/maxres.h b/src/opt/maxres.h
index 8b90158fb..41b57456f 100644
--- a/src/opt/maxres.h
+++ b/src/opt/maxres.h
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ namespace opt {
         struct imp;
         imp* m_imp;
     public:
-        maxres(ast_manager& m, solver& s, expr_ref_vector& soft_constraints);
+        maxres(ast_manager& m, solver& s, expr_ref_vector& soft_constraints, vector<rational>const& weights);
         ~maxres();
         virtual lbool operator()();
         virtual rational get_lower() const;
diff --git a/src/opt/maxsmt.cpp b/src/opt/maxsmt.cpp
index 2eb6e426b..1cc98d328 100644
--- a/src/opt/maxsmt.cpp
+++ b/src/opt/maxsmt.cpp
@@ -39,16 +39,16 @@ namespace opt {
             m_msolver = 0;
             is_sat = m_s->check_sat(0, 0);
         }
+        else if (m_maxsat_engine == symbol("maxres")) {
+            m_msolver = alloc(maxres, m, *m_s, m_soft_constraints, m_weights);
+        }
         else if (is_maxsat_problem(m_weights)) {
             if (m_maxsat_engine == symbol("core_maxsat")) {
                 m_msolver = alloc(core_maxsat, m, *m_s, m_soft_constraints);
             }
             else if (m_maxsat_engine == symbol("weighted_maxsat")) {
                 m_msolver = alloc(wmaxsmt, m, m_s.get(), m_soft_constraints, m_weights);
-            }
-            else if (m_maxsat_engine == symbol("maxres")) {
-                m_msolver = alloc(maxres, m, *m_s, m_soft_constraints);
-            }
+            }            
             else {
                 m_msolver = alloc(fu_malik, m, *m_s, m_soft_constraints);
             }
diff --git a/src/opt/mus.cpp b/src/opt/mus.cpp
index 1bed42f7d..9d9278a27 100644
--- a/src/opt/mus.cpp
+++ b/src/opt/mus.cpp
@@ -16,9 +16,21 @@ struct mus::imp {
     vector<smt::literal_vector> m_cls2lits;
     expr_ref_vector             m_vars;
     obj_map<expr, unsigned>     m_var2idx;
+    volatile bool               m_cancel;
 
-public:
-    imp(solver& s, ast_manager& m): s(s), m(m), m_cls2expr(m), m_vars(m) {}
+    imp(solver& s, ast_manager& m): s(s), m(m), m_cls2expr(m), m_vars(m), m_cancel(false) {}
+
+    void reset() {
+        m_cls2expr.reset();
+        m_expr2cls.reset();
+        m_cls2lits.reset();
+        m_vars.reset();
+        m_var2idx.reset();
+    }
+        
+    void set_cancel(bool f) {
+        m_cancel = f;
+    }
     
     unsigned add_var(expr* v) {
         unsigned idx = m_vars.size();
@@ -47,10 +59,16 @@ public:
         m_cls2lits.push_back(lits);
         return idx;
     }
+
+    expr* mk_not(expr* e) {
+        if (m.is_not(e, e)) {
+            return e;
+        }
+        return m.mk_not(e);
+    }
     
     lbool get_mus(unsigned_vector& mus) {
         TRACE("opt", tout << "\n";);
-        solver::scoped_push _sc(s);
         unsigned_vector core;
         for (unsigned i = 0; i < m_cls2expr.size(); ++i) {
             core.push_back(i);
@@ -61,12 +79,17 @@ public:
         ptr_vector<expr> core_exprs;
         model.resize(m_vars.size());
         while (!core.empty()) {
-            IF_VERBOSE(0, display_vec(tout << "core: ", core););
+            TRACE("opt", 
+                  display_vec(tout << "core:  ", core);
+                  display_vec(tout << "mus:   ", mus);
+                  display_vec(tout << "model: ", model);
+                  );
+            IF_VERBOSE(1, verbose_stream() << "(opt.mus reducing core: " << core.size() << " new core: " << mus.size() << ")\n";);
             unsigned cls_id = core.back();
             core.pop_back();
             expr* cls = m_cls2expr[cls_id].get();
             expr_ref not_cls(m);
-            not_cls = m.mk_not(cls);
+            not_cls = mk_not(cls);
             unsigned sz = assumptions.size();
             assumptions.push_back(not_cls);
             add_core(core, assumptions);
@@ -113,7 +136,7 @@ public:
     template<class T>
     void display_vec(std::ostream& out, T const& v) const {
         for (unsigned i = 0; i < v.size(); ++i) {
-            out << mk_pp(v[i], m) << " ";
+            out << v[i] << " ";
         }
         out << "\n";
     }
@@ -133,19 +156,18 @@ public:
     */
     void rmr(unsigned_vector& M, unsigned_vector& mus, svector<bool>& model) {
         TRACE("opt", 
-              display_vec(tout << "M:", M);
-              display_vec(tout << "mus:", mus);
-              display_vec(tout << "model:", model););
+              display_vec(tout << "core:  ", M);
+              display_vec(tout << "mus:   ", mus);
+              display_vec(tout << "model: ", model););
 
         unsigned cls_id = mus.back();
         smt::literal_vector const& cls = m_cls2lits[cls_id];
-        unsigned cls_id_new;
         for (unsigned i = 0; i < cls.size(); ++i) {
             smt::literal lit = cls[i];
             SASSERT(model[lit.var()] == lit.sign()); // literal evaluates to false.
             model[lit.var()] = !model[lit.var()];    // swap assignment
-            if (has_single_unsat(model, cls_id_new)) {
-                mus.push_back(cls_id_new);
+            if (!mus.contains(cls_id) && has_single_unsat(model, cls_id)) {
+                mus.push_back(cls_id);
                 rmr(M, mus, model);
             }
             model[lit.var()] = !model[lit.var()];    // swap assignment back            
@@ -176,13 +198,6 @@ public:
         return false;
     }
 
-    template<class T>
-    void display_vec(std::ostream& out, T const& v) {
-        for (unsigned i = 0; i < v.size(); ++i) {
-            out << v[i] << " ";
-        }
-        out << "\n";
-    }
 };
 
 mus::mus(solver& s, ast_manager& m) {
@@ -201,3 +216,10 @@ lbool mus::get_mus(unsigned_vector& mus) {
     return m_imp->get_mus(mus);
 }
 
+void mus::set_cancel(bool f) {
+    m_imp->set_cancel(f);
+}
+
+void mus::reset() {
+    m_imp->reset();
+}
diff --git a/src/opt/mus.h b/src/opt/mus.h
index a2ba36f14..e3cb4c963 100644
--- a/src/opt/mus.h
+++ b/src/opt/mus.h
@@ -16,6 +16,10 @@ namespace opt {
         unsigned add_soft(expr* cls, unsigned sz, expr* const* args);
         
         lbool get_mus(unsigned_vector& mus);
+        
+        void reset();
+        
+        void set_cancel(bool f);
     };
 
 };