Author: Kurt Utzinger
Date: 06:03:58 01/18/04
In the meantime it is more or less common knowledge 1.) that today's top programs have almost the same playing strenght 2.) that the [strongest] amateur engines can in single games be a very hard task for all top engines 3.) that there is no test method which can have the attribute to be the best one and that is for this reason important to use many tests 4.) that much games are needed at all time controls to say something concrete about playing strenght of a given engine 5.) that despite the above arguments there are still people who do everything to demonstrate how good/bad a certain engine [i.e. your favourite] is doing and such people can't accept other opinions In view of these "facts" I have the feeling that almost all is possible in today's computerchess, in particular with respect to results of matches (engine/engine) and/or tournaments. To come to firm conclusions about effective strenght of an engine, we have to take into account all possible sources and results. As an example please have a look at the running "5moves 2004 Tournament 90m+30" on our homepage http://www.utzingerkurt.com/5moves.htm where all top engines - except Deep versions - are playing. In all our tournaments so far, it was Shredder 7.04 to be on top but this time the successful engine has not warmed up. On the other hand we see the great results (so far) of The King 3.23 and Hiarcs 9. Both these engines have never won in a tournament of ours ... and do we not forget: the tournament is not yet over. Most surprising to note the winners and losers of each serie: Serie 1 5.5/7 = Junior 8 2.0/7 = Ruffian 2.0.0 Serie 2 4.5/7 = Fritz 8 2.5/7 = Junior 8 Serie 3 4.5/7 = Rebel 12 2.5/7 = Fritz 8 Serie 4 6.0/7 = Fritz 8 2.0/7 = Rebel 12 Serie 5 6.5/7 = Hiarcs 9 1.0/7 = Fritz 8 !! Serie 6 5.5/7 = The King 3.23 SKR 2.0/7 = Ruffian 2.0.0 Serie 7 4.5/7 = Ruffian 2.0.0 !! 2.0/7 = Hiarcs 9 !! As we can see: a most interesting course in this tournament. Only Shredder 7.04 and Chess Tiger 15 have never been on first/last place. Another example is a match played by Heinz Walz between Shredder 8 and Ruffian 2.0.0 where Shredder 8 took the lead with 7:0 and after 10 games it was 7.5-2.5 whereas the second half of the match was won by Ruffian 2.0.0 with the result of 5.5-4.5 so that the question remains what would happen if this match be continued up to 100 games. For all the above reasons I am prepared and willing to accept almost all results posted here and in other forums and we should take the many messages posted in the sense of JUST ANOTHER TOURNAMENT/MATCH and if so don't have to argue about the outcome of some tournament and matches. Kurt
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