What was the last good Stockfish?

[Ovyron]

You have mail ..

Did you sent me an email? I haven't received anything maybe try Private Messaging me?

[Eelco de Groot]

Were you able to download Bluefish anywhere? Is it available?

Sure, I can make it available, Carl See Bluefish BMI2 (Beta).
No guarantees it has "style" though. It's just a half hour work or so, not a real Stockfish variant or fork yet.

Well, you must be congratulated on this one, Eelco! Bluefish has got a savage attacking style, just from the changes you made. A much better playing style and personality than all the top engines!

I've run some test matches, but with little time available. I hope to be able to post some of its games when I get more free time.

Cheers!

Thank you very much Carl! And everyone who tried Bluefish, thanks for trying the Bluefish out! Had not expected anything like this for the work it was but it sure was a nice thing to see it, Bluefish even used on PlayChess. Too much praise for my efforts, as you know, if it works, it only works because of those thousands of hours computing time on Fishtest that balanced all the pieces of positional code in Stockfish with each other. That is what makes it possible. To play a little bit like Tal, you have to know exactly what is just crazy and what is a calculated risk.

[carldaman]

Were you able to download Bluefish anywhere? Is it available?

Sure, I can make it available, Carl See Bluefish BMI2 (Beta).
No guarantees it has "style" though. It's just a half hour work or so, not a real Stockfish variant or fork yet.

Well, you must be congratulated on this one, Eelco! Bluefish has got a savage attacking style, just from the changes you made. A much better playing style and personality than all the top engines!

I've run some test matches, but with little time available. I hope to be able to post some of its games when I get more free time.

Cheers!

Thank you very much Carl! And everyone who tried Bluefish, thanks for trying the Bluefish out! Had not expected anything like this for the work it was but it sure was a nice thing to see it, Bluefish even used on PlayChess. Too much praise for my efforts, as you know, if it works, it only works because of those thousands of hours computing time on Fishtest that balanced all the pieces of positional code in Stockfish with each other. That is what makes it possible. To play a little bit like Tal, you have to know exactly what is just crazy and what is a calculated risk.

Hi Eelco,

If you thought the game vs Vitruvius - granted, not a top engine any longer, was spectacular, what would you say about the dismantling and destruction of one the top engines of today? Eman is one of the best SF derivatives out there, if not the strongest! We can watch it being blown away in amazing stylish fashion. This is chess from another world!

The hardware and nps were similar for both opponents in the engine room. Bluefish only used a fairly shallow book, 6 moves deep. I used a contempt setting of +33, since I feel that it makes it even stronger.

Before looking at the game, check out this position, as a preview of what transpired:

[d]4rr1k/1p5b/p1npq2B/4b2B/2P1n2P/PP2N3/3R1P2/1N1QK2R w K - 0 26

Eman is up two pawns and can capture either black Rook, but it hardly matters!

[pgn] [Event "Rated game, 16m+5s"] [Site "Engine Room"] [Date "2019.10.06"] [Round "?"] [White "Eman 4.10 64-bit"] [Black "Bluefish"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "B32"] [WhiteElo "2456"] [Annotator "-0.26;-0.62"] [PlyCount "88"] [EventDate "2019.10.06"] [SourceTitle "playchess.com"] [TimeControl "960+5"] {Eman 4.10 64-bit (8 threads): 31.1 plies; 9,734kN/s Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-7700K CPU î 4.20GHz 4200MHz, (4 cores, 8 threads), Rep.ctg, 2048 MB} 1. e4 {[%eval 0,0] [%emt 0:00:00]} c5 {[%eval 0,0] [%emt 0:00:00]} 2. Nf3 {[%eval 0,0] [%emt 0:00:00]} Nc6 {[%eval 0,0] [%emt 0:00:00]} 3. d4 {[%eval 0,0] [%emt 0:00:00]} cxd4 {[%eval 0,0] [%emt 0:00:00]} 4. Nxd4 {[%eval 0,0] [%emt 0:00:00]} e5 { [%eval 0,0] [%emt 0:00:00]} 5. Nb5 {[%eval 0,0] [%emt 0:00:00]} d6 {[%eval 0,0] [%emt 0:00:00]} 6. c4 {[%eval 0,0] [%emt 0:00:00]} Be7 {[%eval 0,0] [%emt 0:00: 00]} 7. b3 {[%eval 0,0] [%emt 0:00:00]} f5 {[%eval -62,31] [%emt 0:00:44]} 8. exf5 {[%eval 0,0] [%emt 0:00:00] (Bd3)} Bxf5 {[%eval -70,27] [%emt 0:00:10]} 9. Bd3 {[%eval 0,0] [%emt 0:00:00] (Be2)} e4 {[%eval -92,29] [%emt 0:00:16]} 10. Be2 {[%eval 0,0] [%emt 0:00:00] (Bc2)} a6 {[%eval -93,27] [%emt 0:00:23]} 11. N5c3 {[%eval 0,0] [%emt 0:00:00]} Bf6 {[%eval -115,28] [%emt 0:00:14]} 12. Be3 {[%eval -26,30] [%emt 0:01:09] (a3)} Be5 {[%eval -114,28] [%emt 0:00:15]} 13. a3 {[%eval -38,30] [%emt 0:00:11]} Nf6 {[%eval -99,31] [%emt 0:00:26]} 14. Ra2 {[%eval -32,30] [%emt 0:00:31]} O-O {[%eval -106,31] [%emt 0:00:16] (Sc6-e7)} 15. g4 {[%eval -39,32] [%emt 0:00:45]} Bg6 {[%eval -171,33] [%emt 0:00:39]} 16. h4 {[%eval -28,33] [%emt 0:00:00] (b4)} h5 {[%eval -178,30] [%emt 0:00:28] (Lg6-f7)} 17. gxh5 {[%eval -92,26] [%emt 0:00:43] (g5)} Bh7 {[%eval -198,27] [%emt 0:00:15] (Lg6-f5)} 18. h6 {[%eval -125,30] [%emt 0:01:23] (Rg1)} gxh6 { [%eval -221,26] [%emt 0:00:15]} 19. Bxh6 {[%eval -106,25] [%emt 0:00:00]} Kh8 { [%eval -259,28] [%emt 0:00:15]} 20. Bg5 {[%eval -99,30] [%emt 0:01:04] (Rd2)} Qd7 {[%eval -290,28] [%emt 0:00:47] (Sc6-e7)} 21. Rd2 {[%eval -198,28] [%emt 0: 01:21] (Be3)} Rae8 {[%eval -366,27] [%emt 0:00:15]} 22. Nd5 {[%eval -246,30] [%emt 0:00:52] (Be3)} e3 {[%eval -255,33] [%emt 0:00:59]} 23. Nxe3 {[%eval -217,35] [%emt 0:00:00]} Qf7 {[%eval -281,32] [%emt 0:00:17] (Sf6-e4)} 24. Bh6 {[%eval -201,32] [%emt 0:01:07] (Rh3)} Ne4 {[%eval -301,33] [%emt 0:00:29] (Lh7xb1)} 25. Bh5 {[%eval -174,31] [%emt 0:00:13]} Qe6 {[%eval -291,34] [%emt 0:00:16]} 26. Bxe8 {[%eval -185,34] [%emt 0:00:08]} Qxh6 {[%eval -304,36] [%emt 0:00:20]} 27. Qh5 {[%eval -223,34] [%emt 0:00:21]} Qg7 {[%eval -291,34] [%emt 0:00:07]} 28. Bxc6 {[%eval -216,33] [%emt 0:00:07]} bxc6 {[%eval -281,34] [%emt 0:00:19]} 29. Qg4 {[%eval -218,33] [%emt 0:00:07]} Qb7 {[%eval -310,36] [%emt 0:00:44] (Dg7-f7)} 30. Qd1 {[%eval -205,31] [%emt 0:00:09]} Qg7 {[%eval -317,34] [%emt 0:00:05] (Db7-f7)} 31. Qg4 {[%eval -213,33] [%emt 0:00:14]} Qf7 {[%eval -336,35] [%emt 0:00:02]} 32. Rf1 {[%eval -233,34] [%emt 0:01:08] (Qe2)} Re8 {[%eval -321,29] [%emt 0:00:16]} 33. b4 {[%eval -238,32] [%emt 0:00:02] (Qd1)} a5 {[%eval -456,28] [%emt 0:00:19] (d6-d5)} 34. Rc2 {[%eval -355,31] [%emt 0:02:24] (b5)} d5 {[%eval -535,33] [%emt 0:01:26]} 35. Nd2 {[%eval -431, 33] [%emt 0:00:00]} Nf6 {[%eval -567,32] [%emt 0:00:30]} 36. Qd1 {[%eval -463, 30] [%emt 0:00:02]} axb4 {[%eval -627,32] [%emt 0:00:17]} 37. cxd5 {[%eval -618,32] [%emt 0:01:43]} Nxd5 {[%eval -840,38] [%emt 0:00:00]} 38. axb4 { [%eval -685,28] [%emt 0:00:19]} Bg7 {[%eval -926,36] [%emt 0:00:00]} 39. Qf3 { [%eval -829,31] [%emt 0:00:24]} Qa7 {[%eval -990,34] [%emt 0:00:00]} 40. Rc5 { [%eval -849,30] [%emt 0:00:17]} Nxb4 {[%eval -998,33] [%emt 0:00:03] 0-1 (Eman 4.10 64-bit gibt auf) here White resigned as the roof was caving in} 41. Rc4 Nd5 $1 42. Ke2 (42. Rg1 Nxe3 43. fxe3 Rxe3+) 42... Bd4 43. Rg1 Bxe3 44. Kf1 Bxd2 0-1 [/pgn]

I don't know what others think (I suspect that less than 5% of talkchess readership is even aware of this thread), but I'm beginning to think that it could be worth trying to enter Bluefish into the next TCEC competition. It is a top engine right out of the box and may just be the most interesting chess playing entity out there at this moment, all the Leela clones notwithstanding!

Cheers and thanks again for the gift of Bluefish!

[karger]

If you are looking for engines that plays risky exciting chess check out Norman Schmidt's (aka Carotino ) version of Ivanhoe called Spaghetti Ivan and it is really strong and plays unusual lines as well.

[carldaman]

Thanks a lot, I'll check it out. I thought Carotino was Roberto Munter, though I may be wrong on that one.

[Ovyron]

Anyway, I'm looking forward to a release of Bluefish in an official fork to check it out

So, did this happen and I missed it?

[karger]

You are right about Munter being Caritino.

[karger]

Another recommendation for exciting super aggressive chess is Cfish Tactical enabled , probably the best & my favorite for ruthless cutthroat chess.

[supersharp77]

When I say "good", I'm talking about the playing style. The great thing about a playing style is that you don't need to play hundreds of games, a few are enough to showcase the style. Traditionally, I play 10 games with minimal books.

See here for context.

The contenders for being the last good versions of Stockfish are Stockfish 14051722, the very last one that allowed tweaking of settings, and Stockfish 5, with settings by Dayffd, that not only improve the style, but the strength of the engine

I never got to name these settings, let's name them... Lunatic...

My settings:

Stockfish 14051722 Lunatic
Pawn Structure (Midgame)=0
Aggressiveness=200
Cowardice=0

Dayffd's settings:

Stockfish 5 Fury
Mobility (Midgame)=180
Mobility (Endgame)=160
Passed Pawns (Endgame)=175
Aggressiveness=200
Emergency Move Time=20

I ran a match of 10 games after calibrating their strength so they played at the same level and could showcase their styles. (PGN for collectors)

You don't actually need 10 games, you can do it in 2. The reason 10 are needed is so that you get the 2 you need played in there

Because then, this happened:

[pgn][Event "D20"] [Site "?"] [Date "2019.09.12"] [Round "?"] [White "Stockfish Fury"] [Black "Stockfish LUNATIC"] [ECO "A45"] [Result "1-0"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. c4 c5 4. d5 b5 5. e4 Nxe4 6. Bd3 Nd6 7. cxb5 a6 8. b6 Bb7 9. Nc3 Qxb6 10. O-O Be7 11. Re1 O-O 12. Bf4 a5 13. Ne5 Qb4 14. g3 c4 15. Bc2 Ra6 16. a3 Qc5 17. Qh5 f5 18. Rad1 Qb6 19. Re2 Qc5 20. g4 exd5 21. gxf5 Ne8 22. Be3 Qc7 23. Ng6 hxg6 24. fxg6 Nf6 25. Qh3 Bc5 26. Bd4 Qf4 27. Bxc5 d6 28. Qe6+ Kh8 29. Bd4 Ng4 30. Bxg7+ Kxg7 31. f3 Qf6 32. Qxg4 Bc8 33. Qh5 Rh8 34. Qxd5 Ra7 35. Ne4 Qe5 36. Qd2 Nc6 37. Nxd6 Qf6 38. Ne8+ Rxe8 39. Rxe8 Bh3 40. Be4 Ne5 41. Qd5 Rd7 42. Qg8+ 1-0[/pgn]

Lunatic goes and plays the Blumenfeld Gambit by herself! But Fury doesn't care, she goes for the King and creates an attack Lunatic can't deal with!

But this seals it:

[pgn][Event "D20"] [Site "?"] [Date "2019.09.12"] [Round "?"] [White "Stockfish LUNATIC"] [Black "Stockfish Fury"] [ECO "A21"] [Result "1-0"] 1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Bb4 3. Nd5 Nc6 4. Nf3 Be7 5. d4 e4 6. Nd2 f5 7. g4 Nf6 8. gxf5 Nxd5 9. cxd5 e3 10. dxc6 dxc6 11. Qc2 exf2+ 12. Kxf2 Bh4+ 13. Ke3 O-O 14. Bh3 Qg5+ 15. Kd3 Bxf5+ 16. Bxf5 Qxf5+ 17. Kc3 Qh5 18. Qd3 Rae8 19. Nf3 c5 20. Nxh4 cxd4+ 21. Kc2 Qxh4 22. Bd2 c5 23. Raf1 Rf2 24. Qb3+ Kh8 25. Rxf2 Qxf2 26. Qxb7 Qxe2 27. Rg1 Rg8 28. Qd5 Qxh2 29. Re1 Qf2 30. Re7 c4 31. Qxc4 Qf5+ 32. Kc1 Rc8 33. Rc7 Rxc7 34. Qxc7 Qf1+ 35. Kc2 Qf5+ 36. Kb3 Qb5+ 37. Ka3 Qd3+ 38. Bc3 h5 39. Qd8+ Kh7 40. Kb4 Qe4 41. Qxd4 Qe7+ 42. Kb3 Kh6 43. Bd2+ g5 44. Kc2 Qe6 45. a4 Kg6 46. Qxa7 h4 47. Qe3 Qc4+ 48. Kb1 Qd5 49. a5 h3 50. Qe2 Qf5+ 51. Ka2 g4 52. Qa6+ Kg7 53. Qb7+ Kf6 54. Bc3+ Kg5 55. a6 h2 56. Bd2+ Kg6 57. a7 h1=Q 58. Qxh1 Qf7+ 59. Kb1 Qxa7 60. Qh6+ Kf5 61. Qf4+ Kg6 62. Qxg4+ Kf7 63. Qc4+ Kf8 64. Bb4+ Kg7 65. Qg4+ Kf7 66. Qf5+ Kg7 67. Bc3+ Kh6 68. Qe6+ Kh5 69. b4 Qg1+ 70. Kb2 Qg2+ 71. Kb3 1-0[/pgn]

Wow! Did you see how Fury took Lunatic's King out in the open? Who cares if the attack didn't work in the end, this was some tasty style show off! That's why it's important to not let engines just go on depths they see the attack don't work and don't try to carry it over...

Stockfish 5 Fury might be the last good Stockfish, but if someone has an idea of another version that could play better than this I'm very interested

Well The Stockfish That has my attention for a while lately is Stockfish 160526bt (bullet/tactical) plays a pretty speculative
game....Also Stockfish Monte Carlo is unusual...my other favorite Stockfishes..(theres a ton)
1 Ipman Stockfish
2 Stockfish 2.2.2 JA
3 Stockfish 2.3.1 (original +JA)
4 Stockfish
5 Comrade Stockfish (1.0 & 3.0)
6 Stockfish 2.1 JA
7 Stockfish 7 Lomonosov
8 Stockfish 8 SE
9 Stockfish 3
10 SF Matefinder XX (original)
11 SF C-11 150310
12 SF Dev (Nicolet) 2016
13 SF 250814MZ
14 SF Shark 150507
15 stockfish-12_ja
16 Stockfish 20103 Eval Margin
17 Stockfish TCEC6-PA_GTB
18 Stockfish Rockwood
19 Betafish v1.0
20 Stockfish DD

[karger]

I have shared knowledge of several stockfish versions here I thought were unique attackers & defenders , but this one plays the most unusual lines I have ever seen " Stockfish Safe Attacks " , check it out !