CCRL update (28th August 2008)

[Graham Banks]

The latest updates of the CCRL Rating Lists and Statistics are available for viewing at:
http://www.computerchess.org.uk/ccrl/4040/ (40/40)
http://computerchess.org.uk/ccrl/404/ (40/4)
The live link to the 40/4 list given below is currently the most up to date for that list.

The lists sometimes get updated during the week and these updates can be viewed here:
http://www.computerchess.org.uk/ccrl/4040.live/ (40/40)
http://computerchess.org.uk/ccrl/404.live/ (40/4)
However, no game downloads are available from these live links.

The links to the various rating lists can be found just beneath the default Best Versions list.
For example there is a 32-bit Single CPU list.

Our 40 moves in 40 minutes repeating and 40 moves in 4 minutes repeating are both adjusted to the AMD64 X2 4600+ (2.4GHz).

Currently active testers are:
Graham Banks, Ray Banks, Shaun Brewer, Kirill Kryukov, Dom Leste, Tom Logan, Andreas Schwartmann, Charles Smith, George Speight, Gabor Szots and Martin Thoresen.
Currently inactive team members are:
Sarah Bird, Chris Taylor and Chuck Wilson.

Be aware that in the early stages of testing, an engine's rating can often fluctuate a lot.
It is strongly advised to also look at the many other rating lists available in order to get a more accurate overall picture of an engine's rating relative to others.


40/40 Notes


4CPU 64-bit Engines

Rybka 3 is 150 elo clear at the top.
Naum 3.1 and Zappa Mexico II in second and third spots are very similar in strength to each other.
There is a 55+ elo gap back to Deep Shredder 11, Toga II 1.4.1SE, Deep Sjeng 3.0 and Hiarcs 12. These four engines have an edge over Deep Fritz 10.1, Glaurung 2.1 and the still private Bright 0.3d.
Loop M1-T is further back.

The relative ratings of the 2CPU engines that have been well tested are pretty much the same as their 4CPU counterparts.


Single CPU Engines

Rybka 3 has a similar lead over other engines in this category also.
Naum 3.1 lies in second spot ahead of Zappa Mexico II, Fritz 11, Deep Sjeng 3.0, Shredder 11 and Toga II 1.4.1SE.
Hiarcs 12 doesn't quite foot it with the above group of engines, but has a clear advantage over the next group comprising Fruit 2.3.1, Loop 13.6, Glaurung 2.1 and Bright 0.3d (private).
Cyclone 1.0 and Thinker 5.2e Passive are still in the early stages of testing.


Free Single CPU Engines

The release of Rybka 2.2 as a free engine sees Rybka now head this category also with a 50 elo gap back to Toga II 1.4.1SE.
Glaurung 2.1 is currently in third spot, but could well come under threat from Cyclone 1.0 and Thinker 5.2e Passive which are both still in the early stages of testing.
Fruit 2.3.1 comes in next with a definite edge over Spike 1.2 Turin and Bright 0.3a.

CCRL tests a wide range of amateur engines (defined as free and having never gone commercial), ranging right down to the 1900 elo level. The intention is to get well over 200 games for each of these engines. We see it is a way of supporting and hopefully motivating these engine authors with their efforts.


Blitz Notes

An enormous amount of work goes into the blitz list and with over 300,000 games in the database, it is well worth a visit.

Of special interest to some will be the best free 1CPU engines list which is being constructed through a systematic testing approach as mentioned here:
http://kirr.homeunix.org/chess/discussi ... f=7&t=3271


FRC Notes

Ray tests only those engines that can play FRC through the Shredder Classic GUI.
If engine authors have a new and stable version of their engine that will run under this GUI, they should contact Ray if they wish to see it tested.

No further news to add this week.

Rybka 3 has a massive 200 elo lead over the closely grouped Shredder 11, Naum 3.1 and Deep Sjeng 3.0.
Hiarcs Paderborn 2007 in fifth spot is well ahead of Fruit 051103 and Loop 10.32f (the most recent Loop version that could play FRC).

For FRC the best list to look at is the pure list.
http://www.computerchess.org.uk/ccrl/404FRC/


Stats/Presentation Notes

The LOS (likelihood of superiority) stats to the right hand side of each rating list tell you the likelihood in percentage terms of each engine being superior to the engine directly below them.

All games are available for download by engine, by month or by ECO code.
ELO ratings are now saved in all game databases for those engines that have 200 games or more.

Clicking on an engine name will give details as to opponents played plus homepage links where applicable.

Custom lists of engines can be selected for comparison.

An openings report page lists the number of games played by ECO codes with draw percentage and White win percentage. Clicking on a column heading will sort the list by that column.

[Kaj Soderberg]

Hi Graham,

In the middle of the well heated GPL discussion, how important as such, one tends to forget that there is interesting and valuable computer chess information around, such as the work done by the testers of CCRL.
Rybka 3 seems really awesome. I can only see DF11 making a go at it on the short term, though probably ending up in the second or third place. On the other hand, Vas does some ingenious stuff, but Frans and the others possess little grey cells also and may find new paths to walk too. Anyway, keep up the good work, and let's hope there are interesting engines coming up this autumn.

Best regards,

Kaj

[Graham Banks]

Hi Graham,

In the middle of the well heated GPL discussion, how important as such, one tends to forget that there is interesting and valuable computer chess information around, such as the work done by the testers of CCRL.
Rybka 3 seems really awesome. I can only see DF11 making a go at it on the short term, though probably ending up in the second or third place. On the other hand, Vas does some ingenious stuff, but Frans and the others possess little grey cells also and may find new paths to walk too. Anyway, keep up the good work, and let's hope there are interesting engines coming up this autumn.

Best regards,

Kaj

Thanks for your kind words Kaj. Much appreciated.

It's not just about the strong commercials of course. The amateur engine scene is thriving also.
Exciting times!

Cheers, Graham.

[ArmyBridge]

Hi Graham
Will CCRL test Rybka Dynamic? I think it would be very nice games from this wonderful engine
Thanks and regards

[Graham Banks]

Hi Graham
Will CCRL test Rybka Dynamic? I think it would be very nice games from this wonderful engine
Thanks and regards

Hi Armando,

I'm not sure. I'd need to check with the other testers.
I see that somebody is already testing Rybka Human, so perhaps Rybka Dynamic will be tested after that.

Regards, Graham.