These Results I Saw Coming From A Mile Away!

[geots]

Houdini 2.0c w32 vs Critter 1.4 32-bit

Last night, after the new Critter 1.4 bested Ivanhoe B47f0.2 by a score of +49 Elo, I knew something was strange. Tho this 32bit Ivanhoe version may not be the strongest at the moment- it is definitely stronger than most Ivanhoe versions you see other testers running.

The point is there is not an engine in existence at 32bit that should score a +49 over this Ivanhoe version. The engine just doesn't exist. Except for the Houdini engine, which tho I believe to be original enough and clean- did cut its teeth with the Ivanhoes and RobboLito. Everyone has to start somewhere.

I went to the 40/40 in CCRL and saw that Houdini 2.0c was rated +53 over Critter 1.2 in the "32bit Single CPU" listing. Even tho mine is 40/3 repeating, I can live with the comparison. Even tho allowing for + or - error margins, you would be starting with a +102 difference between Houdini 2.0c and Ivanhoe B47f0.2. And that is not possible. Even with an error margin of + or - 25 elo- it still would not be possible.

There was only one possibility- and that seemed unlikely. Has this new Critter version (in 32bit single cpu) actually improved enough to possibly reach out and tap Houdini 2.0c on the shoulder? Time to find out:



1CPU/32bit
128MB hash
Bases=NONE
Ponder_Learning=OFF
Perfect 12.32 book w/12-move limit
40/3 Repeating
Match=50 games


Houdini 2.0c w32.........+7-------+14/-13/=23-----51.00%-----25.5/50

Critter 1.4 32-bit.......... -7-------+13/-14/=23-----49.00%-----24.5/50



Of course "if 'its' and 'buts' were candy and nuts, oh what a Christmas we'd have"!

Still- IF Critter had won games 49 and 50, he would have won this match by 3 games. Houdini, however, had to win both of those games to salvage some kind of victory out of all this.

What can I say. I am trying to draw some kind of comparison out of 40/40 and 40/3. I admit that. And again, for the 21st time, this was only one 50-game match. I admit that. I am attempting to draw conclusions from evidence that may or may not be present. I admit that. But I know what I believe, and I am having fun.

At any rate, if I were you- I would thank Richard twice more for a job well done.


On My Way To the Wizard Peanut Factory-

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[geots]

Coming in an hour or 2, the new Komodo gets another shot at a strong engine! Seating arrangement begins in 15 minutes.


Ho-Ho-Ho,

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