Did Robert Houdart quit Houdini project forever?

[FriedmannC]

There has been a long time since Robert hasn't stated anything about Houdini 5! Komodo 9 is out today with a big ELO jump!!, Stockfish is incredible strong but Houdini is well left behind these 2 giants. I wonder if Robert Houdart ran out of ideas and thus wasn't able to make any further significant improvement over Houdini 4.... I mean, come on, Houdini 1.5a for a while clear number 1, Houdini 3 Pro defeated Rybka Cluster on 64 cores!!, Houdini 4 was 60 ELO points over Houdini 3!! and STILL..... wasn't enough to compete with Stockfish and Komodo! Is Houdini already HISTORY?? That's really sad and incredible........ All the best!

[Vinvin]

There has been a long time since Robert hasn't stated anything about Houdini 5! Komodo 9 is out today with a big ELO jump!!, Stockfish is incredible strong but Houdini is well left behind these 2 giants. I wonder if Robert Houdart ran out of ideas and thus wasn't able to make any further significant improvement over Houdini 4.... I mean, come on, Houdini 1.5a for a while clear number 1, Houdini 3 Pro defeated Rybka Cluster on 64 cores!!, Houdini 4 was 60 ELO points over Houdini 3!! and STILL..... wasn't enough to compete with Stockfish and Komodo! Is Houdini already HISTORY?? That's really sad and incredible........ All the best!

I'd say yes, Houdini 5 follow the path of Rybka 5 : from nowhere to nowhere

Latest Komodo and Stockfish are 100 Elo over Houdini 4 and 225 Elo over Rybka 4.1 !
From CEGT 40/20 :http://www.husvankempen.de/nunn/40_40%2 ... liste.html

Code: Select all

1 	Stockfish 6.0 x64 4CPU    3296
2 	Komodo 8.0 x64 4CPU       3261
..
5 	Houdini 4.0 x64 4CPU      3211
...
20 	Deep Rybka 4.1 x64 4CPU  3086

[Modern Times]

Very difficult for one man to compete with the likes of the team of people working on Stockfish, and also the combination of a very talented programmer and GM (Komodo team). He probably has other priorities in life. Also I think it was always a part-time project for him, he had a full time job as well.

[reflectionofpower]

It's a shame as I loved this engine's style. I always used it in analyzing my human games.

[Henk]

But we still have Skipper

[Henk]

There are many engines that stopped their development. What about Critter. If development only means testing, testing and testing without seeing any improvement you get bored very easily.

[reflectionofpower]

But we still have Skipper

Skipper is private unless I am ill informed.

[FriedmannC]

Not even 50 ELO points was able Houdart to strength Houdini 4? (at least last year...) It's not much and not little for a new release ...now...at least for the playing style not for the number 1 spot... last year there was a private Houdini competing at TCEC tournament but it went back as it came..out of nowhere...

[FriedmannC]

By the way, Norman came up with a great Fire 4, and he is still working for Fire 5! Maybe Fire 5 will definitely be number 3 at the end of this year when it's due to be out

[Henk]

But we still have Skipper

Skipper is private unless I am ill informed.

Yes it is private and I was only joking. Even if I would publish it. I don't know how to distribute it for I don't have a website from which you can download it.