Ethereal question ...

[Frank Quisinsky]

Hi Andrew,

Short-game stats after round 48/50 from FCP Tourney-2020
https://www.amateurschach.de/t2020/r48_short-games.txt ... please have a look here to the quantity of fast draw games!
All engines playing here with contempt = 0.

Please have a look in my engine configuration site:
http://www.amateurschach.de/main/_configuration.htm (I am working here for the next tourneys).

Now ...
Stronger engines have a contempt >0 in standard configuration.

You give the following information on GitHub:

ContemptDrawPenalty
The number of centipawns added to the evaluation of the side to move. A positive value incentivizes preferring slightly negative evaluations to forced draws and leads to more decisive games. A small positive value is recommended in most situations.

ContemptComplexity
The number of centipawns added to the evaluation of the side to move when all minor and major pieces are on the board, progressively reduced to zero with less pieces. A positive value incentivizes Ethereal to favor lines where the opponent cannot force simplifications as easily and leads to more decisive games. It is expected to hurt performance against significantly stronger engines, but to help against weaker engines. The optimal value for best results thus depends on conditions.

In my humble opinion you should set a contempt in your standard configuration.
That's better as to set 0.
Most are playing with "standard settings" and not many engines are stronger as Ethereal.

So my question:
What would you prefere for a tounrey like FCP Tourney-2020 or the comming soon FCP Tourney-2021.
Means, you are the Ethereal chief inspector ... I am only the slave from the engines but I will see Ethereal with full power.
I have the rule that I am using standard settings (not good for Ethereal, the hints to the FCP Tourney-2020 stats)
but programmers have the possibility to send wishes.

Best
Frank

Note: I will added your answere in my configuration page as hint for readers.
Means the settings you like for such tourneys vs. many weaker engines!

[AndrewGrant]

I prefer to see Ethereal play with Contempt=0.

Yes, you could set it higher and get additional wins against very weak opponents. But my focus has never been beating up the bottom of the scoreboard, its about taking on the top of the ladder.

[Frank Quisinsky]

Hi Andrew,

OK, statement is clear and I understand why you set Contempt = 0 as standard setting.

Honestly, I like your answere a lot!!

Same opinion by John Stanback!
After I set contempt from standard 0 to 8 (older Wasp test-run) John sent a mail with a comparable statement.

Thank you, have a nice day!

Best
Frank

[carldaman]

Drawing too often with clearly weaker engines looks worse than losing too often to much stronger ones.
Contempt=0 produces too many draws. It's the old (or is it new?) playing 'not to lose' safety-first paradigm.

However, that's just my opinion. I don't like seeing an abundance of lifeless draws.