Contemptuous

[Lyudmil Tsvetkov]

Although reluctantly, because I knew the answer beforehand, I decided to play some games against Stockfish with contempt set on to test the hypothesis that many people, both developers and mere mortals, defend, that engines playing with contempt against humans might have much better chances. I set the Stockfish contempt to 3, as Kai had suggested, but I think a different value would not have changed things very much.

I do not know how Stockfish contempt works, might not be implemented in the most sophisticated way, but what I managed to ascertain, as expected, is that engines with contempt set on in no way play any better against humans. My goal was to only try to draw some games, even if playing ugly, defensive chess, and it proved that it is not at all difficult to do that. To tell you the truth, I get the same score when playing with Stockfish default and Stockfish with contempt 3, i.e. my usual 20-25%, involving some wins, many draws and even more losses. (but here I must say once again for all those that think that there is some hoax here, that I regard my results as due to somewhat unfair competition, as I, for once, give myself more time, usually 2 times more than Stockfish, and twice, play lines that I am more or less familiar with; on the other hand, Stockfish plays blitz and uses multiple cores)

What I observed during the games:
- it is possible to obtain closed and even fully closed positions against Stockfish with contempt just as against the default version
- draws by 3-fold repetition are quite frequent (why Stockfish does not avoid them with contempt on I do not know, maybe I did something wrong with the settings)
- Stockfish plays many more random and weaker moves that would be possible to exploit if the human has more time

As my aim was just to obtain some easy draws, I did not go for big play, but from what I saw I am pretty much convinced that drawing by exchanging many pieces or even winning with sharper play is not only possible, but even easier against Stockfish contempt 3 than against Stockfish default. That said, I very much wonder why so many people believe in contempt, when obviously it just makes the engine weaker, both against an engine opposition, as well against humans. It is the same as if playing some weaker engine instead of the stronger one. Why do that? In fact, my immediate impression when sparring with Stockfish DD contempt 3 was that I am sparring with Stockfish 4, it played many moves Stockfish 4 would have played that DD already does not play.

It is true that when playing some random moves there are bigger chances for the engine opponent to go wrong somewhere, but also the chances for a win against the engine with contempt making weaker moves increases, meaning that you can not say definitely who benifits more.

Below 8 very dull draws with Stockfish contempt 3:
[pgn][PlyCount "36"]
[Event "Blitz 2m+2s"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "2013.12.16"]
[White "Tsvetkov, Lyudmil"]
[Black "Stockfish DD 64 SSE4.2 cont. 3"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C01"]
[TimeControl "120+2"]
[Annotator "Tsvetkov,Lyudmil"]
[MLNrOfMoves "18"]
[MLFlags "000100"]

{512MB, Dell XPS 4Cores} 1. e4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 1... e6 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 2. d4
{[%emt 0:00:02]} 2... d5 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 3. exd5 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 3... exd5
{[%emt 0:00: 05]} 4. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 4... Nf6 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 5. Bd3
{[%emt 0:00:02]} 5... Bd6 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 6. O-O {[%emt 0:00:02]} 6... O-O
{[%emt 0:00:08]} 7. Bg5 {[%emt 0: 00:03]} 7... h6 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 8. Bh4
{[%emt 0:00:03]} 8... Re8 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 9. Nbd2 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 9... g5
{[%emt 0:00:04]} 10. Bg3 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 10... Bxg3 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 11. hxg3
{[%emt 0:00:01]} 11... Bg4 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 12. c3 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 12... Nbd7
{[%emt 0:00:03]} 13. Qc2 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 13... c5 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 14. Rfe1
{[%emt 0:00:05]} 14... Qb6 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 15. Qb3 {[%emt 0:00:10]} 15... Qc7
{[%emt 0:00: 08]} 16. Qc2 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 16... Qb6 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 17. Qb3
{[%emt 0:00:01]} 17... Qc7 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 18. Qc2 {[%emt 0:00:01]} 18... Qb6
{[%emt 0:00:04]} 1/2-1/2

[PlyCount "50"]
[Event "Blitz 2m+2s"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "2013.12.16"]
[White "Tsvetkov, Lyudmil"]
[Black "Stockfish DD 64 SSE4.2"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D02"]
[TimeControl "120+2"]
[Annotator "Tsvetkov,Lyudmil"]
[MLNrOfMoves "25"]
[MLFlags "000100"]

{512MB, Dell XPS 4Cores} 1. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 1... d5 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 2. d4
{[%emt 0:00:02]} 2... e6 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 3. Bg5 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 3... Be7
{[%emt 0:00:13]} 4. Bxe7 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 4... Nxe7 {[%emt 0:00:01]} 5. e3
{[%emt 0:00:02]} 5... O-O {[%emt 0:00:04]} 6. Bd3 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 6... Nd7
{[%emt 0:00:03]} 7. O-O {[%emt 0: 00:02]} 7... c5 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 8. c3
{[%emt 0:00:02]} 8... b6 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 9. Nbd2 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 9... Bb7
{[%emt 0:00:03]} 10. Ne5 {[%emt 0:00:09]} 10... Nxe5 {[%emt 0: 00:03]} 11. dxe5
{[%emt 0:00:01]} 11... h6 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 12. f4 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 12... Rc8
{[%emt 0:00:05]} 13. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 13... Qd7 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 14. Qe2
{[%emt 0:00:05]} 14... Qa4 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 15. Qd1 {[%emt 0:00:11]} 15... Qd7
{[%emt 0:00: 05]} 16. Qe2 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 16... Bc6 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 17. Rfd1
{[%emt 0:00:11]} 17... Rfd8 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 18. Rd2 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 18... b5
{[%emt 0:00:04]} 19. a3 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 19... a5 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 20. Bc2
{[%emt 0:00:10]} 20... a4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 21. Rad1 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 21... Qb7
{[%emt 0:00:03]} 22. Qd3 {[%emt 0:00:14]} 22... Ng6 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 23. Qe2
{[%emt 0:00:11]} 23... Ne7 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 24. Qd3 {[%emt 0: 00:02]} 24... Ng6
{[%emt 0:00:03]} 25. Qe2 {[%emt 0:00:01]} 25... Ne7 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 1/2-1/2

[PlyCount "37"]
[Event "Blitz 2m+2s"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "2013.12.16"]
[White "Stockfish DD 64 SSE4.2"]
[Black "Tsvetkov, Lyudmil"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C01"]
[TimeControl "120+2"]
[Annotator "Tsvetkov,Lyudmil"]
[MLNrOfMoves "18"]
[MLFlags "000100"]

{512MB, Dell XPS 4Cores} 1. e4 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 1... e6 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 2. d4
{[%emt 0:00:06]} 2... d5 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 3. Nc3 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 3... Nf6
{[%emt 0:00:07]} 4. exd5 {[%emt 0:00:09]} 4... exd5 {[%emt 0:00:01]} 5. Nf3
{[%emt 0:00:03]} 5... Bd6 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 6. Bd3 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 6... O-O
{[%emt 0:00:02]} 7. O-O {[%emt 0: 00:04]} 7... Bg4 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 8. h3
{[%emt 0:00:13]} 8... Bh5 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 9. Re1 {[%emt 0:00:08]} 9... c6
{[%emt 0:00:05]} 10. g4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 10... Bg6 {[%emt 0:00: 03]} 11. Bxg6
{[%emt 0:00:02]} 11... hxg6 {[%emt 0:00:01]} 12. Qd3 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 12... Nbd7
{[%emt 0:00:05]} 13. a4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 13... Qc7 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 14. Bd2
{[%emt 0:00:00]} 14... Rfe8 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 15. Ng5 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 15... Nh7
{[%emt 0:00: 06]} 16. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 16... Nhf6 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 17. Ng5
{[%emt 0:00:04]} 17... Nh7 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 18. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 18... Nhf6
{[%emt 0:00:01]} 19. Ng5 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 1/2-1/2

[PlyCount "89"]
[Event "Blitz 2m+2s"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "2013.12.16"]
[White "Stockfish DD 64 SSE4.2"]
[Black "Tsvetkov, Lyudmil"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B08"]
[TimeControl "120+2"]
[Annotator "Tsvetkov,Lyudmil"]
[MLNrOfMoves "44"]
[MLFlags "000100"]

{512MB, Dell XPS 4Cores} 1. e4 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 1... g6 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 2. d4
{[%emt 0:00:05]} 2... Bg7 {[%emt 0:00:01]} 3. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 3... d6
{[%emt 0:00:02]} 4. Nc3 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 4... Nf6 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 5. Be2
{[%emt 0:00:05]} 5... O-O {[%emt 0:00:02]} 6. O-O {[%emt 0:00:04]} 6... Bg4
{[%emt 0:00:06]} 7. Be3 {[%emt 0: 00:05]} 7... e6 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 8. Qd2
{[%emt 0:00:09]} 8... Nbd7 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 9. h3 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 9... Bxf3
{[%emt 0:00:02]} 10. Bxf3 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 10... c6 {[%emt 0: 00:03]} 11. Rfd1
{[%emt 0:00:06]} 11... d5 {[%emt 0:00:01]} 12. e5 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 12... Ne8
{[%emt 0:00:06]} 13. Be2 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 13... f5 {[%emt 0:00:08]} 14. a4
{[%emt 0:00:10]} 14... Nc7 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 15. f3 {[%emt 0:00:11]} 15... a6
{[%emt 0:00:06]} 16. f4 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 16... Qe7 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 17. a5
{[%emt 0:00:08]} 17... Kh8 {[%emt 0:00:11]} 18. Na4 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 18... Rg8
{[%emt 0:00:14]} 19. g3 {[%emt 0: 00:00]} 19... Rgf8 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 20. b3
{[%emt 0:00:03]} 20... Rg8 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 21. c4 {[%emt 0:00:01]} 21... Rgf8
{[%emt 0:00:03]} 22. Nb2 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 22... Rg8 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 23. Nd3
{[%emt 0:00:03]} 23... Rgf8 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 24. Qc3 {[%emt 0:00: 12]} 24... Rg8
{[%emt 0:00:02]} 25. Qe1 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 25... Rgf8 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 26. Bc1
{[%emt 0:00:04]} 26... Rg8 {[%emt 0:00:11]} 27. Ba3 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 27... Qd8
{[%emt 0:00:03]} 28. Bd6 {[%emt 0:00:01]} 28... Ne8 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 29. Bb4
{[%emt 0:00:02]} 29... Nc7 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 30. Qf2 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 30... Rc8
{[%emt 0:00:06]} 31. Bc3 {[%emt 0:00:12]} 31... Ra8 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 32. Bf3
{[%emt 0:00:05]} 32... Rc8 {[%emt 0:00: 07]} 33. g4 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 33... Rf8
{[%emt 0:00:07]} 34. g5 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 34... Rg8 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 35. Qh2
{[%emt 0:00:02]} 35... h5 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 36. Qe2 {[%emt 0: 00:03]} 36... Qe8
{[%emt 0:00:06]} 37. Qf2 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 37... Qf7 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 38. Rd2
{[%emt 0:00:04]} 38... Qe8 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 39. Rc1 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 39... Qf7
{[%emt 0:00:03]} 40. Rf1 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 40... Qe8 {[%emt 0:00:01]} 41. Rc2
{[%emt 0:00:03]} 41... Qf7 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 42. Rd1 {[%emt 0:00:01]} 42... Qe8
{[%emt 0:00:01]} 43. Bb4 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 43... Qf7 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 44. Re1
{[%emt 0:00:00]} 44... Kh7 {[%emt 0:00: 04]} 45. Qe3 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 1/2-1/2

[PlyCount "76"]
[Event "Blitz 2m+2s"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "2013.12.16"]
[White "Tsvetkov, Lyudmil"]
[Black "Stockfish DD 64 SSE4.2"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D02"]
[TimeControl "120+2"]
[Annotator "Tsvetkov,Lyudmil"]
[MLNrOfMoves "38"]
[MLFlags "000100"]

{512MB, Dell XPS 4Cores} 1. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 1... d5 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 2. d4
{[%emt 0:00:02]} 2... Nf6 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 3. Bf4 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 3... e6
{[%emt 0:00:04]} 4. e3 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 4... Be7 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 5. Bd3
{[%emt 0:00:02]} 5... Nh5 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 6. c3 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 6... Nxf4
{[%emt 0:00:03]} 7. exf4 {[%emt 0: 00:01]} 7... c5 {[%emt 0:00:10]} 8. g3
{[%emt 0:00:04]} 8... Qb6 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 9. Qb3 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 9... c4
{[%emt 0:00:02]} 10. Qxb6 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 10... axb6 {[%emt 0: 00:01]} 11. Bc2
{[%emt 0:00:02]} 11... b5 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 12. a3 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 12... Nc6
{[%emt 0:00:03]} 13. Ke2 {[%emt 0:00:13]} 13... b4 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 14. cxb4
{[%emt 0:00:04]} 14... Nxb4 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 15. Kd2 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 15... Nxc2
{[%emt 0: 00:05]} 16. Kxc2 {[%emt 0:00:01]} 16... f6 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 17. Nc3
{[%emt 0:00:02]} 17... Kf7 {[%emt 0:00:11]} 18. Rhe1 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 18... g6
{[%emt 0:00:06]} 19. h4 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 19... h5 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 20. Kd2
{[%emt 0:00:09]} 20... Bd7 {[%emt 0:00: 11]} 21. Kc2 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 21... Ra7
{[%emt 0:00:06]} 22. Ra2 {[%emt 0:00:18]} 22... b5 {[%emt 0:00:09]} 23. Rea1
{[%emt 0:00:06]} 23... Rb8 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 24. Kc1 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 24... Bd8
{[%emt 0:00:03]} 25. Kc2 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 25... Bc7 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 26. Kc1
{[%emt 0:00:04]} 26... Rab7 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 27. Kc2 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 27... Bd6
{[%emt 0:00:06]} 28. Kc1 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 28... Be7 {[%emt 0:00:19]} 29. Kc2
{[%emt 0: 00:02]} 29... Bd8 {[%emt 0:00:11]} 30. Kc1 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 30... Ba5
{[%emt 0:00:00]} 31. Kc2 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 31... Bb6 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 32. Kc1
{[%emt 0:00:05]} 32... Bd8 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 33. Kc2 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 33... Bc7
{[%emt 0:00:03]} 34. Kc1 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 34... Ra8 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 35. Kc2
{[%emt 0:00:02]} 35... Ba5 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 36. Kc1 {[%emt 0:00:13]} 36... Rba7
{[%emt 0:00:02]} 37. Kc2 {[%emt 0:00:01]} 37... Rd8 {[%emt 0:00: 02]} 38. Kc1
{[%emt 0:00:03]} 38... Rb7 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 1/2-1/2

[PlyCount "75"]
[Event "Blitz 2m+2s"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "2013.12.16"]
[White "Stockfish DD 64 SSE4.2"]
[Black "Tsvetkov, Lyudmil"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A18"]
[TimeControl "120+2"]
[Annotator "Tsvetkov,Lyudmil"]
[MLNrOfMoves "37"]
[MLFlags "000100"]

{512MB, Dell XPS 4Cores} 1. e4 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 1... e6 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 2. d4
{[%emt 0:00:06]} 2... d6 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 3. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:13]} 3... Nf6
{[%emt 0:00:01]} 4. Bd3 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 4... Be7 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 5. c4
{[%emt 0:00:03]} 5... O-O {[%emt 0:00:02]} 6. Nc3 {[%emt 0:00:01]} 6... Nc6
{[%emt 0:00:02]} 7. O-O {[%emt 0: 00:04]} 7... e5 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 8. d5
{[%emt 0:00:01]} 8... Nb8 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 9. Be3 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 9... c5
{[%emt 0:00:09]} 10. a3 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 10... Ne8 {[%emt 0:00: 00]} 11. b4
{[%emt 0:00:10]} 11... b6 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 12. Ne2 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 12... g5
{[%emt 0:00:05]} 13. Qd2 {[%emt 0:00:09]} 13... f6 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 14. Nc3
{[%emt 0: 00:14]} 14... Na6 {[%emt 0:00:12]} 15. b5 {[%emt 0:00:14]} 15... Nac7
{[%emt 0:00:10]} 16. h4 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 16... h6 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 17. a4
{[%emt 0:00:10]} 17... a5 {[%emt 0:00: 23]} 18. Be2 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 18... Rf7
{[%emt 0:00:11]} 19. Nh2 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 19... Rh7 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 20. Rfe1
{[%emt 0:00:05]} 20... Ng7 {[%emt 0:00:11]} 21. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 21... Nce8
{[%emt 0:00:09]} 22. g3 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 22... Ra7 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 23. Qc1
{[%emt 0:00:14]} 23... Bf8 {[%emt 0:00:26]} 24. Bd2 {[%emt 0:00:08]} 24... Rf7
{[%emt 0:00:04]} 25. Bd3 {[%emt 0:00:12]} 25... Be7 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 26. Rb1
{[%emt 0: 00:05]} 26... Nc7 {[%emt 0:00:08]} 27. Be2 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 27... Rh8
{[%emt 0:00:07]} 28. Rb3 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 28... Nge8 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 29. Bd3
{[%emt 0:00:05]} 29... Rfh7 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 30. Nd1 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 30... Ng7
{[%emt 0:00:02]} 31. Ne3 {[%emt 0: 00:02]} 31... Nce8 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 32. Qb1
{[%emt 0:00:03]} 32... Bd7 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 33. Bc3 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 33... Qc8
{[%emt 0:00:03]} 34. Bb2 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 34... Qd8 {[%emt 0:00:01]} 35. Be2
{[%emt 0:00:02]} 35... Qc8 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 36. Bf1 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 36... Qd8
{[%emt 0:00:03]} 37. Bc3 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 37... Qc8 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 38. Bd3
{[%emt 0:00:02]} 1/2-1/2

[PlyCount "103"]
[Event "Blitz 2m+2s"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "2013.12.16"]
[White "Stockfish DD 64 SSE4.2"]
[Black "Tsvetkov, Lyudmil"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B31"]
[TimeControl "120+2"]
[Annotator "Tsvetkov,Lyudmil"]
[MLNrOfMoves "51"]
[MLFlags "000100"]

{512MB, Dell XPS 4Cores} 1. e4 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 1... c5 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 2. Nc3
{[%emt 0:00:04]} 2... Nc6 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 3. Bb5 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 3... g6
{[%emt 0:00:00]} 4. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:09]} 4... Bg7 {[%emt 0:00:01]} 5. O-O
{[%emt 0:00:02]} 5... e5 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 6. a3 {[%emt 0:00:08]} 6... d6
{[%emt 0:00:05]} 7. d3 {[%emt 0:00: 15]} 7... Ne7 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 8. Bg5
{[%emt 0:00:03]} 8... f6 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 9. Be3 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 9... O-O
{[%emt 0:00:02]} 10. Bc4+ {[%emt 0:00:06]} 10... Kh8 {[%emt 0:00: 02]} 11. Nd5
{[%emt 0:00:02]} 11... Bg4 {[%emt 0:00:22]} 12. h3 {[%emt 0:00:09]} 12... Bd7
{[%emt 0:00:02]} 13. b4 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 13... b6 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 14. c3
{[%emt 0: 00:11]} 14... Rb8 {[%emt 0:00:12]} 15. Nxe7 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 15...
Qxe7 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 16. Re1 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 16... f5 {[%emt 0:00:13]} 17. Rb1
{[%emt 0:00:11]} 17... f4 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 18. Bd2 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 18... g5
{[%emt 0:00:02]} 19. Bd5 {[%emt 0: 00:17]} 19... Rbc8 {[%emt 0:00:17]} 20. Qe2
{[%emt 0:00:09]} 20... g4 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 21. hxg4 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 21... Bxg4
{[%emt 0:00:03]} 22. bxc5 {[%emt 0:00:11]} 22... dxc5 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 23. Kh2
{[%emt 0:00:00]} 23... Rf6 {[%emt 0:00:16]} 24. Rh1 {[%emt 0: 00:03]} 24... Rh6+
{[%emt 0:00:02]} 25. Kg1 {[%emt 0:00:01]} 25... Rxh1+ {[%emt 0:00:04]} 26. Kxh1
{[%emt 0:00:00]} 26... Qe8 {[%emt 0:00:18]} 27. Qe1 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 27... Qh5+
{[%emt 0:00:27]} 28. Nh2 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 28... Ne7 {[%emt 0:00:15]} 29. f3
{[%emt 0: 00:02]} 29... Bd7 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 30. Bb3 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 30... Bf6
{[%emt 0:00:09]} 31. g4 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 31... Qh6 {[%emt 0:00:35]} 32. Qe2
{[%emt 0:00:00]} 32... Bh4 {[%emt 0: 00:07]} 33. Bc1 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 33... Bg3
{[%emt 0:00:02]} 34. Kg1 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 34... Qh4 {[%emt 0:00:31]} 35. Nf1
{[%emt 0:00:03]} 35... Rc6 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 36. Bd2 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 36... h5
{[%emt 0:00:12]} 37. Nxg3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 37... fxg3 {[%emt 0:00: 08]} 38. Qg2
{[%emt 0:00:00]} 38... Ng6 {[%emt 0:00:41]} 39. Qh1 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 39... hxg4
{[%emt 0:00:13]} 40. Qxh4+ {[%emt 0:00:00]} 40... Nxh4 {[%emt 0:00:01]} 41. Be1
{[%emt 0:00:02]} 41... Nxf3+ {[%emt 0:00:12]} 42. Kg2 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 42... Rd6
{[%emt 0: 00:49]} 43. Bxg3 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 43... Rxd3 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 44. Rh1+
{[%emt 0:00: 04]} 44... Kg7 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 45. Rd1 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 45... Rxd1
{[%emt 0:00:08]} 46. Bxd1 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 46... Bc6 {[%emt 0:00:31]} 47. Bxf3
{[%emt 0:00:02]} 47... gxf3+ {[%emt 0:00:01]} 48. Kxf3 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 48...
Kf6 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 49. Bh4+ {[%emt 0:00:01]} 49... Ke6 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 50.
Bg3 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 50... Ba4 {[%emt 0:00:09]} 51. Bh4 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 51...
Bc2 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 52. Ke3 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 1/2-1/2

[PlyCount "60"]
[Event "Blitz 2m+2s"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "2013.12.17"]
[White "Tsvetkov, Lyudmil"]
[Black "Stockfish DD 64 SSE4.2"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D02"]
[TimeControl "120+2"]
[Annotator "Tsvetkov,Lyudmil"]
[MLNrOfMoves "30"]
[MLFlags "000100"]

{512MB, Dell XPS 4Cores} 1. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 1... d5 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 2. d4
{[%emt 0:00:01]} 2... Nf6 {[%emt 0:00:12]} 3. Bf4 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 3... e6
{[%emt 0:00:07]} 4. e3 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 4... Be7 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 5. h3
{[%emt 0:00:02]} 5... c5 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 6. c3 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 6... O-O
{[%emt 0:00:03]} 7. Bd3 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 7... c4 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 8. Bc2
{[%emt 0:00:02]} 8... b5 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 9. a3 {[%emt 0: 00:02]} 9... Bb7
{[%emt 0:00:04]} 10. O-O {[%emt 0:00:02]} 10... a5 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 11. Nbd2
{[%emt 0:00:02]} 11... Nbd7 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 12. Ne5 {[%emt 0:00:01]} 12... b4
{[%emt 0:00:08]} 13. Nxd7 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 13... Nxd7 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 14. Nf3
{[%emt 0:00: 02]} 14... b3 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 15. Bb1 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 15... f5
{[%emt 0:00:05]} 16. Ne5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 16... Nxe5 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 17. Bxe5
{[%emt 0:00:01]} 17... Bf6 {[%emt 0: 00:02]} 18. Bxf6 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 18...
Qxf6 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 19. f4 {[%emt 0:00:01]} 19... Qh4 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 20. Qe1
{[%emt 0:00:00]} 20... Qxe1 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 21. Rxe1 {[%emt 0:00:01]} 21... h5
{[%emt 0:00:02]} 22. h4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 22... Bc6 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 23. g3
{[%emt 0:00:01]} 23... Kf7 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 24. Kh2 {[%emt 0:00:01]} 24... Ke7
{[%emt 0:00:03]} 25. Rg1 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 25... Rfc8 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 26. Rf1
{[%emt 0:00:02]} 26... Rcb8 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 27. Rg1 {[%emt 0:00:01]} 27... Kd6
{[%emt 0:00:04]} 28. Rf1 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 28... Rc8 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 29. Rg1
{[%emt 0:00:06]} 29... Rh8 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 30. Rf1 {[%emt 0:00:10]} 30... Rab8
{[%emt 0:00:03]} 1/2-1/2
[/pgn]

Who says that closed positions against engines with contempt on are not possible?

[d]2q1n1kr/3bb1nr/1p1p1p1p/pPpPp1p1/P1P1P2P/1RBBNNP1/5P2/1Q2R1K1 b - - 0 38

[d]1r5r/6p1/2bkp3/p2p1p1p/2pP1P1P/PpP1P1P1/1P5K/RB3R2 w - - 0 31

Why I posted this? Because I think that if I, that am not a very strong player, am able to achieve good results against engines, then very strong humans, Carlsen for example, but only after a special anticomputer preparation, would be able to successfully compete with even the strongest engines in LTC, regardless of whether the engine contempt is activated or not, or the engine book is specifically designed or not. What concerns books, why create a special book, when at any given moment the human player might deviate with a relatively sound move that is not on the book, even at move 2 or 3? So that my conclusion is, human-engine competition is still possible, and contempts and books change nothing.

Stockfish contemptuous of me, or me contemptuous of contempt, who is more in the right to be so?

Best, Lyudmil

[Joerg Oster]

Hi Lyudmil,

contempt = 3 is way too low against humans.
In engine vs. engine play, lower contempt values are ok. I propose you set it to the maximum of 50, and try again.

OTOH, I don't think that contempt helps much avoiding those closed pawn chains type of positions.

Best, Joerg.

[duncan]

My goal was to only try to draw some games, even if playing ugly, defensive chess, and it proved that it is not at all difficult to do that. To tell you the truth, I get the same score when playing with Stockfish default and Stockfish with contempt 3, i.e. my usual 20-25%, involving some wins, many draws and even more losses. (but here I must say once again for all those that think that there is some hoax here, that I regard my results as due to somewhat unfair competition, as I, for once, give myself more time, usually 2 times more than Stockfish, and twice, play lines that I am more or less familiar with; on the other hand, Stockfish plays blitz and uses multiple cores)

if you were allowed 5 takebacks per game and/or pawn and move odds could you win ? if not then what would you need ?

[Lyudmil Tsvetkov]

Hi Lyudmil,

contempt = 3 is way too low against humans.
In engine vs. engine play, lower contempt values are ok. I propose you set it to the maximum of 50, and try again.

OTOH, I don't think that contempt helps much avoiding those closed pawn chains type of positions.

Best, Joerg.

Yeah, and next time when I start winning games with contempt 50, you will take me back to playing with contempt 25.

[Lyudmil Tsvetkov]

My goal was to only try to draw some games, even if playing ugly, defensive chess, and it proved that it is not at all difficult to do that. To tell you the truth, I get the same score when playing with Stockfish default and Stockfish with contempt 3, i.e. my usual 20-25%, involving some wins, many draws and even more losses. (but here I must say once again for all those that think that there is some hoax here, that I regard my results as due to somewhat unfair competition, as I, for once, give myself more time, usually 2 times more than Stockfish, and twice, play lines that I am more or less familiar with; on the other hand, Stockfish plays blitz and uses multiple cores)

if you were allowed 5 takebacks per game and/or pawn and move odds could you win ? if not then what would you need ?

I would not accept any takebacks. I just need LTC and much of quiet, i.e. Fischer playing conditions. But I am playing just for fun, there are other stronger players on the line to face the machines: let Carlsen and Nakamura think of it.

I would say that if a have a full pawn odds (which I would never accept, as this is not interesting to me), I would win a match against any top engine even at shorter time control (30' + 15'' increment). One pawn is an enormous advantage, it practically means that you have already won the game before it has even started, regardless of whether you play the white or the black side.

However, my results would only be possible when you have quiet conditions, and in most tournaments you will never get those, except possibly if you play in Simpson's in the Strand.

[Lyudmil Tsvetkov]

A couple of more easily drawn games against Stockfish contempt 3, this time playing simply standard chess, exchanging some pieces, etc.:

[pgn][PlyCount "83"]
[MLNrOfMoves "41"]
[MLFlags "000100"]
[Event "Blitz 2m+2s"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "2013.12.17"]
[White "Stockfish DD 64 SSE4.2"]
[Black "Tsvetkov, Lyudmil"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E91"]
[TimeControl "120+2"]
[Annotator "Tsvetkov,Lyudmil"]

{512MB, Dell XPS 4Cores} 1. e4 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 1... e6 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 2. d4
{[%emt 0:00:06]} 2... c5 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 3. d5 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 3... exd5
{[%emt 0:00:02]} 4. exd5 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 4... d6 {[%emt 0:00:01]} 5. Be2
{[%emt 0:00:06]} 5... Nf6 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 6. c4 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 6... g6
{[%emt 0:00:10]} 7. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00: 04]} 7... Bg7 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 8. Nc3
{[%emt 0:00:02]} 8... O-O {[%emt 0:00:02]} 9. O-O {[%emt 0:00:04]} 9... Nbd7
{[%emt 0:00:08]} 10. Bf4 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 10... Ne8 {[%emt 0:00: 10]} 11. Qd2
{[%emt 0:00:07]} 11... a6 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 12. Rfe1 {[%emt 0:00:10]} 12... f6
{[%emt 0:00:07]} 13. Rac1 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 13... Ne5 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 14. a3
{[%emt 0:00:03]} 14... Nc7 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 15. b4 {[%emt 0:00:11]} 15... b6
{[%emt 0:00:02]} 16. Rcd1 {[%emt 0:00:09]} 16... a5 {[%emt 0:00:12]} 17. b5
{[%emt 0:00:04]} 17... Rb8 {[%emt 0: 00:13]} 18. Rc1 {[%emt 0:00:11]} 18... Rf7
{[%emt 0:00:10]} 19. Kh1 {[%emt 0:00:18]} 19... Qf8 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 20. h3
{[%emt 0:00:03]} 20... Bd7 {[%emt 0:00:11]} 21. Kg1 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 21... Bc8
{[%emt 0:00:02]} 22. Rcd1 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 22... Bd7 {[%emt 0:00: 02]} 23. Qc2
{[%emt 0:00:03]} 23... Bc8 {[%emt 0:00:13]} 24. Bg3 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 24... Bd7
{[%emt 0:00:04]} 25. Nh4 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 25... Bc8 {[%emt 0:00:17]} 26. f4
{[%emt 0: 00:03]} 26... Nd7 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 27. f5 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 27... g5
{[%emt 0:00:02]} 28. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 28... Ne5 {[%emt 0:00:33]} 29. Bf2
{[%emt 0:00:00]} 29... Re7 {[%emt 0:00:19]} 30. g4 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 30... h6
{[%emt 0:00:13]} 31. Bg3 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 31... Bd7 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 32. Ne4
{[%emt 0:00:03]} 32... Ne8 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 33. Rf1 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 33... Rd8
{[%emt 0:00:05]} 34. Be1 {[%emt 0:00:08]} 34... Bc8 {[%emt 0:00: 07]} 35. Bc3
{[%emt 0:00:03]} 35... Rf7 {[%emt 0:00:19]} 36. Rf2 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 36... Rfd7
{[%emt 0:00:03]} 37. Rdf1 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 37... Rf7 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 38. Re1
{[%emt 0:00:02]} 38... Rfd7 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 39. Bf1 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 39... Rf7
{[%emt 0:00: 02]} 40. Qd1 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 40... Rfd7 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 41. Re3
{[%emt 0:00:03]} 41... Rf7 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 42. Be2 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 1/2-1/2

[PlyCount "82"]
[Event "Blitz 2m+2s"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "2013.12.17"]
[White "Tsvetkov, Lyudmil"]
[Black "Stockfish DD 64 SSE4.2"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C67"]
[TimeControl "120+2"]
[Annotator "Tsvetkov,Lyudmil"]
[MLNrOfMoves "41"]
[MLFlags "000100"]

{512MB, Dell XPS 4Cores} 1. e4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 1... e5 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 2. Nf3
{[%emt 0:00:02]} 2... Nc6 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 3. Bb5 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 3... Nf6
{[%emt 0:00: 01]} 4. O-O {[%emt 0:00:03]} 4... Nxe4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 5. Re1
{[%emt 0:00:02]} 5... Nd6 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 6. Nxe5 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 6... Be7
{[%emt 0:00:05]} 7. Bf1 {[%emt 0: 00:03]} 7... O-O {[%emt 0:00:04]} 8. Nc3
{[%emt 0:00:08]} 8... Nxe5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 9. Rxe5 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 9... Bf6
{[%emt 0:00:02]} 10. Re1 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 10... Re8 {[%emt 0:00:01]} 11. d3
{[%emt 0:00:05]} 11... Rxe1 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 12. Qxe1 {[%emt 0:00: 01]} 12... c6
{[%emt 0:00:18]} 13. Ne4 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 13... Nxe4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 14. Qxe4
{[%emt 0:00:02]} 14... d5 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 15. Qf3 {[%emt 0:00:16]} 15... Qa5
{[%emt 0:00:07]} 16. c3 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 16... d4 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 17. c4
{[%emt 0:00:12]} 17... Bd7 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 18. Qd1 {[%emt 0:00:09]} 18... Re8
{[%emt 0:00:00]} 19. Bd2 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 19... Qc5 {[%emt 0:00:10]} 20. Qa4
{[%emt 0:00:00]} 20... Qb6 {[%emt 0:00: 07]} 21. Qb4 {[%emt 0:00:08]} 21... Qxb4
{[%emt 0:00:05]} 22. Bxb4 {[%emt 0:00:01]} 22... g5 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 23. Re1
{[%emt 0:00:07]} 23... Rxe1 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 24. Bxe1 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 24... Kg7
{[%emt 0:00:04]} 25. Bd2 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 25... Be7 {[%emt 0:00: 02]} 26. b4
{[%emt 0:00:10]} 26... Kf6 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 27. Be2 {[%emt 0:00:20]} 27... b6
{[%emt 0:00:00]} 28. h3 {[%emt 0:00:09]} 28... Bf5 {[%emt 0:00:09]} 29. Kf1
{[%emt 0: 00:04]} 29... Ke5 {[%emt 0:00:10]} 30. Ke1 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 30... h6
{[%emt 0:00:12]} 31. Kd1 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 31... f6 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 32. Kc2
{[%emt 0:00:12]} 32... Bd7 {[%emt 0: 00:00]} 33. g4 {[%emt 0:01:15]} 33... f5
{[%emt 0:00:05]} 34. f3 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 34... f4 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 35. Bf1
{[%emt 0:00:07]} 35... Be8 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 36. a3 {[%emt 0: 00:03]} 36... h5
{[%emt 0:00:04]} 37. Kd1 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 37... Bg6 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 38. Kc2
{[%emt 0:00:02]} 38... h4 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 39. Be2 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 39... b5
{[%emt 0: 00:02]} 40. c5 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 40... Bf7 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 41. Kb2
{[%emt 0:00:02]} 41... Bd5 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 1/2-1/2

[PlyCount "93"]
[Event "Blitz 2m+2s"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "2013.12.17"]
[White "Stockfish DD 64 SSE4.2"]
[Black "Tsvetkov, Lyudmil"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B23"]
[TimeControl "120+2"]
[Annotator "Tsvetkov,Lyudmil"]
[MLNrOfMoves "46"]
[MLFlags "000100"]

{512MB, Dell XPS 4Cores} 1. e4 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 1... c5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 2. Nc3
{[%emt 0:00:04]} 2... Nc6 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 3. Bb5 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 3... a6
{[%emt 0:00:02]} 4. Bxc6 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 4... dxc6 {[%emt 0:00:01]} 5. Nf3
{[%emt 0:00:07]} 5... Bg4 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 6. d3 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 6... Nf6
{[%emt 0:00:07]} 7. h3 {[%emt 0:00: 04]} 7... Bxf3 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 8. Qxf3
{[%emt 0:00:02]} 8... e5 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 9. O-O {[%emt 0:00:05]} 9... Nd7
{[%emt 0:00:03]} 10. Qg3 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 10... Qf6 {[%emt 0:00: 08]} 11. a4
{[%emt 0:00:08]} 11... a5 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 12. Be3 {[%emt 0:00:10]} 12... Qg6
{[%emt 0:00:08]} 13. Kh2 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 13... Qxg3+ {[%emt 0:00:09]} 14. Kxg3
{[%emt 0:00:06]} 14... Bd6 {[%emt 0:00:18]} 15. Nb1 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 15... f6
{[%emt 0:00: 08]} 16. Nd2 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 16... b6 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 17. Nc4
{[%emt 0:00:06]} 17... Bc7 {[%emt 0:00:01]} 18. f4 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 18... Ke7
{[%emt 0:00:05]} 19. f5 {[%emt 0: 00:03]} 19... Rhg8 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 20. Kf3
{[%emt 0:00:08]} 20... g5 {[%emt 0:00:10]} 21. g4 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 21... Rh8
{[%emt 0:01:02]} 22. h4 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 22... h6 {[%emt 0: 00:01]} 23. Rh1
{[%emt 0:00:03]} 23... Kf7 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 24. Bd2 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 24... Kg7
{[%emt 0:00:03]} 25. Ke2 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 25... Rab8 {[%emt 0:00:14]} 26. Rh2
{[%emt 0:00:04]} 26... Ra8 {[%emt 0:00:01]} 27. Rah1 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 27... Rab8
{[%emt 0: 00:02]} 28. Kf3 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 28... Ra8 {[%emt 0:00:01]} 29. Be3
{[%emt 0:00:06]} 29... Rab8 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 30. Rh3 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 30... Ra8
{[%emt 0:00:02]} 31. Ke2 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 31... Rab8 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 32. Nd2
{[%emt 0:00:04]} 32... Ra8 {[%emt 0:00: 13]} 33. R3h2 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 33...
Rab8 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 34. Kf3 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 34... Ra8 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 35.
Rh3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 35... Rab8 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 36. b3 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 36...
Ra8 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 37. Nf1 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 37... Rag8 {[%emt 0:00: 27]} 38.
Ng3 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 38... Bd8 {[%emt 0:00:20]} 39. Nh5+ {[%emt 0:00:00]} 39...
Kf7 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 40. Ke2 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 40... Be7 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 41. Ng3
{[%emt 0:00:00]} 41... Kg7 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 42. Nf1 {[%emt 0:00:01]} 42... Bd8
{[%emt 0:00: 03]} 43. Bd2 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 43... Be7 {[%emt 0:00:19]} 44. Ne3
{[%emt 0:00:04]} 44... Bd8 {[%emt 0:00:08]} 45. R3h2 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 45... Bc7
{[%emt 0:00:06]} 46. Nf1 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 46... Bd8 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 47. Kf3
{[%emt 0:00:04]} 1/2-1/2
[/pgn]

Very much suboptimal openings, but sticking to pawn chains and symmetrical structures when possible is a good advice for everyone to try to draw games against engines.

Some snapshots of the games:

[d]r1bq1rk1/2n3bp/1p1p1pp1/p1pPn3/1PP2B2/P1N2N2/3QBPPP/3RR1K1 w - - 0 17
Look at this position: contempt ot no contempt, white has in many positions like this one to close the game, as black threatens to open the a file. And white indeed plays b5.

[d]r1bq2k1/pp1p1ppp/2p2b2/8/4Q3/3P4/PPP2PPP/R1B2BK1 b - - 0 14
Playing a suboptimal opening again for white, but in 15 moves many pieces are gone and you have a pawn symmetry. Besides, as each side has a pair of bishops, this further increases drawing chances, as in a way there are 2 pairs of opposite-coloured bishops on the board. Thus, when both sides have pairs of bishops, quite frequently pawn weaknesses do not matter that much.

[d]r5r1/2bnk2p/1pp2p2/p1p1pPp1/P1N1P3/3PBK1P/1PP3P1/R4R2 w - G5 0 21
Making a draw in the ugliest of ways: white can not break through without compromising its position. You must just be careful of an eventual engine trick.

Now the next time I play Stockfish with contempt on at whatever value, I will already try to win, although I am much afraid Stockfish contempt 50 plays pretty much random chess.

[Lyudmil Tsvetkov]

And here some nice Stockfish wins, not to remain under the impression that Stockfish is not winning a lot of games:

[pgn][PlyCount "111"]
[Event "Blitz 2m+2s"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "2013.12.16"]
[White "Stockfish DD 64 SSE4.2"]
[Black "Tsvetkov, Lyudmil"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C66"]
[TimeControl "120+2"]
[Annotator "Tsvetkov,Lyudmil"]
[MLNrOfMoves "55"]
[MLFlags "000100"]

{512MB, Dell XPS 4Cores} 1. e4 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 1... e5 {[%emt 0:00:01]} 2. Nf3
{[%emt 0:00:04]} 2... Nc6 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 3. Bb5 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 3... Nf6
{[%emt 0:00: 05]} 4. d3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 4... d6 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 5. O-O
{[%emt 0:00:11]} 5... Be7 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 6. Nbd2 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 6... O-O
{[%emt 0:00:02]} 7. Bxc6 {[%emt 0: 00:03]} 7... bxc6 {[%emt 0:00:01]} 8. Nc4
{[%emt 0:00:03]} 8... c5 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 9. Bd2 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 9... Be6
{[%emt 0:00:06]} 10. b3 {[%emt 0:00:11]} 10... Bxc4 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 11. bxc4
{[%emt 0:00:03]} 11... Qd7 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 12. Rb1 {[%emt 0:00: 04]} 12... Rab8
{[%emt 0:00:05]} 13. Qc1 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 13... c6 {[%emt 0:00:10]} 14. Rb3
{[%emt 0:00:05]} 14... Rb6 {[%emt 0:00:09]} 15. Qa3 {[%emt 0:00:14]} 15... Rfb8
{[%emt 0: 00:05]} 16. Rfb1 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 16... Bd8 {[%emt 0:00:12]} 17. Ba5
{[%emt 0:00:04]} 17... Rxb3 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 18. axb3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 18... Bb6
{[%emt 0:00:14]} 19. Ra1 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 19... Bxa5 {[%emt 0:00:33]} 20. Qxa5
{[%emt 0:00:04]} 20... Rb7 {[%emt 0: 00:02]} 21. h3 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 21... h6
{[%emt 0:00:02]} 22. Kh2 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 22... g6 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 23. Qd2
{[%emt 0:00:10]} 23... Kg7 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 24. Ra6 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 24... Rb6
{[%emt 0:00:12]} 25. Ra2 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 25... Rb4 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 26. Qe1
{[%emt 0:00:03]} 26... Kg8 {[%emt 0:00:14]} 27. Qa1 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 27... Rb7
{[%emt 0:00:03]} 28. Ra6 {[%emt 0:00:01]} 28... Kg7 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 29. Qa4
{[%emt 0: 00:04]} 29... Rc7 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 30. c3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 30... Nh5
{[%emt 0:00:07]} 31. g3 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 31... Nf6 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 32. b4
{[%emt 0:00:02]} 32... cxb4 {[%emt 0: 00:03]} 33. cxb4 {[%emt 0:00:01]} 33...
Ne8 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 34. Kg2 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 34... Kf8 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 35. Qa1
{[%emt 0:00:04]} 35... Qe7 {[%emt 0:00:14]} 36. c5 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 36... f6
{[%emt 0:00:05]} 37. d4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 37... exd4 {[%emt 0:00: 00]} 38. Qxd4
{[%emt 0:00:15]} 38... dxc5 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 39. bxc5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 39... Ng7
{[%emt 0:00:12]} 40. e5 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 40... f5 {[%emt 0:00:09]} 41. Qd6
{[%emt 0:00:00]} 41... Kf7 {[%emt 0:00:11]} 42. Nd4 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 42... Ne8
{[%emt 0:00: 02]} 43. Nxc6 {[%emt 0:00:01]} 43... Nxd6 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 44. Nxe7
{[%emt 0:00:00]} 44... Ne4 {[%emt 0:00:09]} 45. Nd5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 45... Rxc5
{[%emt 0:00:05]} 46. Rxa7+ {[%emt 0:00:00]} 46... Ke6 {[%emt 0:00:08]} 47. Nf4+
{[%emt 0:00:06]} 47... Kxe5 {[%emt 0: 00:02]} 48. Nd3+ {[%emt 0:00:01]} 48...
Kf6 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 49. Nxc5 {[%emt 0:00:01]} 49... Nxc5 {[%emt 0:00:01]} 50.
g4 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 50... fxg4 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 51. hxg4 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 51...
Ne6 {[%emt 0:00:10]} 52. Kf3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 52... Ng5+ {[%emt 0: 00:17]} 53.
Ke3 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 53... Nf7 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 54. Ra6+ {[%emt 0:00:04]} 54...
Kg7 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 55. f4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 55... Kf8 {[%emt 0:00:17]} 56. Rxg6
{[%emt 0:00:20]} 1-0

[PlyCount "144"]
[Event "Blitz 2m+2s"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "2013.12.16"]
[White "Tsvetkov, Lyudmil"]
[Black "Stockfish DD 64 SSE4.2"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C67"]
[TimeControl "120+2"]
[Annotator "Tsvetkov,Lyudmil"]
[MLNrOfMoves "72"]
[MLFlags "000100"]

{512MB, Dell XPS 4Cores} 1. e4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 1... e5 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 2. Nf3
{[%emt 0:00:02]} 2... Nc6 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 3. Bb5 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 3... Nf6
{[%emt 0:00: 00]} 4. O-O {[%emt 0:00:10]} 4... Nxe4 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 5. Re1
{[%emt 0:00:02]} 5... Nd6 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 6. Nxe5 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 6... Be7
{[%emt 0:00:03]} 7. Bf1 {[%emt 0: 00:08]} 7... Nxe5 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 8. Rxe5
{[%emt 0:00:01]} 8... O-O {[%emt 0:00:03]} 9. d4 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 9... Bf6
{[%emt 0:00:06]} 10. Re1 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 10... Re8 {[%emt 0: 00:11]} 11. c3
{[%emt 0:00:04]} 11... b6 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 12. Bf4 {[%emt 0:00:20]} 12... Re6
{[%emt 0:00:00]} 13. Nd2 {[%emt 0:00:09]} 13... Bb7 {[%emt 0:00:09]} 14. Bxd6
{[%emt 0:00:17]} 14... cxd6 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 15. Be2 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 15... Qf8
{[%emt 0:00: 09]} 16. Bf3 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 16... d5 {[%emt 0:00:01]} 17. Nc4
{[%emt 0:00:25]} 17... Rae8 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 18. Ne3 {[%emt 0:00:08]} 18... Qd6
{[%emt 0:00:00]} 19. Qd3 {[%emt 0:00:09]} 19... Bg5 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 20. Nc2
{[%emt 0:00:18]} 20... g6 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 21. g3 {[%emt 0:00:08]} 21... f5
{[%emt 0:00:00]} 22. Bg2 {[%emt 0:00:19]} 22... f4 {[%emt 0: 00:17]} 23. Bh3
{[%emt 0:00:11]} 23... R6e7 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 24. Rxe7 {[%emt 0:00:12]} 24...
Rxe7 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 25. Re1 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 25... Qf6 {[%emt 0:00:17]} 26.
Rxe7 {[%emt 0:00:10]} 26... Qxe7 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 27. Kf1 {[%emt 0:00:16]} 27...
Bc6 {[%emt 0: 00:07]} 28. Qe2 {[%emt 0:00:28]} 28... Kf7 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 29.
Qxe7+ {[%emt 0:00:04]} 29... Kxe7 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 30. Ke2 {[%emt 0:00:28]}
30... Bb5+ {[%emt 0:00:03]} 31. Kd1 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 31... Bc4 {[%emt 0:00:01]}
32. b3 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 32... Bd3 {[%emt 0:00: 01]} 33. Nb4 {[%emt 0:00:13]}
33... Be4 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 34. Bf1 {[%emt 0:00:11]} 34... fxg3 {[%emt 0:00:07]}
35. fxg3 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 35... a5 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 36. Nc2 {[%emt 0:00:08]}
36... h5 {[%emt 0:00:09]} 37. Be2 {[%emt 0:00:22]} 37... h4 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 38.
gxh4 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 38... Bxh4 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 39. Ne3 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 39...
Bg5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 40. Nf1 {[%emt 0:00:18]} 40... Kd6 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 41. Ng3
{[%emt 0:00:06]} 41... Bb1 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 42. a4 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 42... Be3
{[%emt 0:00:00]} 43. Bg4 {[%emt 0:00:12]} 43... Bf4 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 44. Bh3
{[%emt 0:00:13]} 44... Bg5 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 45. Bg4 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 45... Be3
{[%emt 0:00:01]} 46. Bh3 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 46... Bf4 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 47. Bg4
{[%emt 0:00:01]} 47... Bd3 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 48. Bh3 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 48... b5
{[%emt 0:00:04]} 49. axb5 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 49... Bxb5 {[%emt 0:00: 01]} 50. Bg4
{[%emt 0:00:02]} 50... a4 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 51. bxa4 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 51... Bxa4+
{[%emt 0:00:00]} 52. Ke2 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 52... Bb5+ {[%emt 0:00:03]} 53. Kd1
{[%emt 0:00:03]} 53... Kc6 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 54. Bh3 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 54... Bd3
{[%emt 0:00: 02]} 55. Bg4 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 55... Kb5 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 56. Bxd7+
{[%emt 0:00:00]} 56... Kc4 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 57. Ne2 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 57... Bxh2
{[%emt 0:00:02]} 58. Bc8 {[%emt 0:00:09]} 58... Bxe2+ {[%emt 0:00:02]} 59. Kxe2
{[%emt 0:00:03]} 59... Kxc3 {[%emt 0: 00:00]} 60. Be6 {[%emt 0:00:09]} 60...
Kxd4 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 61. Bf7 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 61... g5 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 62. Bh5
{[%emt 0:00:05]} 62... Kc3 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 63. Bf3 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 63... d4
{[%emt 0:00:02]} 64. Be4 {[%emt 0:00:01]} 64... Bf4 {[%emt 0:00: 02]} 65. Bf5
{[%emt 0:00:03]} 65... Bd6 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 66. Be4 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 66... g4
{[%emt 0:00:02]} 67. Bf5 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 67... g3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 68. Be4
{[%emt 0: 00:02]} 68... Bf4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 69. Bf5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 69... Bg5
{[%emt 0:00:03]} 70. Be4 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 70... Bh4 {[%emt 0:00:08]} 71. Bf3
{[%emt 0:00:31]} 71... d3+ {[%emt 0:00:02]} 72. Kd1 {[%emt 0:00:08]} 72... Kd4
{[%emt 0:00:02]} 0-1

[PlyCount "78"]
[Event "Blitz 2m+2s"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "2013.12.17"]
[White "Tsvetkov, Lyudmil"]
[Black "Stockfish DD 64 SSE4.2"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D05"]
[TimeControl "120+2"]
[Annotator "Tsvetkov,Lyudmil"]
[MLNrOfMoves "39"]
[MLFlags "010100"]

{512MB, Dell XPS 4Cores} 1. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 1... d5 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 2. d4
{[%emt 0:00:01]} 2... e6 {[%emt 0:00:23]} 3. e3 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 3... Nf6
{[%emt 0:00:04]} 4. Bd3 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 4... c5 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 5. c3
{[%emt 0:00:02]} 5... Bd6 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 6. O-O {[%emt 0:00:02]} 6... Nc6
{[%emt 0:00:07]} 7. Nbd2 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 7... O-O {[%emt 0:00:04]} 8. h3
{[%emt 0:00:00]} 8... Bd7 {[%emt 0:00:11]} 9. Re1 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 9... Qb8
{[%emt 0:00:09]} 10. Bf1 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 10... e5 {[%emt 0:00:08]} 11. dxe5
{[%emt 0:00:03]} 11... Nxe5 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 12. Nxe5 {[%emt 0:00:01]} 12...
Bxe5 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 13. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 13... Bd6 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 14. c4
{[%emt 0: 00:00]} 14... dxc4 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 15. Bxc4 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 15... b5
{[%emt 0:00:03]} 16. Bf1 {[%emt 0:00:08]} 16... Rd8 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 17. Qc2
{[%emt 0:00:02]} 17... Bc6 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 18. Bd2 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 18... Be4
{[%emt 0:00:00]} 19. Qc1 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 19... Qb6 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 20. Bc3
{[%emt 0:00:02]} 20... Nd5 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 21. Nd2 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 21... Nxc3
{[%emt 0:00:03]} 22. Qxc3 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 22... Bf5 {[%emt 0: 00:03]} 23. e4
{[%emt 0:00:04]} 23... Be6 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 24. Qe3 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 24... c4
{[%emt 0:00:05]} 25. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 25... Bc5 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 26. Qe2
{[%emt 0:00:03]} 26... a6 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 27. a3 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 27... Bc8
{[%emt 0:00:03]} 28. g3 {[%emt 0:00:13]} 28... Ra7 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 29. Red1
{[%emt 0:00:03]} 29... Re8 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 30. Bg2 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 30... Rae7
{[%emt 0:00:00]} 31. Re1 {[%emt 0:00:14]} 31... Rxe4 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 32. Qxe4
{[%emt 0:00:02]} 32... Rxe4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 33. Rxe4 {[%emt 0:00:01]} 33...
Bxf2+ {[%emt 0:00:06]} 34. Kh2 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 34... Bxg3+ {[%emt 0:00:04]} 35.
Kxg3 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 35... Qg6+ {[%emt 0:00:01]} 36. Kf4 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 36...
Qd6+ {[%emt 0:00:00]} 37. Ke3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 37... Qd3+ {[%emt 0: 00:04]} 38.
Kf4 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 38... g5+ {[%emt 0:00:01]} 39. Nxg5 {[%emt 0:00:13]} 39...
Qd2+ {[%emt 0:00:00]} 0-1
[/pgn]

And some snapshots:

[d]6k1/pr1q1p2/2pp1npp/Q1p1p3/2P1P3/1P1P1N1P/2P2PPK/R7 w - - 0 23
Black sticks to passive defence. It is not fully clear if the position is already lost, but whenever you do nothing but defend, chances are you will crack sometime.

[d]4nk2/p1r1q3/R1pp1ppp/2P1p3/1P1PP3/5NPP/5PK1/Q7 b - - 0 37
Stockfish breaks through with d4.

[d]4r1k1/pb1p1p1p/1p1qr1p1/3p2b1/3P4/2PQ1B2/PPN2PPP/R3R1K1 w - - 0 21
Who is better here is not exactly clear, but Stockfish has the pair of bishops.

[d]8/3p4/3k2p1/1b1p4/3P1bB1/2P3N1/4K2P/8 w - - 0 53
The pair are a mighty force even in this simple position, more precisely even mightier force as the game further simplifies.

[d]8/8/8/6p1/3pBb2/2k5/4K3/8 w - - 0 65
Simple rule: 2 passers with opposite-coloured bishops win, whenever there are at least 2 files in between the passers. Just one file is a draw.

[d]2b3k1/5ppp/pq6/1p6/2p1R3/P4NbP/1P4BK/R7 w - - 0 35
Brilliant! Stockfish has just sacrificed its bishop on g3. How many of you see one of white's pieces will be lost in 5 moves time? I personally did not even dream of it and following the way Stockfish won the piece was a big pleasure for me.

[Dr.Wael Deeb]

My goal was to only try to draw some games, even if playing ugly, defensive chess, and it proved that it is not at all difficult to do that. To tell you the truth, I get the same score when playing with Stockfish default and Stockfish with contempt 3, i.e. my usual 20-25%, involving some wins, many draws and even more losses. (but here I must say once again for all those that think that there is some hoax here, that I regard my results as due to somewhat unfair competition, as I, for once, give myself more time, usually 2 times more than Stockfish, and twice, play lines that I am more or less familiar with; on the other hand, Stockfish plays blitz and uses multiple cores)

if you were allowed 5 takebacks per game and/or pawn and move odds could you win ? if not then what would you need ?

I would not accept any takebacks. I just need LTC and much of quiet, i.e. Fischer playing conditions. But I am playing just for fun, there are other stronger players on the line to face the machines: let Carlsen and Nakamura think of it.

I would say that if a have a full pawn odds (which I would never accept, as this is not interesting to me), I would win a match against any top engine even at shorter time control (30' + 15'' increment). One pawn is an enormous advantage, it practically means that you have already won the game before it has even started, regardless of whether you play the white or the black side.

However, my results would only be possible when you have quiet conditions, and in most tournaments you will never get those, except possibly if you play in Simpson's in the Strand.

With all due respect my friend,I don't think that this is possible....

I am sure that you recall the Rybka's games against GMs using material odds and the results respectively....
,
Dr.D

[Lyudmil Tsvetkov]

My goal was to only try to draw some games, even if playing ugly, defensive chess, and it proved that it is not at all difficult to do that. To tell you the truth, I get the same score when playing with Stockfish default and Stockfish with contempt 3, i.e. my usual 20-25%, involving some wins, many draws and even more losses. (but here I must say once again for all those that think that there is some hoax here, that I regard my results as due to somewhat unfair competition, as I, for once, give myself more time, usually 2 times more than Stockfish, and twice, play lines that I am more or less familiar with; on the other hand, Stockfish plays blitz and uses multiple cores)

if you were allowed 5 takebacks per game and/or pawn and move odds could you win ? if not then what would you need ?

I would not accept any takebacks. I just need LTC and much of quiet, i.e. Fischer playing conditions. But I am playing just for fun, there are other stronger players on the line to face the machines: let Carlsen and Nakamura think of it.

I would say that if a have a full pawn odds (which I would never accept, as this is not interesting to me), I would win a match against any top engine even at shorter time control (30' + 15'' increment). One pawn is an enormous advantage, it practically means that you have already won the game before it has even started, regardless of whether you play the white or the black side.

However, my results would only be possible when you have quiet conditions, and in most tournaments you will never get those, except possibly if you play in Simpson's in the Strand.

With all due respect my friend,I don't think that this is possible....

I am sure that you recall the Rybka's games against GMs using material odds and the results respectively....
,
Dr.D

Wael, you miss the fact that those GMs had not been prepared to play anticomputer chess. They just played the way they knew, but that certainly was not the best strategy.

[Milos]

However, my results would only be possible when you have quiet conditions, and in most tournaments you will never get those, except possibly if you play in Simpson's in the Strand.

Brilliant, I bet Ivanov would also kill for those quiet tournament conditions instead of those stupid searches that are bothering him all the time .