Engine-assisted game vs Stockfish, move 20 discussion

[MooMoo2]

The most popular move on the move 19 poll was ...e4. Stockfish played 20. Be2, and the FEN is:
2rq1rk1/6bp/2npb3/1p1N1p2/4p3/2P5/1PN1BPPP/R2Q1RK1 b - - 1 20

Game so far: 1.e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bf4 e5 8. Bg5 a6 9. Na3 b5 10. Bxf6 gxf6 11. Nd5 f5 12. c3 Bg7 13. Bd3 Be6 14. Nc2 O-O 15. O-O fxe4 16. Bxe4 Rc8 17. a4 f5 18. axb5 axb5 19. Bf3 e4 20. Be2

Depth: 52 ply. Nodes searched: 1,008,111,836,741 (~1008 G)

Also, from now on, the game will follow the schedule discussed here: http://www.mersenneforum.org/showpos...0&postcount=15

[unconnected]

20... Kh8

[The Carnivore]

Has anyone tried playing around with the contempt setting on their engines? Check this out if you're using Komodo:
https://komodochess.com/Komodo-9-README.html

Contempt (Komodo 9.2 and higher)
--------------------------------
Contempt is used the computer’s evaluation to discourage piece trades and draws early in the game. The default value is 10 (in version 9.3 and higher) which should help against weaker opponents. Against near-equal opponents, set Contempt to zero for best results. Against a human opponent, Contempt should be at least 25 even if he is the World Champion. Suggested values include 50 against grandmasters, 75 against masters, and 100 against strong amateurs. A good rule of thumb is to subtract the opponent's Elo rating from 3400 (estimated rating of Komodo 9.3 on a quadcore machine) and divide by 15. Higher Contempt values are especially appropriate when Komodo is giving a handicap. For handicap play, a good rule of thumb is to set Contempt for one third of the value of the initial position based on a one minute search in infinite analysis mode. For example, if giving knight odds, if an initial one minute analysis search shows Komodo as down by 3.5 pawns, set Contempt to 117, which is 117 centipawns, or a third of the disadvantage.

Playing black and having to win is kind of a handicap, so the contempt value should be non-zero.

[axn]

Originally Posted by The Carnivore

Playing black and having to win is kind of a handicap, so the contempt value should be non-zero.

1. Komodo is not "playing." It is being used for analysis. These are different things. In analysis, we want to know "the truth", and not a biased (over-optimistic) evaluation.
2. "Against near equal opponent" - like SF - contempt should be zero. Otherwise SF would beat the crap out of it.

[gd_barnes]

Komodo also recommends 20...Kh8 now. It is about 0.25 better than any other move.

[Till]

How about Ne7 ?

[gd_barnes]

Originally Posted by Till

How about Ne7 ?

Not good.

20...Ne7 21. Nf4 Bf7 22. Nd4 is good for white.