The cat's out of the bag

[Jeremy Bernstein]

Thanks to Martin and TCEC (and Chessdom), Houdini is getting some wider press. Congratulations!

http://www.chessdom.com/news-2011/houdini-chess-engine

[Ted Summers]

Nice!

[Ted Summers]

This story is not getting any better. Here is the current game.

Source: http://www.tcec-chess.org/div_i.php

[BB+]

Rybka as White played a Four Knight's Game with d4, and then after the Queens were traded, played too passively in my opinion (move 11, for instance -- though as noted elsewhere, they are still in book until move 13: All opening moves are randomly fetched from a PGN file which contains 200.810 different openings. They are all fixed to 12 moves / 24 plies.). As a human I wouldn't go for the RR+6 vs RBN+5 with Nxa7 as Rybka did, as two minors tend to win these, especially when White has redundant majors. White's passed a-pawn (and then the b-pawn) ended up just being weaknesses, and after they were lost, it's going to be hard for White to hold on. IvanHoe has played some weird openings in this tournament (well, it seems that these will be flipped in the second half of the tournament), but managed to win with the Pirc as Black against Stockfish in Round 4.

[Ted Summers]

The complete game:

[Event "TCEC - Division I - S1"]
[Site "http://www.tcec-chess.org"]
[Date "2011.01.10"]
[Round "4.3"]
[White "Rybka 4.0"]
[Black "Houdini 1.5"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Time "09:01:50"]
[ECO "C47"]
[Opening "Bogoljubow (Scotch) Variation, 4 Knights"]
[TimeControl "40/6000:20/3000:1200+10"]
[PlyCount "130"]
[Number "15"]
[Termination ""]
[BlackType "program"]
[WhiteType "program"]
[Variant "normal"]

1.e4 { ev=0.00, d=1, mt=00:00:00, tl=01:40:00, s=0 kN/s, tb=0,
}
e5 { ev=0.00, d=1, mt=00:00:00, tl=01:40:00, s=0 kN/s, tb=0,
}
2.Nf3 { ev=0.00, d=1, mt=00:00:00, tl=01:40:00, s=0 kN/s, tb=0,
}
Nc6 { ev=0.00, d=1, mt=00:00:00, tl=01:40:00, s=0 kN/s, tb=0,
}
3.Nc3 { ev=0.00, d=1, mt=00:00:00, tl=01:40:00, s=0 kN/s, tb=0,
}
Nf6 { ev=0.00, d=1, mt=00:00:00, tl=01:40:00, s=0 kN/s, tb=0,
}
4.d4 { ev=0.00, d=1, mt=00:00:00, tl=01:40:00, s=0 kN/s, tb=0,
}
exd4 { ev=0.00, d=1, mt=00:00:00, tl=01:40:00, s=0 kN/s, tb=0,
}
5.Nxd4 { ev=0.00, d=1, mt=00:00:00, tl=01:40:00, s=0 kN/s, tb=0,
}
Bb4 { ev=0.00, d=1, mt=00:00:00, tl=01:40:00, s=0 kN/s, tb=0,
}
6.Nxc6 { ev=0.00, d=1, mt=00:00:00, tl=01:40:00, s=0 kN/s, tb=0,
}
bxc6 { ev=0.00, d=1, mt=00:00:00, tl=01:40:00, s=0 kN/s, tb=0,
}
7.Bd3 { ev=0.00, d=1, mt=00:00:00, tl=01:40:00, s=0 kN/s, tb=0,
}
d5 { ev=0.00, d=1, mt=00:00:00, tl=01:40:00, s=0 kN/s, tb=0,
}
8.exd5 { ev=0.00, d=1, mt=00:00:00, tl=01:40:00, s=0 kN/s, tb=0,
}
Qe7+ { ev=0.00, d=1, mt=00:00:00, tl=01:40:00, s=0 kN/s, tb=0,
}
9.Qe2 { ev=0.00, d=1, mt=00:00:00, tl=01:40:00, s=0 kN/s, tb=0,
}
Qxe2+ { ev=0.00, d=1, mt=00:00:00, tl=01:40:00, s=0 kN/s, tb=0,
}
10.Kxe2 { ev=0.00, d=1, mt=00:00:00, tl=01:40:00, s=0 kN/s, tb=0,
}
cxd5 { ev=0.00, d=1, mt=00:00:00, tl=01:40:00, s=0 kN/s, tb=0,
}
11.Bd2 { ev=0.00, d=1, mt=00:00:00, tl=01:40:00, s=0 kN/s, tb=0,
}
O-O { ev=0.00, d=1, mt=00:00:00, tl=01:40:00, s=0 kN/s, tb=0,
}
12.Nb5 { ev=0.00, d=1, mt=00:00:00, tl=01:40:00, s=0 kN/s, tb=0,
}
Bxd2 { ev=0.00, d=1, mt=00:00:00, tl=01:40:00, s=0 kN/s, tb=0,
}
13.Kxd2 { ev=-0.01, d=20, pd=c5, mt=00:00:45, tl=01:39:14, s=643 kN/s, tb=0,
}
c5 { ev=-0.17, d=27, pd=b3, mt=00:05:09, tl=01:34:50, s=18762 kN/s, tb=0,
}
14.b3 { ev=-0.02, d=21, pd=a6, mt=00:01:43, tl=01:37:32, s=649 kN/s, tb=0,
}
Rd8 { ev=-0.14, d=26, pd=Rhe1, mt=00:04:34, tl=01:30:18, s=18936 kN/s, tb=0,
}
15.Rhe1 { ev=-0.05, d=21, pd=Bd7, mt=00:04:23, tl=01:33:09, s=629 kN/s, tb=0,
}
Rb8 { ev=-0.10, d=25, pd=Bf1, mt=00:02:42, tl=01:27:37, s=18556 kN/s, tb=0,
}
16.Nxa7 { ev=0.24, d=21, pd=Bd7, mt=00:23:17, tl=01:09:53, s=583 kN/s, tb=0,
}
Bd7 { ev=-0.32, d=27, pd=a4, mt=00:03:48, tl=01:23:50, s=19673 kN/s, tb=0,
}
17.Bf5 { ev=0.00, d=21, pd=Bxf5, mt=00:01:14, tl=01:08:40, s=573 kN/s, tb=0,
}
Bxf5 { ev=-0.34, d=27, pd=Nc6, mt=00:02:42, tl=01:21:09, s=18804 kN/s, tb=0,
}
18.Nc6 { ev=0.00, d=22, pd=Ne4, mt=00:00:14, tl=01:08:27, s=539 kN/s, tb=0,
}
Ne4+ { ev=-0.34, d=26, pd=Kc1, mt=00:00:00, tl=01:21:10, s=17995 kN/s, tb=0,
}
19.Ke3 { ev=-0.01, d=22, pd=Re8, mt=00:03:27, tl=01:05:01, s=605 kN/s, tb=0,
}
Nd6 { ev=-0.40, d=27, pd=Nxd8, mt=00:03:16, tl=01:17:54, s=19177 kN/s, tb=0,
}
20.Kd2 { ev=-0.08, d=23, pd=d4, mt=00:02:41, tl=01:02:21, s=657 kN/s, tb=0,
}
Kf8 { ev=-0.44, d=26, pd=f3, mt=00:04:00, tl=01:13:55, s=18554 kN/s, tb=0,
}
21.a4 { ev=-0.19, d=22, pd=Be6, mt=00:03:32, tl=00:58:50, s=701 kN/s, tb=0,
}
Be6 { ev=-0.48, d=26, pd=Nxd8, mt=00:05:36, tl=01:08:20, s=18677 kN/s, tb=0,
}
22.a5 { ev=-0.24, d=21, pd=Ke8, mt=00:01:46, tl=00:57:05, s=737 kN/s, tb=0,
}
Ke8 { ev=-0.47, d=27, pd=Nxb8, mt=00:03:00, tl=01:05:20, s=19233 kN/s, tb=0,
}
23.Nxb8 { ev=-0.31, d=21, pd=Rxb8, mt=00:01:23, tl=00:55:43, s=741 kN/s, tb=35,
}
Rxb8 { ev=-0.47, d=25, pd=a6, mt=00:00:00, tl=01:05:21, s=16691 kN/s, tb=0,
}
24.a6 { ev=-0.31, d=21, pd=Ra8, mt=00:03:08, tl=00:52:35, s=682 kN/s, tb=0,
}
Ra8 { ev=-0.48, d=28, pd=a7, mt=00:04:53, tl=01:00:30, s=19736 kN/s, tb=0,
}
25.a7 { ev=-0.37, d=23, pd=Nc8, mt=00:05:02, tl=00:47:35, s=742 kN/s, tb=5,
}
Kd7 { ev=-0.54, d=29, pd=Ra5, mt=00:09:14, tl=00:51:17, s=19825 kN/s, tb=0,
}
26.b4 { ev=-0.33, d=23, pd=c4, mt=00:08:09, tl=00:39:27, s=780 kN/s, tb=0,
}
c4 { ev=-0.52, d=29, pd=Ra5, mt=00:03:02, tl=00:48:16, s=19736 kN/s, tb=0,
}
27.Ra5 { ev=-0.48, d=23, pd=Kc6, mt=00:05:38, tl=00:33:50, s=769 kN/s, tb=1,
}
Kc6 { ev=-0.54, d=29, pd=g4, mt=00:07:44, tl=00:40:33, s=19688 kN/s, tb=0,
}
28.Rea1 { ev=-0.57, d=23, pd=Nb5, mt=00:06:40, tl=00:27:11, s=732 kN/s, tb=38,
}
Nb5 { ev=-0.71, d=29, pd=c3, mt=00:10:56, tl=00:29:38, s=19541 kN/s, tb=0,
}
29.h4 { ev=-0.61, d=22, pd=Bc8, mt=00:04:30, tl=00:22:42, s=759 kN/s, tb=11,
}
c3+ { ev=-0.79, d=28, pd=Ke3, mt=00:02:58, tl=00:26:41, s=19038 kN/s, tb=0,
}
30.Ke3 { ev=-0.71, d=21, pd=g6, mt=00:03:29, tl=00:19:15, s=787 kN/s, tb=90,
}
g6 { ev=-0.88, d=28, pd=Ke2, mt=00:03:54, tl=00:22:48, s=19298 kN/s, tb=0,
}
31.h5 { ev=-1.00, d=21, pd=gxh5, mt=00:01:09, tl=00:18:07, s=859 kN/s, tb=3,
}
Bf5 { ev=-1.05, d=27, pd=Ra6, mt=00:02:45, tl=00:20:05, s=19365 kN/s, tb=0,
}
32.Ra6+ { ev=-1.13, d=20, pd=Kb7, mt=00:01:29, tl=00:16:39, s=798 kN/s, tb=160,
}
Kb7 { ev=-1.08, d=28, pd=R6a5, mt=00:02:40, tl=00:17:26, s=19818 kN/s, tb=3,
}
33.R6a5 { ev=-1.13, d=22, pd=d4, mt=00:00:59, tl=00:15:41, s=817 kN/s, tb=0,
}
Nxa7 { ev=-1.15, d=26, pd=hxg6, mt=00:02:36, tl=00:14:51, s=19735 kN/s, tb=4340,
}
34.b5 { ev=-1.23, d=20, pd=Re8, mt=00:01:56, tl=00:13:47, s=821 kN/s, tb=116,
}
Re8+ { ev=-1.23, d=26, pd=Kd4, mt=00:01:53, tl=00:12:59, s=19657 kN/s, tb=2,
}
35.Kd4 { ev=-1.46, d=20, pd=Nc8, mt=00:01:01, tl=00:12:47, s=800 kN/s, tb=153,
}
Nc8 { ev=-1.23, d=25, pd=hxg6, mt=00:00:00, tl=00:13:00, s=10528 kN/s, tb=0,
}
36.hxg6 { ev=-1.46, d=21, pd=hxg6, mt=00:01:06, tl=00:11:42, s=803 kN/s, tb=98,
}
Re4+ { ev=-1.40, d=27, pd=Kxc3, mt=00:03:30, tl=00:09:31, s=19799 kN/s, tb=178,
}
37.Kxc3 { ev=-1.51, d=22, pd=Rc4, mt=00:03:39, tl=00:08:04, s=829 kN/s, tb=70,
}
Rc4+ { ev=-1.41, d=26, pd=Kb2, mt=00:00:00, tl=00:09:32, s=15036 kN/s, tb=0,
}
38.Kb2 { ev=-1.80, d=22, pd=Rxc2, mt=00:03:29, tl=00:04:36, s=811 kN/s, tb=344,
}
Rxc2+ { ev=-1.52, d=28, pd=Kb3, mt=00:03:16, tl=00:06:17, s=20138 kN/s, tb=68,
}
39.Kb3 { ev=-1.80, d=22, pd=Bxg6, mt=00:00:59, tl=00:03:38, s=799 kN/s, tb=0,
}
Bxg6 { ev=-1.60, d=28, pd=R1a2, mt=00:04:35, tl=00:01:43, s=20298 kN/s, tb=127,
}
40.R1a2 { ev=-1.65, d=22, pd=Rc7, mt=00:01:19, tl=00:02:19, s=842 kN/s, tb=68,
}
Rc7 { ev=-1.60, d=27, pd=b6, mt=00:01:43, tl=00:00:02, s=20719 kN/s, tb=422,
}
41.Ra6 { ev=-1.74, d=22, pd=d4, mt=00:01:09, tl=00:51:12, s=887 kN/s, tb=146,
}
d4 { ev=-2.03, d=25, pd=Kb4, mt=00:02:12, tl=00:47:51, s=20225 kN/s, tb=79,
}
42.Rc6 { ev=-1.80, d=24, pd=Rxc6, mt=00:01:52, tl=00:49:20, s=905 kN/s, tb=435,
}
Rd7 { ev=-2.22, d=28, pd=Rc5, mt=00:03:23, tl=00:44:28, s=20430 kN/s, tb=111,
}
43.Rc5 { ev=-2.48, d=22, pd=d3, mt=00:04:50, tl=00:44:32, s=894 kN/s, tb=1040,
}
d3 { ev=-2.33, d=28, pd=Rd2, mt=00:02:50, tl=00:41:39, s=20649 kN/s, tb=110,
}
44.Rd2 { ev=-2.61, d=22, pd=Ne7, mt=00:07:51, tl=00:36:42, s=858 kN/s, tb=127,
}
Na7 { ev=-2.43, d=29, pd=b6, mt=00:02:34, tl=00:39:06, s=20479 kN/s, tb=144,
}
45.b6 { ev=-2.91, d=22, pd=Kxb6, mt=00:06:14, tl=00:30:29, s=883 kN/s, tb=596,
}
Kxb6 { ev=-2.59, d=29, pd=Kc4, mt=00:02:30, tl=00:36:37, s=20585 kN/s, tb=349,
}
46.Kc4 { ev=-3.09, d=24, pd=Nc6, mt=00:01:04, tl=00:29:26, s=827 kN/s, tb=197,
}
Nc6 { ev=-2.59, d=27, pd=Rb2, mt=00:00:00, tl=00:36:39, s=10458 kN/s, tb=0,
}
47.Rb2+ { ev=-3.09, d=24, pd=Kc7, mt=00:03:32, tl=00:25:55, s=847 kN/s, tb=1457,
}
Kc7 { ev=-2.60, d=27, pd=Rcb5, mt=00:00:32, tl=00:36:07, s=20058 kN/s, tb=65,
}
48.Ra2 { ev=-3.37, d=24, pd=Rd6, mt=00:04:11, tl=00:21:45, s=844 kN/s, tb=2582,
}
Rd6 { ev=-3.01, d=29, pd=Kc3, mt=00:03:19, tl=00:32:50, s=20760 kN/s, tb=6346,
}
49.Rd2 { ev=-3.51, d=25, pd=Rd4, mt=00:03:00, tl=00:18:46, s=834 kN/s, tb=4186,
}
Re6 { ev=-3.16, d=29, pd=Rxd3, mt=00:03:04, tl=00:29:46, s=21057 kN/s, tb=19391,
}
50.Rxd3 { ev=-3.42, d=24, pd=Bxd3, mt=00:01:17, tl=00:17:30, s=745 kN/s, tb=6839,
}
Bxd3+ { ev=-3.16, d=27, pd=Kxd3, mt=00:00:00, tl=00:29:47, s=20274 kN/s, tb=35,
}
51.Kxd3 { ev=-3.42, d=24, pd=Re5, mt=00:00:09, tl=00:17:23, s=687 kN/s, tb=0,
}
Re5 { ev=-3.10, d=32, pd=Rc4, mt=00:04:58, tl=00:24:50, s=21870 kN/s, tb=310012,
}
52.Rc1 { ev=-3.51, d=25, pd=Kd6, mt=00:01:24, tl=00:15:59, s=731 kN/s, tb=8374,
}
Kd6 { ev=-3.24, d=31, pd=g3, mt=00:03:05, tl=00:21:45, s=22052 kN/s, tb=124853,
}
53.Rh1 { ev=-3.61, d=25, pd=h5, mt=00:01:37, tl=00:14:23, s=816 kN/s, tb=13032,
}
h5 { ev=-3.43, d=32, pd=Rh4, mt=00:04:01, tl=00:17:45, s=22123 kN/s, tb=298004,
}
54.g3 { ev=-3.94, d=25, pd=Ke6, mt=00:04:05, tl=00:10:19, s=816 kN/s, tb=40686,
}
Rc5 { ev=-3.70, d=32, pd=Ke2, mt=00:02:47, tl=00:14:59, s=22076 kN/s, tb=303540,
}
55.Ke2 { ev=-3.94, d=25, pd=Ke6, mt=00:03:00, tl=00:07:20, s=866 kN/s, tb=6888,
}
Ke6 { ev=-3.86, d=31, pd=Rh4, mt=00:02:07, tl=00:12:53, s=21903 kN/s, tb=229167,
}
56.Rh4 { ev=-4.58, d=24, pd=f6, mt=00:00:57, tl=00:06:24, s=895 kN/s, tb=12901,
}
f6 { ev=-3.86, d=29, pd=Kd1, mt=00:00:00, tl=00:12:54, s=20754 kN/s, tb=301,
}
57.Ke1 { ev=-4.58, d=24, pd=Ne5, mt=00:02:06, tl=00:04:19, s=978 kN/s, tb=9736,
}
Kf7 { ev=-4.52, d=31, pd=Kf1, mt=00:08:03, tl=00:04:52, s=22682 kN/s, tb=1617992,
}
58.Kf1 { ev=-4.92, d=24, pd=Kg6, mt=00:01:28, tl=00:02:52, s=1018 kN/s, tb=19349,
}
Kg6 { ev=-4.52, d=29, pd=g4, mt=00:00:00, tl=00:04:53, s=16124 kN/s, tb=128,
}
59.g4 { ev=-5.46, d=26, pd=hxg4, mt=00:01:04, tl=00:01:49, s=906 kN/s, tb=39858,
}
hxg4 { ev=-5.00, d=31, pd=Rxg4, mt=00:02:56, tl=00:01:58, s=25112 kN/s, tb=835412,
}
60.Rxg4+ { ev=-5.46, d=25, pd=Kf5, mt=00:00:25, tl=00:01:25, s=927 kN/s, tb=0,
}
Kf5 { ev=-5.00, d=30, pd=Ra4, mt=00:00:00, tl=00:01:59, s=1752 kN/s, tb=11,
}
61.Rh4 { ev=-5.98, d=27, pd=Ne5, mt=00:00:22, tl=00:21:04, s=802 kN/s, tb=37642,
}
Rc2 { ev=-5.02, d=29, pd=Kg2, mt=00:01:14, tl=00:20:46, s=27144 kN/s, tb=245659,
}
62.Kg2 { ev=-9.51, d=27, pd=Ne5, mt=00:01:35, tl=00:19:40, s=822 kN/s, tb=206862,
}
Ne5 { ev=-5.02, d=27, pd=Kg3, mt=00:00:00, tl=00:20:58, s=2796 kN/s, tb=107,
}
63.Kg3 { ev=-9.80, d=28, pd=Rc3, mt=00:00:29, tl=00:19:22, s=966 kN/s, tb=82021,
}
Rc3+ { ev=-5.45, d=28, pd=Kg2, mt=00:00:41, tl=00:20:27, s=28321 kN/s, tb=129795,
}
64.Kg2 { ev=-10.06, d=28, pd=Ng6, mt=00:00:12, tl=00:19:21, s=802 kN/s, tb=38222,
}
Nd3 { ev=-5.45, d=26, pd=Rh7, mt=00:00:00, tl=00:20:39, s=837 kN/s, tb=84,
}
65.Rh8 { ev=-10.58, d=28, pd=Nf4, mt=00:00:54, tl=00:18:38, s=662 kN/s, tb=83789,
}
Nf4+ { ev=-5.65, d=27, pd=Kh2, mt=00:00:29, tl=00:20:20, s=28436 kN/s, tb=107812,
}
0-1

[kingliveson]

The complete game:

[[Event "?"]
[Site "http://www.tcec-chess.org"]
[Date "2011.01.10"]
[Round "4.3"]
[White "Rybka 4.0"]
[Black "Houdini 1.5"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C47"]
[Opening "Four Knights"]
[Time "09:01:50"]
[Variation "Scotch, Main Line, 7...d5 8.exd5 cxd5"]
[TimeControl "120+10"]
[Termination "normal"]
[PlyCount "130"]
[WhiteType "human"]
[BlackType "human"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. d4 exd4 5. Nxd4 Bb4 6. Nxc6 bxc6 7. Bd3
d5 8. exd5 Qe7+ 9. Qe2 Qxe2+ 10. Kxe2 cxd5 11. Bd2 O-O 12. Nb5 Bxd2 13.
Kxd2 c5 14. b3 Rd8 15. Rhe1 Rb8 16. Nxa7 Bd7 17. Bf5 Bxf5 18. Nc6 Ne4+ 19.
Ke3 Nd6 20. Kd2 Kf8 21. a4 Be6 22. a5 Ke8 23. Nxb8 Rxb8 24. a6 Ra8 25. a7
Kd7 26. b4 c4 27. Ra5 Kc6 28. Rea1 Nb5 29. h4 c3+ 30. Ke3 g6 31. h5 Bf5 32.
Ra6+ Kb7 33. R6a5 Nxa7 34. b5 Re8+ 35. Kd4 Nc8 36. hxg6 Re4+ 37. Kxc3 Rc4+
38. Kb2 Rxc2+ 39. Kb3 Bxg6 40. R1a2 Rc7 41. Ra6 d4 42. Rc6 Rd7 43. Rc5 d3
44. Rd2 Na7 45. b6 Kxb6 46. Kc4 Nc6 47. Rb2+ Kc7 48. Ra2 Rd6 49. Rd2 Re6
50. Rxd3 Bxd3+ 51. Kxd3 Re5 52. Rc1 Kd6 53. Rh1 h5 54. g3 Rc5 55. Ke2 Ke6
56. Rh4 f6 57. Ke1 Kf7 58. Kf1 Kg6 59. g4 hxg4 60. Rxg4+ Kf5 61. Rh4 Rc2
62. Kg2 Ne5 63. Kg3 Rc3+ 64. Kg2 Nd3 65. Rh8 Nf4+ 0-1

This is because Rybka's contempt need to be set to zero.

[ppetrov]

This is because Rybka's contempt need to be set to zero.

Rybka 4 has no contempt setting (Rybka 3 had). The same effect could be achieved by tuning piece values, but out of the box R4 plays without 'contempt'.

[Robert Houdart]

As a human I wouldn't go for the RR+6 vs RBN+5 with Nxa7 as Rybka did, as two minors tend to win these, especially when White has redundant majors. White's passed a-pawn (and then the b-pawn) ended up just being weaknesses, and after they were lost, it's going to be hard for White to hold on.

Rybka played poorly, as I explained in the chat at Chessbomb there were at least 3 doubtful decisions:
1) 16.Nxa7: Going into an inferior R+P v B+N ending. Rybka took more than 23 minutes for this decision, and produced a +0.24 eval which turned out to be completely wrong.
2) 21.a4 and 22.a5: Pushing the a-pawn too soon just created a weakness, as Black has an extra piece to attack it.
3) 26.b4: Pushing the b-pawn created a passed pawn for black on the c or d-file, just for free.

Houdini didn't have to do a lot, even the "little Stockfish" version that is running at Chessbomb for the in-game analysis would have won today.

[kingliveson]

This is because Rybka's contempt need to be set to zero.

Rybka 4 has no contempt setting (Rybka 3 had). The same effect could be achieved by tuning piece values, but out of the box R4 plays without 'contempt'.

Inside joke...

[kingliveson]

Thanks to Martin and TCEC (and Chessdom), Houdini is getting some wider press. Congratulations!

http://www.chessdom.com/news-2011/houdini-chess-engine

From talkchess:

Fascinating, and an incredible blunder by ChessDom. It isn't to besmirch Houdini BTW, as that is not the problem. It is the fact they are promoting a small private computer chess tournament, with no official recognition, on their front page as the main article, after only three rounds, which is the sort of reporting reserved for major international chess tournaments.... It is amazingly bad judgment, and beyond stupid.

Of course, I'm happy for Martin, but this changes nothing.

I knew this was not going to please the Rybka guys...