I was playing stockfish at level four a couple of days ago when it hung a mate in two. I know that level four isn't that high, but this still seems like an implausible error. True, Stockfish will make odd moves when it is hopelessly lost, but in this case the evaluation of the position showed it to be only a pawn down.

I checked for horizon effect problems, but there were none.

Yesterday in a slightly advantageous ending against stockfish at level five, I attacked two pieces. It could move one to defend the other, but instead it gave up a piece for nothing. I analyzed the position, both by myself and with a stronger version of Stockfish, but there was no reason to give up the piece. I was about 70 centipawns up according to the computer.

These games were all at g5+4, stockfish usually had four minutes or more when it erred.

Has anyone else noted strange underperformaces in Stockfish lately? This isn't happening, sadly, because I am getting better.

William Hyde

On Monday, May 9, 2022 at 1:48:57 PM UTC-5, William Hyde wrote:
> I was playing stockfish at level four a couple of days ago when it hung a mate in two. I know that level four isn't that high, but this still seems like an implausible error. True, Stockfish will make odd moves when it is hopelessly lost, but in this case the evaluation of the position showed it to be only a pawn down.
>

Sometimes when we become a grandmaster, like you or me, the opponent looks feeble. The opponent must err in some way. That it looks funny to you is
merely that you are used to less ignoble ways of dealing with loss.

On Tuesday, May 10, 2022 at 10:53:02 AM UTC-4, Praetor Mandrake wrote:
> On Monday, May 9, 2022 at 1:48:57 PM UTC-5, William Hyde wrote:
> > I was playing stockfish at level four a couple of days ago when it hung a mate in two. I know that level four isn't that high, but this still seems like an implausible error. True, Stockfish will make odd moves when it is hopelessly lost, but in this case the evaluation of the position showed it to be only a pawn down.
> >
> Sometimes when we become a grandmaster, like you or me, the opponent looks feeble. The opponent must err in some way. That it looks funny to you is
> merely that you are used to less ignoble ways of dealing with loss.

Still feeling under the weather, so I'm playing stockfish at level five. I wasn't really trying in this game - as you can see from my Knight blunder.. Stockfish just folded.

https://lichess.org/CKOGWCcF/black#90

William Hyde

Bs"d

I started playing Stockfish. Sometimes I want to play chess, but I don't want to think, or I'm tired, or played too much already, and my brain is shutting down, and then a game against the comp is a good idea.
Before I started playing unrated games, so I wouldn't drive my rating into the ground, but playing against the machine is more relaxing.
Even an unrated game against a human you don't want to lose, and there is stress. And the comp never thinks long, you can play on nice and fast.

And when I lose against the machine, I just don't care.

What is disappointing, is that the beast never falls into traps. He sees them coming from a mile away.

Level 4 is a bit too low, five is just fine. I have to really concentrate not to mess up a level 5 game.

https://tinyurl.com/vast-jungle

On Wednesday, January 25, 2023 at 11:49:33 PM UTC+2, Eli Kesef wrote:
> Bs"d
>
> I started playing Stockfish. Sometimes I want to play chess, but I don't want to think, or I'm tired, or played too much already, and my brain is shutting down, and then a game against the comp is a good idea.
> Before I started playing unrated games, so I wouldn't drive my rating into the ground, but playing against the machine is more relaxing.
> Even an unrated game against a human you don't want to lose, and there is stress. And the comp never thinks long, you can play on nice and fast.
>
> And when I lose against the machine, I just don't care.
>
> What is disappointing, is that the beast never falls into traps. He sees them coming from a mile away.

Bs"d

Got the engine in a trap, the first time. In the Budapest gambit of course. The beast had to part with his queen for a horse and a bishop.

The rest was a mopping up operation: https://lichess.org/exooZFSj4oKu

But is remains a dangerous beast. One little mistake and I get slaughtered on level 5.

Keeps you on your toes.

https://tinyurl.com/fairytale-1001

On Wednesday, January 25, 2023 at 11:49:33 PM UTC+2, Eli Kesef wrote:
> Bs"d
>
> I started playing Stockfish. Sometimes I want to play chess, but I don't want to think, or I'm tired, or played too much already, and my brain is shutting down, and then a game against the comp is a good idea.
> Before I started playing unrated games, so I wouldn't drive my rating into the ground, but playing against the machine is more relaxing.
> Even an unrated game against a human you don't want to lose, and there is stress. And the comp never thinks long, you can play on nice and fast.
>
> And when I lose against the machine, I just don't care.
>
> What is disappointing, is that the beast never falls into traps. He sees them coming from a mile away.

Bs"d

Got the engine in a trap, the first time. In a Stafford gambit. The beast had to part with his queen for a horse and a bishop.

The rest was a mopping up operation: https://lichess.org/exooZFSj4oKu

But it remains a dangerous beast. One little mistake and I get slaughtered on level 5.

Keeps you on your toes.

https://tinyurl.com/fairytale-1001

On Thursday, January 26, 2023 at 12:52:09 AM UTC-5, Zweet Voet wrote:
> On Wednesday, January 25, 2023 at 11:49:33 PM UTC+2, Eli Kesef wrote:
> > Bs"d
> >
> > I started playing Stockfish. Sometimes I want to play chess, but I don't want to think, or I'm tired, or played too much already, and my brain is shutting down, and then a game against the comp is a good idea.
> > Before I started playing unrated games, so I wouldn't drive my rating into the ground, but playing against the machine is more relaxing.
> > Even an unrated game against a human you don't want to lose, and there is stress. And the comp never thinks long, you can play on nice and fast.
> >
> > And when I lose against the machine, I just don't care.
> >
> > What is disappointing, is that the beast never falls into traps. He sees them coming from a mile away.
> Bs"d
>
> Got the engine in a trap, the first time. In a Stafford gambit. The beast had to part with his queen for a horse and a bishop.
>
> The rest was a mopping up operation: https://lichess.org/exooZFSj4oKu
>
> But it remains a dangerous beast. One little mistake and I get slaughtered on level 5.
>
> Keeps you on your toes.
>
> https://tinyurl.com/fairytale-1001

Stockfish at level five seems to look only two moves ahead. So it will fall into traps deeper than that. Sometimes its
positional evaluation will keep it out of such lines. The only "trap" in the lines I play is generally associated
with Nxe4 and losses on the long black diagonal. Stockfish falls for these all too often. And almost as often
I don't notice.

Stockfish at level six missed a mate in four, so I suppose it generally looks three moves ahead. But as in the original post
in this thread, I can't be sure of that as Stockfish sometimes under-performs.

William Hyde