Blogs
Working with chess engines, does it matter which one ?

Working with chess engines, does it matter which one ?

Avatar of thechesscorner64
CM thechesscorner64
| 0

Chess engines

Komodo

LC0

Stockfish 14.1

If you use an engine to check your analysis or find out who is better, does it matter which one to use ?

I thought a while ago, all of these are better than the best GMs, so I am unlikely to care that much. if I want to check my games or an opening, any of these will show me my mistakes, even if Stockfish14 is better than Stockfish12, which is stronger than Komodo9 etc,etc

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

Well I changed my mind..

Here we go, lets look at this position White to play


White is a pawn up and could potentially play Qh7+. Black is creating counter-attack chances having played Rfc8 but I do not see a win for Black here. 

How do you evaluate the position, and which move should White play ?

____________________________________________________________________________________

let's imagine you spend 10 minutes on this position here, White to play

Now let's check what older engines come up with Eval+Moves

Komodo -1.46 White should play Bc4

Fritz 17 -2.53 White should play g5

___________________________________________________________________________

now recent versions of Stockfish

Stockfish 11 -3.53 White should play Qa4

Stockfish 14.1 -5.54 26.g5

______________________________________________________________________________________

The depths are different but I was running each engine for around the same time.

The strongest engine 14.1 thinks White is dead lost -5.54 and 26 g5 is the best approach.

Now if previous version of Stockfish eval were to be -5.14, it would mean the same . But -3.53 (Stockfish11) is two pawns difference so it implies the advantage is not yet as large. and previous versions would let you think White can save the game.

The truth is the attack is scary for White. Lets see Komodo vs Stockfish

Very instructive computer game. so even if the eval would be -1 vs -1.9 this is a huge difference. so I really recommend you upgrade to the latest stockfish14.1 when you analyze with the engine. It will make a difference !