Computer Chess RATINGS from Selective Search Magazine

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RATINGS UPDATED: 21 April 2008

I started my Magazine SELECTIVE SEARCH in 1985 - when it was known as 'The Computer Chess News Sheet'.Current readership numbers are dropping slightly nowadays, and subscribers total around 200.

As well as the COMPUTER RATING LISTS a wide range of Computer Chess issues are covered: Articles and Reviews of latest machines and programs, 'Best-Buy' Guides, Tournament and Match results, Analysed Games, occasional contributions by Programmers, discussion on Computer Progress, Playing Styles, Studies of Positions which confuse computers, plus Readers' contributions, and much more. It is produced bi-monthly, and always includes updated and separate Rating Lists for Dedicatedcomputers (top 100) and PC programs(top 50).

I maintain a 'Top Ten' list here, updating it from time to time. The MAGAZINE shows more details, including Ratings of games/matches v. human opposition, and I hope visitors here will consider subscribing, as income I receive from 'SELECTIVE SEARCH' is what keeps the work going!

SELECTIVE SEARCH RATINGS

Each computer/program's rating figure is calculated by combining its computer-v-computer results WITH its results against graded players in proper tournaments. The level of the finished List is determined by the results v graded players, with a strong bias towards most recent results. Considerably more computer-computer games are played than those v. humans, as it is physically and financially impossible to enter enough Tournaments to obtain the number of games v. humans that we would wish.

Gradings from computer v computer results do not always match those of computer v humans: a program CAN be prepared specifically to do its best against other computers, OR it can be programmed to do its best against humans! The latter is what USERS want, but programmers inevitably have an eye on our Rating Lists, and are aware of the preponderance of computer-computer games which produces them! Even so, my view is that it is BETTER to have this type of Computer Rating List, as a guide for interested parties and prospective purchasers, than to rely solely on manufacturers' claims! Another factor is that Chess Players are MUCH more used to playing against Computers and Computer Programs than they were 5, 10, 15 years ago. Programs like the Fidelity Sensory9, Novag Super Constellation, Mephisto Academy, Mephisto Lyon 68030 etc. would NOT be able to obtain the same gradings they did in the 'old' days were they entered in the same Tournaments again today!

The results on which my Ratings are based include my own testing, that of Selective Search readers, and (with permission) the valuable SSDF scores. So the calculations combine MANY results and I believe that they achieve a high level of accuracy. Time controls used are from a minimum G/60 or 60/60 up to and including full Tournament time controls (as used by the SSDF) 40/2hrs. The initial calculations are done in Elo, and converted to British BCF figures using the formula (Elo-600)/8 = BCF.

The current TOP RATINGS in each group (PC PROGRAMS and DEDICATED COMPUTERS) are...

COMMERCIAL PC ENGINES

Ratings are calibrated to Pentium4 machines running at 1200MHz

.............BCF Elo.. Program

1. 289 2917 Rybka 2.3.2a (The 64-bit + Dual processor versions are at least 40 Elo stronger!)
2. 286 2889 Rybka 2.2n
3. 284 2876 Rybka 2.1c
4. 282 2859 Naum 3 (Add +40 Elo for Dual-Core PC)
5. 282 2858 Hiarcs 12 (Add +40 Elo for Dual-Core PC)
6. 282 2857 Fritz 11
7. 282 2856 Rybka 1.2f 
8. 280 2838 Shredder 11 (Add +40 Elo for Dual-Core PC)
9. 278 2820 Zap Mexico 2 (Add +40 Elo for Dual-Core PC)
10. 276 2803 Hiarcs 11.1/2 uci (Add +40 Elo for Dual-Core PC)
11. 275 2802 Fritz 10 (Add +40 Elo for Dual-Core PC)
12. 274 2798 Zap! Zanzibar (Add +40 Elo for Dual-Core PC), I have Zap Mexico about 10 Elo less
13. 270 2758 Shredder 10 (Add +40 Elo for Dual-Core PC)
14. 269 2747 Hiarcs 10
15. 268 2744 Junior10/10.1 (Add +40 Elo for Dual-Core PC)
16. 266 2734 Fruit2.21
17. 258 2666 Junior9 (Deep Junior9 add +40 Elo on Dual PC, +70 on Quad PC))
18. 254 2634 Zap! Paderborn (On a Dual processor and/or under 64-bit at least 40 Elo stronger!)
19. 253 2628 Chess Tiger 15

DEDICATED COMPUTERS

Here I show the Computer, Elo grading, Price in U.K pounds, and a code to indicate the type of board. w=wood, auto-sensory, ps=press-sensory, pl=portable plug-in, pt=portable touch screen, pc=portable calculator. Current models are in bold - others may not be easily available!

.............BCF Elo.. Computer

1. 219 2352 Tasc R30-1995 (w) UK1199
2. 214 2314 Mephisto LONDON 68030 (w) UK1299
3. 209 2277 Mephisto LONDON PRO 68020 (ps) UK689
4. 207 2261 Mephisto RISC2 (w) UK949
5. 203 2222 Mephisto MAGELLAN(w) UK799 - ATLANTA (ps) UK349
6. 202 2218 Kasparov SPARC (w) UK899
7. 202 2216 Mephisto MONTREUX (ps) UK449
8. 200 2200 Kasparov RISC 2500 (ps) UK399
9. 198 2185 Novag STAR DIAMOND (ps) UK199 - STAR SAPPHIRE (pt) UK179
10. 191 2132 Novag DIAMOND2 (ps) UK279 - SAPPHIRE2 (pc) UK225
11. 188 2103 Mephisto MASTER (ps) UK139 - SENATOR (w) UK449
12. 179 2032 Novag CITRINE (w) UK249
13. 177 2018 Kasparov Chess CHALLENGER (ps) UK69 - EXPLORER PRO (ps) £65
14. 170 1972 Novag OBSIDIAN (ps) UK129
15. Port plug-in #1: 177 2018 Kasparov EXPERT (pl) UK99
16. Port touch screen, 2nd. to Star Sapphire above: 170 1962 Novag STAR RUBY (pt) UK79
17. Port plug-in #2: 163 1907 Saitek ADVANCED TRAVEL (pl) UK35

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