Computer Chess RATINGS from Selective Search Magazine

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RATINGS UPDATED: November 2009

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   (DEEP (MP) versions: in general: add +60 Elo for Dual2Core 2GHz PC, or +100 Elo for Quad 3GHz, and another +30 Elo for 64-bit PC!)

1. 296 2976 Rybka 3
2. 286 2910 Naum 4
3. 285 2905 Shredder 12
4. 285 2901 Rybka 2.3.2a
5. 283 2875 Deep Fritz 11 (the DEEP Fritz 11 version has an improved engine over the SP version) 
6. 280 2846 Naum 3/3.1
7. 279 2838 Hiarcs 12
8. 279 2836 Stockfish 1.5
9. 277 2818 Shredder 11
10. 276 2806 Sjeng WC2008
11. 275 2800 Zap Mexico 2
12. 273 2786 Toga II 1.4beta5c
13. 272 2773 Hiarcs 11.1/2 uci
14. 271 2764 Fritz 10
15. 270 2761 Zap! Zanzibar
16. 269 2757 Shredder 10
17. 267 2740 Ktulu 9
18. 265 2721 Junior10/10.1
19. 264 2716 Hiarcs 10
20. 263 2704 Fruit2.21
21. 251 2634 Zap! Paderborn
22. 250 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. 217 2339 Tasc R30-1995 (w) UK1199
2. 213 2302 Mephisto LONDON 68030 (w) UK1299
3. 208 2268 Mephisto LONDON PRO 68020 (ps) UK689
4. 206 2250 Mephisto RISC2 (w) UK949
5. 202 2219 Mephisto MAGELLAN(w) UK799 - ATLANTA (ps) UK349
6. 202 2210 Mephisto MONTREUX (ps) UK449
7. 201 2208 Kasparov SPARC (w) UK899
8. 199 2192 Kasparov RISC 2500 (ps) UK399
9. 197 2176 Novag STAR DIAMOND (ps) UK199 - STAR SAPPHIRE (pt) UK179
10. 190 2124 Novag DIAMOND2 (ps) UK279 - SAPPHIRE2 (pc) UK225
11. 188 2101 Mephisto MASTER (ps) UK139 - SENATOR (w) UK449
12. 177 2012 Novag CITRINE (w) UK249
13. 176 2010 Kasparov Chess CHALLENGER (ps) UK69 - EXPLORER PRO (ps) UK65
14. 169 1963 Novag OBSIDIAN (ps) UK125
15. Port plug-in #1: 176 2010 Kasparov EXPERT (pl) UK99
16. Port touch screen, 2nd. to Star Sapphire above: 168 1952 Novag STAR RUBY (pt) UK79
17. Port plug-in #2: 164 1910 Saitek ADVANCED TRAVEL (pl) UK39

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