In the era of artificial intelligence domination on the chessboard, the boundaries of chess engine capabilities continue to expand. At levels exceeding 3700 CElo within the MCERL rating, the top chess engines display not only superhuman precision but also creativity reminiscent of artistic mastery.
How do they achieve such remarkable results? Are their victories solely the product of brute computational power, or do they embody a deeper understanding of chess?
In this article, we uncover the secrets behind the strategies and technologies driving modern-day masterful algorithms.
To delve deeper into the mechanics behind these exceptional performances, we will analyze several games from the Chess Engined Elite 2024 Tournament. This choice is deliberate, as the tournament showcased engines operating at peak levels, with each move meticulously calculated to outwit their opponents.
By examining these games, we can uncover patterns, strategies, and decision-making processes that illustrate how engines not only leverage computational power but also demonstrate an almost human-like intuition and creativity in critical moments. This analysis aligns perfectly with the article’s focus on understanding the artistry and precision behind victories at levels exceeding 3700 CElo.
Game 1 - Dancing with weaknesses.
White: Alexandria 7.1.1
Black: RubiChess 20240817
White's move.
The position is equal and was created after 18 moves in the opening: Two knights defense (Modern bishop's opening).
bxc6!
Alexandria aims to create vulnerabilities to exploit and weaken RubiChess' position.
19... Nxc6
Nf5 Ne5
Bb2 Ned7
Ba1 b6
f3 Qc6
There are two weaknesses in the black camp, Pawns d6 and b6. And this will determine the outcome of this game.
Now there will be a series of maneuvers on the white side. It is worth paying attention to black's actions.
Nd4 Qc5
Nf1 Rc8
Ne3 Qa3
Bb2 Qc5
Qd2 g6
Ne2 Qg5
Red1 Bg7
Nc3 h5
Qe1 Rc6
Qf2 Qa5
Kh1 Qg5
Ne2 Rcc8
h4 Qc5
Bd4 Qc6
Qg3 Rb8
Bc3!
Blacks, concentrating on defending weaknesses were shuddering in place. Their position did not change, they achieved nothing. White, on the other hand, regrouped their forces by positioning the optimal pieces for further action.
Strategically, white had already obtained an almost winning position!
39... Nxe4?!
RubChess decides to activate it's pieces by giving up Knight for two white Pawns, hoping for possible complications.
fxe4 Qxe4
Bd2 Be5
Qf2 Nc5
Kg1 Bg7
Rf1 Rb7
a5 d5!
Black rightly assumed that opening up the position even more increases their chances of a draw. White must play with precision.
exd5 b5
RubiChess finally gets rid of the last weakness from the b6 square.
Nf4 Bd4
Kh2 Rbe7
Black's concentration of forces at Knight e3 is gaining strength. Will it be enough to break the whites and reverse the fortunes of this game?
d6!
No!
Why? Because... “pawns are the soul of this royal game...”
49... Rd7
Rbe1 Rxd6
Bb4 Rc6
Qf3 Qxf3
Rxf3
White led to forcible exchanges. There are no more Queens on the chessboard. The positional advantage will be converted into a decisive material advantage.
53... Nd7
Nfd5 Ne5
Rf4 Ba7
Rf6 Re6
Rxe6 Rxe6
Rc1 Bd4
Rc8+ Kh7
Nc2 Ng4+
Kg3 Be5+
Kf3 Bg7
Nf4 Re5
Ra8 Nh2+
Kg3 Ng4
Nh3 Bf6
Rxa6
1 : 0
** Download game: Alexandria 7.1.1 vs RubiChess 20240817
With a one-figure advantage, Alexandria wins this skirmish.
The key to victory turned out to be choosing the right strategy and then executing it.
Alexandria succeeded by bringing about the creation of weaknesses in the enemy camp and then successfully exploring them.
Game 2 - Time is... tempo!
White: PlentyChess 3.0.2
Black: Integral 5
White's move.
This time we have a game in which our considerations will already start from the middle :)
The position is aligned. Each side has its chances. PlentyChess can already play 30.h4 actively, proposing a sharper confrontation, or opt for a calmer continuation - which is what happened:
30. Bc2 Ra5
Integral decides to strengthen focus on white Pawn a4.
Nc3 Nc5
Qd1 Qd7
h4!
A brave play, PlentyChess intends, declares the surrender of the white Pawn a4.
Integral is faced with the dilemma of reinforcing the pressure on a4 and taking it in the end, or letting go and dealing with preparing to defend it's King's position ?
33... Raa8?!
Could it be that “the threat proved stronger than its execution?” It looks like.
Had Integral decided to consistently lead to taking white go Pawn a4 thus gaining a material advantage, the game could have gone like this: 33... Rfa8 34. h5 g5! 35. Qb1 h6 36. Nb5 Nxa4 37. Bf5 Qe7 38. Be6+ Kh8 39. Qg6
More than compensated the whites for the surrendered Pawn.
Back in the game.
Kh2 Qf7
Ne4 Ra5?
Black feels confident enough to return to the idea of strengthening the pressure on the white Pawn a4. Except that at this level of players, this can already be considered a mistake due to loss of tempo.
h5 gxh5
Ng3 Raa8
Returning the same Rook again is already an admission of error.
Nf5 Qd7
g4 Rae8
Kg2 Rf6?!
Another not so good move on the part of the blacks, this time the second Rook. Could it be that the blacks are disbelieving how much the whites have outsmarted them? ;)
The correct one was: 40... Na5 41. Bxc5 dxc5 42. d6 Kh8 With white advantage but not yet lost.
Ng3 hxg4
fxg4 Rf7 Again, black loss a tempo.
Bf5 Qe7
Rh1
PlentyChess is preparing for the final assault.
44... Bf6
Nh5 Bg5
Rah3 Nd7
Ng3 Nf8
Rh5 e4
Be6
White disorganizes the defense of the black King.
49... Nxe6
dxe6 Rxf2+
Kxf2 Qf6+
Nf5
It is noteworthy that due to the loss of many tempos, black's Knight is stuck on the b7 field, which effectively deprived Integral of one figure and led to the current situation on the chessboard.
52... Nc5
Rxh7 Nxe6
Rh8+ Qxh8
Rxh8+ Kxh8
Qh1+ Kg8
Qxe4 Kf7
Qf3 Kg6
Qc6 Rf8
PlentyChess led to a winning position for itself.
How to smash black's position completely in one move?
Dear reader, you are traditionally invited to solve the chess puzzle.
......
..................
....................................
c5!!
Yes!
If you managed to find this move, congratulations :)
60... Nxc5
Qxc7 Rxf5
gxf5 Kxf5
Qxb6
1 : 0
Download game: PlentyChess 3.0.2 vs Integral 5
White with a beautiful maneuver crowned it's earlier gameplay by winning this exciting duel.
PlentyChess took advantage of Integral's lack of strategic resolve to push its ideas and, as a result, turned the initiative it gained into an advantage that decided the outcome of the duel.
Game 3 - Bad strategy bears withered fruit.
White: RubiChess 20240817
Black: Caissa 1.21
White's move.
What would you play in this position, dear reader?
I don't know about you, but I certainly wouldn't play what RubiChess will do.
b6?
In my opinion, this is a fat strategic error.
With one move, white deprives itself of any chance to play actively on the Queen's wing - where - after all - they concentrated their forces!
And, although this is not apparent at “first glance” and it seems that white has not worsened their position, in practice they have deprived themselves of any chance for any progress on this side of the chessboard putting a question mark on the advisability of concentrating their heavy figures.
A much more encompassing continuation was 23. bxa6 or 23. Qa2
23... Qd8
Of course, this move isn't a loser and RubiChess commanding the white sidelines is a real tough guy seasoned in battles with the best.
The chess game will be a long one, so let's see how Caissa, will lead the game.
37... Rbd8
Here's what has happened over the past dozen or so moves: Caissa definitely improved his position by regrouping his forces from the Queen's wing where nothing threatened him. RubiChess. is trotting in place.
a5
Here is an illustration of my last sentence....
60... f5!
Caissa, having set up its pieces optimally, proceeds to storm the white King's position.
70... f4
Unhurriedly but with determination!
Qf1
This is how inconsistency and lack of initiative in action end.
78... fxg3
Black cracks the white Monarch's defenders.
85... Bxh4
Rg1 Bf2
Nxf2 Rxf2+
Qxf2 Qxf2+
Rxf2 Rxf2+
0 : 1
Download game: RubiChess 20240817 vs Caissa 1.21
Caissa having three Pawns advantage easily wins.
A wrongly chosen and executed strategy leads to inevitable failure.
Game 4 - Reach where sight does not reach - beyond the event horizon
White: Stockfish 17
Black: Clover 8.1
White's move.
Here is the type of position that is often encountered after playing the Spanish opening. Both sides have the opportunity for rich figure play, where blow for blow is often exchanged.
Black attacked the white Pawn a4. White can defend the Pawn by moving Bishop to the b5 square, but this may allow their opponent to completely equalize through exchanges. Example continuation: 22. Bb5 Nc5 23. Nxa5 Nbxa4 24. Nb7 Nxb7 25. Bxa4 Bxa4 26. Rxa4 d5!
Back in the game.
Bf4
Stockfish decides to give Pawn a4 hoping to gain the initiative.
(Another, perhaps even more interesting continuation was 23. e5)
23... Bxa4
Clover decides to take Pawn a4, although watching this duel live, I saw that he spent a lot of time thinking about this move also considering a sharp continuation 23.... Nc5 leading to a surrender of quality (Rook for Bishop) for free play with one pawn more.
Qg3 Bxb3
Bg5
The game is getting sharper. Stockfish likes it, it's his style.
25... Re7
If 25... Be7 then 26. Bxe7 with the threat of checkmate on g7 and the consequent loss of the black Queen.
Bxb7 a4
Bd5 Nxd5
exd5 h6
Bf6 g6!
Black defends the King's position very well. Clover withstands the pressure and calmly fends off the opponent's threats.
Kh2 Kh7
Qf3 Kg8
Rxe7
Here is the defining moment in this game.
Stockfish continues to play in its style. Any other move wouldn't have worsened white's position but also wouldn't have improved it.
32... Rxe7?
The move, which would allow Clover to avoid defeat, is 32... Bxe7.
From a purely human point of view, without deep analysis, it can be said that the blacks, at their own request, led to the binding of their own Rook and, in retrospect, to its exchange for the white Bishop
On the other hand, engines see it differently from humans.
Analyzing the positions before this move, equally Clover and also Stockfish saw exactly the same continuation moves up to a certain point, but Stockfish would choose 32.... Bxe7 and Clover chose as we already know 32.... Rxe7.
The difference is that Clover choosing 32... Rxe7 he stated that by simplifying the position (exchanges) he was able to maintain the position and the draw at the cost of losing quality and having the material advantage of one Pawn.
And Stockfish... He simply played "his game". As you will see dear reader, this game was more lost by Clover than won by Stockfish.
Let's see how this game went on - at the most important moments.
Re1 Qd7
Bxe7 Bxe7
Nf6+ Bxf6
Qxf6 Bxd5
The blacks' position on the surface looks favorable. However, their Bishop is weak compared to the white Rook, which, combined with the Queen, will soon show its effectiveness.
h4 Kh7
Re7 Qc8
Ra7 a3
bxa3 bxa3
Rxa3
Having taken several black Pawns, Stockfish obtained the winning position.
41... Qg4
f3 Qe6
Qf4 Bb3
Ra6 Qe5
Qg3 Qf6
Rxd6
1 : 0
Although the game was still going on, it ended in an easy victory for Stockfish, which technically realized its material advantage
Clover lost because it misjudged it's chances.
As we can see, something like this happens even to the best chess engines. Of course, it is in the context of a chess event horizon estimated over the space of a dozen - a few dozen moves ahead.
Download game: Stockfish 17 vs Clover 8.1
Summary
Chess engines exceeding the 3700 CElo level in the MCERL rating achieve their dominance through a combination of immense computational power and strategic finesse.
The analysis of games from the Chessengeria's Chess Engines Elite – 2024 tournament reveals that their success stems from the ability to exploit structural weaknesses, manage tempo, and execute strategies with precision.
The key takeaway from these analyses is that victories at this level are not solely the result of brute computational force but also advanced positional understanding, creativity, and intuition—qualities that appear almost human. These elements elevate engine gameplay to an artistic level, offering profound insights into the evolution of chess as both a science and an art.
What's next in 2025? What's next for the future?
A fusion between the Stockfish project and the Lc0 project!
Impossible?
And this question will be answered in the next article :)
* Diagrams created in the ChessX
** All games were prepared for download using Scid vs Mac - free chess toolkit with extensive database, analysis and chess-playing features.
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