Silicon Road: Blitzing out Crazy Leela ideas on Lichess! Hacking the Semi-Tarrasch and QGA!

[@patrickdaly1088]

I'm not sure if you were watching Superbet Rapid and Blitz Poland, but I think Kirill Shevchenko is a fan of yours. He played a 5. g4 Semi-Slav today against Erigaisi!

[@SiliconRoadChess]

Yes I saw! Brilliant! 😊😊 Definitely think that loads of these ideas are absolutely worth it, so good to see it happening - and winning brilliantly! - at the elite level!

[@nasakenaii5222]

Great ideas ! I wonder what Leela in this "must win" mode would choose as black against the Alapin, really interested since the alapin is the bane of my existence when playing the sicilian.

[@SiliconRoadChess]

Ah, I'll have a look!

[@FMTanmayChopra]

Hello Mr Sadler, This was amazing analysis as usual. I am commenting to express my thoughts about your analysis in game 1 in the book Queen’s gambit declined. I have read over 35 chess books in my chess career but have never ever ever seen something close to the level and depth of analysis as the one in your book for game 1. It made me shed a tear. Pure GOLD. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge.

[@SiliconRoadChess]

Aah thanks! Glad you enjoyed it! 😊

[@MultiMarcd]

Nice as always. Thanks Matthew.

[@SiliconRoadChess]

Thanks Marc! 😊

[@Temiraker]

The Semi-Tarrasch seems to be a tough nut to crack. Any idea what Leela does against the most popular 5th move from black, Nc6?

[@SiliconRoadChess]

I didn't look too deeply I'm afraid but it was 6.a3 I think (quite similar to what Guklesh did against Vidit at the Toronto Candidates)

[@hashim2609]

I didn’t know you can counter the e4 push with play on the dark squares. I’ll study it further as a QGD player. There were many examples in Game Changer discussing the use of file & diagonal to initiate attacks on the king. It’s interesting to see Leela’s direct approach here to pry open the center before black can castle. I’m really enjoying this Crazy Leela series!

[@SiliconRoadChess]

Ah glad you're enjoying it! Yes I think this comes as a shock to QGA / Semi-Tarrasch players - at least most of my opponents have not reacted very well to it!

[@AgentSmith-w8s]

She never lets me down...

[@SiliconRoadChess]

😂😂

[@seop1721]

Hi Matthew. Great analysis! I gave up chess for 20 years due to computers, but now I’m back trying to learn to like and enjoy them, if not love them! Your work is part of that, particularly on using them for improvement! If you can’t beat them, join them… and find a way to make them fun! My question is, can Komodo Dragon 3.3 be a useful substitute for Leela in the absence of a GPU? My understanding is it has a similar style of play. Thank you! P.S. I’d love to see a video on how amateurs can use engines more profitably for chess improvement. I feel you are uniquely qualified to do it. (This series is based on that premise, of course, but maybe some fundamental tips wouldn’t go amiss. :-)

[@SiliconRoadChess]

Hi, thanks very much! Playing any engine is very useful but this contempt feature is prety unique to Leela. Komodo Dragon has some settings for personality (up to version 3.2) and ELO strength (version 3.3) and I've heard some decent stuff about it, but it's not anything as powerful as this Leela feature! I've been asked a few times about a series for amateurs... Most of my stuff is based around the premise of using engines to improve / help yourself but I might look at some videos more focused on that alone! (and not mixed up with opening tips / engine games etc...) Best Wishes, Matthew

[@seop1721]

@@SiliconRoadChess Thank you! Videos geared towards amateurs would be great! Komodo has contempt, but I don’t know enough about Leela to compare. My understanding is it’s a feature that can make Komodo (3.3) refuse draws or peaceful resolutions, and comes with suggestions for what level to use all the way up to world champion. My main interest in Komodo was the positional play, MCTS, and the argument that it might have more accurate Elo ratings relative to FIDE rapid. (And so is maybe useful to assess one’s play.) Mostly, I still use Hiarcs. I’d like to try Leela, but it will need to wait until I get a good GPU computer (if ever). I chose Komodo Dragon as a kind of positional substitute. (Which I use in the Hiarcs GUI.)

[@tmbhbnt8281]

Great video as always Matthew. Question - What do you think about using Leela contempt to analyze my own games (e.g. middlegames/endgames) where I can't convert despite having some advantage, regardless of Elo difference? Would it serve to explore aggressive ideas to increase winning chances? Would it be better than analyzing with standard stockfish? Would there be a good setting for that? Or is this not a proper use of WDL because it's supposed to be for playing an opponent with a different Elo strength?

[@SiliconRoadChess]

Thanks! 😊 Oh I think analysing your games with Leela with contempt is a nice idea - not for objective truth (you do need Stockfish or normal Leela for that!) but to give additional ideas that normal engines wouldn't think of. Could be really interesting!