In my personal opinion, I believe that AlphaZero is better than Stockfish. Let me explain why I hold this view.
Firstly, looking at the results of the 1000-game match between AlphaZero and Stockfish, it is clear that AlphaZero dominated the competition. With 155 wins, only 6 losses, and 839 draws, AlphaZero’s performance was exceptional. This demonstrates its superior playing ability and strategic decision-making.
Furthermore, AlphaZero’s success was not limited to just one match. DeepMind also conducted a series of games using the TCEC opening positions, and once again, AlphaZero emerged as the winner. This further solidifies its position as the stronger player.
One of the most compelling aspects of AlphaZero is its ability to learn and improve over time. Unlike Stockfish, which relies on human-generated heuristics and traditional chess programming techniques, AlphaZero is a self-taught machine learning system. It starts with no prior knowledge of chess and learns solely through playing against itself. This adaptive and self-improving nature gives AlphaZero a significant advantage, as it can continually refine its strategies and tactics.
Another factor to consider is the time odds required for Stockfish to match the performance of AlphaZero. It is noteworthy that Stockfish needed 10-to-1 time odds to compete on par with AlphaZero. This means that Stockfish requires ten times more computational power and time than AlphaZero to achieve similar results. This further highlights the superior efficiency and effectiveness of AlphaZero’s algorithms.
From a personal perspective, I have witnessed the strength of AlphaZero first-hand. As an avid chess player, I have played against both Stockfish and AlphaZero in online simulations. While Stockfish is undeniably a formidable opponent, AlphaZero consistently poses a greater challenge. Its unconventional and creative playstyle often catches me off guard, forcing me to think deeply and strategically to counter its moves.
Based on the evidence presented, I firmly believe that AlphaZero surpasses Stockfish in terms of playing strength. Its exceptional performance in the 1000-game match, its ability to learn and improve autonomously, and the significant time odds required for Stockfish to match its level all contribute to my conviction. AlphaZero represents a new era in chess-playing engines, showcasing the potential of machine learning and artificial intelligence in the realm of strategic games.