The Best Chess Engines in 2024: Stockfish vs. Leela Chess Zero

In the vast landscape of chess software and artificial intelligence, two titans stand atop the mountain: Stockfish and Leela Chess Zero (Lc0). By 2024, these engines have evolved into not just tools for analysis but essential companions to elite players, tournament organizers, content creators, and curious amateurs alike.

But what makes these engines so dominant—and how do they compare?

This article explores the origins, design philosophy, strengths, weaknesses, and head-to-head performance of Stockfish and Leela Chess Zero in 2024. Whether you’re a chess enthusiast, a data-driven player, or a curious observer of artificial intelligence, you’ll find the answer to which engine truly reigns supreme.

1. Origins and Philosophy: Traditional vs. Neural Networks

Stockfish: The Classical Titan

• Founded: 2008 (based on the open-source Glaurung)

• Architecture: Handcrafted evaluation functions + Alpha-Beta pruning

• Primary Strengths:

  • Fast brute-force search (up to 100 million nodes per second)

  • Deterministic and predictable evaluations

  • Open source and community-driven

Stockfish embodies traditional chess engine design. Its developers continually improve evaluation heuristics and search optimizations like null move pruning, Late Move Reductions, and multi-PV analysis. Every position is combed with relentless precision using raw CPU power.

Leela Chess Zero (Lc0): The Neural Network Innovator

• Founded: 2018 (inspired by AlphaZero by DeepMind)

• Architecture: Deep neural network + Monte Carlo Tree Search (MCTS)

• Primary Strengths:

  • Pattern-based understanding of positional nuances

  • Natural-looking moves and intuitive strategies

  • Superior in closed or strategic positions

Leela was trained using reinforcement learning, starting from zero knowledge—hence the “zero” in its name. It improves by playing millions of games against itself, with updates from thousands of volunteer contributors.

2. Performance in 2024: Head-to-Head Results

As of 2024, both engines are nearly invincible to human players and are mostly tested against each other or in matches against prior versions.

TCEC (Top Chess Engine Championship)

The most reputable engine-vs-engine competition, TCEC consistently hosts long-format matches between engines under equal conditions.

Recent Results (TCEC 2023/2024):

• Stockfish 16 vs. Leela Chess Zero 0.32:

  • Stockfish wins: 15

  • Leela wins: 7

  • Draws: 78

• Bullet & Blitz Events: Stockfish performs significantly better in fast time controls.

• Superfinals: Stockfish has won the last 5 TCEC seasons.

Summary: In pure win/loss terms, Stockfish is still the stronger engine overall, but the gap is slowly narrowing as Leela continues to evolve.

3. Playing Style: Calculation vs. Intuition

Stockfish

• Known for precise tactical calculations

• Excels in open positions, where brute-force search finds concrete tactics

• Avoids risk unless it’s clearly winning

• Example: In a queen vs. rook endgame, it often finds tablebase-perfect play instantly

Leela Chess Zero

• Plays in a more “human” style

• Prefers positional sacrifices, long-term pressure, and outposts

• Sometimes sacrifices pawns or pieces for nebulous compensation—only to justify it 20 moves later

• Great in closed, maneuvering positions

Analogy:

• Stockfish is like a world-class calculator solving a complex equation

• Leela is like a grandmaster artist who “feels” the position

4. Evaluation Depth and Accuracy

Node Searching

• Stockfish: Can search 80–100 million nodes per second

• Leela: Searches around 1,000–5,000 nodes per second, but each node is more meaningful

Positional Evaluation

• Stockfish is accurate in concrete evaluations (e.g., +2.30 means you’re probably winning material)

• Leela tends to evaluate based on strategic considerations (e.g., +0.50 might mean better pawn structure, even if down material)

This means Stockfish thrives in clear tactical positions, while Leela can occasionally “bluff” or delay its advantage for strategic gain.

5. Endgame Mastery and Tablebases

Both engines access Syzygy endgame tablebases, which means they play endgames flawlessly up to 7 pieces.

• Stockfish reaches these positions more often, as it plays more materially sound games.

• Leela, on the other hand, often creates complex endgames by sacrificing material for initiative.

However, in pure endgame knowledge (e.g., QvR, BvN), both are equal when tablebases are enabled.

6. Hardware Compatibility and Usage

Conclusion:

• Stockfish is better for desktop analysis, mobile apps, and fast use.

• Leela is ideal for those with strong GPUs (NVIDIA 30-series or higher) and want to study positional depth.

7. Training and Game Analysis

Both engines are integrated into platforms like Lichess, ChessBase, and Chess.com, but their use cases differ:

Stockfish

• Great for analyzing blunders, best moves, tactics

• Gives quick, reliable assessments

• Used in title-level preparation

Leela

• Better for long-term strategic planning

• Preferred for post-mortem game review

• Often shows ideas that challenge conventional thinking

Chess streamers and educators like Daniel Naroditsky and Hikaru Nakamura often use Stockfish for concrete analysis, and Leela for artistic ideas.

8. Use in Human Chess Improvement

For improving players, a combined approach is ideal:

1. Use Stockfish for tactics, refutations, engine matches, and forced lines.

2. Use Leela to understand pawn structures, compensation, and outposts.

9. Community and Development

Stockfish

• Completely open-source (GPL license)

• Developed by an active team and community

• Frequently updated and tested on Lichess via Fishtest

Leela

• Open-source as well

• Trained by a network of volunteers donating GPU time

• Slower updates, but with big leaps in understanding

Both are available for free and have passionate communities.

10. Verdict: Which One Should You Use in 2024?

Use Stockfish if:

• You need fast, accurate analysis

• You’re working on tactics, calculation, or engine matches

• You don’t have a high-end GPU

Use Leela Chess Zero if:

• You want to explore strategic concepts

• You’re reviewing positional play or planning to learn deeply

• You own a capable GPU and want to try something more intuitive

Best Solution:
Use both. Start with Stockfish for precise feedback, then switch to Leela to ask, “Why did that position feel better for White?”

Final Thoughts

In 2024, Stockfish remains the strongest overall chess engine, leading most tournaments and dominating in head-to-head matches. However, Leela Chess Zero continues to close the gap, offering unique insights and redefining how humans understand chess.

These engines don’t compete with each other—they complement one another. Together, they provide the most complete toolkit a chess player could ask for.

Whether you’re an amateur chasing rapid improvement or a GM preparing for elite tournaments, understanding the unique strengths of both engines is your secret weapon in mastering the game.