{"approach": "Measurement seat; strategy code is the base's, unchanged. Scored the base on separate blocks of simulations to see how much a single Paradigm-style 200-run mean moves. Result: 200-run block means (14 blocks over seeds 0-599, 1000-1599, 30000-30599, 10000-10199 and 11200-11999) range 77.5 to 112.6, mean 96.9, sd 10.5 (per-sim sd 164.8, so pure sampling SE for 200 runs is 11.7). Blocks were limited to 3200 sims (32 blocks of 100) because the shared machine was heavily loaded; the 30 x 200 plan was not completed. Drivers (per-sim, n=3200): settlement side is the biggest (settles NO: mean edge 173.2, settles YES: 18.0; corr -0.47), then competitor spread ticks (1: 38.9, 2: 76.9, 3: 115.0, 4: 153.7; corr +0.26, mostly via retail edge; arb edge flat across spreads), initial probability (corr -0.29, partly collinear with settlement), retail arrival rate and notional (corr +0.13). Jump intensity/sigma barely matter (corr -0.04 and 0.0). Actual jump counts are not in the simulator JSON, so only the regime's jump_intensity was tested. A linear fit on spread, settlement, |p0-0.5|, jump intensity, retail rate explains R2=0.32 of per-sim edge. At block level (100 runs) mean edge correlates with block share of YES settlements -0.44, mean initial probability -0.51, mean spread +0.36. Top 20 of 200 runs carry 51.6% of the total edge. Arbitrage loss moves little between blocks (about -21 to -34 per block).", "blocked": null, "python_version": "3.12.3", "base_mean_edge": 102.33197908899267, "score": {"mean_edge": 107.2442092237515, "retail_edge": 135.80165652288784, "arb_edge": -28.557447299150834, "simulations": 600, "seed_start": 1000, "failures": 0}, "holdout": {"mean_edge": 96.0405203261775, "simulations": 600, "seed_start": 30000, "failures": 0}, "code": "\"\"\"Stale-quote defence with tick probes, a sub-tick belief and cheap YES stock.\n\nEvery step the arbitrageur removes any order on the wrong side of p, so tiny\ntwo-sided probes around the estimate locate p to a tick; a grid filter narrows\nthat further.  Quotes sit one tick inside the competitor and are sized by the\nmarginal rule: one more share is worth quoting while the chance a retail order\nreaches it, times its edge, exceeds the expected arbitrage loss.  Near p=0 a\nretail buy pays almost its whole notional as edge, so YES is held to cover low\nasks.  That YES is bought when it is cheap: a large bid rests at tick 1 while p\nis above it, so the arbitrageur fills it on the crossing for about 0.1 tick a\nshare instead of nearly a full tick once p is near zero, and smaller bids sit on\nwhichever tick p is within 0.15 of.  Below tick 1 the estimate of p decays with\nthe time spent there, since no probe can see it.\n\"\"\"\nimport math\nfrom orderbook_pm_challenge.strategy import BaseStrategy\nfrom orderbook_pm_challenge.types import CancelOrder, PlaceOrder, Side\n\nP = dict(lam_r=0.25, m=5.0, sig_n=1.2, lam_j=0.0019, sig_j=0.35, sig=0.02,\n         qmax=3000.0, rmin=2, kA=0.7, kL=0.15, pL=0.05,\n         ammo=1.0, ydem=0.4, W=200.0, fy=0.6, ammo_q=60.0, ammo_pmax=0.05, ammo_maxpay=0.02,\n         fb=0.9, fu=0.7, xu=0.1, sticky=1.0, min_ahead=2.0, keep_hi=1.5, keep_lo=0.7, Hu=300.0, bins=8.0, filt=1.0, uni=0.01, jumpinfo=1.0, dmin=0.0, kLb=0.08, kLf=0.08, pinf=1.0, pre=0.0, H1=100.0,\n         ydf=0.6, Wf=2000.0, g_hi=0.15, g_lo=0.15, qf=400.0, pmaxf=0.05, pre_gap=1.0,\n         ydf1=0.6, g1=5.0, f1=0.6, a1=100.0, nb1=0.0, gs=1.0, p1t=1.0, m1=1.0, zd=1.0, pfl=0.0005)\nSQ2 = math.sqrt(2.0)\nSQ2PI = math.sqrt(2.0 * math.pi)\ndef cdf(x): return 0.5 * (1.0 + math.erf(x / SQ2))\ndef pdf(x): return math.exp(-0.5 * x * x) / SQ2PI\ndef inv(p):\n    p = min(max(p, 1e-9), 1 - 1e-9)\n    t = math.sqrt(-2.0 * math.log(min(p, 1 - p)))\n    x = t - (2.515517 + 0.802853 * t + 0.010328 * t * t) / (1 + 1.432788 * t + 0.189269 * t * t + 0.001308 * t ** 3)\n    x = -x if p < 0.5 else x\n    for _ in range(2):\n        d = pdf(x)\n        if d < 1e-12:\n            break\n        x -= (cdf(x) - p) / d\n    return x\ndef lpm(k):\n    return pdf(k) + k * cdf(k)\ndef fl(q):\n    return math.floor(q * 100 + 1e-9) / 100\n\nNODES = [(-2.2, .06), (-1.3, .17), (-0.6, .27), (0.6, .27), (1.3, .17), (2.2, .06)]\nPROBE = 0.01\n\n\nclass Strategy(BaseStrategy):\n    def __init__(self):\n        self.n = 0\n        self.ahead = set()     # main orders placed strictly ahead of any competitor order at their tick\n        self.res = {}          # order id -> uncovered quantity at placement\n        self.bc = None         # belief: sub-tick grid centres (ticks)\n        self.bw = None         # belief: weights\n        self.st = 0.5          # last one-step sd in ticks\n        self.pcb = self.pca = None\n        self.pb = set()\n        self.pa = set()\n        self.tb = 0\n        self.s = None          # competitor spread parameter\n\n    def _oid(self, tag):\n        self.n += 1\n        return tag + str(self.n)\n\n    def on_step(self, state):\n        H = max(1, state.steps_remaining)\n        cb = state.competitor_best_bid_ticks or 0\n        ca = state.competitor_best_ask_ticks or 100\n        if self.s is None:\n            self.s = max(1, (ca - cb + 1) // 2)\n        lo, hi = cb, ca\n        for o in state.own_orders:\n            if o.side is Side.BUY:\n                lo = max(lo, o.price_ticks)\n            else:\n                hi = min(hi, o.price_ticks)\n        if P['pinf'] > 0:\n            sb = {o.price_ticks for o in state.own_orders if o.side is Side.BUY and o.remaining_quantity <= PROBE + 1e-9}\n            sa = {o.price_ticks for o in state.own_orders if o.side is Side.SELL and o.remaining_quantity <= PROBE + 1e-9}\n            ea = self.pa - sa\n            eb = self.pb - sb\n            if sa and ea:\n                lo = max(lo, min(max(ea), hi))\n            if eb and (sb or min(eb) <= P['p1t']):\n                hi = min(hi, max(min(eb), lo))\n        if P['jumpinfo'] > 0 and self.pcb is not None:\n            if ca > self.pca + 1:\n                lo = max(lo, ca - 1)\n            if cb < self.pcb - 1:\n                hi = min(hi, cb + 1)\n        self.pcb, self.pca = cb, ca\n        if lo > hi:\n            lo, hi = hi, lo\n        # sub-tick belief over p_(t-1): predict with one-step noise, truncate to [lo, hi]\n        wid = max(hi - lo, 1e-6)\n        nb = max(2, min(48, int(round(wid * P['bins']))))\n        cs = [lo + (i + 0.5) * wid / nb for i in range(nb)]\n        if self.bc is None or P['filt'] <= 0:\n            ws = [1.0 / nb] * nb\n        else:\n            sg = max(self.st, 0.6 * wid / nb)\n            k = -0.5 / (sg * sg)\n            ws = []\n            uni = P['uni'] * sg\n            for c in cs:\n                t = uni\n                for ci, wi in zip(self.bc, self.bw):\n                    d = c - ci\n                    d2 = d * d * k\n                    if d2 > -12.5:\n                        t += wi * math.exp(d2)\n                ws.append(t)\n            tot = sum(ws)\n            ws = [w / tot for w in ws]\n        self.bc, self.bw = cs, ws\n        mean_t = sum(c * w for c, w in zip(cs, ws))\n        var_t = max(sum(c * c * w for c, w in zip(cs, ws)) - mean_t * mean_t, 0.0)\n        phat = min(max(mean_t / 100.0, 0.002), 0.998)\n        var = P['sig'] ** 2 + P['lam_j'] * P['sig_j'] ** 2\n        sd = math.sqrt(H * var)\n        self.tb = self.tb + 1 if hi <= 1 else 0\n        if self.tb > 0 and P['zd'] > 0:\n            # below the last tick there is no probe: the score keeps walking away from it\n            phat = min(phat, max(P['pfl'], cdf(inv(0.01) - P['zd'] * 0.02 * math.sqrt(self.tb) / sd)))\n        z = inv(phat)\n        Z = z * sd\n        sp = pdf(z) / sd * P['sig']\n        self.st = sp * 100.0\n        s = math.sqrt(sp * sp + var_t / 1e4 + 1e-8)\n        sd1 = math.sqrt(max(1.0, H - 1.0) * var)\n        jp = [(cdf((Z + n * P['sig_j']) / sd1), w) for n, w in NODES]\n        lj = P['lam_j']\n\n        def AB(x):\n            k = (x - phat) / s\n            a = s * lpm(k)\n            b = a - (x - phat)\n            ja = sum(w * max(0.0, x - p) for p, w in jp)\n            jb = sum(w * max(0.0, p - x) for p, w in jp)\n            return (1 - lj) * a + lj * ja, (1 - lj) * b + lj * jb\n\n        if H == 1:\n            def AB(x):\n                return (1 - phat) * x, phat * (1 - x)\n        rho = P['lam_r'] * 0.5\n        mu = math.log(P['m']) - 0.5 * P['sig_n'] ** 2\n        kA = P['kL'] if phat < P['pL'] else P['kA']\n\n        def qsize(loss, gain, px):\n            loss *= kA\n            if gain <= 0:\n                return 0.0\n            tail = loss / (rho * gain)\n            if tail >= 1.0:\n                return 0.0\n            return min(P['qmax'], math.exp(mu + P['sig_n'] * inv(1 - max(tail, 1e-6))) / px)\n\n        ptk = phat * 100\n        def qbid(t):\n            if not 1 <= t <= 99:\n                return 0.0\n            a, b = AB(t / 100.0)\n            if phat * 100 - t < P['dmin']:\n                return 0.0\n            if P['nb1'] > 0 and self.s == 1 and t == 1 and ptk < 1.0:\n                return 0.0\n            if phat < P['pL']:\n                ytg = P['ydem'] * min(H, P['W']) / max(ca - 1, ptk + 1) * 100.0\n                a *= (P['kLb'] if state.yes_inventory < ytg else P['kLf']) / P['kL']\n            return qsize(a, b, max(phat, 0.05))\n\n        def qask(t):\n            if not 1 <= t <= 99:\n                return 0.0\n            a, b = AB(t / 100.0)\n            if t - phat * 100 < P['dmin']:\n                return 0.0\n            return qsize(b, a, t / 100.0)\n\n        bids = [o for o in state.own_orders if o.side is Side.BUY and o.remaining_quantity > PROBE + 1e-9]\n        asks = [o for o in state.own_orders if o.side is Side.SELL and o.remaining_quantity > PROBE + 1e-9]\n        sticky = P['sticky'] > 0\n        def top(orders, comp, step):\n            if sticky and sum(o.remaining_quantity for o in orders if o.price_ticks == comp and o.order_id in self.ahead) >= P['min_ahead']:\n                return comp\n            return comp + step\n        bid_t = top(bids, cb, 1)\n        ask_t = top(asks, ca, -1)\n        qb = qbid(bid_t)\n        qa = qask(ask_t)\n\n        Y = state.yes_inventory\n        if ask_t == 1 and H > P['H1'] and P['pre'] > 0:\n            qa = qa if Y >= P['a1'] > 0 else 0.0          # let the competitor's 2-tick ask erode instead of fronting it for nothing\n        # ammunition: hold YES so that low asks are covered\n        ptick = phat * 100\n        amt = 0\n        qam = 0.0\n        if P['ammo'] > 0 and ask_t >= 2 and phat < max(P['ammo_pmax'], P['pmaxf']):\n            wealth = state.cash + Y * phat\n            x = max(ask_t, ptick + 1) / 100.0\n            capw = P['fy'] * wealth / max(phat, 0.005)\n            target = min(P['ydem'] * min(H, P['W']) / x, capw)\n            full = min(P['ydf'] * min(H, P['Wf']) / x, capw) if phat < P['pmaxf'] else 0.0\n            t = max(1, min(99, int(math.ceil(ptick + 1e-9))))\n            g = t - ptick\n            if Y < full and g <= P['g_hi'] and bid_t <= t < ask_t:\n                amt, qam = t, min(P['qf'], full - Y)     # a tick p has just crossed: nearly free\n            elif Y < target and phat < P['ammo_pmax'] and bid_t <= t < ask_t and t / 100.0 - phat < P['ammo_maxpay']:\n                amt, qam = t, min(P['ammo_q'], target - Y)\n            elif Y < full and t >= 2 and 1.0 - g <= P['g_lo']:\n                amt, qam = t - 1, min(P['qf'], full - Y)  # rest just under p: filled only on the crossing, or by retail\n\n        if P['pre'] > 0 and ca == 2 and phat < 0.01 and H > P['H1'] and Y < P['pre'] and not qam and 1.0 - ptick < P['pre_gap']:\n            amt, qam = 1, min(P['ammo_q'], P['pre'] - Y)\n        q1 = 0.0\n        if P['ydf1'] > 0 and P['m1'] < ptick < P['g1'] + 1.0 and amt != 1:\n            q1 = max(0.0, P['ydf1'] * min(H, P['Wf']) / (self.s / 100.0) - Y)\n        # order management\n        actions = []\n        free = state.free_cash - 2.0\n        keep_ask = 0.0\n        new_b = []\n        new_a = []\n        def cancel(o):\n            nonlocal free\n            actions.append(CancelOrder(o.order_id))\n            x = o.price_ticks / 100.0\n            if o.side is Side.BUY:\n                free += x * o.remaining_quantity\n            else:\n                free += (1 - x) * min(self.res.get(o.order_id, 0.0), o.remaining_quantity)\n            self.ahead.discard(o.order_id)\n            self.res.pop(o.order_id, None)\n        for o in state.own_orders:\n            if o.remaining_quantity <= PROBE + 1e-9:\n                cancel(o)\n        kept_ids = set()\n        def manage(orders, t, q, comp):\n            kept = 0.0\n            for o in orders:\n                if o.price_ticks == t and q > 0 and kept + o.remaining_quantity <= max(q * P['keep_hi'], 1.0):\n                    kept += o.remaining_quantity\n                    kept_ids.add(o.order_id)\n                else:\n                    cancel(o)\n            return kept\n        kb = manage(bids, bid_t, qb, cb)\n        ka = manage(asks, ask_t, qa, ca)\n        add_b = (qb - kb) if (kb < qb * P['keep_lo'] and bid_t != cb) else 0.0\n        add_a = (qa - ka) if (ka < qa * P['keep_lo'] and ask_t != ca) else 0.0\n\n        budget = P['fb'] * max(free, 0.0)\n        cost = add_b * bid_t / 100.0 + qam * amt / 100.0\n        if cost > budget:\n            f = budget / cost\n            add_b *= f\n            qam *= f\n            cost = budget\n        out = []\n        q1 = min(q1, P['f1'] * max(budget - cost, 0.0) * 100.0)\n        if q1 >= 0.01:\n            out.append(PlaceOrder(side=Side.BUY, price_ticks=1, quantity=fl(q1)))\n            free -= fl(q1) / 100.0 + 1e-6\n        if amt and qam >= 0.01:\n            q = fl(qam)\n            out.append(PlaceOrder(side=Side.BUY, price_ticks=amt, quantity=q))\n            free -= q * amt / 100.0 + 1e-6\n        if bid_t >= 1 and add_b >= 0.01:\n            q = fl(add_b)\n            oid = self._oid('b')\n            out.append(PlaceOrder(side=Side.BUY, price_ticks=bid_t, quantity=q, client_order_id=oid))\n            free -= q * bid_t / 100.0 + 1e-6\n            if bid_t > cb:\n                self.ahead.add(oid)\n        if ask_t <= 99 and add_a >= 0.01:\n            x = ask_t / 100.0\n            covk = sum(o.remaining_quantity - min(self.res.get(o.order_id, 0.0), o.remaining_quantity)\n                       for o in asks if o.order_id in kept_ids)\n            cov = max(0.0, Y - covk - 0.1)\n            unc = max(0.0, add_a - cov)\n            if unc > 0:\n                ub = max(0.0, free - (1 - P['fu']) * max(state.cash, 0.0)) if x >= P['xu'] else 0.0\n                if H < P['Hu'] and phat < 0.05:\n                    ub = max(0.0, free * (1 - H / P['Hu']))\n                unc = min(unc, ub / (1 - x))\n            q = fl(min(add_a, cov + unc))\n            if q >= 0.01:\n                oid = self._oid('a')\n                out.append(PlaceOrder(side=Side.SELL, price_ticks=ask_t, quantity=q, client_order_id=oid))\n                r = max(0.0, q - cov)\n                self.res[oid] = r\n                free -= r * (1 - x) + 1e-6\n                if ask_t < ca:\n                    self.ahead.add(oid)\n\n        # probes: tiny orders that the arbitrageur removes when p crosses them\n        f = int(math.floor(ptick + 1e-9))\n        r = max(int(P['rmin']), int(math.ceil(2.0 * s * 100)))\n        self.pb = set()\n        self.pa = set()\n        if free > 1.0:\n            for t in range(f, f + r + 1):\n                if cb < t < ca and 1 <= t <= 99:\n                    out.append(PlaceOrder(side=Side.BUY, price_ticks=t, quantity=PROBE))\n                    self.pb.add(t)\n            for t in range(f + 1 - r, f + 2):\n                if cb < t < ca and 1 <= t <= 99:\n                    out.append(PlaceOrder(side=Side.SELL, price_ticks=t, quantity=PROBE))\n                    self.pa.add(t)\n        return actions + out\n", "code_sha256": "d68e658732b99a47eb8004f684319f0bc3dc286fe52a066ab019442f8c91aac2", "tried": ["--sandbox fails on Python 3.12 (ImportError: ntpath not allowed) for the base and for examples/starter_strategy.py alike; skipped", "--workers not tried; ran 8 serial processes side by side, output only written at the end of each run, which cost two timed-out batches", "Scorer check: base on seeds 0-599 gives 102.33197908899267, exactly the author's figure", "Base on seeds 1000-1599: 107.24; holdout seeds 30000-30599: 96.04; seeds 0-599: 102.33 (spread of 6 contiguous 600-run means: 96.0 to 107.2)", "Block spread of 14 x 200-run means: sd 10.5, range 77.5-112.6; feature analysis as in approach", "Detectability: with independent draws per entry and per-run sd ~165, the sd of one 200-run mean is ~11.7, so a gap between two entries has sd ~16.5. A 3-point gain is then 0.18 sd: single entries give ~5% extra chance of ranking right. To see 3 points at ~2 sigma one needs about 120 independent 200-run draws per entry (200*n = (1.414*165/1.5)^2 = 24,200 runs), i.e. roughly 120 entries/resubmissions of the same strategy to average. If entries share seeds the paired difference sd would be lower, which was not measured."], "next": "Evaluate strategies on a common seed set with paired differences rather than separate means; paired variance was not measured here and is likely far smaller than 16.5. Settlement side and spread dominate variance, so stratify or reweight by them when comparing. Record jump counts in a custom simulator run to test that feature. Improve YES-settle performance (18.0 vs 173.2 for NO), where most of the loss variance sits."}