{"approach": "Spread 1 only: wait, then lead. Under 1 cent, once YES stock falls below 100 shares with more than 150 steps left, stop asking at tick 1, where stock restocked at tick 1 nets nothing and uses up the retail that would erode the rival's lot at tick 2; the wait costs little because the inside quote has stopped earning. While waiting, the base's existing stock rule buys at tick 1. When the lot runs out and the ask at tick 2 is first in line, it is sized for the whole lead instead of one step, because a front order cannot be refilled ahead of a returned lot: size = (x-p) * expected retail dollars per step / (expected arb loss per share per step * x), capped at 30000, under 5 cents. No parameters from unseen runs were used. The gain on unseen runs is +0.1238 with standard error 0.3596, so it is not distinguishable from zero and should be treated as weak. Retail rose 0.7796 and arb fell 0.6558. One shared-path edit, a local name for math.exp in the belief loop, is speed only; results on the other spreads were identical in the 900-run check. Timing is 200 unseen spread-1 runs in one process, alternating which strategy ran first; it is one measurement and the difference is small. Python was absent on this machine, so a checksum-verified standalone CPython 3.12.16 was installed inside .cache to run the work.", "blocked": null, "spread": 1, "base_mean_edge": 98.4694596619638, "base_unseen": {"mean_edge": 41.78494849744236, "retail_edge": 65.91107840022042, "arb_edge": -24.1261299027871}, "holdout": {"mean_edge": 41.908717245028896, "retail_edge": 66.69064915884373, "arb_edge": -24.781931913822397, "failures": 0}, "diff": {"mean": 0.12376874758654133, "standard_error": 0.35961375645904314, "retail": 0.7795707586233078, "arb": -0.6558020110352984}, "others_identical": {"runs": 900, "identical": true}, "seconds": {"base": 86.11964827566408, "yours": 85.72779561951756}, "code": "\"\"\"Crossing-cover base with isolated, untuned spread overrides.\"\"\"\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        self.w1 = False        # spread 1: stock ran out under 1 cent, waiting for / leading at tick 2\n        self.flow_notional = 0.0\n        self.flow_exposure = 0\n        self.last_ask_tick = None\n        self.last_quote_exposed = False\n        self.last_flow_ca = None\n        self.last_flow_cap = 0.0\n        self.last_flow_correction = 1.0\n        self.params = P.copy()\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            if self.s == 1:\n                self.params.update({'dmin': 0.3, 'pfl': 1e-06})\n            if self.s == 3:\n                self.params.update({'flow_prior': 200, 'flow_level': 0.6, 'flow_strength': 1.0, 'flow_safety': 2.0, 'flow_exposure_min': 5.0})\n        P = self.params\n        if self.s == 3 and self.last_quote_exposed and ca <= self.last_flow_ca + 1:\n            self.flow_exposure += 1\n            self.flow_notional += min(self.last_flow_cap, state.sell_filled_quantity * self.last_ask_tick / 100.0) * self.last_flow_correction\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            exp = math.exp\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 * 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        if self.s == 1 and phat < 0.05:\n            if phat >= 0.0125:\n                self.w1 = False\n            if ask_t == 1 and ca == 2 and phat < 0.01:\n                # Tick-1 asks from stock restocked at tick 1 net nothing and use up the retail that\n                # would erode the rival's lot at 2. Once stock is gone, stop and let that lot run out.\n                if H > 150 and state.yes_inventory < 100.0:\n                    self.w1 = True\n                if self.w1:\n                    ask_t, qa = 2, 0.0\n            elif ask_t >= 2 and qa > 0:\n                # A front order is refilled only when the lot is gone: size it for the whole lead,\n                # so expected arbitrage loss while it waits to fill stays within its retail gain.\n                xa = ask_t / 100.0\n                qa = max(qa, min(30000.0, (xa - phat) * rho * P['m'] / (max(AB(xa)[1], 1e-9) * xa)))\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            stock_rate = P['ydf1']\n            if self.s == 3:\n                flow = (self.flow_notional + P['flow_prior'] * P['flow_level']) / (P['flow_prior'] + self.flow_exposure)\n                scale = max(0.5, min(2.0, flow / P['flow_level']))\n                stock_rate *= 1.0 + P['flow_strength'] * (scale - 1.0)\n            q1 = max(0.0, stock_rate * min(H, P['Wf']) / (self.s / 100.0) - Y)\n\n        # Bridge expected retail demand until another tick crossing is available.\n        if 0.02 < phat < 0.1:\n            ct = max(2, min(99, int(math.floor(ptick))))\n            wealth = state.cash + Y * phat\n            goal = min(1 * qa, 0.3 * max(wealth, 0.0) / phat)\n            if Y < goal and ct < ask_t:\n                amt, qam = ct, min(3000.0, goal - 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        if self.s == 3:\n            self.last_ask_tick = ask_t\n            self.last_flow_ca = ca\n            exposed_qty = ka + sum(o.quantity for o in out if o.side is Side.SELL and o.price_ticks == ask_t and o.quantity > PROBE)\n            self.last_flow_cap = exposed_qty * ask_t / 100.0\n            self.last_quote_exposed = ask_t / 100.0 > phat + max(0.005, P['flow_safety'] * self.st / 100.0) and self.last_flow_cap >= P['flow_exposure_min']\n            if self.last_quote_exposed:\n                logcap = math.log(self.last_flow_cap)\n                mu_flow = math.log(P['m']) - 0.5 * P['sig_n'] ** 2\n                clipped = P['m'] * cdf((logcap - mu_flow - P['sig_n'] ** 2) / P['sig_n']) + self.last_flow_cap * (1.0 - cdf((logcap - mu_flow) / P['sig_n']))\n                self.last_flow_correction = min(3.0, P['m'] / max(clipped, 0.01))\n        return actions + out\n", "code_sha256": "28fdec4f1ec26da291b13d6b4b440d816b8ab2cf1440301b95111f394a0280e1", "tried": ["Profile, base, 200 tuning runs: under 1c retail asks earn 51.22 and arb costs 14.10 of a run's edge; 1-5c retail asks only 6.91. Retail buys pay about (a-p)/a per dollar at tick a, so tick 2 beats tick 1 by only p/2 a dollar while waiting costs (1-p) per dollar of a 24-72 dollar lot. All per-run figures below are mean over all 2036 spread-1 tuning runs, measured on every third run that reaches 5c (352 runs; the other runs were treated as zero).", "Wait under 1c whenever H>300, plus lead size: -8.9 approx (printed -2.978 before correcting the scale by 3), retail and arb net negative; wait alone about -4.0 (printed -1.329); lead sizing alone about +0.12 (printed 0.041, se 0.156, same scale).", "Wait only in a price band: p 0.4-1c H>100 -1.699 se 1.128; 0.6-1c H>100 +0.208 se 0.502; 0.2-1c H>200 -11.642 se 2.093; 0.4-1c H>300 -1.186 se 1.095.", "Kept: wait only once YES stock is under 100 shares (latched until p is back above 1.25c), H>150, plus lead size: +0.468 se 0.578 (retail +0.626, arb -0.158). Unused part of the tuning runs (703 other low-price runs): +0.343 se 0.515 (retail +0.397, arb -0.055). Positive in both, significant in neither.", "Stock trigger at 500 shares: +0.415 se 0.558. With wait target 8000 shares: -0.076 se 0.491. Trigger without lead size: +0.042 se 0.219. Lead size only under 2c: +0.267 se 0.520.", "Lead size x3: -0.631 se 1.538 (retail +5.028, arb -5.658). x3 only a full tick or more below the ask: -0.019 se 0.543; same with H>150: +0.268 se 0.601; x2 with H>300: +0.226 se 0.562; x0.5 within a tick: -0.193 se 0.457.", "Outside this part, stock and late sizing, all rejected: no tick-1 stock bid without a rival bid -2.109 se 0.919; stock rate 0.3 -8.665 se 1.570; 0.15 -16.916 se 3.703; 0.9 -3.968 se 1.911; stock window 500 -3.182 se 1.079; kL 0.3 -0.480 se 1.147; kA 0.6 when H<200 -0.939 se 0.698; 1.0 when H<100 -2.122 se 0.343; 0.4 when H<400 -0.785 se 0.879.", "Frozen code on tuning: a 48-run comparison gave results identical to the tested build. Unseen, spread 1: +0.123769 se 0.359614, within noise of zero."], "next": "At spread 1 the queue is not the main lever under 1 cent: the stock trigger changed little, which suggests stock is seldom short at the current rate (inferred, not measured directly), and waiting costs more than leading earns unless p is near 1 cent. Lead size x3 raised retail by 5.03 but lost 5.66 to the arbitrageur, so try a lead size that shrinks with jump exposure and not with one-step loss alone. The largest losses seen are jump sweeps: tick-1 asks near the end of a run (three runs of 2036 lost over 1100 each to arb) and tick-1 stock bids swept on a fast fall through 1 cent. Tighter late sizing as tried lost more retail than it saved, so a better-targeted rule is needed."}