{"approach": "The base uses a fixed one-cent stocking target despite persistent differences in observed retail demand, leaving spread-2 runs with poorly allocated inventory. Copy the base's existing spread-3 clipped-fill-corrected flow estimator to spread 2 and use its bounded 0.5-to-2 multiplier only for the one-cent stock target; no parameter search. Preserve every other spread. Spread-2-only arithmetic shortcuts reuse Gaussian filter pairs, compute jump-loss sums in one pass, and skip quantiles conservatively proven to hit the existing quantity cap; eight paired tuning runs matched complete results after these shortcuts. Discovery uses the first 100 spread-2 seeds in 8000-15999; independent validation uses the next 300. All 1967 tuning seeds and 1987 unseen seeds were enumerated with sample_config; these 400 tuning seeds were used for the selected mechanism and the frozen file was rescored on all 400. Candidate frozen at 2026-11-06T08:15:26.414329+00:00 before reading unseen scores. Final batch scoring uses PyPy 3.12.15 with CPython 3.12 compensated summation and cached strategy factories; completed CPython 3.12.3 unseen runs are retained (520 base runs and 440 candidate runs), with the remaining unseen scores computed under PyPy. Across 100 matched runs scores, trades and all inventory/cash/outcome fields were exact; starting probability can differ by a last floating-point bit. A local heap index changes only order selection cost and was checked against original selections at every query on 12 paired full runs with identical results. Runtime timing uses CPython 3.12.3 and the unmodified original market implementation. The scorer check runs 4000 simulations with seed-start 4000 and workers 4. Scorer uses simulator commit b244530ee2a6247b5f930830eeca9dd950da0e7e, standard default config, 2000 steps, public SimulationEngine and sample_config, no sandbox. Unseen comparisons are paired across all 1987 spread-2 seeds in 60000-67999. Other-spread comparisons use the first 300 seeds of each other spread from 60000. All 900 other-spread runs are scored independently for base and candidate and every SimulationResult field is identical. Timing uses the first 200 unseen spread-2 seeds in one process, alternating strategy order after one untimed warmup each; factory loading and config sampling excluded. Arb edge is signed. All scores are local measurements, not a Paradigm submission.", "blocked": null, "python_version": "3.12.15", "spread": 2, "base_mean_edge": 98.46945966196385, "runs": {"tuning": 400, "unseen": 1987}, "base_unseen": {"mean_edge": 75.37891657984143, "retail_edge": 102.41461084786003, "arb_edge": -27.0356942680308}, "holdout": {"mean_edge": 75.9864306892133, "retail_edge": 102.70454059778223, "arb_edge": -26.718109908582484, "failures": 0}, "diff": {"mean": 0.6075141093718673, "standard_error": 0.18318063780805277, "retail": 0.28992974992219434, "arb": 0.317584359448314}, "others_identical": {"runs": 900, "identical": true}, "seconds": {"base": 515.3272661836818, "yours": 503.3806237941608}, "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.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 in (2, 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 in (2, 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            if self.s == 2:\n                pairs = tuple(zip(self.bc, self.bw))\n                exp = math.exp\n                for c in cs:\n                    t = uni\n                    for ci, wi in pairs:\n                        d = c - ci\n                        d2 = d * d * k\n                        if d2 > -12.5:\n                            t += wi * exp(d2)\n                    ws.append(t)\n            else:\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 self.s == 2:\n            def AB(x):\n                k = (x - phat) / s\n                a = s * lpm(k)\n                b = a - (x - phat)\n                ja = 0.0\n                jb = 0.0\n                for p, w in jp:\n                    if x > p:\n                        ja += w * (x - p)\n                    elif p > x:\n                        jb += w * (p - x)\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            # Conservative bounds where the original quantile already hits 3000.\n            if self.s == 2 and ((px <= 0.02 and tail <= 0.002) or (px <= 0.05 and tail <= 0.0002)):\n                return P['qmax']\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            stock_rate = P['ydf1']\n            if self.s in (2, 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 in (2, 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": "82e4a40ef2cc293a171761ed284f46758445a76e84f65e30df8c0c54783e36d0", "tried": ["Pause one-cent asks: 100 discovery runs, paired mean 0.0, SE 0.0, failures 0.", "Floor asks at two cents: 100 discovery runs, paired mean 0.0, SE 0.0, failures 0.", "Reduce under-one-cent stock horizon to 60 steps with 1000-share floor: 100 discovery runs, paired mean -0.09833531432999962, SE 0.14453210597385363, failures 0.", "Only post large one-cent stock bids below 1.5 cents: 100 discovery runs, paired mean -2.5026411174190013, SE 1.307644671979244, failures 0.", "Expose up to 6000 covered shares below one cent: 100 discovery runs, paired mean -3.3063078322040007, SE 3.4265091406704338, failures 0.", "Adapt tick-one stock plus continuous replenishment to observed flow: 100 discovery runs, paired mean 1.3113431994950002, SE 1.710131663441627, failures 0. Validation 300 runs: -0.08805054459366689, SE 0.36683248683941216.", "Spread-2 arithmetic shortcuts: 8 paired complete results matched the unoptimized flow strategy; CPU seconds {'base_original': 13.014941266000001, 'flow': 13.022284433000003, 'flow_fast': 12.768428762000005}.", "Observed-flow scaling of tick-one stock only, original spread-3 estimator constants copied without retuning: discovery 100 runs, mean 1.8586428619209976, SE 1.826667095843409; independent validation 300 runs, mean 0.24440183480233335, SE 0.34691902353006715. Frozen unseen gain 0.6075141093718673, SE 0.18318063780805277; 200-run seconds base 515.3272661836818, candidate 503.3806237941608; CPU seconds {'base': 298.1079720029997, 'yours': 289.545957908}; eligible True."], "next": "Test a demand-aware inventory bridge at 2-10 cents, with an independently validated target for stock bought on tick crossings; preserve the isolated spread gate. Do not tune on 60000-67999, which has now been evaluated."}