H. G. Muller wrote on Tue, Sep 20, 2016 05:34 PM UTC:
The method is not very sensitive for the level of play (Elo of the engine,or thinking time per move). Sure, a stonger player has a higher success rate in converting a material advantage into a win. But that is not only true for the advantage of a Pawn, but also for other material advantages, such as the exchange or having two Griffins instead of two Aancas. When you devide them through each other to convert the advantage back to Pawn units, this cancels out. Provided you stay in the range where scores are still linear, and do not saturate (say 25%-75%). Pawn-odds in 8x8 Chess at the level of Fairy-Max 40 moves/2 min gives about 68%, so well within the range. But you can always measure material imbalances that are matches to better than half a Pawn.
The method is not very sensitive for the level of play (Elo of the engine,or thinking time per move). Sure, a stonger player has a higher success rate in converting a material advantage into a win. But that is not only true for the advantage of a Pawn, but also for other material advantages, such as the exchange or having two Griffins instead of two Aancas. When you devide them through each other to convert the advantage back to Pawn units, this cancels out. Provided you stay in the range where scores are still linear, and do not saturate (say 25%-75%). Pawn-odds in 8x8 Chess at the level of Fairy-Max 40 moves/2 min gives about 68%, so well within the range. But you can always measure material imbalances that are matches to better than half a Pawn.