diff --git a/src/search.cpp b/src/search.cpp
index b947fc5f3e8..3ce74126aa7 100644
--- a/src/search.cpp
+++ b/src/search.cpp
@@ -372,8 +372,8 @@ void Thread::search() {
             beta      = std::min(avg + delta, VALUE_INFINITE);
 
             // Adjust optimism based on root move's averageScore (~4 Elo)
-            optimism[us]  = 103 * (avg + 33) / (std::abs(avg + 34) + 119);
-            optimism[~us] = -116 * (avg + 40) / (std::abs(avg + 12) + 123);
+            optimism[us]  = 103 * avg / (std::abs(avg) + 119);
+            optimism[~us] = -116 * avg / (std::abs(avg) + 123);
 
             // Start with a small aspiration window and, in the case of a fail
             // high/low, re-search with a bigger window until we don't fail