# Results have a similar score, but the number of fields matched varies **URL:** \ **Category:** Elasticsearch\ **Created:** [March 11, 2019, 5:08pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/results-have-a-similar-score-but-the-number-of-fields-matched-varies/171815 "2019-03-11T17:08:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![RMNYC](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/rmnyc/32/41785_2.png) [@RMNYC](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/RMNYC)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2019, 5:08pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/results-have-a-similar-score-but-the-number-of-fields-matched-varies/171815/1 "2019-03-11T17:08:02Z")
To simplify: ```auto PUT /test/vendors/1 { "type": "doctor", "name": "Ron", "place": "Boston" } PUT /test/vendors/2 { "type": "doctor", "name": "Tom", "place": "Boston" } PUT /test/vendors/3 { "type": "doctor", "name": "Jack", "place": "San Fran" } ``` then I search... ```auto GET /test/_search { "query": { "multi_match" : { "query": "doctor in Boston", "fields": ["type", "place"] } } } ``` To simplify: ```auto PUT /test/vendors/1 { "type": "doctor", "name": "Ron", "place": "Boston" } PUT /test/vendors/2 { "type": "doctor", "name": "Tom", "place": "Boston" } PUT /test/vendors/3 { "type": "doctor", "name": "Jack", "place": "San Fran" } ``` Then search: ```auto GET /test/_search { "query": { "multi_match" : { "query": "doctor in Boston", "fields": ["type", "place"] } } } ``` I understand why I get `Jack` who works in San Fran -- it's because he's a `doctor` too. However, I can't figure out why the match score is the SAME for him. The other two were matched with the `place` too, weren't they? why aren't `Ron` and `Tom` scored higher? ```auto { "took": 11, "timed_out": false, "_shards": { "total": 5, "successful": 5, "skipped": 0, "failed": 0 }, "hits": { "total": 3, "max_score": 0.9245277, "hits": [ { "_index": "test", "_type": "vendors", "_id": "2", "_score": 0.9245277, "_source": { "type": "doctor", "name": "Tom", "place": "Boston" } }, { "_index": "test", "_type": "vendors", "_id": "1", "_score": 0.9245277, "_source": { "type": "doctor", "name": "Ron", "place": "Boston" } }, { "_index": "test", "_type": "vendors", "_id": "3", "_score": 0.9245277, "_source": { "type": "doctor", "name": "Jack", "place": "San Fran" } } ] } } ``` Is there a way to force it to score less when less search keywords are found? Also, If I'n going to wrong way about this kind of search and there's a better pattern/way to do it -- I'd appreciate to be pointed in the right direction. ---
**Author:** ![abdon](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/abdon/32/9195_2.png) [@abdon](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/abdon)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2019, 6:47pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/results-have-a-similar-score-but-the-number-of-fields-matched-varies/171815/2 "2019-03-11T18:47:00Z")
There are a few things going on here. One of those things is that you're going with the default of 5 shards. With a small dataset like this (3 documents), this will distort the scoring. Scoring is done at the shard-level, and having 3 documents distributed over 5 shards will cause scoring to be inconsistent from one shard to another. I would recommend creating the index with only one shard before indexing the documents: ```auto PUT test { "settings": { "number_of_shards": 1 } } ``` This will already partially solve the issue, as the two doctors from Boston will now rank highest. There is another thing going on though. The default score calculation mechanism of a multi\_match query is of the so called "[best\_fields](https://www.elastic.co/guide/en/elasticsearch/reference/current/query-dsl-multi-match-query.html#type-best-fields)" type. That means Elasticsearch will calculate a score for each of the individual fields "type" and "place", and whichever score is the highest will be the overall score of a document. You can see how the score is calculated by adding `"explain": true` to a search request: ```auto GET /test/_search { "explain": true, "query": { "multi_match" : { "query": "doctor in Boston", "fields": ["type", "place"] } } } ``` Now, you'll be able to see the detailed breakdown of each document's score. You can change the way the score is calculated from "best\_fields" into "[most\_fields](https://www.elastic.co/guide/en/elasticsearch/reference/current/query-dsl-multi-match-query.html#type-most-fields)". Now, the more fields match your query, the higher the score is going to be (Elasticsearch will sum all of the individual scores of each of the fields). ```auto GET /test/_search { "query": { "multi_match" : { "query": "doctor in Boston", "fields": ["type", "place"], "type": "most_fields" } } } ``` This is probably what you will want to do. ---
**Author:** ![RMNYC](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/rmnyc/32/41785_2.png) [@RMNYC](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/RMNYC)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2019, 6:59pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/results-have-a-similar-score-but-the-number-of-fields-matched-varies/171815/3 "2019-03-11T18:59:25Z")
"best\_fields" did the job. I appreciate you taking the time to explain about this option and the shards. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/original/3X/1/a/1ac57faf039f6b580b3f104ef42a2a89e41014de.png) [@system](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/system)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2019, 7:04pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/results-have-a-similar-score-but-the-number-of-fields-matched-varies/171815/4 "2019-04-08T19:04:40Z")
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