diff --git a/src/search.cpp b/src/search.cpp
index f0fa6f05132..28cbffd6d4c 100644
--- a/src/search.cpp
+++ b/src/search.cpp
@@ -472,7 +472,10 @@ void Thread::search() {
                   ++failedHighCnt;
               }
               else
+              {
+                  ++rootMoves[pvIdx].bestMoveCount;
                   break;
+              }
 
               delta += delta / 4 + 5;
 
@@ -1072,7 +1075,8 @@ namespace {
       // Step 16. Reduced depth search (LMR). If the move fails high it will be
       // re-searched at full depth.
       if (    depth >= 3 * ONE_PLY
-          &&  moveCount > 1 + 3 * rootNode
+          &&  moveCount > 1 + 2 * rootNode
+          && (!rootNode || thisThread->best_move_count(move) == 0)
           && (  !captureOrPromotion
               || moveCountPruning
               || ss->staticEval + PieceValue[EG][pos.captured_piece()] <= alpha
diff --git a/src/search.h b/src/search.h
index 24c58d3085e..c77ca3ad899 100644
--- a/src/search.h
+++ b/src/search.h
@@ -70,6 +70,7 @@ struct RootMove {
   Value previousScore = -VALUE_INFINITE;
   int selDepth = 0;
   int tbRank = 0;
+  int bestMoveCount = 0;
   Value tbScore;
   std::vector<Move> pv;
 };
diff --git a/src/thread.cpp b/src/thread.cpp
index e5043b6ea35..5165fd90ae9 100644
--- a/src/thread.cpp
+++ b/src/thread.cpp
@@ -52,6 +52,15 @@ Thread::~Thread() {
   stdThread.join();
 }
 
+/// Thread::bestMoveCount(Move move) return best move counter for the given root move
+
+int Thread::best_move_count(Move move) {
+
+  auto rm = std::find(rootMoves.begin() + pvIdx,
+                      rootMoves.begin() + pvLast, move);
+
+  return rm != rootMoves.begin() + pvLast ? rm->bestMoveCount : 0;
+}
 
 /// Thread::clear() reset histories, usually before a new game
 
diff --git a/src/thread.h b/src/thread.h
index c11d17873df..ed427b10c1e 100644
--- a/src/thread.h
+++ b/src/thread.h
@@ -56,6 +56,7 @@ class Thread {
   void idle_loop();
   void start_searching();
   void wait_for_search_finished();
+  int best_move_count(Move move);
 
   Pawns::Table pawnsTable;
   Material::Table materialTable;