diff --git a/src/misc.h b/src/misc.h
index d69f7ef38..4ea7d99ac 100644
--- a/src/misc.h
+++ b/src/misc.h
@@ -373,6 +373,12 @@ inline uint64_t mul_hi64(uint64_t a, uint64_t b) {
 #endif
 }
 
+template<typename T1, typename T2>
+inline constexpr T2 interpolate(T1 x, T1 x0, T1 x1, T2 y0, T2 y1) {
+    assert(x0 != x1);
+    return T2(y0 + (y1 - y0) * (x - x0) / (x1 - x0));
+}
+
 uint64_t hash_bytes(const char*, size_t);
 
 template<typename T>
diff --git a/src/search.cpp b/src/search.cpp
index 0214bf4d2..82f6c6750 100644
--- a/src/search.cpp
+++ b/src/search.cpp
@@ -511,7 +511,9 @@ bool Search::Worker::iterative_deepening() {
 
             double bestMoveInstability = 1.088 + 2.315 * totBestMoveChanges / threads.size();
 
-            double highBestMoveEffort = nodesEffort > 86000 ? 0.74 : 0.96;
+            double highBestMoveEffort = std::clamp(
+              interpolate(int64_t(nodesEffort), int64_t(78000), int64_t(94000), 0.96, 0.74), 0.74,
+              0.96);
 
             double totalTime = mainThread->tm.optimum() * fallingEval * reduction
                              * bestMoveInstability * highBestMoveEffort;