  We investigate the accuracy of trial wave function for quantum Monte Carlo
based on pfaffian functional form with singlet and triplet pairing. Using a set
of first row atoms and molecules we find that these wave functions provide very
consistent and systematic behavior in recovering the correlation energies on
the level of 95%. In order to get beyond this limit we explore the
possibilities of multi-pfaffian pairing wave functions. We show that a small
number of pfaffians recovers another large fraction of the missing correlation
energy comparable to the larger-scale configuration interaction wave functions.
We also find that pfaffians lead to substantial improvements in fermion nodes
when compared to Hartree-Fock wave functions.
