diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 32afdca..8a12c26 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -283,7 +283,7 @@ Search for text patterns in files using ripgrep.
 - `file_types`: File types to search (e.g., ["go", "ts", "py"])
 - `ignore_case`: Case insensitive search
 - `regex`: Treat pattern as regex (default: true)
-- `context_lines`: Number of context lines around matches (default: 2)
+- `context_lines`: Number of context lines around matches (default: 0)
 - `max_results`: Maximum number of results to return
 
 ---
@@ -352,7 +352,7 @@ Search for AST patterns in code files using structural pattern matching.
 - `name_matches`: Regex pattern to filter by name
 - `name_exact`: Exact name to match
 - `kind_in`: Node types to match (e.g., function_declaration)
-- `max_results`: Maximum number of results (default: 100)
+- `max_results`: Maximum number of results (default: 50)
 
 **Examples**:
 ```json
diff --git a/docs/API.md b/docs/API.md
index 38561fb..2ffbd7b 100644
--- a/docs/API.md
+++ b/docs/API.md
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ Search for text patterns in files using ripgrep. Supports regex patterns, file t
 | `file_types` | `array[string]` | No | File types to search (e.g., ['go', 'ts', 'py']) |
 | `ignore_case` | `boolean` | No | Case insensitive search |
 | `regex` | `boolean` | No | Treat pattern as regex (default: true) |
-| `context_lines` | `number` | No | Number of context lines around matches (default: 2) |
+| `context_lines` | `number` | No | Number of context lines around matches (default: 0) |
 | `max_results` | `number` | No | Maximum number of results to return |
 
 **Examples:**
@@ -153,7 +153,7 @@ Search for AST patterns in code files. Use code patterns with $VAR placeholders
 | `name_matches` | `string` | No | Regex pattern to filter by name |
 | `name_exact` | `string` | No | Exact name to match |
 | `kind_in` | `array[string]` | No | Node types to match (e.g., function_declaration, class_declaration) |
-| `max_results` | `number` | No | Maximum number of results to return (default: 100) |
+| `max_results` | `number` | No | Maximum number of results to return (default: 50) |
 
 **Examples:**
 
diff --git a/internal/config/config.go b/internal/config/config.go
index 311a69b..cb35da9 100644
--- a/internal/config/config.go
+++ b/internal/config/config.go
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ const (
 	DefaultSearchTimeout              = 30 * time.Second
 	DefaultMaxFileSize                = 10 * 1024 * 1024 // 10 MB
 	DefaultMaxParseSize               = 10 * 1024 * 1024 // 10 MB
-	DefaultMaxSearchResults           = 1000
+	DefaultMaxSearchResults           = 50
 	DefaultMaxEditSize                = 100 * 1024 // 100 KB
 	DefaultResourceLinkThresholdBytes = 64 * 1024  // 64 KiB
 )
diff --git a/internal/query/query.go b/internal/query/query.go
index 20b4188..bc51897 100644
--- a/internal/query/query.go
+++ b/internal/query/query.go
@@ -509,11 +509,15 @@ func formatResults(results []MatchResult, maxResults int, format string, offset
 	case "compact":
 		for i := 0; i < renderCount; i++ {
 			r := results[i]
+			firstLine := firstLineOf(r.Text, 80)
+			if !verbose {
+				fmt.Fprintf(&sb, "%s:%d %s\n", r.File, r.Location.Line, firstLine)
+				continue
+			}
 			nodeType := "unknown"
 			if r.Node != nil {
 				nodeType = r.Node.Type()
 			}
-			firstLine := firstLineOf(r.Text, 80)
 			fmt.Fprintf(&sb, "%s:%d (%s) %s\n", r.File, r.Location.Line, nodeType, firstLine)
 		}
 
diff --git a/internal/server/handlers_ast.go b/internal/server/handlers_ast.go
index 52e37ec..236ab5b 100644
--- a/internal/server/handlers_ast.go
+++ b/internal/server/handlers_ast.go
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ func (s *Server) resolveASTQueryParams(request mcp.CallToolRequest) (*astQueryPa
 		prefsMaxResults = sp.DefaultMaxResults
 		prefsFormat = sp.ASTQueryFormat
 	}
-	p.maxResults = effectiveInt(request, "max_results", prefsMaxResults, 100)
+	p.maxResults = effectiveInt(request, "max_results", prefsMaxResults, 50)
 
 	p.format = request.GetString("format", "")
 	if p.format == "" {
diff --git a/internal/server/handlers_file.go b/internal/server/handlers_file.go
index cf3f2ea..1a4bf06 100644
--- a/internal/server/handlers_file.go
+++ b/internal/server/handlers_file.go
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ func (s *Server) handleFileSearch(ctx context.Context, request mcp.CallToolReque
 	fileTypes := request.GetStringSlice("file_types", nil)
 	ignoreCase := request.GetBool("ignore_case", false)
 	regex := request.GetBool("regex", true)
-	contextLines := request.GetInt("context_lines", 2)
+	contextLines := request.GetInt("context_lines", 0)
 
 	// Consult session prefs for max_results and cluster when not explicitly supplied.
 	prefs := s.sessionPrefs.Load()
diff --git a/internal/server/help_content.go b/internal/server/help_content.go
index 33ddc7c..f452c92 100644
--- a/internal/server/help_content.go
+++ b/internal/server/help_content.go
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ const helpFileSearch = "# file_search — flags and examples\n\n" +
 	"| `cluster=true` | Coalesce consecutive match lines into ranges (`L12-14│ text`). Drops context lines for density. |\n" +
 	"| `cursor` | Opaque pagination token from a previous truncated response — fetches next page. |\n" +
 	"| `max_results` | Page size for pagination. Re-run with `cursor` to get next page. |\n" +
-	"| `context_lines` | Number of context lines around matches (default: 2). |\n" +
+	"| `context_lines` | Number of context lines around matches (default: 0). |\n" +
 	"| `ignore_case` | Case-insensitive search. |\n" +
 	"| `regex` | Treat pattern as regex (default: true). |\n" +
 	"| `file_types` | Restrict to file extensions, e.g. `[\"go\", \"ts\"]`. |\n" +
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ const helpASTQuery = "# ast_query — flags and examples\n\n" +
 	"| `verbose=true` | Emit `Found N match(es):` preamble (v1 behaviour). Default: false. |\n" +
 	"| `format` | `compact` (default, one line per match) \\| `verbose` (full code+captures) \\| `location` (file:line only) |\n" +
 	"| `cursor` | Opaque pagination token from a previous truncated response — fetches next page. |\n" +
-	"| `max_results` | Page size (default: 100). |\n" +
+	"| `max_results` | Page size (default: 50). |\n" +
 	"| `name_exact` | Exact symbol name to match. |\n" +
 	"| `name_matches` | Regex pattern to filter by name. |\n" +
 	"| `kind_in` | Node types to match (e.g. `function_declaration`, `class_declaration`). |\n" +
diff --git a/internal/server/server.go b/internal/server/server.go
index dbbde9d..51897ec 100644
--- a/internal/server/server.go
+++ b/internal/server/server.go
@@ -136,7 +136,7 @@ func (s *Server) registerTools() {
 					mcp.Description("Treat pattern as regex (default: true)"),
 				),
 				mcp.WithNumber("context_lines",
-					mcp.Description("Number of context lines around matches (default: 2)"),
+					mcp.Description("Number of context lines around matches (default: 0)"),
 				),
 				mcp.WithNumber("max_results",
 					mcp.Description("Maximum number of results to return (page size for pagination)"),
@@ -252,7 +252,7 @@ func (s *Server) registerTools() {
 				mcp.WithStringItems(),
 			),
 			mcp.WithNumber("max_results",
-				mcp.Description("Maximum number of results to return (default: 100, page size for pagination)"),
+				mcp.Description("Maximum number of results to return (default: 50, page size for pagination)"),
 			),
 			mcp.WithString("format",
 				mcp.Description("Output format: \"compact\" (default, one line per match), \"verbose\" (full code+captures), \"location\" (file:line only)"),