[computer-go] Anchor Player

[Rémi Coulom]

Don Dailey wrote:
> Hi Steve,
>
> What you fail to take into considerations is that a monte/carlo
> player may ruin it's chances before the weaker player has a 
> chance to play a bad move.  The monte carlo player sees all
> moves as losing and will play almost randomly.
I don't agree.  Here is the winning percentage I get with Crazy Stone at 
various handicaps, with a komi of 0.5, over 10000 random simulations:

9 Stones: 0.74
8 Stones: 0.73
7 Stones: 0.69
6 Stones: 0.67
5 Stones: 0.63
4 Stones: 0.61
3 Stones: 0.57
2 Stones: 0.54

My program still plays reasonable moves at these winning rates.

I tend to believe MC programs would handle handicap better than pure 
territory-based programs, because they know how to play safe when they 
are ahead, and risky when behind.

If my program is much stronger than its opponent, then it will not play 
blunders that the opponent can easily take advantage of, whatever the 
handicap.

This being said, I don't believe my program can give handicap to any 
other on 19x19 ;-)

Rémi