[computer-go] .. if Monte-Carlo programs would play infinite strong

[steve uurtamo]

> The key word is not "infinite", it's the word "if"

i can't believe i want to extend this conversation
any further, but i'll simply say that in mathematics
and computer science it is important to consider
abstract relationships between formally defined
objects without regard to whether or not they
do actually exist (numbers for instance, do not
exist apart from us talking about them).

computational complexity is an important example,
as is convergence in a limit.

the question as phrased earlier was simply whether
a finite deterministic game could be solved by a
particular algorithm, given enough time.  nothing
wrong with that question.

on a practical note, i think that MC is a great
idea for 9x9, and might even be a great idea as
a subset of a larger piece of code that employs
human knowledge, but that MC will never beat a
decent human at 19x19.  the time/space limitations
are just too great.

s.


 
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