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

[Chrilly]

> It seems that pro have very high self esteem. ;-)
>
> Until be create a pro-beating-go-engine :-D
>
>
>> Otake Hideo once said he'd bet his life with 4
>> stones against God. He
>> also added he wasn't so sure he'd win but that he
>> had his

This self-esteem is necessary for becoming a top-player (in any kind of 
competition). If playing strength is about equal, the one with the higher 
self esteems wins. This was the big pro of Kasparov and it was also his big 
problem with computers. The computers were not impressed by his self esteem 
and he was in fact very insecure against them.  He could not evaluate their 
weaknesses and strengths.
E.g. in the second game of the 2nd match Deep Blue offered him the chance 
for draw by 3-fold repetition (Obviously a bug in the Deep Blue repetition 
detector). But Kasparov resigned instead. He thaught, it can't be a 3-fold 
repetition, because otherwise the machine would not have played the last 
move.
Under the current top players Topalov is maybe from the chess-technique not 
better than the other ones. But he has no fear from loosing. But he also 
does not think that he is a God or something like this. Having no fear from 
loosing is also a usefull form of self esteem.

M.Tal played in his best days a lot of unsound sacrificies. He believed that 
the opponent will not find the correct refutation. Capablanca thought of 
himself as unbeatable and announced the draw-dead of chess. Morphy played 
against Paulsen a famous queen sacrifice which is even nowadays complicated 
for computers. He could not see the full consequences, but he was sure that 
he has created for Paulsen more troubles than for himself. A player without 
self-esteem would not have played the queen-sacrifice. ....

Such quotes are therefore only a hint that this self-esteem is usefull for 
getting a top player. Like always an overdosis is not healthy.

Chrilly