[computer-go] GTP and handicap

[Rémi Coulom]

Gunnar Farnebäck wrote:
> Mark wrote:
>   
>> But it left me wondering what is the use of all the different  
>> handicap commands. GTP is designed to accept moves of the same color  
>> in a row so whoever implements it must be able to cope with it too.  
>> The 'place_free_handicap' command can be done through sending  
>> subsequent 'genmove black' commands. It would clean up the protocol  
>> and you no longer need the rather long explanation about handicap  
>> placement either.
>>     
>
> Except for the conceptual difference between making moves and placing
> handicap stones there is a practical difference between knowing how
> many handicap stones to place and not knowing. For example an engine
> might prefer placing three handicap stones all on one side (e.g.
> san-ren-sei) but four handicap stones in all four corners.
>
> /Gunnar
>   

An even more fundamental difference between normal moves and handicap 
moves is that, under Chinese rules, handicap stones don't count as points.

By the way, GTP needs a way to specify the rules of the game.

Rémi