[computer-go] MoGo

[Don Dailey]

Of course my comment was tongue in cheek,  but I agree with you.  UCT 
programs are not as good at tactics as they are in understanding the
game as a whole.   

I'm really not a good player, not qualified to speak about this, but
I have an impression about how they manage to beat program that are
tactically better and I would like to get your impression as well 
as others:  

Simply put, UCT seeks a pathway that keeps it out of trouble.   
They don't have to fully understand all tactics to have enough 
sense to simply go a different way.   But they are still good 
enough that they won't turn down a good fight if the position 
calls for it.   

They play go the way I used to win in "dodge ball" when I was
a kid.   I was not the most athletic, but I just stayed alert
and avoided the battle until almost everyone had knocked 
each other out.   Usually who was left was a few geeks like
myself and it was easy to take them out (because they were geeks!)

I don't think I was actually smarter than anyone else,  I just
though it was more fun to see if I could win.   To them,  
running TOWARD the ball was the way to go because that's where
all the fun was!   

That's how I think UCT program play - the same strategy - avoid
the fights you might not win.   Apparently they have added the
strategy to also annoy the opponent by making him think
it's still close! :-)

- Don
  

On Thu, 2007-04-05 at 11:07 -0700, David Fotland wrote:
> Every go book says that to get better you need to see the big picture :)
> The big difference between low kyu and high dan players is seeing the big
> picture.  Low kyu players are already pretty good at local tactics.  If you
> read commentaries you will see a lot of waords about "direction of play",
> which is a big picture concept, and not so much about tactics.
> 
> I agree with you that a big strength of UCT is its ability to see the big
> picture.  Older go programs were stronger at local tactics than sam-strength
> people, and weaker at big picture.  UCT seems to be stronger at big picture
> and weaker at tactics. 
> 
> David
> 
> > 
> > Wouldn't that be a hoot?   To get better at GO you will be taught to
> > see the big picture - think more like a computer!    :-)
> > 
> > - Don
> > 
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> 
>