[computer-go] New engine? From a Chess programmer perspective.

[David Fotland]

You can't add a fixed ELO offset per stone because games between stronger
players have much lower variance in score.  A handicap stone is
approximately a score offset (about 7.5 points for the first handicap stone,
and about 15 points for each additional stone).

ELO measures probability of winning.  A 2 stone handicap game between equal
high dan players has a very high probability of black winning, so there must
be a large ELO offset.  A 2 stone game between low kyu players gives black a
small increment in winning probability, so the ELO offset must be small.

David

> I think the two systems can be married by adding a fixed offset per stone
> handicap to your ELO.
> 
> - Don