[computer-go] 2007 Cotsen Open wants your program to enter

[David Doshay]

This is speaking as a participant over the past 2 years who has  
brought my program, SlugGo.

Programs are treated much like any other participant in their rank,  
except that AGA rules do not "count" games against computers, so  
before the parings are selected, people have been allowed to decline  
to be paired against a program. In the past the people who have  
declined fell into 2 classes: 1) people who lived in remote areas and  
do not get much person-to-person playing, and 2) parents who did not  
want their children playing against the computer.

Because SlugGo runs on a cluster, I have always brought my hardware.  
I had to build a traveling cluster just for this event, although  
obviously I can use it back at home just like any other cluster. 2  
years ago Anders brought his SmartGo and ran it on his laptop. That  
year he and I met the day before the tournament and played 2 games  
between our programs, so we asked the TD not to pair us against each  
other and that is what happened.

I have been allowed to eat the buffet, which has a wide variety of  
choices.

I would say that there is one event and 2 brackets more than 2  
events. Because none of the programs can claim 6 dan or better, I  
don't see a problem.

The mechanics of play in this tournament is that there is a real  
board and the program must have an operator that transfers moves from  
board to screen and screen to board, all with a clock running. Thus,  
the program has a slight time disadvantage.

The event has been great fun for me each year, and as the only human  
tournament I am aware of that welcomes self-ranked programs, I do my  
best to support it each year by being there.

There has been a cash prize each year for the best program. It was  
$250 the past 2 years, but I do not know what the plans are this year.

Cheers,
David



On 13, Sep 2007, at 9:17 AM, Nick Wedd wrote:

> In message  
> <20070913105223.QJDX15495.mta10.adelphia.net at amd64.ca.rr.com>, Ray  
> Tayek <rtayek at ca.rr.com> writes
>> details are here: http://web.mac.com/thelec/iWeb/Go/Index.html.
>>
>> please make a note that you are entering a program on your entry  
>> form and also send me a note.
>
> Are platforms provided, or do entrants have to bring their own?
>
> Do programs that pre-register qualify for the free buffet?
>
> (And this list is the wrong place to mention it, but I am unsure  
> how many parallel events are being held.  The sentence "The Cotsen  
> Open, 6 Dan and up, Cotsen Handicap Tournament, open to all ranks,  
> except as noted to the left" is unclear.  My best guess is that  
> there are two events, with the "Open" one being very far from open.)
>
> Nick
> -- 
> Nick Wedd    nick at maproom.co.uk
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