[computer-go] Re: Should 9x9 komi be 8.0 ?]

[Hideki Kato]

Thanks Heikki, this is what I'm trying to write in English right 
now :).

-Hideki

Heikki Levanto: <20080304065406.GP15321 at lsd.dk>:
>On Mon, Mar 03, 2008 at 12:15:36PM -0800, Christoph Birk wrote:
>>
>> On Mon, 3 Mar 2008, Don Dailey wrote:
>> >What you are trying to do is more in the category of opponent
>> >modeling.    You want to optimize for the case that you might
>> >occasionally salvage a game against an opponent that is much weaker than
>> >you but is beating you anyway.
>> 
>> No, absolutely not. The idea of following the 0.5 pt loss is always
>> true, even if the opponent is of comparable strength.
>
>I agree with this, 100%
>
>> >strength level.  If your program KNOWS it is losing by 0.5 points,  then
>> >it's reasonable to expect that your opponent does too, especially given
>> >the fact that he just outplayed you.
>> 
>> I think you are too much of "chess player" :-)
>> The fact that he is 0.5  point in the lead does not imply he is
>> (much) stronger. Any player, in particular a human player, is capable
>> of the making a mistake. So it is important to stay on the 'small'
>> losing line. That might a difference to chess, where there is no
>> 'small' loss.
>
>Even the top professionals make the occasional small mistake in the end game.
>I expect our programs will be playing (much) lesser opponents for the
>foreseeable future, and thus have a good hope of seeing slightly suboptimal
>play in the end game.
>
>> >So at best you hope your opponent will make a stupid mistake in an
>> >obviously lost position for you.
>> 
>> No, the opposite. Not a stupid mistake; I am hoping for the subtle
>> mistake. But you throw that opportunity away If you play "desparate"
>> moves just because you think you will lose the game by 0.5 points.
>
>Indeed! And there still is a (non-zero) risk that the program is estimating
>wrong, and actually has a small lead. Playing tight will preserve that, with
>a chance of improving it a bit, whereas playing "desperate" moves will throw
>it all away.
>
>
>Of course, if a program knows it is going to loose, it might as well
>resign.
>
>-H
--
gg at nue.ci.i.u-tokyo.ac.jp (Kato)