[computer-go] Congratulations to LeelaBot2 and to CzechBot

[Don Dailey]

Gian-Carlo Pascutto wrote:
> Don Dailey wrote:
>>
>>
>> Gian-Carlo Pascutto wrote:
>>>
>>> If it is indeed a KGS flaw I may add a workaround to Leela as simple 
>>> as doing time = time / 10 as soon as winrate >95% or so. There is 
>>> still a possibility of losing on time then but it should happen less.
>>>
>> That is almost the identical heuristic that Lazarus uses.     But in 
>> addition to this the  time is loaded up front - in other words early 
>> moves use a lot more time - but when win-rate is high it's divided by 
>> something not quite as severe as 1/10 since it gradually plays faster 
>> and faster based on the move number.    I think it's a very good 
>> algorithm.      Lazarus also would speed up when losing badly just 
>> out of good manners - unless resignation is turned on.
>
> I think I will add this and hope this resolves the problem.
>
> But I still categorically object to the stance that it's the bots or 
> the programmers fault that it forfeits on time. As log as lag is not 
> compensated there is no way to avoid time losses, even if the bot 
> always moves instantly. You can at best improve the odds of this not 
> happening.
>
Agreed.    CGOS tries to help by not counting the first 0.75 seconds as 
reckoned by the server, but I don't pretend this is fair in any way nor 
does it solve the problem.   I do it mainly to make it possible for a 
program to still complete a game even if it is virtually out of time 
even in the face of small network delays.    I think it's pretty common 
for programs to lose 1/10 of a second or more on each move due to 
various factors.

I don't object to a bot losing on time.   In fact, I don't even object 
to a bot taking extra time in lost positions.    I think it's more civil 
not to and I don't do that,   but that's a bot authors choice.   There 
is no real reason NOT to take extra time when losing - you can reason 
that since you are losing anyway,  it doesn't hurt to take extra time to 
possibly find a saving move.     Of course it is definitely annoying on 
CGOS to watch a program lose slowly and not resign or at least speed up 
but it's within the programs right to do this.

- Don