Re: Is handtalk the strongest program?

[David Fotland <fotland@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

The commercial version of Handtalk is slightly stronger than
other commercial programs.  The diploma was awarded to the
tournament version, which is not the same as what you bought.

Handtalk plays a steady, solid game, but is weak at life and death,
so if you fight it, you can beat it.  If you don't fight, it has
a good chance to win.  The diploma was based on a game against 
someone who was a little intimidated by the computer, so she didn't
fight much.

Also, Japanese 4 kyu is probably more like German 7 kyu or weaker.

Many Faces is around 10 kyu (in my opinion), but it beat Handtalk
in last November's world championship.  I think Many Faces as shipped
is within a stone of Handtalk's strength.  

Computer strength is not directly comparable to human strength, since
the computers have so many weaknesses.  They play very inconsistently
compared with people.  That's why I include so much more than just 
an opponent in The Many Faces of Go.  I don't want people to be
disappointed.

David Fotland


At 03:40 PM 1/29/99 +0100, Måns Ullerstam wrote:
>Is handtalk the strongest program?
>What does it mean by awarded 3 or 4 kyu diploma by the Nihon Ki-in of Japan?
>I bought it a couple of weeks ago and I'm about 10 kyu. I thought it would
>be nice to have an always willing stronger opponent to play.
>The first time I played against it I gave myself 5 stones and crushed it.
>The next time I let Handtalk start the game as black and I crushed it.
>As I see it it was 60 bucks down the drain and false marketing. Did I do
>something wrong? Is there a special setting for it's strength (besides
>Degree)?
>
>Thanks for an answer (by Chen Zhixing maybe), Mans Ullerstam
>
>