Re: Go program strength

[Compgo123@xxxxxxx]

I didn't mean to slander. I think Tim didn't mean the word 'slander'
seriously.  I'll tell the truth. There is some negative sense in my last post.
However, that negative is not toward a author adjusting strategy before a
game. I don't see anything unethical in it at all. I was trying to say that
the statement that Handtalk is one stone stronger in tournament than in
commercial version is largely unsubstantiated.

Let's go back to the subject of adjust strategy to different components. I'll
quote a commentary by a Japanese 9 dan here about a Takemiya game. We know
when he play black, he always starts with sanrensei. "Takemiya definitely
studies different opponents' games and finds effective counter measures to the
different styles of his opponents.  This is an undispensible part of a
professional Go player's daily life. Otherwise, he is not likely to be able to
stay in the professional Go circle." Another quote is from Japanese 9 dan Kato
Maso. "If your opponent has strong fighting ability, you should avoid direct
fight. On the other hand if your opponent is relative weak in fighting, you
should make invasion to start fight without hesitation. Only when you know
your opponent, can you make an effective game strategy."

Is there an absolute best way to play a Go game no matter what your opponent's
style? The history seems is against this statement. In modern Go histry, it's
very rare that an player can dominate absolutely and for a long time. (One
exception probably is Japanese 9 dan Sakata. In 1968 he had 28 wins and only 2
loses in major tournaments.) How can we explain this? Why can't a dominate
player stay for long? Because of his physical condition? Could he forget how
to play in the winning way? Or is it because other players began to adapt to
his way of play? If other players can adapt to his way of play, then his way
of play is not the best way of play. All this tends to suggest that a Go match
is also a match of strategy.

Dan Liu