Re: computer-go: RE: beat 9d before 2010 - no, size does matter

[Ray Tayek <rtayek@xxxxxxxxxx>]

At 06:00 PM 11/11/99 -0500, you wrote:
> ...
> > >I think it's impossible for a computer to beat a pro 9d
> ...
...
> Without a technology breakthrough (in computer), is difficult to say a
> computer can beat a pro in 10 years. ...
its actually real easy to say (the answer is no, even with *many* major 
technology breakthroughs).

a little arithmetic will make it clear.

361!  (approximate number of games=1.4*10^768)
3^361 (approximate number of board states=1.7*10^172).

the first of these is a *real* big number. there are probably more go games 
than there are atoms in the universe.

you can solve the endgame and you might make a book for the fuseki, but the 
middle game is way too complicated.

i doubt if a machine will beat any pro, let alone a 9-dan (have you ever 
played a 9-dan?) in 20 years, let alone 10.


Ray (will hack java for food) http://home.pacbell.net/rtayek/
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