computer-go: when will program beat a pro?

[Ray Tayek <rtayek@xxxxxxxxxx>]

hi, have been enjoying many of the "when will" discussions as well as the 
descriptions of some of the innards of the program's logic.

i am real skeptical of a program beating any pro anytime soon. despite 
david fotland's credentials and optimism, i suspect that progress will 
grind to a halt as the programs get near amateur dan levels.

towards that end, i have been playing manyfaces 10.0 with a 9 stone 
handicap. i am an amatueur 1-dan and find that i can usually beat mf when 
giving it 9stones. (btw, this usually happens without any important ko fights).

as you would expect, the strategy that works is to make things as 
complicated as possible and to leave things unresolved as long as possible. 
start large scale fights and go for thickness in the center.

this is sort of what the pro does when she gives me 9 stones ( i just can't 
do it to the program anywhere near as well)

i would like to try this with a stronger program, as this version of mf is 
1997 and i believe that the newer programs are a few stones stronger.

what is the strongest program that i can buy, download or play on line?

thanks

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