Re: computer-go: Move selection

[Heikki Levanto <heikki@xxxxxx>]

Jeff Massung <jmassung@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> Just curious on how good players go about their thought processes on this 
> subject:

> On a large board (say 13x13 or the 19x19), if there aren't any "obvious" 
> good moves to make (capture, etc.), how do you determine where you will 
> move?  


One of the beginner's mistakes is to keep playing 'obvious' moves.
Surprisingly many of them are not really necessary, and often it is better
to shift your focus elsewhere, grap a few points in sente (=in a way that
allows you to keep the initiative - if he don't respond, you can do some
real damage), and then take a large point for yourself. 

Typical example, in a high handicap game, your group has just died, and you
can actually see that you can not really save it. Instead of making one last
hopeless attempt, move to the opposite corner, and close it off (say 4-6 or
even 3-3)...

That aside, your question is where the real go playing starts. You would
have to consider at least
  - who is ahead in secure territory
  - who is ahead in influence/thickness
  - are there any weak groups (own/enemy)
  - who is about to build what where, and what should be done about it

Ideally you find a move that 
  - forces the enemy to respond in a predictable way
  - adds security to your own groups
  - increases your teritory or sphere of influence
  - decreases the security of one (or several!) enemy groups
  - decreases or limits the enemys territory and/or sphere of influence
  - threatens an attack

Of course you can not serve all these purposes in one move, but you should
aim at least to several of them. Also, not all of these effects have to be
glaringly obvious, just tipping the balance a little in your favour on a few
of these points is enough - if at least one purpose is well achieved.

This is just a 5-kyu amateur's simplified take on strategy. I'm sure the
advanced players here can point out the faults and shortcomings in it...

- Heikki

-- 
Heikki Levanto     LSD Levanto Software Development   heikki@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
               "In Murphy we Turst"