Re: computer-go: Insight of a human continued

["Mark Boon" <tesuji@xxxxxxxxx>]

----- Original Message -----
From: Christian Nentwich <c.nentwich@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <computer-go@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Friday, September 01, 2000 3:20 PM
Subject: computer-go: Insight of a human continued


>
> My question is then:
>   - Does anyone have a cutoff mechanism for reading which detects a
> "natural
>     point for tenuki" instead of reaching a tree-depth cutoff ? (I'm
>     not talking about 5-liberties-is-safe either)

Yes, Goliath does it. It first uses a set of rules and patterns to see if a
situation needs continuation. Next it keeps a value of what it estimates as
the current value of a move. If the change in score of a move is well below
this value, it will allow that side to move again to see what damage it
threatens to do. If the damage is high, the other side is forced to come up
with an answer. Otherwise the branch terminates.

>   - Does anyone have any ideas about how to judge a thickness/territory
>     tradeoff using an algorithm ?
>

I think this problem is solvable. It just needs some serious work. See a
message I posted here earlier about inside influence and outside influence.

    Mark