RE: computer-go: Ratings, God and everything.

["jliu" <jliu@xxxxxxxxxx>]

I think the Go rating is not additive.  I mean A can give B 3 stone (to
reach 50/50 chance), B can give C 2 stone does not add-up to A can give C 5
stone.  In fact I think 2+3<5.  Maybe God can only take 4 stones from 9p
pros, but that should not be translated into God has a ranking of 13p.

I think when closer to God (I mean perfect play), the non-linearity is very
strong.  Let's say people can see one-step further is 3 stones stronger,
God's (again, I mean perfect player) ranking is 3 times number of more steps
God can see as compared to 9p pro.  A Go game has about 230 moves.  So,
God's ranking is 3 x (230-30?) = 600p.

Anybody has serious objection to this (stepwise) estimate?

James

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-computer-go@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:owner-computer-go@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]On Behalf Of
birk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Tuesday, September 26, 2000 11:57 AM
To: computer-go@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: computer-go: Ratings, God and everything.


> I've talked to professionals who estimated the difference between a top
> player and perfect play is somewhere between 3 and 4 stones. Otake (9-dan)
> once said that if his life depended on it to win, he would surely need 4
> stones. But he admitted he might actually need 5 stones, but it would be
> against his pride as a professional to take 5 stones and he would rather
> die. Fact is of course that nobody knows, and that's the same for Chess.

There's an important point here: 4-5 stones to win (for life!).
But how many stones for an even game?

Christoph