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Re: computer-go: Most simple Go rules



At 04:07 AM 27/06/01, David Fotland wrote:

> But regular Chinese
> scoring has the problem that it takes longer to count than Japanese, and
> counting destroys
> the position.


When you speak of taking time or destroying positions, then
you mean counting procedures but not scoring definitions.
I think I said "Counting takes longer", not scoring takes longer, above :)
I think that Chinese counting might take you longer than Japanese because you have practice at one and not the other. Chinese people say the reverse. To me they seem to take about the same time and BOTH destroy the position. Anyway this is not a problem with computers.

It is the choice of Chinese scoring that solves the problem
since once this choice is made removing dead stones is a
strategic consequence.
Even if you choose Chinese scoring, the game usually ends with two passes with dead stones still on the board
in human-human games.

This is true. The difference is that using Japanese rules you cannot continue past that point without changing the score. In Chinese rules the agreement position is purely a shortcut. There is nothing lost by continuing until there are no dead stones left on (and computers don't get bored by it).

The issue of suicide or no suicide is so minor that making
a big fuss about it is a political attempt to divert from
major rules issues.
Sorry, not political, real. If I start by implementing Japanese rules, I will make
suicide illegal. I'll do Japanese rules first, since most people play that way. Once
I make suicide illegal, it is a change and an option to allow it. But I agree that it
is a minor issue. The various ko rules are a more difficult issue.
I can't understand why you need to prevent other people from playing suicide moves to sell your program. I find it very frustrating to be restricted unnecessarily. It is enough that your program doesn't play suicide moves to sell your program in Japan. Also with superko. You don't need to stop your opponent from playing it, it is enough that your program recognises it and plays accordingly. Even in Japan this would be desirable. This means that you won't annoy the beginners by playing in infinite loops.

No program is strong enough to make intelligent use of suicide moves, or to play triple kos correctly. When that is no longer true then the issue may be a problem. At the moment it seems that some programs are making unreasonable restrictions on the choices their opponents make. (Don't get me started on the handicap stones).

Barry Phease

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http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/~barryp