Re: computer-go: Most simple Go rules

[Don Dailey <drd@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

   > Zobrist is a "superfast" method of incrementally updating the hash key
   > for the position.  It's not really  a different hashing method, just a
   > way of computing a key.  It's based on a  table of random numbers that
   > you create offline.  It's strengths are many, it's not only very fast,
   > but it  also gives you high  quality keys (like excellent distribution
   > properties.)
   >

   Ah, Zobrist seems to have a knack of having his name attached to ideas that
   come very naturally to many people. I'm sure the same method of hashing is
   also used in many  Chess and Draughts programs, do they call it Zobrist
   hashing too?

This is one of those very simple ideas that seem intuitive and natural 
once someone else has already figured it out and published it.  

Many of Donald Knuth's ideas are like this,  but there is great genius
in coming up with simple ideas that others have never thought of.

I know that Bobby Fischers chess games have often been described as so
natural and logical that you feel you  could have played the very same
moves.  And yet not very people were able to manage it.

Don