Re: computer-go: GoeMate is now 1st in 13x13-CGoT

["Michael Reiss" <mick@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

> Please have a look at the games and tell me your opinion:
> Does a tournament like this show the real playing strength of the 
> programs or is there still too much of luck and chance? 

Playing more games certainly reduces the element of luck. If you look 
at how many different winners there have been in recent computer go
tournaments in the past couple of years you could either conclude
that there are five or six programs incredibly close in strength
or that the contests have too few games to really find the strongest.
I personally would conclude the latter.

> Is it possible that medium-board-games on 13x13 may give us already
> a good rating list or would a 19x19-result look very different?

It could look very different, mainly because of the way programs 
handle joseki. Many 19x19 josekis will be too big for 13x13 boards
so how will programs cope with this? I guess many will just abandon
their joseki systems altogether putting them at a great disadvantage.
Some may have automated systems for attempting to use only the 
josekis that fit. Another thing to consider is that, because 13x13 
is not a popular boardsize, many programmers won't have tested 
their 13x13 opening systems very carefully.

Mick.