Re: [computer-go] citation

[Heikki Levanto <heikki@xxxxxx>]

On Tue, Jul 13, 2004 at 08:54:56PM -0700, Harry W wrote:
> Here's a very good explanation on what a ladder is:
> http://senseis.xmp.net/?Ladders

That is a good *explanation* of a ladder, but I didn't see any
*definition* there.

As Kageyama says in "Lessons in the Fundamentals of Go":
> when the ladder becomes slightly difficult like this, there is a
> widespread tendency to give up, and wonder if there is not something
> like a triangle theorem, some mechanism one can apply and get the
> answer immediately. If you want to create such a thing it is not much
> trouble to do so, but having it will only prove destructive to your
> game. Ladders should be the school that teaches you to read patiently,
> move by move - black, white, black, white, black white - which is the
> only way

I believe the same applies to computer programs. Ladders are the most
trivial reading problems (usually), and not getting them right is a sure
sign of problems to come. 

The Tromp definition that Don Dailey quoted provides for all cases of
ladders, also those where the ladder runs into various combinations of
other stones that cause it to change direction, split in two altenrative
paths, or do other mysterious things.


Best regards

  Heikki



-- 
Heikki Levanto   "In Murphy We Turst"     heikki (at) lsd (dot) dk

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