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Re: [computer-go] how to have a computer go tournament?

At 02:27 PM 1/21/05, you wrote:

Quoting Ray Tayek:


hi, we have the cotsen open go tournament
If people don't know the Cotsen, it's one of the biggest US tournaments and a lot of fun.
yes, i especially like the messues'es that come around and give you a short massage while you are playing. does wonders!

...the idea of having
some kind of computer go tournament or maybe even having the programs
somehow play in the handicap section of the tournament
As other posters mentioned, you should be clear in distinguishing between three things:

1) a computer go tournament
2) entering computer go programs in a human tournament
3) having some kind of computer go event
yes, very clear distinction.
People on this list will be interested only in the first, really. It would be great to have a computer go tournament in North America (again) .... could be held in conjunction with a human tournament; that's been done ..., and works well. It makes sense- ...

This takes a reasonable amount of planning and execution, and money-....
these seem like normal problems. perhaps we can start out real small.


 The Intelligent Go Foundation would love to assist in such a plan, ...

gret!
As for 2), (computers in human tournaments) other posters have mentioned problems with this; in addition, there's the problem that no one really knows how strong the programs are or what rank to enter them as.
i am thinking that mf could be entered at 2 stones stronger than it's current igs rating or whatever sensei (mr. yang) would agree to.

A computer could enter as a 12-kyu and come in first in its division but what does that really mean?
maybe, for the first time, have this be an option for people whose opponents don't how up after a certain amount of time.

For the programmers, it's much more meaningful to win over other programs.
sure, perhaps for the first time, just having mf and smart go playing on a projector would probably be fine.

Also, in terms of prize money, few programmers would come .. small amount of human prize money. ...interested in possibility of winning a first prize for the strongest program, ...least a couple of thousand dollars
i understand. and will certainly ask about it. but as the top prize in the open $1k, and the club proze is $1k, it's probably a long shot the first time we try it. but the total prise money is $5k, so it is not top weighted like most tournamenst (but iirc, there are bout 4-5 sections in the hadicap). so maybe a few $k top weighted would attract a couple that maybe live in the us? would a place to stay and some travel expenses help at all?

Bottom line: it could be interesting, but really just a stunt, to enter a program in the human tournament, possibly with the $10 bonus one poster mentioned.
maybe if we just did it when someone's opponent failed to show up and we had say a $25-$50 prize (assuming this does not happen) a lot maybe we would overcome the reistance and maybe it could be more than just a "stunt" maybe a $100 prize for whoever beat the computer by the most stones or someting (eric has been know to do some fairly unusual things).


3) (events) is easy and could be a way to spice up the human tournament. Just have the winner of the low-kyu section play a strong program with some good stand-up comedy-level commentary.
that would be easy and sensei could beat up the progam (poor program :)
However, this doesn't really require the participation of the computer go community, othen than maybe getting someone to donate a free copy of their program.
i have legal copies of the latest smart go and mf. (btw, what are some other good ones to buy that cost about the same?). maybe for a start we could just have some kind of each one plays the other a few times and send the author a small check. the pulicity would be good for the author and she would not have to do anything.

thanks for some very good ideas.

---
ray tayek <http://tayek.com/>, co-chair <http://www.ocjug.org/>, actively seeking telecommuting work.

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