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

[Ray Tayek <rtayek@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

i have put together an outline of what i think many of you (from the 
computer go mailing list) have said. (please see below). please attack 
viciously, and point out anything you disagree with or anything i have 
missed. please answer anything with a question mark if you can. once the 
dust settles we can go offline and get out of your hair.

thanks again for all of the good ideas and information.

0. 2005 cotsen open will be held on the weekend of April 30th.
1. a computer go tournament
        1. types and costs
                1. world class $10k? (get most? of the top programs 15?-25?)
                2. upper middle ground $6k (get some 8?-15?)
                3. lower middle ground $3k (get some 5?-10?)
                4. unofficial $1k (mostly for some travel & lodging on an 
as needed basis for the authors and a small prize for 1st place, get 3?-6? )
                        1. authors of many faces, smart go, proably gnugo, 
maybe others? will allow their programs to be used without them assuming 
some sane moderation by a rational human.
        2. setup
                1. moderate? hassles with equipment setup, ups?, security
2. entering a program in the tournament
        0. players receive a full refund of their entry fee if they play 
all 5 games so the only cost to the player is travel/lodging.
        1. lots of rules to hassle, as the aga has flavours of computer 
involvement.
        2. involves aga, ing, the td, sensei, etc.
        3. aga appears to not be very interested in computer go
        4. previous experience indicates that the players will revolt.
        5. *might* work if you provided some $ incentive?
        6. probably not worth the trouble now.
3. players whose opponents don't show up play a program.
        1. give then the win.
        2. offer a small prize $10-$20 to play a program.
        3. person who beats up the program the worst gets $100 (most 
stones or earliest resign)
        4. how often will this occur and in what band? (what are mf, smart 
go's, and gnugo's approximate igs/nngs ratings? 5k? 10k?)
        5. we have some real beginners, any reason not to let the programs 
play absolute beginners (20kyu-30kyu)? (maybe they could play on 13x13 
boards? aga rules on this?).
        6. game will be played on a real board, so requires an operator 
and pc each time.
4. demo of computer go playing software
        1. two pc's, cables, and a projector
        2. minor setup and maintenance
        3. security or humping required for equipment
5. offers of assistance (onsite)
        1. probable (due to timing) from "Bob Myers" <rtm@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> of 
http://intelligentgo.org/
        2. probable (due to timing) "David Fotland" 
<fotland@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> http://smart-games.com/ (many faces)
        3. probable (due to timing) David G Doshay <ddoshay@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> (game 
referee program and *maybe* some way to play against his cluster?) 
http://currents.ucsc.edu/04-05/07-26/cluster.html
        4. possible? (due to timing) "Anders Kierulf" or a proxy 
<anders@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> http://smartgo.com/
6. other
        1. permission from the authors of many faces, smart go, and 
(probably) gnugo to use their programs in an unofficial tournament provided 
we have a sane human running it.



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

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