[computer-go] Computer Go tournament thoughts

[Ben Shoemaker <planetb@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I've been lurking in this discussion, but here are my two cents:

Computer Go Tournaments have constraints (location, time, number of
players, etc...) and exist for the people participating in them (social
interaction, bragging rights, research).  Everyone has to agree to the same
rules in order for the tournament to work and eventually crown a winner
(and stratify the participants).

There are different flavors of tournament catering to different groups:
9x9, 19x19, same location, internet only, blitz, 1-hour, etc.

The SlugGo Team (David Doshay) has expressed interest in a tournament with
a longer time per game, which gets plenty of reaction, mostly of the
"1-hour is best" variety.  The only positives appear to be from others with
programs that either don't limit their play to under an hour or play
measurable better when given more time. (Debate arises about whether all
programs would play better given more time.)

At first glance, it would seem there is not quite enough support for a
tournament with a longer time per game.  Maybe this will prove not to be
the case, and I'm sure we'll all eagerly await the results of such a
tournament.

I would like to resurrect an idea that was discussed on the list in the
past, and suggest that it might provide some of the benefits of a
tournament but for a wider array of participants.

The Computer Go Match Server.  All Computer Go--All The Time! (no pun
intended.)  It would be a go server for computer go programs only, that
would allow programs to connect and play games with other programs.  It
would provide a mechanism for automatically setting up matches so that
while a program is connected games would be played continuously.  Each
program could specify its range of acceptable game settings and the match
server would setup games from available opponents.  It could even
prioritize pairings that have occurred less frequently.  This would make it
easy to obtain statistically significant results between any two opponents.

This would allow people from all over the world to participate, and time
settings could be chosen individually, so you would only play with others
who agree to your time settings.

There are lots of little detail that would need to be worked out, but I
fully support such a server being set up.

Ben Shoemaker.

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