[Computer-go] Orego 7.08 released

[Aja]

Hi David,

> I also found that it makes no real difference to strength against 
> computers,
> but helps a little against people, and makes the games much more peasant 
> to
> watch.

   I haven't try joseki in Erica, but it looks strange to me that you said 
joseki
   "makes no real difference to strength against computers, but helps a 
little
   against people". At least, in the game mfgo against Erica in this KGS 
tournament,
   mfgo was leading from the beginning mainly because of good joseki replies
   in each corner.

   I think joseki is very important for Go programs as soon as they reach 1d 
level.
   I believe, a Go program will never reach stable high dan (>=KGS 4d) 
without
   joseki knowledge.

   This is the same with the situations of human learning. When a player is 
weaker
   than 1d, joseki is not so important, because if he is leading 10 points 
in the
   opening stage, the game might be reversed by losing 20 points in an easy
   semeai of middle game. But, when a player is improved to 1d or 2d, joseki 
starts
   to make sense, since his reading ability makes the "semeai big loss" much 
fewer.

   For me, I can't imagine to beat a 6d player without joseki knowledge. 
When
   I lose 10 points in the opening, that is almost decisive. That's why pros
   sometimes resign early and immediately after wrong joseki playing, 
because
   there is no chance to reverse, in their view.

   The stronger the playing strengh, the more important the opening play. 
9x9 Go
   is exactly a good example for statement. Do you think mfgo, on 9x9, can 
beat
   a strong program, if the first move is played at the first line? :)

 Aja