[Computer-go] Computer Go and EGC 2012

[Don Dailey]

On Thu, Jan 19, 2012 at 2:44 PM, Andy <andy.olsen.tx at gmail.com> wrote:

> I get uneasy with the idea of different prizes for different handicaps.
>  It makes it take on the feeling of a scientific experiment (which ok it
> is), but to me it also starts making it feel like the Pro is the subject of
> the experiment, rather than the program.
>
> Looking at the following discussion of risk aversion and irrational
> human behavior highlights my concern.  People become interested in
> analyzing the behavior of the Pro.  I would think the Pro might not feel
> comfortable being the subject of an experiment.  I'd rather shift the
> paradigm as the Pro players being invited VIP guests, serving as controls
> for the scientific experiment being performed on the computer program.  As
> for handicap, just negotiate personally with the Pro for either H5 or H4.
>  I don't see much point going lower handicap since I think we should go 1
> stone at a time.
>

The risk aversion stuff was a response to the idea of letting the pro pick
the handicap,  however it's not my personal choice of how this should be
done.        I have had a little time to think about it and I think a good
format is simply to start with a very low handicap and increase it after
every game as long as the pro wins.    As soon as the pro loses he is given
a second opportunity at the same handicap.   If he loses then the match is
over,  if he wins then you move up to the next handicap.

In this way it becomes as you say an experiment with the computer.    And
it's not cast as a win or lose so this should solve the problem that Go
players do not have robust ego's.       The pro will lose at some point of
course but the challenge for them is how far can they go.

This is all premised on whether you can get a pro to agree to play more
than 2 or 3 games.     It's unlikely that such a match will last more than
a few games.  If you start at say 2 stones you will be up to 6 stones in
the 6th game assuming the pro does not lose any games.    As soon as he
loses a game there is a pretty good chance he won't go more than 1 or 2
stones higher.

Don







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