Quote:
I got it right right away, probably because O Meien's method as you describe it is exactly what Kyle Blocher described in his video. In the video, which was made at the 2012 US go congress, he is asked whether pros use this method, and he answers that they don't. Was he wrong, or is O basically an outlier?
Both right and wrong, and yes and no. O Meien said he was surprised his method was not used in Japan, but it was normal in China. He probably meant Taiwan specifically, but I imagine they got it from mainand China anyway.
Quote:
Position values and move values are not really that complicated as concepts. For simplicity, assume we have a position where either side may play first with equal probability. In an actual game, this can be a horrendous assumption, but it allows positions to be treated as independent.
The value of a complex position can be calculated by averaging the values of positions resulting from further play. Position value = 1/2 [ (value of resulting position if B plays first) + (value of resulting position if W plays first) ].
The value of a move in a position can be calculated by differencing the values of positions resulting from further play. Move value = 1/2 [ (value of resulting position if B plays first) - (value of resulting position if W plays first) ].
Of course these equations can be mixed if desired. Position value = (value of resulting position if B plays first) - (move value).
From this point of view, the value of a position is more fundamental than the value of a move. However, as has been pointed out, if you just want to find the value of a move, it may not be necessary to calculate the value of the position.
For the mathematically inclined, the value of the move is the derivative, with respect to the next play, of the value of the position.
I'm sorry, but this is the kind of thing I meant when I said seeing it makes me lose the will to live. I understand every word but I have no idea what it means. Mathematicians actually speak mathlish. It may look like English, it may sound like English, but only other mathlanders understand it. And like the Eskimos and their 400 kinds of snow, I expect the go-playing mathlanders also have 400 kinds of sente.
Bill: De-iri is traditional counting. Since miai became mainstream only after I was born, I'm not sure I'm ready to accept that as traditional yet - and I know you're not young enough yourself to be an uberdude!