pookpooi wrote:Hideki said that "It's well known that MC bots are not good at (high) handicap games." True to his words, even now Zen begins to has problem with 4 stones handicap games.
That might be an easy to misunderstand over generalization. INITIALLY (without some parameters being set) the MCTS algorithm can barely play against a handicap at all. I just described ONE approach that enables them to do so, "dynamic (changing) reverse komi" used in deciding who won a playout". But the correct values, initial starting vale of the reverse komi and the rate of decrease would have to be determined (tuned) for each number of handicap stones. And that would have to be redone every time the MCTS program had a major improvement. TAKES TIME (and effort). Even with a team to put in the effort I wouldn't expect to be right for quite a few months after each major improvement. And about the other possible approaches to allow MCTS progrms to play against handicap I know nothing. But I doubt any of them wouldn't also require adjustment involving much trial and error.
In other words, the statement should more correctly be interpreted "much of the time" which during times where the programs are rapidly improving become almost all the time << the new, improved version might be coming into use before the handicap adjustment done for the previous version >>
