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Re: Which solution to complex kos do you prefer?

Posted: Wed Dec 02, 2015 12:07 am
by RobertJasiek
Since triple ko is an unbranched 6 move sequence, it is sufficient to recall the initial position of the 3 ko stones. This is MUCH easier than almost all go problems. Therefore one should not say that players would not be able to play triple ko correctly. It becomes difficult only if a player first plays a couple of moves WITHOUT THINKING and then starts to wonder which the initial position was. Stupidity!

If you need an argument about difficulty, use quadruple ko as an example.

Re: Which solution to complex kos do you prefer?

Posted: Wed Dec 02, 2015 11:47 am
by SaiLens
I think
1) a game should be finite
2) in finite play, jigo should be possible
3) a game should only count as won if player A can force a result in which B ends up with fewer points

If neither player can force a winning position in finite play, the game should be a draw.
Here, it's irrelevant whether the two players formally agree to a draw - after all, if either could force a win "naturally" by playing until there are no legal moves left to play, they would. By refusing to play a finite game (continuing the multi-ko), the players already implicitly agree to a draw.

As to how that draw should be dealt with in a tournament setting, that's a different question. Obviously most organizers don't want to deal with draws at all.

Moreover, I would not want to have to deal with a rule that forces me to remember if a given position has occurred before and if it was my move or my opponent's... that's neither elegant nor logical, just convenient - but not for the players.