Bots really strong when receiving handicap?

[ez4u]

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I would think this would translate to bots giving away too much of their advantage early, when their lead is the greatest. In other words they are too willing to compromise on safe moves as long as their playouts show they are still ahead even if only by a minimal amount.

You aren't looking at the consequences of what you have just said.

If it is true that there are always safe moves that retain a small but positive advantage that eventually results in a won game. Not unlike a match sailboat race (race between two boats) where the one in the lead maneuvers not to increase its lead but to always remain between the boat behind and the next mark.

Remember, the MCTS programs are not seeing how much the lead has increased or decreased form the next move but playing games out to the end and seeing who eventually won. Remember that it's up to the player behind to start taking chances (and the player ahead responding to that).

I am assuming that the player giving the handicap is stronger than the bot, e.g. kgs 8d vs a 6d bot. Thus White will find superior moves during the course of the game. Or in other words, the bot's playouts will not hold up as predictions of the actual course of the game. Thus a safety first selection may result in giving away a necessary cushion. This may well be an incorrect understanding of the situation and I would be very interested in a more thorough and technically correct explanation. (hint, hint, Mike!)

[hyperpape]

I would think this would translate to bots giving away too much of their advantage early, when their lead is the greatest. In other words they are too willing to compromise on safe moves as long as their playouts show they are still ahead even if only by a minimal amount.

I think they use adjusted komi to compensate

Dave's understanding matches what I have seen on the computer go mailing list. Speedchase: you're right about the solution, but I think that it's a work in progress.