Hi David,
I also found that it makes no real difference to strength against
computers,
but helps a little against people, and makes the games much more peasant
to
watch.
I haven't try joseki in Erica, but it looks strange to me that you said
joseki
"makes no real difference to strength against computers, but helps a
little
against people". At least, in the game mfgo against Erica in this KGS
tournament,
mfgo was leading from the beginning mainly because of good joseki replies
in each corner.
I think joseki is very important for Go programs as soon as they reach 1d
level.
I believe, a Go program will never reach stable high dan (>=KGS 4d)
without
joseki knowledge.
This is the same with the situations of human learning. When a player is
weaker
than 1d, joseki is not so important, because if he is leading 10 points
in the
opening stage, the game might be reversed by losing 20 points in an easy
semeai of middle game. But, when a player is improved to 1d or 2d, joseki
starts
to make sense, since his reading ability makes the "semeai big loss" much
fewer.
For me, I can't imagine to beat a 6d player without joseki knowledge.
When
I lose 10 points in the opening, that is almost decisive. That's why pros
sometimes resign early and immediately after wrong joseki playing,
because
there is no chance to reverse, in their view.
The stronger the playing strengh, the more important the opening play.
9x9 Go
is exactly a good example for statement. Do you think mfgo, on 9x9, can
beat
a strong program, if the first move is played at the first line? :)
Aja
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