My guess is that Quackle was on the 20-second Championship player setting. I suspect its method for selecting moves is to run a 20-second simulation, and choose the move that comes top. Over a very short simulation, it's quite possible that the 8c placing could come out top, although over a more substantial number it will soon be overhauled by the 8d placing.
Phil A ________________________________ From: Bill Pizer <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Wednesday, 30 September, 2009 12:48:35 Subject: Re: [quackle] Quackle's opening play Maybe it was considering the 4 letter extension (HOMOZYGOTE?) On Tue, Sep 29, 2009 at 7:32 PM, Eyesee7 <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > > > > > > > > > >> >Quackle opened with ZYGOTE at 8C for 46 points instead of 8D for 58 points. >The only reasoning I could think of was that at 8D, the Z is in a hot spot for >a double-double comeback. > >>I forgot to save the game so couldn't review it or see what the other letter >>was on Quackle's opening rack. However, I did run a few sims with ZYGOTE as >>my opening play, with a few different letters as the seventh letter on my >>rack, and all showed 8D to be the winning play by around 4 percentage points. > >>Thoughts? Is there anyone who would open at 8C for 12 fewer points? > >>-Pete M. > >
