RE: [Bug-gnubg] Opinions

[Albert Silver]

Hi Mark,

 

These arguments are nothing new where computer programs are concerned. There isn’t a program under the sun that hasn’t been accused of this. Suffice it to say that they aren’t luckier, nor is there any bias. It is easy and natural to concentrate on one’s opponents rolls cuasing one distress as opposed to our own. It’s quite possible that some of your doubles occurred while dancing on the bar for example. In any case, I have been lucky enough to win my last 3 matches against GNU, despite being a rank amateur. Here are the stats that GNU gave after analyzing the match:

 

                                      GNU                  Albert          

Checkerplay statistics:                                                       

Total moves                           119                  130                

Unforced moves                        115                  112                

Moves marked very good                0                    0                  

Moves marked good                     0                    0                  

Moves marked interesting              0                    0                  

Moves unmarked                        119                  111                

Moves marked doubtful                 0                    7                  

Moves marked bad                      0                    9                  

Moves marked very bad                 0                    3                   

Error rate (total)                    +0.000 (+0.000%)     -1.945 (-33.721%)  

Error rate (pr. move)                 +0.000 (+0.000%)     -0.017 (-0.301%)   

Checker play rating                   Supernatural         Advanced           

Rolls marked very lucky               2                    0                  

Rolls marked lucky                    6                    11                 

Rolls unmarked                        116                  117                

Rolls marked unlucky                  7                    5                  

Rolls marked very unlucky             0                    1                  

Luck rate (total)                     -3.191 (-68.062%)    +1.246 (+16.526%)  

Luck rate (pr. move)                  -0.027 (-0.572%)     +0.010 (+0.127%)   

Luck rating                           Better luck next tim None               

Cube decision statistics:                                                     

Total cube decisions                  74                   41                 

Actual or close cube decisions        17                   15                 

Doubles                               5                    4                  

Takes                                 3                    3                   

Pass                                  1                    2                  

Missed doubles around DP              0 (+0.000, +0.000%)  2 (-0.015, -0.152%)

Missed doubles around TG              0 (+0.000, +0.000%)  0 (+0.000, +0.000%)

Wrong doubles around DP               0 (+0.000, +0.000%)  2 (-0.533, -5.390%)

Wrong doubles around TG               0 (+0.000, +0.000%)  0 (+0.000, +0.000%)

Wrong takes                           0 (+0.000, +0.000%)  0 (+0.000, +0.000%)

Wrong passes                          0 (+0.000, +0.000%)  1 (-0.112, -2.667%)

Error rate (total)                    +0.000 (+0.000%)     -0.660 (-8.209%)   

Error rate (per cube decision)        +0.000 (+0.000%)     -0.044 (-0.547%)   

Cube decision rating                  Supernatural         Beginner           

Overall                                                                       

Overall error rate (total)            +0.000 (+0.000%)     -2.605 (-41.930%)  

Overall error rate (per decision)     +0.000 (+0.000%)     -0.021 (-0.330%)   

Overall rating                        Supernatural         Intermediate       

MWC against current opponent            91.93%                8.07%           

Guestimated abs. rating               2200.00              1734.62           

 

Enjoy the program, review your moves against it, and learn. You’ll beat it too, you can be sure.

 

                                                      Albert

 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: address@hidden [mailto:address@hidden On Behalf Of MarkHocker
Sent: Monday, December 16, 2002 1:58 PM
To: address@hidden
Subject: [Bug-gnubg] Opinions

 

I have been playing GNU Backgammon for about a month now, and have made the following observation:  the computer seems to have INCREDIBLE luck.  When knocked out, it always rolls back in quickly, even if only one line is open.  Further, the number of doubles rolled by the computer seems to be FAR more than by the human player.  True, the computer's play is practicly flawless, but this I do not take issue with.  Yet with an ability to roll doubles several times a game, as to my once a game average, the stakes are just not even.  Just my opinion.

 

Mark