Re: [gnugo-devel] GNU Go -- Too Difficult

[Brenden Towey]

On 9/7/2013 9:23 PM, Timothy J Frahm wrote:
> Level one, of your GNU Go, is too difficult. There is nothing to keep 
> a novice player interested. Using GNU Go is too disheartening. I'm 
> able to get up to level 5, against the computer, on other AI, but for 
> some reason, GNU Go has ten levels, yet the first level is too difficult.

I can't speak for any of the developers, but trying to produce 
reasonable "dumber" AI seems like it would magnify the effort needed for 
maintaining GNU Go significantly.  A program with 10 levels would 
probably be equivalent to trying to maintain 10 different AI engines.

I think a better solution would be to find actual players closer to your 
level.  Go is more fun as a social activity anyway.  Try KGS (see link 
below).  They have a ton of bots (including several GNU Go bots) as well 
as a ton of actual players.  They also review games and seem interested 
in helping out new players.  You'll learn more playing real people, imo, 
than you will from a "dumbed down" AI, as those are frankly easy to trick.

http://www.gokgs.com/