From: Jeroen Tiggelman <Tiggelman <at> CONSUL <dot> NL>
Date: 13 dec 1996
Subject: Re: Evaluation (was Re: Computer Shogi)

Michael Facer <michaelf @ LAVA.NET> wrote:
Glen Miner <gminer @ NEWBRIDGE.COM> wrote:
>>I am trying to get a stable engine working with a good foundation first.
>>After that I will be adding strategical assessment etc...
>If you want a good foundation , forget about basing it on material profit.
>Make good shape your foundation

This sounds right to me, although it's probably a great deal harder. :-)

>                                by using Joseki. Even in a simple game like
>chess, most (if not all) strong programs are heavily dependent on their
>books to provide the foundation of a strong position from which to play.

But I don't agree with this... not if you want a consistent result.
I think that shape should _really_ be the foundation, and that is
not a matter of using certain move sequences, but of understanding what
they are for.. besides counting material, you'll have to look ahead some,
and see ahead too (i.e., long-term effects, which is something entirely
different). That means you'll have to formulate numerous different
concepts of value, I think...

The point of "Joseki" would rather be to test whether it worked reasonably,
I think... Of course you'll want a book too, but I don't think that's
enough for making good shape your foundation.

As to "Even a simple game"... I think it's exactly because chess doesn't
have drops that this is so important; in shogi shape is much more easily
challenged later on, IMO..

Jeroen