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Subject: Re: Ply Depth in Relation to Elo Rating

Author: Robert Hyatt

Date: 05:55:04 05/18/00

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On May 17, 2000 at 22:17:19, Michael Fuhrmann wrote:

>Do you have a hunch which is true?
>


Before you can ask (or answer) this question, you have to stop and think a
bit.

Let's take two angles:

(1) the Elo rating improvement is linear.  This seems impossible.  Because the
Elo formula  is based on the "normal bell-curve shape."  If the program keeps
getting better and better, the rating difference between it and a human with
a fixed rating slows down.  IE if I win 3 of 4, I am about 200 points better.
If I win 15 of 16, I am about 400 points better.  The formula isn't linear,
so a "fixed Elo improvement" doesn't make sense...

(2) we take a weak program vs a GM.  It is likely that for a long time, every
doubling will produce at least a 60 point rating climb.  If you measure the gain
before the program catches the GM, you will see big jumps.  But once the program
catches the GM, then (1) takes over.

I believe that additional depth _always_ helps.  But it is difficult to measure
a precise term.  Everyone wants a simple linear function to predict this rating
gain.  I don't believe that is reasonable or possible.



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