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Subject: Re: Comp games on ICC should be unrated

Author: Robert Hyatt

Date: 12:38:19 07/09/01

Go up one level in this thread


On July 09, 2001 at 15:33:28, Ricardo Gibert wrote:

>On July 09, 2001 at 15:09:48, Slater Wold wrote:
>
>>On July 09, 2001 at 14:22:06, Ricardo Gibert wrote:
>>
>>>On July 09, 2001 at 13:38:00, Slater Wold wrote:
>>>
>>>>Perhaps that's not a bad idea.  But the simple truth is, most people play for
>>>>that rating.
>>>>
>>>>Take "RebelRex" for example.  His first 600 games, he playing anyone, or
>>>>anything, rated over 2500 unrated or rated. At any timer.  His rating was
>>>>approx. 3000.  He has recently changed, to only play humans, and is now 3200+.
>>>>Why did he do this?  To compete with Spitfire?  Because he is only interested in
>>>>results against humans?  Who knows?!  Who cares!?
>>>>
>>>>The reason I do NOT believe in computers that play humans only, is just as Bruce
>>>>Moreland stated.  I _LIKE_ to play humans, more so than I like to play other
>>>>computers.  However, I am rated a lowly 2950, with a high of 3080.  Now, who is
>>>>a 3000 rated GM going to play?  A 3400+ or a 2950?  Regardless of WHO the best
>>>>is, the higher rated will almost always be played.
>>>>
>>>>I just took a look at my DB, and well over 80% of my rated games on ICC have
>>>>been against other computers.  With the other 20% being 5 or 6 FM's, IM's, and
>>>>GM's.
>>>>
>>>>The truth is, that GM's on ICC are rating pigs just like Spitfire.  If they
>>>>offer lessons, the one with the biggest rating will get more stundents, more
>>>>simul's, more money.
>>>>
>>>>I think Scrappy was a valid experiment.  And I think it was interesting.
>>>>However, I feel it was _VERY_ unfair.  Let me explain:  I understand 100% why
>>>>Bob did it.  Because if you ever saw Crafty before Scrappy was around, there was
>>>>usually a line to play it.  GM's were being cut off by computer accounts, and
>>>>Bob has always said, he is more interested in playing humans than computers.
>>>>This makes a second account completly understandable.  However, let's look at it
>>>>in this aspect; does Bob pay for the account Scrappy?  I mean, I understand he
>>>>pays for Hyatt, but what about Crafty and Scrappy?  I think if ALL the (C)
>>>>operators on ICC got 3 accounts, we would all be a lot better off.  I mean, we
>>>>could have one for (C)'s only, one for humans only, and one for ourselves.
>>>>Perfect!  However, that's $150 a year, just in a "recreational" hobby.  I don't
>>>>know many people who are going to go for that.  I also understand that Hyatt is
>>>>the author, and he has special privleges for this.  However, SMK, Christophe,
>>>>Ed, Frans, NONE of them have ICC or FICS accounts.  It's not like we are taking
>>>>away directly from the programmers.  Also, you must again take into account, who
>>>>is a GM going to play?  A 2950 rated commercial program, or a 3400+ rated
>>>>Crafty?  Once again, it just all makes better sense.  Once agian, I do not
>>>>disagree about what Bob did, it did make sense.  Just making the point that if
>>>>we were all afforded the luxury of 3 accounts for the price of 1, we wouldn't be
>>>>having this conversation.
>>>
>>>
>>>I guess the above is directed at Bob. Good luck.
>>
>>
>>Not directed at anyone.  Just a simple observation on the situation.
>>
>>
>>>
>>>>
>>>>I use my account for bullshit.  I won't use a book here, use a screwy book here,
>>>>use this here, that there, etc., etc.  My 2950 rating is BS.  And I am happy
>>>>with it.  I can get a game just about 24/7 on ICC, against the best computers,
>>>>and SOME GM's.
>>>>
>>>>Let's also think back about 2 months ago.  JRLOK issued a match to ME, on ICC.
>>>>NOT to Spitfire.  Let's all take a minute, and think why that is.
>>>
>>>
>>>I don't understand this. If your account plays other comps, then it should hurt
>>>JRLOK to play you in comparison to playing Spitfire, since your comps rating
>>>will is lower than it would be if it played humans only. He did you a favor,
>>
>>We played unrated.  And yes, it was a favor.  Just not one that was asked.  That
>>was the strange part.  Look below:
>>
>>>BTW, JRLOK has played spitfire 11 times for a record of -4 +2 =5. Since he was
>>>generally rated about 75 points lower than spitfire in his losses (except 1),
>>>his rating was not really harmed. This is what you would expect from a program
>>>that only plays humans. If he played it more often, he probably would have
>>>zeroed in on its weaknesses and even gained rating points.
>>
>>
>>Like I said, I did not play JRLOK rated.  It wasn't for points.  Also, it was a
>>25/5 game.  How many of those 11 games were at a standard time control.  AH,
>>forget it.  Point was, I think JRLOK wanted to play the "official" stronger
>>program on stronger hardware.  But like I said, just forget it.
>>
>>
>>
>>>Comp ratings are deflated, since they spend most of the time playing each other
>>>and are avoided by humans. Comps upgrade their hardware and software, but their
>>>ratings remain realtively low since they are just trading rating points with
>>>each other, so the improvements do not get reflected in their ratings over the
>>>long term. They are an almost separate rating pool within the larger rating
>>>pool.
>>
>>
>>Agreed.  However, please take this into consideration:  JRLOK lost most of his
>>games against Scrappy.  He still ended up with the highest rating on ICC ever.
>>Bob will tell you, humans notice little difference between his 4x550 and 4x700.
>>That's a full 600mhz.  Upgrade from a 1.0Ghz to a 1.6Ghz and the computer
>>operators will take notice, however, the strong GM's probably won't.
>
>
>JRLOK has a plus score over the last 50 games against scrappy. Over the last 100
>games, he is only -2. I don't think you are making a strong point with this. For
>all intents and purposes, they are equal.
>
>[snip]


Check the games.  I had Scrappy playing some very specific (and narrow) openings
to isolate a couple of weaknesses and fix them.  He would tell you himself that
if he could break even at blitz, he would be terribly happy.



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