On Thu, Jan 04, 2007 at 04:37:08PM -0500, Don Dailey wrote: > > I have a question. With perfect play, obviously a 9 stone handicap > game is dead lost. If 2 perfect players played a game where one > was given the 9 stones, and they played for maximum territory (obviously > it doesn't make sense to play for a win) would the handicapped player > be able to hold some territory at the end of the game? Could he > carve out a little piece for himself even against his perfect > opponents wishes?
If the handicap stones are placed on the traditional points (4-4, etc), then the answer is obviously yes. It is possible to live with a 3-3 invasion under such a stone. If the handicap stones are placed at 3-4 points, there should be ample room to approach from the side, and live in the corner or on the side. I guess that if the stones are places on 3-3, it should be possible to approach at 4-4, and slide to one of the sides, and possibly make a life there. Here I am not strong enough to say for sure. The last alternative I can think is to use 2 stones for each corner, but that leaves the sides wide open. Black can invade the middle of a side, and probably make a life there. Again I ask stronger players' opinions. So, my guess is that white can always squeeze a small life somewhere. In normal play black would of course welcome that, because he can secure so much more by containing the small white group. But what kind of player can give 9 stones to one who plays (near?) perfect? -Heikki -- Heikki Levanto "In Murphy We Turst" heikki (at) lsd (dot) dk _______________________________________________ computer-go mailing list computer-go@computer-go.org http://www.computer-go.org/mailman/listinfo/computer-go/
