Hi Peer,

In fact, MLA is already using sumitos (i.e. in line domination).

In this MLA 3.0 test I replaced connectivity (i.e. counting the number of same
colour neighbors around each marble + some undisclosed formula lol) by saying :

- marbles with less than two neighbors are bad (was required after the first
tests)
- the following patterns are good for the side to move (let's say White) :

- B W B (one stone in the middle of others) except B W B B (it's a sumito)
- B W W B (two stones in the middle of others)

Combined with the abapro-like center of mass calculations it makes the 3.0
engine insist on rushing to the center (as shown by the two games you can
replay with my plash player at http://mogwai.lunparges.com/lovely) during the
opening (more precisely it's rushing to "between the two daisies of the
opponent").

So the opening is enhanced, but connectivity is partly lost, so i need to
reintroduce it in the engine, so that I may have two terms for which i can
adjust the weight for testing :

- connectivity in itself (without the line patterns)
- line patterns

If I succeed in getting the engine to rush, and once the rush is "finished",
return to MLA 2.5 way of doing things, then it might make sense to go to larger
patterns.

. .
. . .
. .

Maybe you know how to recognise patterns of the following size :

. . .
. . . .
. . . . .
. . . .
. . .

Dont tell me i need to find a way to do hexagonal bitboards? hmm no ! arg ;)

lol

david

By the way, the max number of moves might be 148, but in fact my formula was
wrong (but not MLA), the max calculation is :

- 6 directions for each of the 14 stones : 6x14
- two directions to go through a line, choice to move two of three stones and 2
directions for move => 8 X 14

i.e. 196 moves. but how to find a more than 148

Selon Peer Sommerlund <peso@...>:

> --- In abalone_prog@yahoogroups.com, "mogwaifrance" <david.malek@...>
> wrote:
> >
> > Yeah! MLA 3.0 just killed MLA 2.5.5 finally i get something new.
>
> Congratulations! I cannot wait to see your latest creation.
>
> Can you reveal any thoughts behind the line-patterns? Nacre also
> examines line-patterns, but you probably found some even better way to
> utilize them.
>
> The Nacre patterns test for domination. Think of an 1D abalone game.
>
> Regards,
> Peer
>
>
>