Godot (Go. for short) is my first attempt to write a computer program that plays Go. If you want to play
against Godot, select your color ('human'
with white or black) and wait for Godot until it stops playing against itself. Then press 'New Game'. You can take
back moves
and
review the game by using the scrollbar to
the
left of the game notation.
On my computer Godot needs 1 minute per game on level 1 and 3 minutes on level 2. If the applet is slower or does not run at all on your computer, you should try to install a more recent Java runtime environment.
Many games of different versions of Godot against other computer programs are supplied under 'Load Game'. In
addition, the highscore list is full of demonstrations of weaknesses of Godot. You can review these games, and you
can try to get into the highscore list by playing rated games against Godot.
Newsletter:
Major changes of this page (e.g. new versions of Godot) and matches of Godot in the
Computer Go ladder are announced in the
Computer Go mailing list.
Revision history
of Godot:
- Godot v1.2 was finished on February 9, 2004. Godot v1.2 is faster and stronger than Godot v1.0. The speedup is due to a better heuristic choice of proof and disproof numbers in the
PN-search for block safety. A weak-chain-reader, which deals with double threats and with crosscuts, helps to improve the strength of Godot v1.2. The final scoring has been improved as well: Godot now understands simple sekis and it
visualizes graphically, which intersections contribute a point for black or white, and which are neutral.
- Godot v1.0 was finished on January 25, 2004. I borrowed many parts of the user interface and some parts of the
computer engine from my Amazons applet Amazong. The search algorithm of Godot is simple. It chooses the move with the
best evaluation (one ply search). In the evaluation function Godot does a lot of local search (ladders, block safety,
connections) and has some rudimentary knowledge about eyes, groups, life and death, and territory.
Godot does not (yet) use patterns, move evaluation, and joseki/fuseki
libraries and has no explicit knowledge about good shape and sente/gote.
Ideas for future versions of Godot:
- Selective global search and quiescence search.
- Semeai reader.
- Ko handling.
- Evaluation of territory by reading.
- Start playing on larger boards.
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| last update : Nov. 28, 2004 |