This is a reference post summarizing ideas for improving the current model of generating varied starting positions, created by runarberg:
https://runarberg.github.io/random-go-stone-placements/
This new thread was created as the first one got pretty long (could someone add “(old)” at the end of the name and lock the previous thread?thanks @AdamR):
https://forums.online-go.com/t/semi-random-starting-position/27801
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What constitutes an interesting/uninteresting starting position? We currently have stone-free margin (no stones near edges) and spreading apart. Is there any other factor?
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To reduce clustering there are two types of ideas so far, each with a few specific models.
- Biased placing of stones
- adaptive probability field: table of probabilities over the board that changes as stones are placed.
- loose circle packing: guaranteeing certain length of minimum separation between stones. (edit: this feels too restrictive alone; perhaps combine?)
- Post-processing a randomly generated configuration
- repulsive random walk: probability to move in each direction varies with crowdedness.
- reluctant walker: accept or reject a candidate move according to relative crowdedness of current and candidate location (aka Metropolis-Hastings algorithm).
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There are multiple possible definitions for crowdedness.
- distance to nearest stone.
- each stone weighted according to distance: diluted contributions.
- number of stones in a given radius: neighbor counting.
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Taxicab geometry might be suitable: kosumi and one-space jump are considered the same distance.
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I’m thinking of relearning programming to attempt simulating and comparing those models. I’m looking at ipython as it seems simplest but let me know if anyone knows a language better suited for this (grid based simulation).
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The only method for comparison so far is visual inspection of generated configurations.
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Using AI to ensure certain degree of fairness, which can be circumvented somewhat by some form of I-cut-you-choose at beginning of game. Bonus problem: optimal placement of a hole, which works like the edge, to balance the configuration of stones.
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There is an unrelated OGS group with a similar idea:
https://online-go.com/group/1557