American Go E-Journal » Redmond Reviews

“We were expecting DeepMind to make some sort of an announcement (about a new version of AlphaGo),” says Michael Redmond 9p, “But 80 games was a big present.” (Self-taught AlphaGo Zero bests all previous versions in record time)  Redmond discusses AlphaGo Zero with the E-Journal’s Chris Garlock in a brief video announcing the launch of a new series of game commentaries. DeepMind released four sets of games for the self-taught AI, including training games, games against the Fan Hui version, the Lee Sedol version and the Master version, which defeated 60 top human opponents earlier this year. “I’m going to be looking at the games where Master plays Zero, mainly because Master is such a popular version of AlphaGo,” Redmond says. Master’s tactics, including big shimaris and emphasizing the center “people wanted to play, but were afraid because that way of playing is weak in territory. Master showed us some successful ways…and is still having an effect on how professionals play. So it’s going to be really interesting to see Master playing against a stronger version of AlphaGo.”

“In this game we’re going to see a double kakari against a star point, a first for this series of games,” says Michael Redmond 9p in his game commentary on Game 14. “In the Master vs. human series back in January, Master would play away when the opponent played a kakari against a star point, sometimes. Now we’ll get to see how Master plays this with White, and it has a special move. Its a new joseki that actually make s some sense, so it’s going to be interesting.”

Click here for Redmond’s video commentary, hosted by the AGA E-Journal’s Chris Garlock.

The Game 14 video is produced by Michael Wanek and Andrew Jackson. The sgf file was created by Redmond, with editing and transcription by Garlock and Myron Souris.

Part 2 of the Game 10 commentary begins at move 113. “At this point, the game looked ready for a peaceful endgame, with White in the lead.” says Michael Redmond 9p in his commentary. “By move 121, however, White has given away about 20 points, an unexpected trade that transforms the game radically. Back in a wildly dangerous middle game, complications that arise from a fight in the center will put ten groups in danger.”

Click here for Redmond’s video commentary, hosted by the AGA E-Journal’s Chris Garlock. (For Part 1, click here for the video commentary and here for the sgf file).

“Looking forward to these every week,” Leo Dorst commented on Part 1, echoing the sentiments of many viewers. “Such a great way to start the weekend after a late Friday night at the Amsterdam Go Club. Rereading my old Go World magazines I see Michael moving to Japan. If he had not done so and trained there, we might not now have these wonderful commentaries. Sometimes the world just makes sense…” Watch for a Q&A video here next week with Redmond in which he responds to selected comments.

The Game 10 videos are produced by Michael Wanek and Andrew Jackson. The sgf files were created by Redmond, with editing and transcription by Garlock and Myron Souris.

“This game is like two games in one, and it starts with an unusual pincer by black and then a new move by white,” says Michael Redmond 9p in his game commentary on AlphaGo-AlphaGo Game 10. “Then there’s a series of fights that goes in a circle around the board, each one contained but each quite exciting.”

Click here for Redmond’s video commentary, hosted by the AGA E-Journal’s Chris Garlock.

The game is so complex that the commentary is being released in two parts; Part 1 goes through move 112 and Part 2, which will be released Saturday, October 7 at 6p EDT, contains the remainder of the commentary. Enjoy!

The Game 10 videos are produced by Michael Wanek and Andrew Jackson. The sgf files were created by Redmond, with editing and transcription by Garlock and Myron Souris.