Computer Go/AI « American Go E-Journal

Redmond’s Reviews, Episode 12: Redmond 9p v. Akiyama 9p

Monday September 10, 2018

In this episode, Michael Redmond 9p, hosted by the AGA E-Journal’s Chris Garlock, plays Akiyama Jiro 9P, a strong young player in the Kisei B League. This match was in the final elimination tournament of the Kiriyama Cup before the final, publicized section of the tournament. Japanese tournament games are usually 3 hours each plus byo-yomi, but in this game basic time is just an hour each, making this “a pretty fast game,” Redmond says. The game features an opening “I’ve been playing around with for a while now, and it has a very unusual move,” says Redmond. He wasn’t sure the move would work but when the perfect opportunity came up, “I couldn’t resist playing it.” Click here to see the video.

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Categories: Computer Go/AI,Main Page,Master/AlphaGo Commentaries,Redmond Reviews

AlphaGo vs. AlphaGo; Game 22: A big upheaval, plus Redmond in DC!

Wednesday September 5, 2018

AlphaGo’s self-play game 22 features a big attacking game for black, “and it’s interesting to see how white handles these attacks,” says Michael Redmond 9P in his latest game commentary, hosted by the AGA E-Journal’s Chris Garlock. “And then when it looks like the game is settling down we’re going to see a big upheaval that takes another 120 moves to resolve. And in case that’s not exciting enough, then there’s a big ko fight.” “Absolutely beautiful game,” says viewer GerSHAK. “Beautiful to watch it almost settle and then spill all over again, haha,” adds oncedidactic.

Redmond will be at the National Go Center in Washington DC this weekend for a series of events, beginning with an AlphaGo commentary with Garlock at 7:30p on Friday night (RSVP here). Then on Saturday he and Garlock will do live commentaries on Twitch on the top-board games at the NGC’s Fall Open (register here), wrapping up with an 11a game review brunch on Sunday morning (register here).

“Don’t miss this rare chance to see Michael Redmond — who’s coming all the way from Japan — in person!” says NGC Executive Director Gurujeet Khalsa. “We’re especially excited to have Michael here to help launch our brand-new E-Journal broadcast facility this weekend,” said Garlock.

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Categories: Computer Go/AI,Main Page,Redmond Reviews

Michael Redmond coming to National Go Center next weekend

Friday August 31, 2018

Michael Redmond 9P is coming to the National Go Center in Washington DC September 7-9. The teaching visit by the popular American-born pro is being sponsored by the Nihon Ki-In in association with the Iwamoto North America Foundation. The main public events are an AlphaGo game analysis Friday night, a tournament Saturday and game reviews on Sunday. To guarantee a seat in the 4-round tournament — which has cash prizes in the open section — pre-register here and get a 20% discount off the tournament fee. Redmond and E-Journal Managing Editor Chris Garlock will be doing live game commentaries on Twitch on Saturday from the NGC’s brand-new broadcasting facility. Friday night Redmond and Garlock will do a live AlphaGo game analysis at the NGC, which will also be broadcast on Twitch. On Sunday, Redmond will do game reviews of select games from the previous day’s tournament. Other activities include a visit to two Japanese language immersion schools in Fairfax County and a visit to the satellite NOVA Go Club in Arlington; stay tuned for more details soon.

Categories: Main Page,Master/AlphaGo Commentaries,U.S./North America

AlphaGo vs. AlphaGo; Game 21: Less alien, plus exciting fighting

Saturday August 25, 2018

In AlphaGo self-play game 21, the AI’s play is “a little less alien,” says Michael Redmond 9P in his latest game commentary, hosted by the AGA E-Journal’s Chris Garlock, adding that the game features some moves that human players have been playing recently. “And then towards the end of the games there’s just a lot of exciting fighting.” Redmond’s commentaries return after a late-summer break; he’ll also be doing some live commentaries on Twitch in early September during a visit to the National Go Center in Washington DC; stay tuned for more details soon.

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Categories: Computer Go/AI,Main Page,Master/AlphaGo Commentaries,Redmond Reviews

Andy Liu and Ryan Li to team up with Facebook’s ELF OpenGo in Pair Go exhibition

Wednesday July 11, 2018

Facebook’s OpenGo, which defeated top-30 professional players 14-0 before its debut in May, will join forces with humanity in an Andy+OpenGo vs. Ryan+OpenGo Pair Go Match at the upcoming U.S. Go Congress. Liu and Li will be competing for a substantial $3000 prize. American players will be familiar with both players, who have provided spectacular matches at major North American tournaments and U.S. Go Congresses for years, even before they became professionals and distinguished themselves in international tournaments. This event will provide a fascinating window into how each of them adapts to playing alongside OpenGo. The match will take place at the Go Congress on Tuesday, July 24th, at 7 PM in the Commonwealth auditorium in the Sadler Center. There will be plenty of seats available. The match will be covered by a commentary team of Chris Garlock partnered with a to-be-determined pro.

Categories: Computer Go/AI,Main Page,U.S. Go Congress

AlphaGo Zero vs. AlphaGo Lee: Game 2

Wednesday June 13, 2018

Michael Redmond 9p, hosted by the AGA E-Journal’s Chris Garlock, reviews the second game of the new AlphaGo Zero vs. AlphaGo Lee series. “In this game, AG Zero has black,” Redmond notes. “This is the 20-block version of Zero, and it’s pretty unique, especially in the way it plays with black: it really likes to play the 3-3 points. Zero likes to take territory up front and then reduce its opponent’s moyo, but it does so in a different way. In fact, the opening techniques used by Zero have become quite popular among some young professionals, showing AG’s effect on the game, which I’ll be talking about.”

Click here for Redmond’s video commentary, and see below for the sgf commentary. To support this content, please consider joining or renewing your membership in the American Go Association; click here for details.

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

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Categories: Main Page,Master/AlphaGo Commentaries,Redmond Reviews

AlphaGo vs. AlphaGo; Game 19: Big difference between mostly dead and all dead

Tuesday June 12, 2018

“As usual in these AlphaGo-AlphaGo games, you’ll be wondering which group is going to die,” says Michael Redmond 9p in his June 1 AlphaGo video commentary, hosted by the AGA E-Journal’s Chris Garlock. “But, also as usual, they all come back to life, and the game is pretty close.” “There’s a big difference between mostly dead and all dead,” said Meijke Balay, picking up on “The Princess Bride” reference in the video. “Mostly dead is slightly alive.” “Feels like my favorite so far,” adds Zak Smith, “even though I might feel this way after every video.”

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Categories: Main Page,Master/AlphaGo Commentaries,Redmond Reviews

Facebook AI “OpenGo” to play simuls at 2018 U.S. Go Congress

Monday June 4, 2018

Artificial Intelligence has taken go into new realms and this year at the US Go Congress attendees will be able to learn and improve their own games by playing against one of the new generation of AI players. Facebook’s OpenGo, which features a 20-0 record against top-30 professionals, will be playing teaching simuls early in the week.

The simuls will be held on Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday afternoons (July 22, 23, and 24) with OpenGo playing 20 simultaneous no-handicap teaching games each day. Each player will be mailed an SGF file after the game with annotations from OpenGo.

Participants will play on physical boards, with volunteers relaying the moves to and from OpenGo. The Congress organizers expect high demand for the 60 simultaneous playing slots and are offering the opportunity first to those who have completed their Congress registration by June 20. If more than 60 of those registrants wish to play against OpenGo, a lottery will be held for the seats.

To sign up, select the OpenGo Simul event as part of your registration on the Go Congress website. If you’ve already registered, go to “My Account,” click on an attendee name, then find the “Simul against Facebook OpenGo” section to add the event to your registration. If you haven’t already registered, select the event as part of your new attendee registration.

The schedule of events has been added to the Congress mobile app along with other events and lots of information about the Congress. It is available as a free download for iOS and Android devices.

Categories: Computer Go/AI,Main Page,U.S. Go Congress,U.S./North America

AlphaGo vs. AlphaGo; Game 18: Complicated attack and defense

Sunday May 27, 2018

Game 18 of the AlphaGo self-played series “starts with a big fight on the right side but you won’t be sure which side is attacking and which side is defending,” says Michael Redmond 9p in his latest AlphaGo video commentary, hosted by the AGA E-Journal’s Chris Garlock. “It’s very complicated, and about a quarter of the board for each side dies.” “Another absolutely beautiful game and awesome review,” says viewer GerSHAK. “Excellent,” adds hippophile. “The game was surprisingly easy to follow for AG vs AG, good choice!”

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Categories: Computer Go/AI,Main Page,Master/AlphaGo Commentaries,Redmond Reviews

AlphaGo Zero vs. Master with Michael Redmond 9p: Game 9

Saturday May 19, 2018

After a brief hiatus, Michael Redmond 9p, hosted by the AGA E-Journal’s Chris Garlock, returns with a review of the dramatic ninth game of the AlphaGo Zero vs. Master series. “It’s a bit of an odd game that follows a pattern in these Master-Zero games,” says Redmond, “in which Master makes a big moyo and Zero takes all the territory, and in this game they really take this pattern to an extreme. Master’s got a huge moyo and it can score a big win if it can just make it into actual territory.” The game also features the large high shimari, which AlphaGo has made popular, as well as the early 3-3 invasion.

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Categories: Main Page,Master/AlphaGo Commentaries,Redmond Reviews

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