American Go E-Journal » Master/AlphaGo Commentaries

“It could be that the way humans play go is changing, but in this game AlphaGo plays a lot of moves that human players are playing these days,” says Michael Redmond 9P in the latest installment of his game commentaries with E-Journal Managing Editor Chris Garlock. “There’s a lot of fighting, as usual, but the territory is balanced and right up into the endgame there are groups whose life and death status is ambiguous,” Redmond says. “That affects the way the endgame is played, which makes it really interesting.”

Thanks to NGC Executive Director Gurujeet Khalsa for technical support, Jeff Fitzgerald for camera, lighting and sound; produced by Nathan Epstein and Michael Wanek.

Game 23 in the AlphaGo self-play game series gets a very special extended treatment in this episode of Michael Redmond 9P’s commentaries with E-Journal Managing Editor Chris Garlock. The episode was recorded live on Friday, September 7 at the National Go Center in Washington DC, before a live audience, which had braved torrential rains to be on hand. Redmond first provides a brief overview of the game and then the two move to a demonstration board (at 18:40) for a more in-depth analysis, along with Q&A with the live audience. Check out the video here and the commented game record below.

Thanks to Jeff Fitzgerald for camera, lighting and sound, Nathan Epstein for production, NGC Executive Director Gurujeet Khalsa for technical support, and Andrew Jackson for editing.

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.

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.

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!”