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BGonline.org Forums
The solution... (?)
Posted By: Bill Riles In Response To: The solution... (?) (Bill Davis)
Date: Thursday, 18 June 2009, at 5:51 p.m.
After a lot of consideration and contemplation I'm going to fall on Bill Davis' side on this one.
Rob mentioned concern for a lot of 'fragile' egos .... I think there are as many 'hungry' egos.
The current ABT point system and the publishing of results of the various ABT tourneys should suffice.
As Bill correctly notes, win/loss records are inherently inaccurate. The quality of draws varies; the strength of fields vary; hot and cold streaks of lucky dice vary; playing conditions, playing times, match lengths, and playing equipment (clocks, recorders, etc.) vary among tournaments and, of course, between matches within a single tournament.
Beyond certain setting preferences (and there could be some standardization here) computer analyses of match results are accurate and consistent. A person might go 0-3 in a tourney, losing three bad beats, and still have outplayed every other player. We've all won, and lost, matches where gross disparities in 'skill' in the match (as analyzed) were not reflected in who won or lost.
If we want to determine the best player(s), beyond the ABT and perhaps around the globe, I think the most reasonable way is computer analyses of matches -- and, as we all know, that is not the Holy Grail, either. Again, as an example, match circumstances, relative playing skills, etc. may occasionally dictate a player purposely making 'errors' to advance his/her cause in a match -- and, yet, will reflect poorly on their 'skill' as determined by analyses. They may, however, have actually demonstrated more skill by their situational play, imagination, creativity, psychology, player evaluation, intimidation, or any of a myriad of other potential contributing factors.
Nonetheless, I record matches and have no problems making Snowie match files public -- though, again, I observe other players' wishes in this regard. I do not understand why some don't want the files made public -- the matches are played publicly. Too many want to exclude their 'bad' matches -- for any number of untold reasons. I think any match analyzed should be included in any system incorporating computer analyses.
I think the debates will never end as there is NO ABSOLUTE in determining the best player or the best players. However, I am convinced as soon as the results of a system -- ABT, w/l records, cumulative Snowie/GNU ratings, etc. -- are inconsistent with the expectations (desires?) of some, the excuses and calls for revision will begin anew.
Tournament directors -- with decades of experience -- tell us it is counterproductive to participation to publish too many stats. I'm deferring to their collective judgement.
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