Connect Four: The Tournament Results

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11-10-2004
Sang-drax

Connect Four: The Tournament Results
OK, it's time for the tournament!

We have four excellent coders whose programs will face each other in connect four.

The Rules
- Each player face each other player twice
- Win = 2 points
- Tie = 1 point
- Loss = 0
Games played

PJYelton -- LuckY 2 -- 0
LuckY -- Perspective 0 -- 2
Perspective -- jlou 1 -- 1
PJYelton -- jlou 2 -- 0
LuckY -- jlou 2 -- 0
PJYelton -- Perspective 2 -- 0

LuckY -- PJYelton 0 -- 2
Perspective -- LuckY 2 -- 0
jlou -- Perspective 2 -- 0
jlou -- PJYelton 0 -- 2
jlou -- LuckY 2 -- 0
Perspective -- PJYelton 0 -- 2

Winner: PJYelton!

Standings
1. PJYelton 6 12
2. Perspective 6 7
3. jlou 6 5
4. Lucky 6 2
The judging program
An older version of the judging program can be found in the first thread, which lets you replay the files posted here after each game, so you can follow the game move by move.
11-10-2004
Sang-drax

PJYelton versus Lucky

The first game was played between PJYelton, playing X, and LuckY, which PJ won surprisingly easy!

For those of you who can replay log files, here you go:

Code:

PJYelton X 3 0 LuckY O 2 0 PJYelton X 3 0.561 LuckY O 2 0.01 PJYelton X 3 0.521 LuckY O 3 0 PJYelton X 2 0.681 LuckY O 3 0 PJYelton X 2 0.5 LuckY O 2 0.01 PJYelton X 5 0.921 LuckY O 4 0.01 PJYelton X 4 0
11-10-2004
Govtcheez

The Vegas Odds are

3-1 PJ
10-1 Lucky
19-11 Perspective

PLACE YOUR BETS!
11-10-2004
Sang-drax

I'm beginning to think LuckY lost his first game on purpose to rig the odds. Watch out for lots of gambling on LuckY for the next game.
11-10-2004
PJYelton

Whoohoo, go team go!
11-10-2004
LuckY

Boy, that makes me nuts because I absolutely should not have gone in column four. That is insane because in all my testing it would never move where the opponent's next move would be a win (unless there were no other columns)... Disgusting.

I think I'm gonna be sick. Pull over...

I didn't think I would smash the competition necessarily but I am so furious that I submitted code that does such a thing. Yuck.
11-10-2004
PJYelton

Quote:

The Vegas Odds are

3-1 PJ
10-1 Lucky
19-11 Perspective

PLACE YOUR BETS!

You're giving better odds on an unproven AI over the team in first place? Sheesh, no respect! ;)
11-11-2004
Sang-drax

LuckY versus Perspective
This game was more even, but although it looked good for LuckY at the right side of the board, he eventually lost another game, to Perpective this time.

Code:

LuckY X 3 0 Perspective O 3 1.001 LuckY X 4 0 Perspective O 5 0.01 LuckY X 2 0 Perspective O 1 0 LuckY X 5 0 Perspective O 3 0.882 LuckY X 6 0.01 Perspective O 2 0.611 LuckY X 6 0 Perspective O 2 0.301 LuckY X 2 0 Perspective O 2 0.411 LuckY X 5 0 Perspective O 2 0.291 LuckY X 4 0 Perspective O 1 0.22 LuckY X 0 0 Perspective O 0 0

By the way, jlou has entered the tournament.
11-11-2004
Govtcheez

Quote:

Originally Posted by PJYelton

You're giving better odds on an unproven AI over the team in first place? Sheesh, no respect! ;)

Perspective's not beating me in FF, so I like him more.
11-11-2004
PJYelton

Quote:

Perspective's not beating me in FF, so I like him more.

Ummm... have you seen the standings lately? I'm NOT beating you.

Welcome jlou, the more the merrier!
11-11-2004
Govtcheez

Consider it misdirected rage against kermi, then :)
11-11-2004
jlou

> Welcome jlou, the more the merrier!

I'm not all that confident about my entry, but hey, we'll see.
11-11-2004
PJYelton

Hey Sang-drax, since the connect four interface is yours I'm guessing you have an AI written. Why not enter it if you do? I know usually its uncool for the contest creator to enter but personally I wouldn't care.
11-11-2004
Sang-drax

Quote:

Originally Posted by PJYelton

Hey Sang-drax, since the connect four interface is yours I'm guessing you have an AI written. Why not enter it if you do? I know usually its uncool for the contest creator to enter but personally I wouldn't care.

Actually I think I posted it a while ago on the game dev board. I won't enter the contest, but I'll release everyone's code including mine when the contest ends.
11-12-2004
Sang-drax

Perspective vs. jlou
OK, this was a really weird game. Both players made quite strange moves, especially in the beginning, where both moved in just one column. The game ended in a draw.

Code:

Perspective X 4 0 jlou O 3 0 Perspective X 3 0 jlou O 3 0 Perspective X 3 0.942 jlou O 3 0 Perspective X 3 0.841 jlou O 4 0 Perspective X 2 0.871 jlou O 4 0 Perspective X 2 0.43 jlou O 4 0 Perspective X 4 0 jlou O 4 0 Perspective X 1 0.23 jlou O 2 0 Perspective X 2 0.331 jlou O 1 0 Perspective X 1 0 jlou O 2 0 Perspective X 2 0.211 jlou O 5 0 Perspective X 1 0.18 jlou O 5 0 Perspective X 5 0 jlou O 5 0 Perspective X 5 0.05 jlou O 5 0 Perspective X 0 0.01 jlou O 1 0 Perspective X 1 0 jlou O 6 0 Perspective X 6 0 jlou O 6 0 Perspective X 6 0 jlou O 6 0 Perspective X 6 0 jlou O 0 0 Perspective X 0 0 jlou O 0 0 Perspective X 0 0 jlou O 0 0
11-12-2004
Perspective

>>OK, this was a really weird game
yeah, that was a werid game. I thought i fixed the pile up in one column thing but i might have undone it while i was messing around with other things... PJ's gonna kick my ass if i keep playing like that ;)
11-12-2004
jlou

:)

I'm happy with a tie.
11-12-2004
PJYelton

Piling up in the middle column isn't that bad, I've noticed a number of strong programs out there do just that. I think its because those are the most important squares so the programs race to claim them.
11-12-2004
jlou

Uhh, yeah. That's why I did that!

;)
11-13-2004
Sang-drax

PJYelton vs. Jlou
This was an easy win for PJ -- not much to say. Both players stacked in the middle and jlou didn't realize PJ's threat until it was too late.

Code:

PJYelton X 3 0 jlou O 3 0 PJYelton X 3 0.711 jlou O 3 0 PJYelton X 3 0.911 jlou O 3 0 PJYelton X 2 0.591 jlou O 4 0 PJYelton X 4 0.471 jlou O 4 0 PJYelton X 4 0.43 jlou O 4 0 PJYelton X 1 0.07 jlou O 2 0 PJYelton X 0 0
11-13-2004
PJYelton

Whoohoo :D
11-14-2004
Sang-drax

LuckY vs. jlou
From previous results, jlou would seem like the most probable winner. But this game -- being the shortest possible -- gave LuckY two points.

Code:

LuckY X 3 0 jlou O 3 0 LuckY X 2 0 jlou O 3 0.01 LuckY X 1 0.01 jlou O 4 0 LuckY X 0 0
11-15-2004
Sang-drax

PJYelton vs. Perspective
PJ's AI continues to impress, not only is it fast, but also very good! In the next few days we'll se if he is just as good when he doesn't begin the game.

Code:

PJYelton X 3 0 Perspective O 3 0.932 PJYelton X 3 0.721 Perspective O 3 0.981 PJYelton X 3 0.901 Perspective O 3 0.841 PJYelton X 2 0.511 Perspective O 4 0 PJYelton X 4 0.431 Perspective O 2 0.44 PJYelton X 4 0.41 Perspective O 2 0.47 PJYelton X 2 0.161 Perspective O 5 0 PJYelton X 0 0.431 Perspective O 1 0 PJYelton X 0 0.3 Perspective O 2 0.341 PJYelton X 0 0.12 Perspective O 0 0 PJYelton X 2 0.07 Perspective O 4 0.681 PJYelton X 4 0.05 Perspective O 4 0.15 PJYelton X 6 0.06 Perspective O 5 0.12 PJYelton X 1 0 Perspective O 1 0 PJYelton X 1 0 Perspective O 1 0 PJYelton X 5 0.01 Perspective O 1 0.06 PJYelton X 5 0 Perspective O 5 0.01 PJYelton X 5 0 Perspective O 0 0 PJYelton X 0 0 Perspective O 6 0 PJYelton X 6 0
11-15-2004
Sang-drax

OK, half the games played and PJ seems very strong, but he has begun every game he as played so far. Perhaps it's still open...
11-15-2004
PJYelton

Wow, good game there Perspective, very close.

Not looking forward to having to start second now though :eek:
11-15-2004
Perspective

Quote:

Originally Posted by PJYelton

Wow, good game there Perspective, very close.

Not looking forward to having to start second now though :eek:

i cant replay the files until i restore all my backed up data (did a complete reinstall of fedora core 3 and windows). Looks like it was one of those "avoid column 6 at all costs!!" type of games, gg :)
11-16-2004
Sang-drax

LuckY vs PJYelton
Another win for PJ, who seems to be able to handle playing second just as well.

Code:

LuckY X 3 0 PJYelton O 3 0.53 LuckY X 4 0 PJYelton O 2 0.581 LuckY X 6 0 PJYelton O 5 0.32 LuckY X 6 0 PJYelton O 3 0.861 LuckY X 5 0 PJYelton O 3 0.401 LuckY X 3 0 PJYelton O 4 0.761 LuckY X 5 0 PJYelton O 5 0.29 LuckY X 4 0 PJYelton O 4 0.17 LuckY X 2 0 PJYelton O 4 0.391 LuckY X 6 0 PJYelton O 6 0
11-17-2004
quzah

My AI would be to hang the game and never give an answer if I saw I was going to lose. :D

Quzah.
11-17-2004
Sang-drax

Perspective vs. LuckY
Perspective won after a somewhat strange opening by LuckY.

Code:

Perspective X 4 0 LuckY O 5 0 Perspective X 3 0.901 LuckY O 6 0 Perspective X 3 0.491 LuckY O 6 0 Perspective X 4 0.38 LuckY O 5 0 Perspective X 5 0.251 LuckY O 4 0 Perspective X 4 0.33 LuckY O 5 0 Perspective X 4 0.27 LuckY O 5 0 Perspective X 4 0.23 LuckY O 2 0 Perspective X 2 0.22 LuckY O 1 0 Perspective X 1 0
11-17-2004
Govtcheez

Quote:

Originally Posted by quzah

My AI would be to hang the game and never give an answer if I saw I was going to lose. :D

Quzah.

This is why no one wants to play with you at recess, quzah :p
11-17-2004
VirtualAce

Quote:

My AI would be to hang the game and never give an answer if I saw I was going to lose.

LOL. :D :D :D
11-17-2004
axon

ROFL at quazah and cheez :D

I'd just like to commend Sang-drax for this excellent idea and running the tournament....good job bud! rep++

too bad I missed it :(
11-17-2004
PJYelton

>>too bad I missed it <<

Late comers welcome! Of course you'd need to be done writing it by Sunday ;)
11-17-2004
VirtualAce

Are you guys just writing the AI function to pick the next move or are you writing the entire game? It looks like the front end screens are identical which made me believe you guys just wrote the AI stuff and the main game module uses your code.

Forgive me if I'm being too complex.
11-17-2004
PJYelton

Yup, Sang-drax wrote the interface, we just write the getMove() and whatever helper stuff that function needs.
11-17-2004
VirtualAce

Cool, then I wasn't way off in left field.
11-18-2004
Sang-drax

jlou vs. Perspective
jlou beat Perspective and advances in the scoreboard. Good job. Notice jlou's playing times vs. Perspectives -- jlou has a really simple AI, but apparently it works well against some types of more advanced searches in late game.

Code:

jlou X 3 0 Perspective O 3 1.052 jlou X 3 0.01 Perspective O 3 1.062 jlou X 3 0 Perspective O 3 0.942 jlou X 4 0 Perspective O 5 0 jlou X 2 0 Perspective O 1 0 jlou X 4 0 Perspective O 2 0.34 jlou X 4 0 Perspective O 4 0 jlou X 4 0 Perspective O 2 0.351 jlou X 4 0 Perspective O 5 0.09 jlou X 2 0 Perspective O 2 0.09 jlou X 1 0 Perspective O 1 0 jlou X 1 0 Perspective O 1 0 jlou X 2 0 Perspective O 1 0.06 jlou X 5 0 Perspective O 5 0.04 jlou X 5 0 Perspective O 5 0.02 jlou X 6 0.01 Perspective O 0 0.01 jlou X 6 0 Perspective O 6 0 jlou X 6 0
11-19-2004
Sang-drax

jlou vs PJYelton
Perhaps not surprisingly, PJ won this game also and the only thing that might me able to stop him now would be Jeremy entering the contest. He told me he had an entry, but he hasn't sent it yet.

Code:

jlou X 3 0 PJYelton O 3 0.501 jlou X 3 0 PJYelton O 3 0.471 jlou X 3 0 PJYelton O 3 0.481 jlou X 4 0 PJYelton O 5 0.521 jlou X 2 0 PJYelton O 1 0.4 jlou X 4 0 PJYelton O 4 0.54 jlou X 4 0 PJYelton O 2 0.51 jlou X 4 0 PJYelton O 2 0.38 jlou X 4 0 PJYelton O 2 0 jlou X 2 0 PJYelton O 1 0.01 jlou X 0 0 PJYelton O 0 0
11-19-2004
WebSnozz

This was one of the coolest contest ideas I've seen on this board. I wish I hadn't missed it, because I was taking an AI class this summer.

Maybe next contest should be playing the "dot game." Not sure what most people call it, but it's a game where the board is a grid of dots, and 2 players take turns connecting adjacent dots. If a player makes a connection that completes a square, then they get a point, and also get to make another mark.
11-20-2004
Sang-drax

jlou versus LuckY
Despite his extremly poor performace against LuckY last time, jlou now managed to win the game, securing the third place in the tournament. PJ is already the winner, but will he manage to win all his games. Tomorrow will tell.

Code:

jlou X 3 0 LuckY O 4 0 jlou X 3 0 LuckY O 5 0 jlou X 3 0 LuckY O 3 0 jlou X 3 0 LuckY O 6 0 jlou X 3 0 LuckY O 6 0 jlou X 4 0 LuckY O 5 0 jlou X 4 0 LuckY O 4 0 jlou X 5 0 LuckY O 6 0 jlou X 6 0
11-21-2004
Sang-drax

Perspective vs. PJYelton
I expected a close game, like the last one, but PJ won this one pretty quickyl and goes through the tournament unbeaten!
Congratulations!

Code:

Perspective X 4 0 PJYelton O 3 0.481 Perspective X 3 0 PJYelton O 3 0.32 Perspective X 3 0.971 PJYelton O 3 0.551 Perspective X 3 0.782 PJYelton O 1 0.972 Perspective X 2 0.721 PJYelton O 4 0.421 Perspective X 2 0.411 PJYelton O 4 0.25 Perspective X 4 2.052 PJYelton O 5 0.291 Perspective X 4 0.33 PJYelton O 4 0.2 Perspective X 5 0.101 PJYelton O 2 0 Perspective X 2 0 PJYelton O 5 0
11-21-2004
Sang-drax

The tournament is over and PJYelton is the undisputed winner (give him some rep)!

PJ had a really good evaluation function for his standard alpha-beta search. I experimented a little with an evaluation function vs. PJ and the best I could come up with resulted in a tie. The code is quite ugly though, with the board dimensions being hard-coded into the lookup-table. Originally, I was going to make the board dimensions vary a little between games.

It was surprising jlou managed to end up third with his minimalist AI. It even had som severe bug that didn't come during the tournament, but here is a screenshot of a game against me:

I've also attached everyone's AI source code as well as the judging program. Enjoy.
11-21-2004
PJYelton

Thanks all, this was a fun contest!

Yeah, I'm not happy with the hard coding at all, thats not something I usually do. I completely changed the AI at the last second and unfortunately ran out of time and couldn't write the functions to dynamically create all of the lookup tables.
11-21-2004
Perspective

congrats PJ, twas a good tournament.

...so whens the next AI tournament gonna start?
11-21-2004
Govtcheez

Remind me to stop making bets on here.

Good job, PJ :)
11-21-2004
quzah

Quote:

Originally Posted by Perspective

congrats PJ, twas a good tournament.

...so whens the next AI tournament gonna start?

I'm trying to work out the details of one. I'll post a new thread if I figure out what exactly I want to do. It'll be a maze solving-round robin-brawling sort of thing. I'll call it "Maze Brawler" and as soon as I figure out how exactly the finer points of it work, I'll put up a thread.

Quzah.
11-21-2004
PJYelton

Sweet! I'm looking forward to it :D
11-22-2004
LuckY

Congratulations on winning the championship.

All I can say for myself is I am thoroughly embarassed. I'll think thrice before I enter another competition like this'n. Good job fellas.
11-22-2004
jlou

Congratulations PJ. No doubt about this one. Well done.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sang-drax

It was surprising jlou managed to end up third with his minimalist AI. It even had som severe bug that didn't come during the tournament, but here is a screenshot of a game against me:

That's not a bug, it's just overactive loss avoidance! ;)

Quote:

Originally Posted by LuckY

All I can say for myself is I am thoroughly embarassed. I'll think thrice before I enter another competition like this'n. Good job fellas.

Nahh, more competitors is always better, keep it coming.
11-22-2004
PJYelton

>>Nahh, more competitors is always better, keep it coming.<<

Agreed! The only problem with the competition was the low turnout. Win or lose its fun and you learn something. Besides, don't expect anymore big wins from me in future competitions. I admit that even though this is definately my strongest AI, I have written a couple connect four AI's in the past in various languages so already had an idea of what works and what doesn't.
11-23-2004
Perspective

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sang-drax

The tournament is over and PJYelton is the undisputed winner (give him some rep)!

and give Sang-drax some rep too for hosting such a cool tournament!

Next time we need to try and get more participants though, maybe rep would be a good insentive. Rep for participants would encourage newbers to submit entries, you dont need a state of the art AI to compete in these types of contests. Anyway, its rep all around from me, ill hit PJ twice for winning though ;)
03-11-2005
MystWind

Quote:

but I'll release everyone's code including mine when the contest ends.

I can't wait to see your A.I , I'm an A.I fan ! :D
03-11-2005
Sang-drax

Everyone's source code is attached a few posts up. Just download it. :)
10-05-2005
Alastor

I've downloaded the file, but I don't understand where AI kicks in... could someone please explain in detail how AI in c++ works and how you were supposed to make a program for this competition? Thanks
10-05-2005
Thantos

Don't bump 6+ month old threads.

If you have a question about AI trying asking in the AI forum!

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