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Arimaa >> Game Analysis >> Game 162322: Belteshazzar vs. bot_Bomb2005P2
(Message started by: Belteshazzar on Nov 30th, 2010, 11:57pm)

Title: Game 162322: Belteshazzar vs. bot_Bomb2005P2
Post by Belteshazzar on Nov 30th, 2010, 11:57pm
http://arimaa.com/arimaa/games/jsShowGame.cgi?gid=162322&s=b

Can someone tell me what I'm doing wrong?  I had a slight material advantage for most of this particular game.  I was perhaps too aggressive advancing rabbits, but experience led me to believe that I had to make something happen, or else the bot would (which it did anyway.)  At what points could I have done something different and likely changed the outcome?

Title: Re: Game 162322: Belteshazzar vs. bot_Bomb2005P2
Post by jdb on Dec 1st, 2010, 9:24am
I took a quick look at the game. I'm no expert, so others may disagree.

Up until move 28, things are ok. After move 28, the cats could be used more effectively. A reasonable plan would be to have each cat guard one of gold's home traps. Also have some rabbits touching the home traps, to prevent capture tactics. This frees the dog and elephant to move up the board to support rabbit advances.

Title: Re: Game 162322: Belteshazzar vs. bot_Bomb2005P2
Post by Nombril on Dec 1st, 2010, 2:02pm
I agree with jdb.  Also, starting at 37g, silver has all non-rabbit pieces on one side of the board.  I agree with your decision to attack the other side with your dog.  But you spent a lot of moves walking around the trap.  Maybe considering bringing three pieces - Dog, Cat, and Rabbit.

In general, I think you could have advanced more steadily, rather than running one piece into danger at a time. (30g, 31g, 38g)

Your instinct to advance rabbits is good, I think you just needed one more dog or cat advanced to help them out.

Title: Re: Game 162322: Belteshazzar vs. bot_Bomb2005P2
Post by Belteshazzar on Dec 1st, 2010, 11:43pm
I just beat this bot (http://arimaa.com/arimaa/gameroom/opengamewin.cgi?client=1&gameid=162545&role=v&side=b), for the first time in a while, and I have two observations.  First, every time I've beaten bot_Bomb2005P2, I've captured most or all of its rabbits.  Secondly, I seem to do better against it when I start with my camel in the back row.   In my losing streak against it, I started most of the games with the camel in front.

Title: Re: Game 162322: Belteshazzar vs. bot_Bomb2005P2
Post by Belteshazzar on Dec 7th, 2010, 5:27pm
I just ended another losing streak (http://arimaa.com/arimaa/gameroom/opengamewin.cgi?client=1&gameid=163661&role=v&side=b) against this bot.  I note that I went back to the 99of9 opening setup, with cats behind the traps and dogs back.

Title: Re: Game 162322: Belteshazzar vs. bot_Bomb2005P2
Post by Belteshazzar on Dec 15th, 2010, 1:33am
I finally beat it again (http://arimaa.com/arimaa/gameroom/opengamewin.cgi?client=1&gameid=164418&role=v&side=b), once again using the classic 99of9 setup.  I think I'm getting better at balancing my forces.  I can't believe the bot's last move; granted, I had a goal that it couldn't stop, but it could have hoped that I didn't quite see the goal and made the best move it could.

Title: Re: Game 162322: Belteshazzar vs. bot_Bomb2005P2
Post by Belteshazzar on Dec 16th, 2010, 5:56am
This (http://arimaa.com/arimaa/gameroom/opengamewin.cgi?client=1&gameid=164564&role=v&side=w) is my longest game that I can remember, at least as far as the number of moves.  I guess I should be more careful about pulling rabbits, as I ended up losing material because I had to devote my turns to stopping enemy rabbits from reaching goal.  I still won, though.

Title: Re: Game 162322: Belteshazzar vs. bot_Bomb2005P2
Post by 722caasi on Dec 27th, 2010, 3:29am
I think, on a more general note, it would help you to look over your position to see if you are achieving anything. It seems that a lot of your moves are useless.



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