the strong learning othello programs

The best othello programs are stronger than any human player, and the learning programs have outstripped handmade programs. Programs use learning techniques to fine-tune the evaluation function, the opening book, and even the search algorithm. This may be the future of performance game programs.

Jay : game learning : othello

Though othello programming is a thriving field, most othello programmers don't write papers or make their source code available. Here's what I could find.

- Bill - the first one
- Darwersi - tuned by a genetic algorithm
- Edax - a current top program, more info to follow
- Hannibal - a strong newer program
- Keyano - a parallel program
- Kitty - an older program with source code
- Logistello - the grand old champion, now retired, with source code
- Ntest - early 2000’s champion with source code
- Zebra - a free version is available

resources

- Annotated bibliography of othello progamming
A thorough listing.

- Gunnar's Othello Page
Includes a section about the workings of othello programs which looks helpful for getting started in othello programming.

- Internet Othello Server
Many programs play on this telnet server.

- othello ftp archive - NEC Research, New Jersey
Assorted othello information, poorly organized.

tournament reports

- The 1st international Paderborn computer-othello tournament (1994, 17 pages)
Michael Buro
Compressed postscript. This report on a 1993 tournament includes descriptions of seven of the twelve participating programs. Of the seven, at least four rely on learning.

- The Third International Paderborn Computer Othello Tournament (1995)
Michael Buro
Text. Includes a few details of some of the participating programs.

- The Fourth International Paderborn Computer Othello Tournament (1996)
Michael Buro
Text. See especially the section about Hannibal.


updated 28 April 2013 (and still needs more updates)