[Bug-gnubg] Interesting backgammon scoring system

[Øystein Johansen]

Hi all,

I've made contact with Dr. Jakob Garal. He is the inventor of a new
backgammon scoring system. The scoring system mainly differs with normal
backgammon in the way that not only win, gammon and backgammon is the
outcomes of the game, but the "quality" of the win also matters for the
result. You get more points the more of the opponents checkers are left
when you win. A close race is less points than just a close gammon save.

In addition his scoring system lends some principles from bridge. It
uses Match points, international match points (IMP) and victory points.

You can read more about his scoring system, and even play a match/game
in his server at http://www.fairbg.com

Personally I find his scoring system a bit amusing. I believe the
scoring system can introduce new depth to the game, ( in the same way
the doubling cube did about 80 years ago)

Now, it would be really überkool if the scoring system was implemented
in GNU Backgammon! I believe the scoring system can be implemented,
(more or less trivial), but it will be really hard to analyse and
evaluate a position according to this system.

If someone reading this feels this looks like a challenge, or if someone
got curious, go to the site and look at the rules. I'm also quite sure
Jakob will provide you more information if you're interested in
implementing the scoring system.

-Øystein

PS: Analysing according to the scoring system will probably need a full
reimplementation of the neural nets, since there is lots of possible
outcomes of each game.

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