Re: Mancala solved!

[Bram Cohen <bram@bitconjurer.org>]

Chris Nash wrote:

> I did notice a few things about their method that were confusing -
> mainly it appears that the "value" of the game for their analysis
> depends only on the remaining position, not the current score (it is a
> very different situation if the score is 24-16 than 20-20 with the
> same stones remaining on this server).

Couldn't that lead to situations in which were 'drawn' because neither
player could guarantee positive expectation from the current situation,
but weren't drawn in practice because one player is ahead enough that they
can sacrifice a lot for the few more stones needed to win?

-Bram