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From: Pitbull <schaefer@malaga.math.uni-augsburg.de>
Subject: Re: ALgorithm Wanted!
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Date: Fri, 5 Jan 1996 13:45:37 GMT
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Will Dwinnell <predictor@delphi.com> wrote:
>
> Karl Meissner <meissner@cns.bu.edu> writes:
>  
> >: Then What is the difference between static and dynamic situation?
> >
> >A static situation is where the correct move for A when faced with
> >B is always the same.  For example when faced with  a werewolf use silver.
> >Simple..a dynamic situation is where you have to take into account
> >a number of factors and there may be no "best" move.
>  
> ..
> I'll admit to not having followed this conversation closely, but I
> would think that there would always be an optimal strategy, even
> if it is not a perfect one, "optimal" being defined as there is no
> better strategy, given the information at hand.
> ..
> Will Dwinnell

You are not completely wrong, but what is meant is something like this:
Say you have a game called scissors-fire-paper-well

scissors cuts paper, stalemates with fire, falls into well
fire burns paper, and is extinguished by a well
paper covers well.

win/loss odds are:
scissors 1/1
fire     1/1
paper    1/2
well     2/1

Following your words, taking 'well' always is the best move.
Obviously, it is not as simple as that.

Your words are again correct if you include the strategy followed by
your opponent in the information(=dynamic situation).
And you must not mistake 'move' for 'strategy'.
The optimal strategy will be to make moves with some fixed or varying
probabilty. If the situation is 'static' , the optimal strategy will 
be an optimal move.

BTW: This is why it wasn't exactly right to flame the guy who posted
 "Check this game - Kung Fu Fighting = it really has great AI"
 It may very well have great AI. 

Peter

