RE: [Bug-gnubg] gnubg.sql - stats from my database

[Ian Shaw]

Hi,

I can't answer your question about using the database functions, but I
can offer some general advice. 

Your questions are about how lucky you and gnubg are. If you analyse a
match and view the statistics you will see some data about the luck for
each side (but only a summary, not in the detail you ask about).

However, if you really want to know why you lose so much then spend time
examining the errors you made. Yes, luck plays a large part in
backgammon, and the luckier player will generally win the game. However,
in the long run, luck evens out and it's the errors you make that will
cause your downfall when you aren't quite lucky enough. You can't do
anything about the luck, so spend your valuable time on something that
WILL make a difference to you results.

Many people have wasted a lot of time searching for evidence that the
dice are rigged. Bear in mind that the gnubg source code is available
for download, yet no-one has ever pointed out a piece of code and said,
"Look! Here's the proof."

Also, the technique for developing a strong backgammon playing program
is well known and has been repeated by many. It is probably easier than
developing a convincing dice cheat. If you like, experiment with the
dice-manipulation mode; see what a game looks like when you only get
slightly luck or slightly unlucky rolls.

In short, look to your errors, and enjoy using gnubg!

Hope this helps,
Ian Shaw




> -----Original Message-----
> From: address@hidden 
> [mailto:address@hidden 
> On Behalf Of address@hidden
> Sent: 14 November 2010 20:10
> To: address@hidden
> Subject: [Bug-gnubg] gnubg.sql - stats from my database
> 
> Hallo all,
> 
> I've been playing GNU-BG for a few weeks now and am getting 
> on ok (well, winning about 2 or 3 out of 10 lol) but I keep 
> feeling like I would like to know more about why I lose so much :)
> 
> Is it
> possible to query the built in database?
> 
> The stats for comparing my
> rolls against the CPUs I would particularly like to see are:
> 
> 1. Total
> number of doubles rolled (per match / plus total all time) 
> for me / GNU. 
> 2. Total pip count per game / per match / total all time - 
> for me / GNU 3. Total number of doubles rolled whilst on the 
> bar (if this is possible to create) for me / GNU 4. Total 
> number of roll attempts to 'get back on' when (n=1 to 5) 
> slots are open in opponents home area (if this is possible to 
> create) for me / GNU 5. Anything other stat which you think 
> may be useful?
> 
> 'All things being equal', all of the above figures should 
> more or less even up, over time.
> 
> I've found this gnubg.
> sql file  on my hard drive but I have no idea how to query 
> it, and my MS Access program will not read it.
> 
> Any help writing out these queries
> and briefly instructing how to use them would be greatly appreciated.
> 
> 
> I would like to then be able to import these results into Excel to 
> create graphs etc
> 
> I think that being given the transparency of these 
> figures and making them readily available would go a long way to 
> finally proving to n00bs like me that GNU-BG does not cheat, 
> as well as 
> reassuring me that my computer is not possessed! :)
> 
> Many Thanks for 
> any help!
> 
> djskope
>