Re:Who cares about 9x9? (Score 1)

I'm a weak amateur in the 12 kyu range, and while you're right - of course - let me add that:

• I think 9 stones on a 9x9 would be more equivalent to 9x4=36 stones on a 19x19 (the 9x9 is popular because it has almost exactly 1/4 as many points as the "full" 19x19).
• There is an exercise which pro's use to practice attacking - take a 18 point handicap (sometimes more, sometimes less), and try not just to win, but to kill every stone your oppponent plays. In other words, nothing short of total devastation is taken as being good enough. A pro (i.e. anyone over 1 dan) is expected to be able to do this. So a 9 stone handicap on a 9x9 board would mean the expectations on the (human) pro would be much larger than just winning.
• Nonetheless, on the programmer's web site, he mentions beating a pro on the 9x9. I assume the web site is simply not quite up-to-date. This might however be the source of the confusion.