Is that the computer program playing as strong as it can? Or have you weakened it (used a low strength setting) so you could play it in an even game?

Just my opinion, but I don't think that's how to make best use of a computer program as opponent. The problem is that you are both making mistakes at about the same level.

It's one thing to be playing a human opponent an even game for the thrill of making fewer mistakes than the other guy and so winning. But ideally you would have a human opponent several stones stronger than you are, no longer making the mistakes typical of your level, so you can learn the consequences of making those mistakes.
Of course you would need a few handicap stones to make a game out of it, but that's not all to the bad. With 3-4 handicap stones you would still be learning to apply joseki and with high handicap learning how to keep connected.

Set your computer program somewhat higher, enough so that with 5-3 stones ypou sometimes win, and when the wins become 50%, drop a handicap stone. See if that doesn't help you learn how not to make the same mistakes over and over again << make a mistake but the opponent doesn't punish you does not teach you to stop making that mistake >>

I also own "smartgo kifu", but I used to find it weaker then Igowin... but I think I can change its level in the settings... I will have a look at that, as I prefer the computer to be the strongest possible and play with hanicap stones.

It's at its strongest level (the programm is "Igowin pro" running an Iphone 4. the level is annonced to be 3kyu but I sometimes play a guy that is 4kyu in my club and I still need 9 stones...

...... This can be clearly seen from Igowin in my old iPad vs my iPad Air.

OK, you have some experience with this program.

Was your experience that even at its highest strength setting it was far too weak to be of any use for you*? Look at the game Oca first presented. Based on your experience playing against this program does that look to you to be Igowin playing at its strongest level?

If not, then isn't something going wrong for Oca? (about getting Igowin to play at its strongest level)

Oca, is there any sort of "help" forum for Igowin? Your question would be along the lines of "mysteriously playing much weaker than advertised" <<if, as I expect, other Igowin users will chime in to confirm that the game you first posted can't be Igowin actually playing at its strongest level>>


* You are much stronger than Oca.

Igowin didn't make any really stupid/odd moves during fuseki, unlike what can be seen in oca's game, where move 6 is already very weird (not counting the weird choice of opening the computer did, though.)

Utility of playing against it? None. I only use computer play for 9x9, where its level is more or less on par with very good players. ........ As far as computer opponents, I much prefer Crazy Stone for iOS. Its level of play is more consistent, although when it blunders, it blunders big.

Crazy Stone running on what hardware.

I much prefer Crazy Stone for iOS.

<< except I see no reason why the algorithm would necessarily be greedy for space

...I much prefer Crazy Stone for iOS. Its level of play is more consistent, although when it blunders, it blunders big.

a)Also, a T61 of around 2007 is comparable (likely worse) in crunch power than an iPad Air.

b) << except I see no reason why the algorithm would necessarily be greedy for space
Huh!? Pattern libraries, fuseki libraries and transposition tables. With Pachi you can easily kill a device withh less than 1GB RAM, and the "recommended" setting uses 3GB for inner trees.

a -- really? What would a benchmark show for the CPU of an iPad Air? Keep in mind that for practical speed need to consider cache to ram transfers*. How much CPU cache does the CPU of your iPad air have?

b -- Space is of course relative to the history of computers. When I first was involved with computers (60's)even a few K was a big deal. When I again began working with computers in the late 70's a few M was a big deal. What is normal, our ideas of what "lots of ram" means vs "normal amount of RAM" changes over time.

So my "not greedy" meant "not needing more than could be expected as normal". Normal relative to what a "standard computer" could be expected to have. This really hasn't changed all that much since the days when those T61's were new and most new laptops don't have a lot more than the 4 gigs of my old T61's.

Devices like the iPad are powerful communication devices with reasonable computing power for simple tasks. As long as they are being used for their intended purposes they will seem just as strong as an ordinary laptop or desktop. Small, low power consumption devices, not intended for doing a "crunch". Which is fine, most users, even users of laptops and desktops aren't using them to do "crunches" either. But asking a machine to be a decently strong go opponent is asking it to do a "crunch". For any of the available programs to be playing at a few dan at real time speeds (realistic time controls) you'd want at least a machine with as much CPU as say an i7-3770 or i7-4770 in it. But a machine like that isn't out of the question for a home user.