Skip to main content

A Randomized Game-Tree Search Algorithm for Shogi Based on Bayesian Approach

  • Conference paper

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Computer Science ((LNAI,volume 8862))

Abstract

We propose a new randomized game-tree search algorithm based on Bayesian Approach. It consists of two main concepts; (1) using multiple game-tree search with a randomized evaluation function as simulations, (2) treating evaluated values as probability distribution and propagating it through the game-tree using the Bayesian Approach concept. Proposed method is focusing on applying to tactical games such as Shogi, in which MCTS is not currently effective. We apply the method for Shogi using a top-level computer player application which is constructed with many domain-specific search techniques. Through large amount of self-play evaluations, we conclude our method can achieve good win ratio against an ordinary game-tree search based player when enough computing resource is available. We also precisely examine performance behaviors of the method, and depict designing directions.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Buying options

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. Baum, E.B., Smith, W.D.: A bayesian approach to relevance in game playing. Artificial Intelligence 97(1-2), 195–242 (1997)

    Article  MATH  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  2. Coulom, R.: Efficient selectivity and backup operators in monte-carlo tree search. In: van den Herik, H.J., Ciancarini, P., Donkers, H.H.L.M(J.) (eds.) CG 2006. LNCS, vol. 4630, pp. 72–83. Springer, Heidelberg (2007)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  3. Gelly, S., Wang, Y., Munos, R., Teytaud, O.: Modification of UCT with Patterns in Monte-Carlo Go. Tech. Rep. RR-6062, INRIA (2006), http://hal.inria.fr/inria-00117266

  4. Hart, J.P., Shogan, A.W.: Semi-greedy heuristics: An empirical study. Operations Research Letters 6(3), 107–114 (1987)

    Article  MATH  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  5. Hoki, K., Kaneko, T., Yokoyama, D., Obata, T., Yamashita, H., Tsuruoka, Y., Ito, T.: A system-design outline of the distributed-shogi-system akara 2010. In: 2013 14th ACIS International Conference on Software Engineering, Artificial Intelligence, Networking and Parallel/Distributed Computing (SNPD), pp. 466–471 (July 2013)

    Google Scholar 

  6. Hoki, K., Kaneko, T.: The global landscape of objective functions for the optimization of shogi piece values with a game-tree search. In: van den Herik, H.J., Plaat, A. (eds.) ACG 2011. LNCS, vol. 7168, pp. 184–195. Springer, Heidelberg (2012), http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-31866-5_16

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  7. Hoki, K., Muramatsu, M.: Efficiency of three forward-pruning techniques in shogi: Futility pruning, null-move pruning, and late move reduction (LMR). Entertainment Computing 3(3), 51–57 (2012), http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1875952111000450

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Kishimoto, A., Winands, M., Müller, M., Saito, J.T.: Game-tree search using proof numbers: The first twenty years. ICGA Journal 35(3), 131–156 (2012)

    Google Scholar 

  9. Kocsis, L., Szepesvári, C.: Bandit based monte-carlo planning. In: Fürnkranz, J., Scheffer, T., Spiliopoulou, M. (eds.) ECML 2006. LNCS (LNAI), vol. 4212, pp. 282–293. Springer, Heidelberg (2006), http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/11871842_29

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  10. Kozelek, T.: Methods of mcts and the game arimaa. Charles University, Prague, Faculty of Mathematics and Physics (2009)

    Google Scholar 

  11. Lorentz, R.J.: Amazons discover monte-carlo. In: van den Herik, H.J., Xu, X., Ma, Z., Winands, M.H.M. (eds.) CG 2008. LNCS, vol. 5131, pp. 13–24. Springer, Heidelberg (2008)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  12. Sato, Y., Takahashi, D.: A shogi program based on monte-carlo tree search. In: The 13th Game Programming Workshop (2008) (in Japanese)

    Google Scholar 

  13. Takeuchi, S., Kaneko, T., Yamaguchi, K.: Evaluation function based monte carlo tree search in shogi. In: The 15th Game Programming Workshop, pp. 86–89 (2010) (in Japanese)

    Google Scholar 

  14. Tsuruoka, Y., Yokoyama, D., Chikayama, T.: Game-tree search algorithm based on realization probability. ICGA Journal 25(3), 145–152 (2002)

    Google Scholar 

  15. Winands, M.H.M., Björnsson, Y., Saito, J.-T.: Monte-carlo tree search solver. In: van den Herik, H.J., Xu, X., Ma, Z., Winands, M.H.M. (eds.) CG 2008. LNCS, vol. 5131, pp. 25–36. Springer, Heidelberg (2008), http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-87608-3_3

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  16. Winands, M.H.M., Björnsson, Y.: Evaluation function based monte-carlo LOA. In: van den Herik, H.J., Spronck, P. (eds.) ACG 2009. LNCS, vol. 6048, pp. 33–44. Springer, Heidelberg (2010), http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-12993-3_4

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  17. Zobrist, A.L.: A new hashing method with application for game playing. ICCA Journal 13(2), 69–73 (1990)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2014 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

About this paper

Cite this paper

Yokoyama, D., Kitsuregawa, M. (2014). A Randomized Game-Tree Search Algorithm for Shogi Based on Bayesian Approach. In: Pham, DN., Park, SB. (eds) PRICAI 2014: Trends in Artificial Intelligence. PRICAI 2014. Lecture Notes in Computer Science(), vol 8862. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-13560-1_81

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-13560-1_81

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-13559-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-13560-1

  • eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics