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A pattern may assign a minimum (and sometimes also a maximum)
value. For example the Joseki patterns have values which are
prescribed in this way, or ones with a value
field.
One prefers not to use this approach but in practice it is
sometimes needed.
In the fuseki, there are often several moves with identical minimum value. GNU Go chooses randomly between such moves, which ensures some indeterminacy of GNU Go's play. Later in the game, GNU Go's genuine valuation of such a move is used as a secondary criterion.