Mathematics and Artificial Intelligence in Backgammon -- Douglas Zare, March 12, 2002

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Backgammon is the most mathematical classical game. The speaker will present the 
history of computer programs which play backgammon, the classical theorems of 
backgammon, and more recent results motivated by the top computer programs which 
are stronger than all but the best human players. Interlaced with the mathematics, 
the speaker will discuss the basics of neural networks, why neural networks are 
appropriate tools in backgammon, and some of their weaknesses and how to correct them.