Using Experience-Based Learning in Game Playing1

This paper describes some initial experimental results in the use and limits of applying experience-based learning techniques to the area of game playing. A system (GINA) has been developed that uses experience-based learning to improve its own base performance level for the game of Othello. A variety of traditional (non-learning) Othello game playing programs have been collected to provide a rich source of ‘‘experiences’’ for GINA. An initial set of experiments has been designed and run in an attempt to understand better the strengths and weaknesses of experiencebased learning from the point of view of skill refinement (taking less time to perform at a given level of play) and from the point of view of skill enhancement (higher quality play). Preliminary results suggest that in this context experienced-based learning can be a highly effective means for improving both the speed and quality of play without having to accumulate experience bases of intolerable size.