David Kane wrote:

Guy Macon wrote...

We do know that slight differences in search depth and pruning
make a huge difference in computer vs. computer games, and far
less difference in computer vs. human games.

What is your source?

A while back I asked whether the above was true (it seems
reasonable that one program seeing just a bit deeper would
be able to avoid various bad situations) and Dr. Hyatt said
that his experience was that it is true. It should be fairly
easy to find in the archives.

That alone is enough to explain why computer vs. computer
matches have fewer draws.

Not even close. You might be able to put together an argument that
it contributes in some way, but you have yet to do so.

Imagine factor X, that has the attribute of multiplying any
difference in skill between players with beards, but not
between bearded and shaven players.

It is trivial to show from the statistics that matches between
very strong and very weak players end up in draws less often
than matches between evenly matched players.

All other things being equal, if factor X exists, it will
reduce the comparative number of draws among Hassidic Jews,
Amish, and Muslims, and will increase the comparative number
of draws among Mormons and active military personel.


--
Guy Macon
http://www.guymacon.com/