#| README FILE FOR CONNECT5
Author: Dominique Shelton (0850681)
Lab: Thurs 7pm
Date Due: 12/19/01
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I. Purpose of the Program:  
Given a board of the proper dimensions and content*, return a move that will advance the game in favor of X.  
(See http://www.owlnet.rice.edu/~comp210/Assignments/Connect5/connect5.html for details.) 


II. How to execute the Program:
After pressing execute, paste a board of the proper dimensions and content into the interactions window. Press enter.


III. Here is how the program works:

I separately analyze each row, column, and relevent diagonal (relevent = at least 5 in length).  I assign a number from 0 to 4000 to each empty cell, indicating the benefit to a particular side (O or X). A potential win gets 4000 points.  I do this both from an O's and an X's perspective. Then, I overlay the row, column, and relevent diagonal scores for X (offensive) and for O (defensive).

Rules for assigning points:
This deals with pattern recognition.  I first define a few patterns:

                      How the section of board would look if move is made:
WINNER 4000           ;XXXXX
FOURFREE 690          ;-XXXX-
THREEFREE 170         ;-XXX-
FOUR1OPP 150          ;OXXXX-
THREESPACE 150        ;-XX-X-
FOUR1OPPSPACE 135     ;OX-XXX-
TWOFREE 17            ;-XX-
TWOSPACE 15           ;-X-X-
THREE1OPP 13          ;OXXX-
TWO1OPP 1             ;OXX-
NONE .1               ;cell is of no significance
MISC 3                ;just in case I missed something

In order to recognize these patterns, I need to look at a row.  For each empty cell, I analyze a vector containing four cells before and four cells after the empty cell (if they exist).  I call this a chunk**. This way, I can analyze all possible strings of five resulting from that one empty cell.  Then, I go through an insane amount of if's and cond's, to decide which pattern applies to that particular chunk.

I get the maximum score both by analyzing the board from my perspective (offense) and my opponent's perspective (defense).  If my maximum score is 4000, I automatically take it.  Otherwise, I compare the offensive and defensive scores.  If the defensive score is greater than or equal to a constant I set (called AGGRESIVENESS), I move into the corresponding cell.  Otherwise, I move into the cell corresponding to the maximum offensive score.


* See board definition in program code.
**  Highly technical name.  However, not as good as the cytochrome oxidase-rich dual-opponent columns of occipital cortex in the brain.  They are called "blobs", seriously.