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2018 Chess Candidates Tournament

RH
Ross Hyman
Tue, Mar 27, 2018 8:36 PM

The 2018 double round robin chess candidates tournament just ended. The matrix for the tournament is available here:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Candidates_Tournament_2018
Each of the 8 players plays every other player twice (once as white, once as black.)  A player get one point for a win, 1/2 point for a draw, and 0 points for a loss.  The winner, (Fabiano Caruna, who wins the right to play Magnus Carlson for the world championship, the first time a U.S. player will compete for the championship since Bobby Fischer) is the player with the most points. (This is effectively Borda, I think.)

The rank ordering using points:(using the name abbreviations from the Wikipedia martrix) :CAR > (MAM = KAR)> DIN > (KRA = GRI) > SO > ARO

It is interesting to apply Condorcet to this matrix. I kept only those matrix elements with a decisive victory ( one victory and one draw or two victories), dropping everything else.  This produced a very sparse matrix with no cycles and the following Condorcet ranking.

DIN>MAM>KAR>CAR>KRA>GRI>SO>ARO.
which makes Din Laren come in first and Caruna come in fourth.

The 2018 double round robin chess candidates tournament just ended. The matrix for the tournament is available here:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Candidates_Tournament_2018 Each of the 8 players plays every other player twice (once as white, once as black.)  A player get one point for a win, 1/2 point for a draw, and 0 points for a loss.  The winner, (Fabiano Caruna, who wins the right to play Magnus Carlson for the world championship, the first time a U.S. player will compete for the championship since Bobby Fischer) is the player with the most points. (This is effectively Borda, I think.) The rank ordering using points:(using the name abbreviations from the Wikipedia martrix) :CAR > (MAM = KAR)> DIN > (KRA = GRI) > SO > ARO It is interesting to apply Condorcet to this matrix. I kept only those matrix elements with a decisive victory ( one victory and one draw or two victories), dropping everything else.  This produced a very sparse matrix with no cycles and the following Condorcet ranking. DIN>MAM>KAR>CAR>KRA>GRI>SO>ARO. which makes Din Laren come in first and Caruna come in fourth.
RB
robert bristow-johnson
Tue, Mar 27, 2018 8:45 PM

---------------------------- Original Message ----------------------------

Subject: [EM] 2018 Chess Candidates Tournament

From: "Ross Hyman" rahyman@sbcglobal.net

Date: Tue, March 27, 2018 4:36 pm

To: "election-methods@lists.electorama.com" election-methods@lists.electorama.com


The 2018 double round robin chess candidates tournament just ended. The matrix for the tournament is available here:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Candidates_Tournament_2018

Each of the 8 players plays every other player twice (once as white, once as black.)� A player get one point for a win, 1/2 point for a draw, and 0 points for a loss.� The winner, (Fabiano Caruna, who wins the right to play Magnus Carlson for the world championship, the first time a

U.S. player will compete for the championship since Bobby Fischer) is the player with the most points. (This is effectively Borda, I think.)

The rank ordering using points:(using the name abbreviations from the Wikipedia martrix) :CAR > (MAM = KAR)> DIN > (KRA = GRI) > SO > ARO

It is interesting to apply Condorcet to this matrix. I kept only those matrix elements with a decisive victory ( one victory and one draw or two victories), dropping everything else.� This produced a very sparse matrix with no cycles and the following Condorcet ranking.

DIN>MAM>KAR>CAR>KRA>GRI>SO>ARO.

which makes Din Laren come in first and Caruna come in fourth.


so this looks like why condorcet is better than borda.
DIN lost to no one and beat everyone else at least once, right?� �and everyone else has lost toe DIN at least once, right?

DIN looks like the champ to me.

r b-j� � � � � � � � � � � � �rbj@audioimagination.com

"Imagination is more important than knowledge."




---------------------------- Original Message ---------------------------- Subject: [EM] 2018 Chess Candidates Tournament From: "Ross Hyman" <rahyman@sbcglobal.net> Date: Tue, March 27, 2018 4:36 pm To: "election-methods@lists.electorama.com" <election-methods@lists.electorama.com> -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > The 2018 double round robin chess candidates tournament just ended. The matrix for the tournament is available here:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Candidates_Tournament_2018 > Each of the 8 players plays every other player twice (once as white, once as black.)� A player get one point for a win, 1/2 point for a draw, and 0 points for a loss.� The winner, (Fabiano Caruna, who wins the right to play Magnus Carlson for the world championship, the first time a U.S. player will compete for the championship since Bobby Fischer) is the player with the most points. (This is effectively Borda, I think.) > > The rank ordering using points:(using the name abbreviations from the Wikipedia martrix) :CAR > (MAM = KAR)> DIN > (KRA = GRI) > SO > ARO > > It is interesting to apply Condorcet to this matrix. I kept only those matrix elements with a decisive victory ( one victory and one draw or two victories), dropping everything else.� This produced a very sparse matrix with no cycles and the following Condorcet ranking. > > DIN>MAM>KAR>CAR>KRA>GRI>SO>ARO. > which makes Din Laren come in first and Caruna come in fourth. > � so this looks like why condorcet is better than borda. DIN lost to no one and beat everyone else at least once, right?� �and everyone else has lost toe DIN at least once, right? DIN looks like the champ to me. -- r b-j� � � � � � � � � � � � �rbj@audioimagination.com "Imagination is more important than knowledge." � � � �
RH
Ross Hyman
Tue, Mar 27, 2018 8:45 PM

I think hcess is an example where Borda is preferable to Condorcet.  Grand masters are criticized for excessively drawing.  If the winner was chosen by Condorcet, this would exasperate the problem by further incentivizing draws.  Ding Liren is the Condorcet winner because he did not loose a single game.  But he drew 13 times out of 14 games. 

On Tuesday, March 27, 2018 3:36 PM, Ross Hyman <rahyman@sbcglobal.net> wrote:

The 2018 double round robin chess candidates tournament just ended. The matrix for the tournament is available here:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Candidates_Tournament_2018
Each of the 8 players plays every other player twice (once as white, once as black.)  A player get one point for a win, 1/2 point for a draw, and 0 points for a loss.  The winner, (Fabiano Caruna, who wins the right to play Magnus Carlson for the world championship, the first time a U.S. player will compete for the championship since Bobby Fischer) is the player with the most points. (This is effectively Borda, I think.)

The rank ordering using points:(using the name abbreviations from the Wikipedia martrix) :CAR > (MAM = KAR)> DIN > (KRA = GRI) > SO > ARO

It is interesting to apply Condorcet to this matrix. I kept only those matrix elements with a decisive victory ( one victory and one draw or two victories), dropping everything else.  This produced a very sparse matrix with no cycles and the following Condorcet ranking.

DIN>MAM>KAR>CAR>KRA>GRI>SO>ARO.
which makes Din Laren come in first and Caruna come in fourth.

I think hcess is an example where Borda is preferable to Condorcet.  Grand masters are criticized for excessively drawing.  If the winner was chosen by Condorcet, this would exasperate the problem by further incentivizing draws.  Ding Liren is the Condorcet winner because he did not loose a single game.  But he drew 13 times out of 14 games.  On Tuesday, March 27, 2018 3:36 PM, Ross Hyman <rahyman@sbcglobal.net> wrote: The 2018 double round robin chess candidates tournament just ended. The matrix for the tournament is available here:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Candidates_Tournament_2018 Each of the 8 players plays every other player twice (once as white, once as black.)  A player get one point for a win, 1/2 point for a draw, and 0 points for a loss.  The winner, (Fabiano Caruna, who wins the right to play Magnus Carlson for the world championship, the first time a U.S. player will compete for the championship since Bobby Fischer) is the player with the most points. (This is effectively Borda, I think.) The rank ordering using points:(using the name abbreviations from the Wikipedia martrix) :CAR > (MAM = KAR)> DIN > (KRA = GRI) > SO > ARO It is interesting to apply Condorcet to this matrix. I kept only those matrix elements with a decisive victory ( one victory and one draw or two victories), dropping everything else.  This produced a very sparse matrix with no cycles and the following Condorcet ranking. DIN>MAM>KAR>CAR>KRA>GRI>SO>ARO. which makes Din Laren come in first and Caruna come in fourth.
KB
Ken B
Wed, Mar 28, 2018 3:20 AM

What?? It's chess, f'cryin' out loud. You play the game and it's win, draw, or lose.

Chess has its own rules, and it's not an election. Crikey.
- Ken Bearman, Minneapolis MN

SE
Steve Eppley
Wed, Mar 28, 2018 3:52 PM

@Ross Hyman: Ding Liren was not a Condorcet
winner in that chess tournament, because a
Condorcet winner is an alternative that
defeats all other alternatives pairwise. 
Ding Liren didn't defeat all other players;
he won only one game.

Some people might prefer a weaker,
non-standard definition of Condorcet winner:
a candidate that's undefeated pairwise. (Like
Ding Liren.)  In public elections the two
definitions (if implemented by two voting
methods) would behave the same with regard to
the incentives on candidates, potential
candidates, voters, parties, donors, etc.,
because ties are rare when there are many
voters, as there are in public elections.

Don't be misled the way many people have
been, especially mathematicians not familiar
with the social choice theory literature. 
They wrongly believe "Condorcet winner" means
the winner according to Condorcet's method,
and thus that Condorcet's method simply
elects the candidate that defeats all others
pairwise, and is indecisive when no such
candidate exists.  "Condorcet winner" is a
term of art (a.k.a. jargon).  Unlike Borda
winner, which is not a term of art and merely
means the winner according to Borda's method,
and Black's method, which is not a term of
art and merely means the winner according to
Black's method, etc.

Because sometimes there is no candidate that
defeats all others pairwise, the confusion
has caused a number of writers to wrongly
claim Condorcet's method is often indecisive
and therefore unsuitable for elections. (In
simulations with random voting, the frequency
of scenarios in which no candidate defeats
all others increases asymptotically to 100%
as the number of candidates increases to
infinity, and as the number of voters
increases.)  But the voting method Condorcet
promoted in his famous 1785 essay is very
decisive:

CONDORCET'S METHOD (copied from page lxviii
of his 1785 essay):
"Il résulte de toutes les réflexions que nous
venon de faire,
cette règle génerale, que toutes les fois
qu'on est forcé d'élire,
il faut prendre successivement toutes les
propositions qui ont
la pluralité, en commençant par celles qui
ont la plus grande,
& prononcer d'après le résultat que forment
ces premières
propositions, aussi-tôt qu'elles en forment
un, sans avoir égard
aux propositions moins probables qui les
suivent."

Here's its literal translation to English:
"The result of all the reflections that we
have just done,
is this general rule, for all the times when
one is forced to elect:
one must take successively all the
propositions that have
the plurality, commencing with those that
have the largest,
and pronounce the result that forms from
these first
propositions, as soon as they form it,
without regard
for the less probable propositions that
follow them."

The phrase "this general rule, for all the
times when one is forced to elect" meant he
was referring to a very decisive voting method.

A "proposition" is a pairwise statement like
"x should finish ahead of y."  It has the
plurality if the number of voters who agree
with it exceeds the number of voters who
agree with the opposite proposition.

"Taking successively commencing with the
largest" means considering the propositions
one at a time, from largest to smallest.
(Like MAM and Tideman's Ranked Pairs do. 
However, MAM and Ranked Pairs measure size in
different ways: MAM measures the size of the
majority, whereas Ranked Pairs subtracts the
size of the opposing minority from the size
of the majority.  The word "plurality" can
mean either of those: either the larger
count, or the difference between the larger
count and the opposing count.)

The "result" is an order of finish, like "x
finishes ahead of y, y finishes ahead of z,
etc."  It's a collection of pairwise results,
each of which is obtained either directly
from a proposition that has a plurality, or
transitively from a combination of pairwise
results obtained directly.  An example of a
pairwise result obtained transitively is the
pairwise result "x finishes ahead of z"
obtained transitively from "x finishes ahead
of y" and "y finishes ahead of z."  By
definition, an order of finish is an
ordering, and is thus transitive and acyclic.

"Without regard for the less probable
propositions that follow" means disregarding
propositions that conflict (cycle) with the
results already obtained from propositions
that have larger pluralities.  For example,
disregarding "z should finish ahead of x"
after having obtained the pairwise results
that "x finishes ahead of y" and "y finishes
ahead of z."

Note: No language in the definition of
Condorcet's method refers to an alternative
that defeats all others pairwise. (Nor to an
alternative that's undefeated pairwise.) 
Although it can be deduced that Condorcet's
method will elect an alternative that defeats
all others, it will also elect an alternative
even when no alternative defeats all
others... in other words it's very decisive. 
People who write about "Condorcet completion"
rules -- first check whether there exists an
alternative that defeats all others and then,
if no such alternative exists, proceed in
some other way to find the winner -- have
misunderstood Condorcet's method, which is
already "complete" (very decisive when there
are many voters, because when there are many
voters it's rare that any two majorities are
the same size, and rare that any pairings are
ties).

Some prominent authors have wrongly claimed
Condorcet's method is Maxmin (elect the
candidate whose largest defeat is the
smallest), which is equivalent to
successively deleting the smallest majority
until a candidate is undefeated pairwise. 
With Maxmin, an alternative defeated pairwise
by all others (a.k.a. "Condorcet Loser") can
finish in first place, because all of its
defeats could be small majorities, and thus
could be deleted.  But with Condorcet's
method a Condorcet Loser, if one exists,
always finishes in last place.  None of its
defeats conflict with any other pairwise
results, so none of its defeats will be
disregarded and thus all other candidates
will finish ahead of it.

--Steve

On 3/27/2018 4:45 PM, Ross Hyman wrote:

I think chess is an example where Borda is
preferable to Condorcet.  Grand masters are
criticized for excessively drawing.  If the
winner was chosen by Condorcet, this would
exasperate the problem by further
incentivizing draws.  Ding Liren is the
Condorcet winner because he did not lose a
single game.  But he drew 13 times out of
14 games.

-snip-

@Ross Hyman: Ding Liren was not a Condorcet winner in that chess tournament, because a Condorcet winner is an alternative that defeats all other alternatives pairwise.  Ding Liren didn't defeat all other players; he won only one game. Some people might prefer a weaker, non-standard definition of Condorcet winner: a candidate that's undefeated pairwise. (Like Ding Liren.)  In public elections the two definitions (if implemented by two voting methods) would behave the same with regard to the incentives on candidates, potential candidates, voters, parties, donors, etc., because ties are rare when there are many voters, as there are in public elections. Don't be misled the way many people have been, especially mathematicians not familiar with the social choice theory literature.  They wrongly believe "Condorcet winner" means the winner according to Condorcet's method, and thus that Condorcet's method simply elects the candidate that defeats all others pairwise, and is indecisive when no such candidate exists.  "Condorcet winner" is a term of art (a.k.a. jargon).  Unlike Borda winner, which is not a term of art and merely means the winner according to Borda's method, and Black's method, which is not a term of art and merely means the winner according to Black's method, etc. Because sometimes there is no candidate that defeats all others pairwise, the confusion has caused a number of writers to wrongly claim Condorcet's method is often indecisive and therefore unsuitable for elections. (In simulations with random voting, the frequency of scenarios in which no candidate defeats all others increases asymptotically to 100% as the number of candidates increases to infinity, and as the number of voters increases.)  But the voting method Condorcet promoted in his famous 1785 essay is very decisive: CONDORCET'S METHOD (copied from page lxviii of his 1785 essay): "Il résulte de toutes les réflexions que nous venon de faire, cette règle génerale, que toutes les fois qu'on est forcé d'élire, il faut prendre successivement toutes les propositions qui ont la pluralité, en commençant par celles qui ont la plus grande, & prononcer d'après le résultat que forment ces premières propositions, aussi-tôt qu'elles en forment un, sans avoir égard aux propositions moins probables qui les suivent." Here's its literal translation to English: "The result of all the reflections that we have just done, is this general rule, for all the times when one is forced to elect: one must take successively all the propositions that have the plurality, commencing with those that have the largest, and pronounce the result that forms from these first propositions, as soon as they form it, without regard for the less probable propositions that follow them." The phrase "this general rule, for all the times when one is forced to elect" meant he was referring to a very decisive voting method. A "proposition" is a pairwise statement like "x should finish ahead of y."  It has the plurality if the number of voters who agree with it exceeds the number of voters who agree with the opposite proposition. "Taking successively commencing with the largest" means considering the propositions one at a time, from largest to smallest. (Like MAM and Tideman's Ranked Pairs do.  However, MAM and Ranked Pairs measure size in different ways: MAM measures the size of the majority, whereas Ranked Pairs subtracts the size of the opposing minority from the size of the majority.  The word "plurality" can mean either of those: either the larger count, or the difference between the larger count and the opposing count.) The "result" is an order of finish, like "x finishes ahead of y, y finishes ahead of z, etc."  It's a collection of pairwise results, each of which is obtained either directly from a proposition that has a plurality, or transitively from a combination of pairwise results obtained directly.  An example of a pairwise result obtained transitively is the pairwise result "x finishes ahead of z" obtained transitively from "x finishes ahead of y" and "y finishes ahead of z."  By definition, an order of finish is an ordering, and is thus transitive and acyclic. "Without regard for the less probable propositions that follow" means disregarding propositions that conflict (cycle) with the results already obtained from propositions that have larger pluralities.  For example, disregarding "z should finish ahead of x" after having obtained the pairwise results that "x finishes ahead of y" and "y finishes ahead of z." Note: No language in the definition of Condorcet's method refers to an alternative that defeats all others pairwise. (Nor to an alternative that's undefeated pairwise.)  Although it can be deduced that Condorcet's method will elect an alternative that defeats all others, it will also elect an alternative even when no alternative defeats all others... in other words it's very decisive.  People who write about "Condorcet completion" rules -- first check whether there exists an alternative that defeats all others and then, if no such alternative exists, proceed in some other way to find the winner -- have misunderstood Condorcet's method, which is already "complete" (very decisive when there are many voters, because when there are many voters it's rare that any two majorities are the same size, and rare that any pairings are ties). Some prominent authors have wrongly claimed Condorcet's method is Maxmin (elect the candidate whose largest defeat is the smallest), which is equivalent to successively deleting the smallest majority until a candidate is undefeated pairwise.  With Maxmin, an alternative defeated pairwise by all others (a.k.a. "Condorcet Loser") can finish in first place, because all of its defeats could be small majorities, and thus could be deleted.  But with Condorcet's method a Condorcet Loser, if one exists, always finishes in last place.  None of its defeats conflict with any other pairwise results, so none of its defeats will be disregarded and thus all other candidates will finish ahead of it. --Steve ------------------ On 3/27/2018 4:45 PM, Ross Hyman wrote: > I think chess is an example where Borda is > preferable to Condorcet.  Grand masters are > criticized for excessively drawing.  If the > winner was chosen by Condorcet, this would > exasperate the problem by further > incentivizing draws.  Ding Liren is the > Condorcet winner because he did not lose a > single game.  But he drew 13 times out of > 14 games. -snip-
RB
robert bristow-johnson
Thu, Mar 29, 2018 8:03 AM

---------------------------- Original Message ----------------------------

Subject: [EM] "Condorcet winner" versus "winner of Condorcet's method" (was Re: 2018 Chess Candidates Tournament)

From: "Steve Eppley" SEppley@alumni.caltech.edu

Date: Wed, March 28, 2018 11:52 am

To: election-methods@lists.electorama.com


@Ross Hyman: Ding Liren was not a Condorcet

winner in that chess tournament, because a

Condorcet winner is an alternative that

defeats all other alternatives pairwise.�

Ding Liren didn't defeat all other players;

he won only one game.

yes, i would not call that the CW.

Some people might prefer a weaker,

non-standard definition of Condorcet winner:

a candidate that's undefeated pairwise. (Like

Ding Liren.)� In public elections the two

definitions (if implemented by two voting

methods) would behave the same with regard to

the incentives on candidates, potential

candidates, voters, parties, donors, etc.,

because ties are rare when there are many

voters, as there are in public elections.


and the reason for that is that with an electorate of decent size (like at least hundreds of voters) the probability of a tie in any pairing of candidates is very low.

Don't be misled the way many people have

been, especially mathematicians not familiar

with the social choice theory literature.�

They wrongly believe "Condorcet winner" means

the winner according to Condorcet's method,

and thus that Condorcet's method simply

elects the candidate that defeats all others

pairwise, and is indecisive when no such

candidate exists.� "Condorcet winner" is a

term of art (a.k.a. jargon).� Unlike Borda

winner, which is not a term of art and merely

means the winner according to Borda's method,

and Black's method, which is not a term of

art and merely means the winner according to

Black's method, etc.

Because sometimes there is no candidate that

defeats all others pairwise, the confusion

has caused a number of writers to wrongly

claim Condorcet's method is often indecisive

and therefore unsuitable for elections.

i just read what i see here and what i see in the EM wiki and in Wikipedia.� i hadn't thunk there was a "Condorcet's method" but that there are a few decisive methods that are "Condorcet compliant", which means these methods
will elect the CW if a CW exists (and i really think that in most public elections with a ranked-order ballot, that a CW will exist virtually all of the time, and most of the time, i'll bet that the IRV method will also elect the CW, but not always).

(In�simulations with random

voting, the frequency

of scenarios in which no candidate defeats

all others increases asymptotically to 100%

as the number of candidates increases to

infinity, and as the number of voters

increases.)� But the voting method Condorcet

promoted in his famous 1785 essay is very

decisive:

CONDORCET'S METHOD (copied from page lxviii

of his 1785 essay):

Here's its literal translation to English:

"The result of all the reflections that we

have just done,

is this general rule, for all the times when

one is forced to elect:

one must take successively all the

propositions that have

the plurality, commencing with those that

have the largest,

and pronounce the result that forms from

these first

propositions, as soon as they form it,

without regard

for the less probable propositions that

follow them."

The phrase "this general rule, for all the

times when one is forced to elect" meant he

was referring to a very decisive voting method.

A "proposition" is a pairwise statement like

"x should finish ahead of y."� It has the

plurality if the number of voters who agree

with it exceeds the number of voters who

agree with the opposite proposition.

"Taking successively commencing with the

largest" means considering the propositions

one at a time, from largest to smallest.

(Like MAM and Tideman's Ranked Pairs do.�

However, MAM and Ranked Pairs measure size in

different ways: MAM measures the size of the

majority, whereas Ranked Pairs subtracts the

size of the opposing minority from the size

of the majority.


that's RP-margins.� there is also RP-winningVotes.� how does this method from Condorcet differ from RP-winningVotes?

� The word "plurality" can

mean either of those: either the larger

count, or the difference between the larger

count and the opposing count.)

The "result" is an order of finish, like "x

finishes ahead of y, y finishes ahead of z,

etc."� It's a collection of pairwise results,

each of which is obtained either directly

from a proposition that has a plurality, or

transitively from a combination of pairwise

results obtained directly.� An example of a

pairwise result obtained transitively is the

pairwise result "x finishes ahead of z"

obtained transitively from "x finishes ahead

of y" and "y finishes ahead of z."� By

definition, an order of finish is an

ordering, and is thus transitive and acyclic.

"Without regard for the less probable

propositions that follow" means disregarding

propositions that conflict (cycle) with the

results already obtained from propositions

that have larger pluralities.

I cannot see how that differs from Ranked Pairs.

� For example,

disregarding "z should finish ahead of x"

after having obtained the pairwise results

that "x finishes ahead of y" and "y finishes

ahead of z."

Note: No language in the definition of

Condorcet's method refers to an alternative

that defeats all others pairwise. (Nor to an

alternative that's undefeated pairwise.)�

Although it can be deduced that Condorcet's

method will elect an alternative that defeats

all others, it will also elect an alternative

even when no alternative defeats all

others... in other words it's very decisive.�

so this historical "Condorcet's method" always elects a single-winner and, if a pairwise champion exists, it will elect that pairwise champion.� so "Condorcet's method" is Condorcet-compliant.

People who write about "Condorcet completion"

rules -- first check whether there exists an

alternative that defeats all others and then,

if no such alternative exists, proceed in

some other way to find the winner -- have

misunderstood Condorcet's method,


or, perhaps we haven't heard of Condorcet's "method".� but if they apply�"Condorcet completion" rules to another Condorcet-compliant method that doesn't need completion rules (such as RP or Schulze), i think that reflects the same
misunderstanding.

which is

already "complete" (very decisive when there

are many voters, because when there are many

voters it's rare that any two majorities are

the same size, and rare that any pairings are

ties).

yup.
thanks for the information, Steve.

--

r b-j� � � � � � � � � � � � �rbj@audioimagination.com

"Imagination is more important than knowledge."




---------------------------- Original Message ---------------------------- Subject: [EM] "Condorcet winner" versus "winner of Condorcet's method" (was Re: 2018 Chess Candidates Tournament) From: "Steve Eppley" <SEppley@alumni.caltech.edu> Date: Wed, March 28, 2018 11:52 am To: election-methods@lists.electorama.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > @Ross Hyman: Ding Liren was not a Condorcet > winner in that chess tournament, because a > Condorcet winner is an alternative that > defeats all other alternatives pairwise.� > Ding Liren didn't defeat all other players; > he won only one game. yes, i would not call that the CW. > Some people might prefer a weaker, > non-standard definition of Condorcet winner: > a candidate that's undefeated pairwise. (Like > Ding Liren.)� In public elections the two > definitions (if implemented by two voting > methods) would behave the same with regard to > the incentives on candidates, potential > candidates, voters, parties, donors, etc., > because ties are rare when there are many > voters, as there are in public elections. � and the reason for that is that with an electorate of decent size (like at least hundreds of voters) the probability of a tie in any pairing of candidates is very low. > Don't be misled the way many people have > been, especially mathematicians not familiar > with the social choice theory literature.� > They wrongly believe "Condorcet winner" means > the winner according to Condorcet's method, > and thus that Condorcet's method simply > elects the candidate that defeats all others > pairwise, and is indecisive when no such > candidate exists.� "Condorcet winner" is a > term of art (a.k.a. jargon).� Unlike Borda > winner, which is not a term of art and merely > means the winner according to Borda's method, > and Black's method, which is not a term of > art and merely means the winner according to > Black's method, etc. > > Because sometimes there is no candidate that > defeats all others pairwise, the confusion > has caused a number of writers to wrongly > claim Condorcet's method is often indecisive > and therefore unsuitable for elections. i just read what i see here and what i see in the EM wiki and in Wikipedia.� i hadn't thunk there was a "Condorcet's method" but that there are a few decisive methods that are "Condorcet compliant", which means these methods will elect the CW **if** a CW exists (and i really think that in most public elections with a ranked-order ballot, that a CW will exist virtually all of the time, and most of the time, i'll bet that the IRV method will also elect the CW, but not always). > (In�simulations with random voting, the frequency > of scenarios in which no candidate defeats > all others increases asymptotically to 100% > as the number of candidates increases to > infinity, and as the number of voters > increases.)� But the voting method Condorcet > promoted in his famous 1785 essay is very > decisive: > > CONDORCET'S METHOD (copied from page lxviii > of his 1785 essay): > > Here's its literal translation to English: > "The result of all the reflections that we > have just done, > is this general rule, for all the times when > one is forced to elect: > one must take successively all the > propositions that have > the plurality, commencing with those that > have the largest, > and pronounce the result that forms from > these first > propositions, as soon as they form it, > without regard > for the less probable propositions that > follow them." > > The phrase "this general rule, for all the > times when one is forced to elect" meant he > was referring to a very decisive voting method. > > A "proposition" is a pairwise statement like > "x should finish ahead of y."� It has the > plurality if the number of voters who agree > with it exceeds the number of voters who > agree with the opposite proposition. > > "Taking successively commencing with the > largest" means considering the propositions > one at a time, from largest to smallest. > (Like MAM and Tideman's Ranked Pairs do.� > However, MAM and Ranked Pairs measure size in > different ways: MAM measures the size of the > majority, whereas Ranked Pairs subtracts the > size of the opposing minority from the size > of the majority. � that's RP-margins.� there is also RP-winningVotes.� how does this method from Condorcet differ from RP-winningVotes? >� The word "plurality" can > mean either of those: either the larger > count, or the difference between the larger > count and the opposing count.) > > The "result" is an order of finish, like "x > finishes ahead of y, y finishes ahead of z, > etc."� It's a collection of pairwise results, > each of which is obtained either directly > from a proposition that has a plurality, or > transitively from a combination of pairwise > results obtained directly.� An example of a > pairwise result obtained transitively is the > pairwise result "x finishes ahead of z" > obtained transitively from "x finishes ahead > of y" and "y finishes ahead of z."� By > definition, an order of finish is an > ordering, and is thus transitive and acyclic. > > "Without regard for the less probable > propositions that follow" means disregarding > propositions that conflict (cycle) with the > results already obtained from propositions > that have larger pluralities. I cannot see how that differs from Ranked Pairs. >� For example, > disregarding "z should finish ahead of x" > after having obtained the pairwise results > that "x finishes ahead of y" and "y finishes > ahead of z." > > Note: No language in the definition of > Condorcet's method refers to an alternative > that defeats all others pairwise. (Nor to an > alternative that's undefeated pairwise.)� > Although it can be deduced that Condorcet's > method will elect an alternative that defeats > all others, it will also elect an alternative > even when no alternative defeats all > others... in other words it's very decisive.� so this historical "Condorcet's method" always elects a single-winner and, **if** a pairwise champion exists, it will elect that pairwise champion.� so "Condorcet's method" is Condorcet-compliant. > People who write about "Condorcet completion" > rules -- first check whether there exists an > alternative that defeats all others and then, > if no such alternative exists, proceed in > some other way to find the winner -- have > misunderstood Condorcet's method, � or, perhaps we haven't heard of Condorcet's "method".� but if they apply�"Condorcet completion" rules to another Condorcet-compliant method that doesn't need completion rules (such as RP or Schulze), i think that reflects the same misunderstanding. > which is > already "complete" (very decisive when there > are many voters, because when there are many > voters it's rare that any two majorities are > the same size, and rare that any pairings are > ties). yup. thanks for the information, Steve. -- r b-j� � � � � � � � � � � � �rbj@audioimagination.com "Imagination is more important than knowledge." � � � �
RL
Richard Lung
Thu, Mar 29, 2018 6:34 PM

I've added a chapter on Condorcet method to my book on FAB STV: Four
Averages Binomial Single Transferable Vote, published last week.
From
Richard Lung.

On 29/03/2018 09:03, robert bristow-johnson wrote:

---------------------------- Original Message ----------------------------
Subject: [EM] "Condorcet winner" versus "winner of Condorcet's method"
(was Re: 2018 Chess Candidates Tournament)
From: "Steve Eppley" SEppley@alumni.caltech.edu
Date: Wed, March 28, 2018 11:52 am
To: election-methods@lists.electorama.com

@Ross Hyman: Ding Liren was not a Condorcet
winner in that chess tournament, because a
Condorcet winner is an alternative that
defeats all other alternatives pairwise.
Ding Liren didn't defeat all other players;
he won only one game.

yes, i would not call that the CW.

Some people might prefer a weaker,
non-standard definition of Condorcet winner:
a candidate that's undefeated pairwise. (Like
Ding Liren.)  In public elections the two
definitions (if implemented by two voting
methods) would behave the same with regard to
the incentives on candidates, potential
candidates, voters, parties, donors, etc.,
because ties are rare when there are many
voters, as there are in public elections.

and the reason for that is that with an electorate of decent size
(like at least hundreds of voters) the probability of a tie in any
pairing of candidates is very low.

Don't be misled the way many people have
been, especially mathematicians not familiar
with the social choice theory literature.
They wrongly believe "Condorcet winner" means
the winner according to Condorcet's method,
and thus that Condorcet's method simply
elects the candidate that defeats all others
pairwise, and is indecisive when no such
candidate exists.  "Condorcet winner" is a
term of art (a.k.a. jargon).  Unlike Borda
winner, which is not a term of art and merely
means the winner according to Borda's method,
and Black's method, which is not a term of
art and merely means the winner according to
Black's method, etc.

Because sometimes there is no candidate that
defeats all others pairwise, the confusion
has caused a number of writers to wrongly
claim Condorcet's method is often indecisive
and therefore unsuitable for elections.

i just read what i see here and what i see in the EM wiki and in
Wikipedia.  i hadn't thunk there was a "Condorcet's method" but that
there are a few decisive methods that are "Condorcet compliant", which
means these methods will elect the CW if a CW exists (and i really
think that in most public elections with a ranked-order ballot, that a
CW will exist virtually all of the time, and most of the time, i'll
bet that the IRV method will also elect the CW, but not always).

(In simulations with random voting, the frequency
of scenarios in which no candidate defeats
all others increases asymptotically to 100%
as the number of candidates increases to
infinity, and as the number of voters
increases.)  But the voting method Condorcet
promoted in his famous 1785 essay is very
decisive:

CONDORCET'S METHOD (copied from page lxviii
of his 1785 essay):

Here's its literal translation to English:
"The result of all the reflections that we
have just done,
is this general rule, for all the times when
one is forced to elect:
one must take successively all the
propositions that have
the plurality, commencing with those that
have the largest,
and pronounce the result that forms from
these first
propositions, as soon as they form it,
without regard
for the less probable propositions that
follow them."

The phrase "this general rule, for all the
times when one is forced to elect" meant he
was referring to a very decisive voting method.

A "proposition" is a pairwise statement like
"x should finish ahead of y."  It has the
plurality if the number of voters who agree
with it exceeds the number of voters who
agree with the opposite proposition.

"Taking successively commencing with the
largest" means considering the propositions
one at a time, from largest to smallest.
(Like MAM and Tideman's Ranked Pairs do.
However, MAM and Ranked Pairs measure size in
different ways: MAM measures the size of the
majority, whereas Ranked Pairs subtracts the
size of the opposing minority from the size
of the majority.

that's RP-margins.  there is also RP-winningVotes.  how does this
method from Condorcet differ from RP-winningVotes?

The word "plurality" can
mean either of those: either the larger
count, or the difference between the larger
count and the opposing count.)

The "result" is an order of finish, like "x
finishes ahead of y, y finishes ahead of z,
etc."  It's a collection of pairwise results,
each of which is obtained either directly
from a proposition that has a plurality, or
transitively from a combination of pairwise
results obtained directly.  An example of a
pairwise result obtained transitively is the
pairwise result "x finishes ahead of z"
obtained transitively from "x finishes ahead
of y" and "y finishes ahead of z."  By
definition, an order of finish is an
ordering, and is thus transitive and acyclic.

"Without regard for the less probable
propositions that follow" means disregarding
propositions that conflict (cycle) with the
results already obtained from propositions
that have larger pluralities.

I cannot see how that differs from Ranked Pairs.

For example,
disregarding "z should finish ahead of x"
after having obtained the pairwise results
that "x finishes ahead of y" and "y finishes
ahead of z."

Note: No language in the definition of
Condorcet's method refers to an alternative
that defeats all others pairwise. (Nor to an
alternative that's undefeated pairwise.)
Although it can be deduced that Condorcet's
method will elect an alternative that defeats
all others, it will also elect an alternative
even when no alternative defeats all
others... in other words it's very decisive.

so this historical "Condorcet's method" always elects a single-winner
and, if a pairwise champion exists, it will elect that pairwise
champion.  so "Condorcet's method" is Condorcet-compliant.

People who write about "Condorcet completion"
rules -- first check whether there exists an
alternative that defeats all others and then,
if no such alternative exists, proceed in
some other way to find the winner -- have
misunderstood Condorcet's method,

or, perhaps we haven't heard of Condorcet's "method".  but if they
apply "Condorcet completion" rules to another Condorcet-compliant
method that doesn't need completion rules (such as RP or Schulze), i
think that reflects the same misunderstanding.

which is
already "complete" (very decisive when there
are many voters, because when there are many
voters it's rare that any two majorities are
the same size, and rare that any pairings are
ties).

yup.

thanks for the information, Steve.

--

r b-j                        rbj@audioimagination.com

"Imagination is more important than knowledge."


Election-Methods mailing list - see http://electorama.com/em for list info

I've added a chapter on Condorcet method to my book on FAB STV: Four Averages Binomial Single Transferable Vote, published last week. From Richard Lung. On 29/03/2018 09:03, robert bristow-johnson wrote: > > > > ---------------------------- Original Message ---------------------------- > Subject: [EM] "Condorcet winner" versus "winner of Condorcet's method" > (was Re: 2018 Chess Candidates Tournament) > From: "Steve Eppley" <SEppley@alumni.caltech.edu> > Date: Wed, March 28, 2018 11:52 am > To: election-methods@lists.electorama.com > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > > > @Ross Hyman: Ding Liren was not a Condorcet > > winner in that chess tournament, because a > > Condorcet winner is an alternative that > > defeats all other alternatives pairwise. > > Ding Liren didn't defeat all other players; > > he won only one game. > > yes, i would not call that the CW. > > > > Some people might prefer a weaker, > > non-standard definition of Condorcet winner: > > a candidate that's undefeated pairwise. (Like > > Ding Liren.) In public elections the two > > definitions (if implemented by two voting > > methods) would behave the same with regard to > > the incentives on candidates, potential > > candidates, voters, parties, donors, etc., > > because ties are rare when there are many > > voters, as there are in public elections. > > and the reason for that is that with an electorate of decent size > (like at least hundreds of voters) the probability of a tie in any > pairing of candidates is very low. > > > > Don't be misled the way many people have > > been, especially mathematicians not familiar > > with the social choice theory literature. > > They wrongly believe "Condorcet winner" means > > the winner according to Condorcet's method, > > and thus that Condorcet's method simply > > elects the candidate that defeats all others > > pairwise, and is indecisive when no such > > candidate exists. "Condorcet winner" is a > > term of art (a.k.a. jargon). Unlike Borda > > winner, which is not a term of art and merely > > means the winner according to Borda's method, > > and Black's method, which is not a term of > > art and merely means the winner according to > > Black's method, etc. > > > > Because sometimes there is no candidate that > > defeats all others pairwise, the confusion > > has caused a number of writers to wrongly > > claim Condorcet's method is often indecisive > > and therefore unsuitable for elections. > > i just read what i see here and what i see in the EM wiki and in > Wikipedia. i hadn't thunk there was a "Condorcet's method" but that > there are a few decisive methods that are "Condorcet compliant", which > means these methods will elect the CW **if** a CW exists (and i really > think that in most public elections with a ranked-order ballot, that a > CW will exist virtually all of the time, and most of the time, i'll > bet that the IRV method will also elect the CW, but not always). > > > (In simulations with random voting, the frequency > > of scenarios in which no candidate defeats > > all others increases asymptotically to 100% > > as the number of candidates increases to > > infinity, and as the number of voters > > increases.) But the voting method Condorcet > > promoted in his famous 1785 essay is very > > decisive: > > > > CONDORCET'S METHOD (copied from page lxviii > > of his 1785 essay): > > > > Here's its literal translation to English: > > "The result of all the reflections that we > > have just done, > > is this general rule, for all the times when > > one is forced to elect: > > one must take successively all the > > propositions that have > > the plurality, commencing with those that > > have the largest, > > and pronounce the result that forms from > > these first > > propositions, as soon as they form it, > > without regard > > for the less probable propositions that > > follow them." > > > > The phrase "this general rule, for all the > > times when one is forced to elect" meant he > > was referring to a very decisive voting method. > > > > A "proposition" is a pairwise statement like > > "x should finish ahead of y." It has the > > plurality if the number of voters who agree > > with it exceeds the number of voters who > > agree with the opposite proposition. > > > > "Taking successively commencing with the > > largest" means considering the propositions > > one at a time, from largest to smallest. > > (Like MAM and Tideman's Ranked Pairs do. > > However, MAM and Ranked Pairs measure size in > > different ways: MAM measures the size of the > > majority, whereas Ranked Pairs subtracts the > > size of the opposing minority from the size > > of the majority. > > that's RP-margins. there is also RP-winningVotes. how does this > method from Condorcet differ from RP-winningVotes? > > > > The word "plurality" can > > mean either of those: either the larger > > count, or the difference between the larger > > count and the opposing count.) > > > > The "result" is an order of finish, like "x > > finishes ahead of y, y finishes ahead of z, > > etc." It's a collection of pairwise results, > > each of which is obtained either directly > > from a proposition that has a plurality, or > > transitively from a combination of pairwise > > results obtained directly. An example of a > > pairwise result obtained transitively is the > > pairwise result "x finishes ahead of z" > > obtained transitively from "x finishes ahead > > of y" and "y finishes ahead of z." By > > definition, an order of finish is an > > ordering, and is thus transitive and acyclic. > > > > "Without regard for the less probable > > propositions that follow" means disregarding > > propositions that conflict (cycle) with the > > results already obtained from propositions > > that have larger pluralities. > > I cannot see how that differs from Ranked Pairs. > > > > For example, > > disregarding "z should finish ahead of x" > > after having obtained the pairwise results > > that "x finishes ahead of y" and "y finishes > > ahead of z." > > > > Note: No language in the definition of > > Condorcet's method refers to an alternative > > that defeats all others pairwise. (Nor to an > > alternative that's undefeated pairwise.) > > Although it can be deduced that Condorcet's > > method will elect an alternative that defeats > > all others, it will also elect an alternative > > even when no alternative defeats all > > others... in other words it's very decisive. > > so this historical "Condorcet's method" always elects a single-winner > and, **if** a pairwise champion exists, it will elect that pairwise > champion. so "Condorcet's method" is Condorcet-compliant. > > > > People who write about "Condorcet completion" > > rules -- first check whether there exists an > > alternative that defeats all others and then, > > if no such alternative exists, proceed in > > some other way to find the winner -- have > > misunderstood Condorcet's method, > > or, perhaps we haven't heard of Condorcet's "method". but if they > apply "Condorcet completion" rules to another Condorcet-compliant > method that doesn't need completion rules (such as RP or Schulze), i > think that reflects the same misunderstanding. > > > > which is > > already "complete" (very decisive when there > > are many voters, because when there are many > > voters it's rare that any two majorities are > > the same size, and rare that any pairings are > > ties). > > yup. > > thanks for the information, Steve. > > > -- > > r b-j rbj@audioimagination.com > > "Imagination is more important than knowledge." > > > > ---- > Election-Methods mailing list - see http://electorama.com/em for list info