diff --git a/katrain/__main__.py b/katrain/__main__.py
index f833d5a..76961c8 100644
--- a/katrain/__main__.py
+++ b/katrain/__main__.py
@@ -3,7 +3,8 @@
 import os
 
 os.environ["KCFG_KIVY_LOG_LEVEL"] = os.environ.get("KCFG_KIVY_LOG_LEVEL", "warning")
-os.environ["KIVY_AUDIO"] = "ffpyplayer"  # force working audio
+if "KIVY_AUDIO" not in os.environ:
+    os.environ["KIVY_AUDIO"] = "sdl2"  # seems to be most stable / some players hard crash
 
 # next, icon
 from katrain.core.utils import find_package_resource, PATHS
@@ -161,7 +162,10 @@ class KaTrainGui(Screen, KaTrainBase):
         # update move tree
         self.controls.move_tree.current_node = self.game.current_node
 
-    def update_state(
+    def update_state(self, redraw_board=False):  # redirect to message queue thread
+        self("update_state", redraw_board=redraw_board)
+
+    def _do_update_state(
         self, redraw_board=False
     ):  # is called after every message and on receiving analyses and config changes
         # AI and Trainer/auto-undo handlers
@@ -214,7 +218,8 @@ class KaTrainGui(Screen, KaTrainBase):
                     continue
                 fn = getattr(self, f"_do_{msg.replace('-','_')}")
                 fn(*args, **kwargs)
-                self.update_state()
+                if msg != "update_state":
+                    self._do_update_state()
             except Exception as exc:
                 self.log(f"Exception in processing message {msg} {args}: {exc}", OUTPUT_ERROR)
                 traceback.print_exc()
diff --git a/katrain/config.json b/katrain/config.json
index 8b111d4..7b18d4f 100644
--- a/katrain/config.json
+++ b/katrain/config.json
@@ -69,6 +69,10 @@
     },
     "ai": {
         "ai:default": {},
+        "ai:handicap": {
+            "automatic": true,
+            "pda": 0
+        },
         "ai:jigo": {
             "target_score": 0.5
         },
diff --git a/katrain/core/ai.py b/katrain/core/ai.py
index 3e8bb92..187741e 100644
--- a/katrain/core/ai.py
+++ b/katrain/core/ai.py
@@ -21,6 +21,8 @@ from katrain.core.constants import (
     AI_TERRITORY,
     AI_PICK,
     AI_RANK,
+    AI_HANDICAP,
+    OUTPUT_ERROR,
 )
 from katrain.core.game import Game, GameNode, Move
 
@@ -93,8 +95,51 @@ def generate_local_tenuki_weights(ai_mode, ai_settings, policy_grid, cn, size):
     return weighted_coords, ai_thoughts
 
 
+def request_ai_analysis(game: Game, cn: GameNode, extra_settings: Dict) -> Dict:
+    error = False
+    analysis = None
+
+    def set_analysis(a):
+        nonlocal analysis
+        analysis = a
+
+    def set_error(a):
+        nonlocal error
+        game.katrain.log("Error in PDA-based analysis", a)
+        error = True
+
+    engine = game.engines[cn.player]
+    engine.request_analysis(
+        cn,
+        callback=set_analysis,
+        error_callback=set_error,
+        priority=1_000,
+        ownership=False,
+        extra_settings=extra_settings,
+    )
+    while not (error or analysis):
+        time.sleep(0.01)
+        engine.check_alive(exception_if_dead=True)
+    return analysis
+
+
 def generate_ai_move(game: Game, ai_mode: str, ai_settings: Dict) -> Tuple[Move, GameNode]:
     cn = game.current_node
+
+    if ai_mode == AI_HANDICAP:
+        pda = ai_settings["pda"]
+        if ai_settings["automatic"]:
+            n_handicaps = len(game.root.get_list_property("AB", []))
+            MOVE_VALUE = 14  # could be rules dependent
+            b_stones_advantage = max(n_handicaps - 1, 0) - (cn.komi - MOVE_VALUE / 2) / MOVE_VALUE
+            pda = min(3, max(-3, -b_stones_advantage * (3 / 8)))  # max PDA at 8 stone adv, normal 9 stone game is 8.46
+        handicap_analysis = request_ai_analysis(
+            game, cn, {"playoutDoublingAdvantage": pda, "playoutDoublingAdvantagePla": "BLACK"}
+        )
+        if not handicap_analysis:
+            game.katrain.log(f"Error getting handicap-based move", OUTPUT_ERROR)
+            ai_mode = AI_DEFAULT
+
     while not cn.analysis_ready:
         time.sleep(0.01)
         game.engines[cn.next_player].check_alive(exception_if_dead=True)
@@ -188,6 +233,9 @@ def generate_ai_move(game: Game, ai_mode: str, ai_settings: Dict) -> Tuple[Move,
                 raise ValueError(f"Unknown Policy-based AI mode {ai_mode}")
     else:  # Engine based move
         candidate_ai_moves = cn.candidate_moves
+        if ai_mode == AI_HANDICAP:
+            candidate_ai_moves = handicap_analysis["moveInfos"]
+
         top_cand = Move.from_gtp(candidate_ai_moves[0]["move"], player=cn.next_player)
         if top_cand.is_pass:  # don't play suicidal to balance score - pass when it's best
             aimove = top_cand
@@ -214,11 +262,14 @@ def generate_ai_move(game: Game, ai_mode: str, ai_settings: Dict) -> Tuple[Move,
                 aimove = topmove[2]
                 ai_thoughts += f"ScoreLoss strategy found {len(candidate_ai_moves)} candidate moves (best {top_cand.gtp()}) and chose {aimove.gtp()} (weight {topmove[1]:.3f}, point loss {topmove[0]:.1f}) based on score weights."
             else:
-                if ai_mode != AI_DEFAULT:
+                if ai_mode not in [AI_DEFAULT, AI_HANDICAP]:
                     game.katrain.log(f"Unknown AI mode {ai_mode} or policy missing, using default.", OUTPUT_INFO)
                     ai_thoughts += f"Strategy {ai_mode} not found or unexpected fallback."
                 aimove = top_cand
-                ai_thoughts += f"Default strategy found {len(candidate_ai_moves)} moves returned from the engine and chose {aimove.gtp()} as top move"
+                if ai_mode == AI_HANDICAP:
+                    ai_thoughts += f"Handicap strategy found {len(candidate_ai_moves)} moves returned from the engine and chose {aimove.gtp()} as top move. PDA based score {cn.format_score(handicap_analysis['rootInfo']['scoreLead'])} and win rate {cn.format_winrate(handicap_analysis['rootInfo']['winrate'])}"
+                else:
+                    ai_thoughts += f"Default strategy found {len(candidate_ai_moves)} moves returned from the engine and chose {aimove.gtp()} as top move"
     game.katrain.log(f"AI thoughts: {ai_thoughts}", OUTPUT_DEBUG)
     played_node = game.play(aimove)
     played_node.ai_thoughts = ai_thoughts
diff --git a/katrain/core/constants.py b/katrain/core/constants.py
index 1e5c0fe..f90a925 100644
--- a/katrain/core/constants.py
+++ b/katrain/core/constants.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 VERSION = "1.3.0"
 HOMEPAGE = "https://github.com/sanderland/katrain"
-CONFIG_MIN_VERSION = "1.2.0"  # keep config files from this version
+CONFIG_MIN_VERSION = "1.3.0"  # keep config files from this version
 
 OUTPUT_ERROR = -1
 OUTPUT_KATAGO_STDERR = -0.5
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ GAME_TYPES = [PLAYING_NORMAL, PLAYING_TEACHING]
 MODE_PLAY, MODE_ANALYZE = "play", "analyze"
 
 AI_DEFAULT = "ai:default"
+AI_HANDICAP = "ai:handicap"
 AI_SCORELOSS = "ai:scoreloss"
 AI_WEIGHTED = "ai:p:weighted"
 AI_JIGO = "ai:jigo"
@@ -30,13 +31,14 @@ AI_RANK = "ai:p:rank"
 
 AI_CONFIG_DEFAULT = AI_SCORELOSS
 
-AI_STRATEGIES_ENGINE = [AI_DEFAULT, AI_SCORELOSS, AI_JIGO]
+AI_STRATEGIES_ENGINE = [AI_DEFAULT, AI_HANDICAP, AI_SCORELOSS, AI_JIGO]
 AI_STRATEGIES_PICK = [AI_PICK, AI_LOCAL, AI_TENUKI, AI_INFLUENCE, AI_TERRITORY, AI_RANK]
 AI_STRATEGIES_POLICY = [AI_WEIGHTED, AI_POLICY] + AI_STRATEGIES_PICK
 AI_STRATEGIES = AI_STRATEGIES_ENGINE + AI_STRATEGIES_POLICY
 AI_STRATEGIES_RECOMMENDED_ORDER = [
     AI_DEFAULT,
     AI_RANK,
+    AI_HANDICAP,
     AI_SCORELOSS,
     AI_POLICY,
     AI_WEIGHTED,
@@ -49,20 +51,6 @@ AI_STRATEGIES_RECOMMENDED_ORDER = [
 ]
 
 
-AI_STRENGTH = {  # not used
-    AI_DEFAULT: "9d",
-    AI_POLICY: "4d",
-    AI_JIGO: "?d",
-    AI_SCORELOSS: "5k",
-    AI_WEIGHTED: "5k",
-    AI_PICK: "8k",
-    AI_LOCAL: "5k",
-    AI_TENUKI: "8k",
-    AI_INFLUENCE: "8k",
-    AI_TERRITORY: "5k",
-    AI_RANK: "15k - 3d",
-}
-
 AI_OPTION_VALUES = {
     "kyu_rank": [(k, f"{k}[strength:kyu]") for k in range(15, 0, -1)]
     + [(k, f"{1-k}[strength:dan]") for k in range(0, -3, -1)],
@@ -77,4 +65,6 @@ AI_OPTION_VALUES = {
     "stddev": [x / 2 for x in range(21)],
     "line_weight": range(0, 11),
     "threshold": [2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5],
+    "automatic": "bool",
+    "pda": [(x / 10, f"{'W' if x<0 else 'B'}+{abs(x/10):.1f}") for x in range(-30, 31)],
 }
diff --git a/katrain/core/engine.py b/katrain/core/engine.py
index b0c81fc..69065be 100644
--- a/katrain/core/engine.py
+++ b/katrain/core/engine.py
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ import subprocess
 import threading
 import time
 import traceback
-from typing import Callable, Optional
+from typing import Callable, Optional, Dict
 
 from katrain.core.constants import OUTPUT_DEBUG, OUTPUT_ERROR, OUTPUT_EXTRA_DEBUG, OUTPUT_KATAGO_STDERR
 from katrain.core.game_node import GameNode
@@ -206,9 +206,11 @@ class KataGoEngine:
         time_limit=True,
         priority: int = 0,
         ownership: Optional[bool] = None,
-        next_move=None,
+        next_move: Optional[GameNode] = None,
+        extra_settings: Optional[Dict] = None,
     ):
-        moves = [m for node in analysis_node.nodes_from_root for m in node.move_with_placements]
+        moves = [m for node in analysis_node.nodes_from_root for m in node.moves]
+        initial_stones = analysis_node.root.placements
         if next_move:
             moves.append(next_move)
         if ownership is None:
@@ -233,10 +235,11 @@ class KataGoEngine:
             "komi": analysis_node.komi,
             "boardXSize": size_x,
             "boardYSize": size_y,
-            "includeOwnership": ownership,
+            "includeOwnership": ownership and not next_move,
             "includePolicy": not next_move,
+            "initialStones": [[m.player, m.gtp()] for m in initial_stones],
             "moves": [[m.player, m.gtp()] for m in moves],
-            "overrideSettings": settings,
+            "overrideSettings": {**settings, **(extra_settings or {})},
         }
         self.send_query(query, callback, error_callback, next_move)
-        analysis_node.analysis_visits_requested = max(analysis_node.analysis_visits_requested,visits)
\ No newline at end of file
+        analysis_node.analysis_visits_requested = max(analysis_node.analysis_visits_requested, visits)
diff --git a/katrain/gui/popups.py b/katrain/gui/popups.py
index 23d3ee0..5a7b618 100644
--- a/katrain/gui/popups.py
+++ b/katrain/gui/popups.py
@@ -322,12 +322,16 @@ class ConfigAIPopup(QuickConfigGui):
             self.options_grid.add_widget(DescriptionLabel(text=k, size_hint_x=0.25))
             if k in AI_OPTION_VALUES:
                 values = AI_OPTION_VALUES[k]
-                if isinstance(values[0], Tuple):  # with descriptions, possibly language-specific
-                    fixed_values = [(v, re.sub(r"\[(.*?)\]", lambda m: i18n._(m[1]), l)) for v, l in values]
-                else:  # just numbers
-                    fixed_values = [(v, str(v)) for v in values]
-                widget = LabelledSelectionSlider(values=fixed_values, input_property=f"ai/{strategy}/{k}")
-                widget.set_value(v)
+                if values == "bool":
+                    widget = LabelledCheckBox(input_property=f"ai/{strategy}/{k}")
+                    widget.active = v
+                else:
+                    if isinstance(values[0], Tuple):  # with descriptions, possibly language-specific
+                        fixed_values = [(v, re.sub(r"\[(.*?)\]", lambda m: i18n._(m[1]), l)) for v, l in values]
+                    else:  # just numbers
+                        fixed_values = [(v, str(v)) for v in values]
+                    widget = LabelledSelectionSlider(values=fixed_values, input_property=f"ai/{strategy}/{k}")
+                    widget.set_value(v)
                 self.options_grid.add_widget(wrap_anchor(widget))
             else:
                 self.options_grid.add_widget(
diff --git a/katrain/i18n/locales/cn/LC_MESSAGES/katrain.mo b/katrain/i18n/locales/cn/LC_MESSAGES/katrain.mo
index 8376848..78189a9 100644
Binary files a/katrain/i18n/locales/cn/LC_MESSAGES/katrain.mo and b/katrain/i18n/locales/cn/LC_MESSAGES/katrain.mo differ
diff --git a/katrain/i18n/locales/cn/LC_MESSAGES/katrain.po b/katrain/i18n/locales/cn/LC_MESSAGES/katrain.po
index eaa954a..fc88241 100644
--- a/katrain/i18n/locales/cn/LC_MESSAGES/katrain.po
+++ b/katrain/i18n/locales/cn/LC_MESSAGES/katrain.po
@@ -584,3 +584,15 @@ msgstr "Re-analyze entire game"
 #. TODO
 msgid "analysis:continuous"
 msgstr "Continuously analyze"
+
+#. TODO
+msgid "ai:handicap"
+msgstr "KataGo Handicap"
+
+#. TODO
+msgid "aihelp:handicap"
+msgstr ""
+"KataGo optimized for playing higher handicap games.The `pda` setting "
+"corresponds to `playoutDoublingAdvantage` in KataGo, from black's "
+"perspective.When `automatic` is set, KaTrain will find a suitable value "
+"automatically."
diff --git a/katrain/i18n/locales/de/LC_MESSAGES/katrain.mo b/katrain/i18n/locales/de/LC_MESSAGES/katrain.mo
index bcfc2c6..cc9fac0 100644
Binary files a/katrain/i18n/locales/de/LC_MESSAGES/katrain.mo and b/katrain/i18n/locales/de/LC_MESSAGES/katrain.mo differ
diff --git a/katrain/i18n/locales/de/LC_MESSAGES/katrain.po b/katrain/i18n/locales/de/LC_MESSAGES/katrain.po
index cbab7b4..c7548c4 100644
--- a/katrain/i18n/locales/de/LC_MESSAGES/katrain.po
+++ b/katrain/i18n/locales/de/LC_MESSAGES/katrain.po
@@ -627,3 +627,15 @@ msgstr "Re-analyze entire game"
 #. TODO
 msgid "analysis:continuous"
 msgstr "Continuously analyze"
+
+#. TODO
+msgid "ai:handicap"
+msgstr "KataGo Handicap"
+
+#. TODO
+msgid "aihelp:handicap"
+msgstr ""
+"KataGo optimized for playing higher handicap games.The `pda` setting "
+"corresponds to `playoutDoublingAdvantage` in KataGo, from black's "
+"perspective.When `automatic` is set, KaTrain will find a suitable value "
+"automatically."
diff --git a/katrain/i18n/locales/en/LC_MESSAGES/katrain.mo b/katrain/i18n/locales/en/LC_MESSAGES/katrain.mo
index c6ca5ca..8090a20 100644
Binary files a/katrain/i18n/locales/en/LC_MESSAGES/katrain.mo and b/katrain/i18n/locales/en/LC_MESSAGES/katrain.mo differ
diff --git a/katrain/i18n/locales/en/LC_MESSAGES/katrain.po b/katrain/i18n/locales/en/LC_MESSAGES/katrain.po
index 518a233..76c75cb 100644
--- a/katrain/i18n/locales/en/LC_MESSAGES/katrain.po
+++ b/katrain/i18n/locales/en/LC_MESSAGES/katrain.po
@@ -518,6 +518,16 @@ msgstr ""
 "in the general settings `engine` section and engine configuration file. No "
 "options are available here."
 
+msgid "ai:handicap"
+msgstr "KataGo Handicap"
+
+msgid "aihelp:handicap"
+msgstr ""
+"KataGo optimized for playing higher handicap games.The `pda` setting "
+"corresponds to `playoutDoublingAdvantage` in KataGo, from black's "
+"perspective. When `automatic` is set, KaTrain will find a suitable value "
+"automatically."
+
 msgid "ai:jigo"
 msgstr "KataJigo"
 
diff --git a/katrain/i18n/locales/es/LC_MESSAGES/katrain.mo b/katrain/i18n/locales/es/LC_MESSAGES/katrain.mo
index 74e83df..aad4b02 100644
Binary files a/katrain/i18n/locales/es/LC_MESSAGES/katrain.mo and b/katrain/i18n/locales/es/LC_MESSAGES/katrain.mo differ
diff --git a/katrain/i18n/locales/es/LC_MESSAGES/katrain.po b/katrain/i18n/locales/es/LC_MESSAGES/katrain.po
index 0ee6641..50d8e35 100644
--- a/katrain/i18n/locales/es/LC_MESSAGES/katrain.po
+++ b/katrain/i18n/locales/es/LC_MESSAGES/katrain.po
@@ -622,3 +622,15 @@ msgstr "Re-analyze entire game"
 #. TODO
 msgid "analysis:continuous"
 msgstr "Continuously analyze"
+
+#. TODO
+msgid "ai:handicap"
+msgstr "KataGo Handicap"
+
+#. TODO
+msgid "aihelp:handicap"
+msgstr ""
+"KataGo optimized for playing higher handicap games.The `pda` setting "
+"corresponds to `playoutDoublingAdvantage` in KataGo, from black's "
+"perspective.When `automatic` is set, KaTrain will find a suitable value "
+"automatically."
diff --git a/katrain/i18n/locales/fr/LC_MESSAGES/katrain.mo b/katrain/i18n/locales/fr/LC_MESSAGES/katrain.mo
index 145fba7..6a4ecda 100644
Binary files a/katrain/i18n/locales/fr/LC_MESSAGES/katrain.mo and b/katrain/i18n/locales/fr/LC_MESSAGES/katrain.mo differ
diff --git a/katrain/i18n/locales/fr/LC_MESSAGES/katrain.po b/katrain/i18n/locales/fr/LC_MESSAGES/katrain.po
index 7e66bcf..162db90 100644
--- a/katrain/i18n/locales/fr/LC_MESSAGES/katrain.po
+++ b/katrain/i18n/locales/fr/LC_MESSAGES/katrain.po
@@ -661,3 +661,15 @@ msgstr "Re-analyze entire game"
 #. TODO
 msgid "analysis:continuous"
 msgstr "Continuously analyze"
+
+#. TODO
+msgid "ai:handicap"
+msgstr "KataGo Handicap"
+
+#. TODO
+msgid "aihelp:handicap"
+msgstr ""
+"KataGo optimized for playing higher handicap games.The `pda` setting "
+"corresponds to `playoutDoublingAdvantage` in KataGo, from black's "
+"perspective.When `automatic` is set, KaTrain will find a suitable value "
+"automatically."
diff --git a/katrain/i18n/locales/ko/LC_MESSAGES/katrain.mo b/katrain/i18n/locales/ko/LC_MESSAGES/katrain.mo
index 3459326..06e6b88 100644
Binary files a/katrain/i18n/locales/ko/LC_MESSAGES/katrain.mo and b/katrain/i18n/locales/ko/LC_MESSAGES/katrain.mo differ
diff --git a/katrain/i18n/locales/ko/LC_MESSAGES/katrain.po b/katrain/i18n/locales/ko/LC_MESSAGES/katrain.po
index 9ce8469..5f1eedd 100644
--- a/katrain/i18n/locales/ko/LC_MESSAGES/katrain.po
+++ b/katrain/i18n/locales/ko/LC_MESSAGES/katrain.po
@@ -599,3 +599,15 @@ msgstr "Re-analyze entire game"
 #. TODO
 msgid "analysis:continuous"
 msgstr "Continuously analyze"
+
+#. TODO
+msgid "ai:handicap"
+msgstr "KataGo Handicap"
+
+#. TODO
+msgid "aihelp:handicap"
+msgstr ""
+"KataGo optimized for playing higher handicap games.The `pda` setting "
+"corresponds to `playoutDoublingAdvantage` in KataGo, from black's "
+"perspective.When `automatic` is set, KaTrain will find a suitable value "
+"automatically."
diff --git a/katrain/i18n/locales/ru/LC_MESSAGES/katrain.mo b/katrain/i18n/locales/ru/LC_MESSAGES/katrain.mo
index 70212a2..1229229 100644
Binary files a/katrain/i18n/locales/ru/LC_MESSAGES/katrain.mo and b/katrain/i18n/locales/ru/LC_MESSAGES/katrain.mo differ
diff --git a/katrain/i18n/locales/ru/LC_MESSAGES/katrain.po b/katrain/i18n/locales/ru/LC_MESSAGES/katrain.po
index 5f6d215..b285349 100644
--- a/katrain/i18n/locales/ru/LC_MESSAGES/katrain.po
+++ b/katrain/i18n/locales/ru/LC_MESSAGES/katrain.po
@@ -624,3 +624,15 @@ msgstr "Re-analyze entire game"
 #. TODO
 msgid "analysis:continuous"
 msgstr "Continuously analyze"
+
+#. TODO
+msgid "ai:handicap"
+msgstr "KataGo Handicap"
+
+#. TODO
+msgid "aihelp:handicap"
+msgstr ""
+"KataGo optimized for playing higher handicap games.The `pda` setting "
+"corresponds to `playoutDoublingAdvantage` in KataGo, from black's "
+"perspective.When `automatic` is set, KaTrain will find a suitable value "
+"automatically."
diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index 0519510..fb31b19 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -46,8 +46,7 @@ setup(
         "kivy_deps.glew;platform_system=='Windows'",
         "kivy_deps.sdl2;platform_system=='Windows'",
         "kivy_deps.gstreamer;platform_system=='Windows'",
-        "kivy==2.0.0rc2", # rc3 failing on mac
-        "ffpyplayer>=4.3.1",
+        "kivy==2.0.0rc2",  # rc3 failing on mac
         "kivymd>=0.104.1",
         "screeninfo;platform_system!='Darwin'",  # for screen resolution, has problems on macos
     ],