[dwaltrip]

I don't think poker is the best comparison. It has hidden information so psychology is a much bigger factor, which machines are not as good at understanding.

Regardless, this doesn't seem that surprising to me. Highly skilled players have developed a set of tools, techniques, and analysis that they are very familiar at applying. If a game enters a particularly strange but still complex position, one that would never really arise under usual high-level play, it is plausible to imagine unexpected errors may occur from time to time, as the standard high-level heuristics may not work exactly the same. Especially if the higher-level player is not being very careful.

The lower-level player, not having those heuristics, must look at the situation, like they do all positions, with a fresher perspective and far less expectations. They won't make the mistake that can come from misapplying the heuristics and tools of higher-level play, because they don't even have those heuristics.

Of course, these are specific, uncommon situations. In general, the advanced player will almost always make much better moves than the less-skilled player.