From: Pieter Stouten EMBL BITNET> Date: 18 jul 1990 Subject: The use of pawns and centre control. On 10-th July Chris Steritt ADMS-RAD UNISYS COM> asked: >We were all trying to figure out how to deal with the >Shogi-style pawns, and it seems that one of their major capabilities is >to support stronger pieces so that the stronger pieces can control the >middle rows. >So two questions, I guess: > > 1) is this a resonable thing to do with pawns? > 2) How important is control of the central rows (as opposed to the > center, horizontally and vertically)? 1) Normally, it is the other way round. You advance pawns as a means to a) put pressure on your opponents' position, b) create space behind them for your own pieces to move more flexibly, and c) give your major pieces a larger scope. Since pawns cannot cover each other they need support from stronger pieces, either behind them or beside them. When the time has come to attack, the pawns can be advanced again, supported by the pieces between and beside them. In many cases, pawns are sacrificed by pushing them, only to create holes in the opponent's position. Or the opponent's pawn which captures your pawn is left alone for the time being and will only be recaptured when the time is there. If you do not use your pawns as the first pieces to attack, there is no way that you can break down your opponent's defences. He/she will probably use pawns to build the frontmost layer of his/her position. Attacking without (small) initial sacrifices happens rarely. So if your stronger pieces make up your frontmost layer, you will have to sacrifice them and the only pieces you will get in return are pawns. This also implies that once the fighting starts, you must have your pawns in position, because you might not get the chance to do it later. The skill of using pawns is of vital importance in Shogi. There is even a three-volume work devoted solely to the pawn, this humble yet powerful piece. 2) the second questions was more or less answered some time ago on this list and I take the relevant pieces from that posting: The centre control in Shogi is important, but not directly in the initial stages. There are three (entangled) reasons for this: a) pawns cannot advance two squares, so controlling the centre requires more moves. b) one cannot form a pawn-phalanx (is this the word ?) because pawns cannot cover each other diagonally. This means that pawns have to be supported by other pieces, which slows down their development. c) since each player has only two long-range pieces (one rook and one bishop) a quick advance of pawns can only be sound when they are supported by these pieces. This would normally concern pawns which are somewhat outside the centre. So this implies that centre control is important. However, it is not limited to the centre squares, but focuses on the whole central horizontal row. In many cases the end of the opening is signalled by starting an attack at one of the two edges. In that same posting John Kenney said the following about controlling the centre: In Shogi control of territory is less stressed than in Chess, and the edges are just as important as the center (in fact the rule of thumb is to control the entire fifth rank); and by the middle game this no longer matters - only the attack the king matters. This may sound a bit strange, but try playing a game and you'll quickly (esp., if you play Chess) see what is happening. Hope this helps. It is merely my opinion of course, so if you think differently about this, let's hear you ! Pieter Stouten embl bitnet>