From: Chris Sterritt <chris <at> ADMS-RAD <dot> UNISYS <dot> COM>
Date: 14 jun 1990
Subject: Ladder Rules repost

Hello,
 
	there is some indication that the ladder rules never made it to
some members (possibly all!) of this list, so here they are again.  The next
message I'll post will be the current ladder.
 
	--chris sterritt
 
Shogi Ladder Rules (Last Modified 6/4/90.  Taken from the Chess Ladder rules,
                    with thanks to Peter Bereklos.)
 
1)  All Ladder games will be conducted in an electronic mail format, with
the "regulation" Shogi-L Board or in a format which both players agree to.
Each player is required to make at least one move every five days.  Failure
to do so will result in a warning to the non-responsive player, and, if the
warning is not replied to, or a move still is not made within an additional
three days, then the player forfeits the game (unless proof can be made that
the player was not at fault, i.e., links being down, player's system being
down, etc.).  The winner must send the game to the Ladder Coordinator for
verification.  At that time, the loser of the game will be notified of a win
claim.  The game is considered won if the loser also verifies the win, yet, if
there is no response from the loser within five days after a win notification,
then the game is considered won.  If the loser disputes the win, then the
Ladder Coordinator, as well as the rest of the list, will mediate the dispute.
 
2)  To begin a Ladder game, one player must challenge the other.  One cannot
challenge a player more than 20 positions ahead, this is to avoid everyone
ganging up upon position #1.  To make a challenge, a challenge notice must be
sent to person you wish to challenge, with a copy of that message sent to the
Ladder Coordinator.  The other person can then accept or refuse your challenge,
with appropriate notification sent to the Ladder Coordinator as well.  If the
player fails to respond to your challenge within five days, then it will be
considered that the player has refused your challenge.
 
3) If the challenge is accepted, colors may either be decided by the players or
by consulting the Ladder Coordinator.  When the Ladder Coordinator is consulted,
he should try to balance over time the number of Whites and Blacks for each
player.
 
4)  One cannot challenge the same player twice consecutively.
 
5)  Any player can either accept, or refuse a challenge.  Yet, if you are
in positions #1 through #5, you MUST accept any challenge made to you.  If
you refuse a challenge, and you are in any of the positions of #1, #2, #3,
#4, or #5, then you drop to position #6.  This is to prevent someone from
taking position #1, and then refusing all challenge games, just so not to
lose their position.
 
6) Multiple games are allowed.  However, any player with a game in
progress has the right to refuse, without penalty, any additional challenges.
 
7)  If a player challenges and wins, then that player move to the position
of the challenged player, and the challenged player drops one position.
If a player challenges and loses, there is no change.  If a player challenges
and draws, then that player moves into the position immediately below the
challenged player.  All movement takes place at the conclusion of games.
There is no dependence on when the challenge was made.
 
8) All new players shall start at the bottom of the Ladder.
 
9)  Any disputes will be mediated by the Ladder Coordinator, and the list
if necessary.
 
10) These rules may be modified by a majority of votes by the list membership
or as the Ladder Coordinator sees fit.
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