From: Pieter Stouten <STOUTEN <at> EMBL <dot> BITNET>
Date: 19 jun 1990
Subject: Re: Draw in Shogi - position requested

On Mon, 18 Jun 1990 12:14:43 CET Jeff Boscole <aesop <at> MILTON <dot> U <dot> WASHINGTON <dot> EDU>
writes:
 
>Concerning the shogi rules about draw:  (jishogi).
>
>Where are the "promotion zones" for the King?  What does it mean for the King
>to reach the "promotion zone?"  In counting up the points of the pieces, is
>draw to be awarded automatically when the total sum for each side is 24 or
>both sides equal if greater than 24 ?  Could somebody please provide a few
>position examples of a drawn position in Shogi ?
 
>From the file SHOGI RULES:
<The three rows furthest away from a player are called the promotion zone.
 
and also from SHOGI RULES (about draws):
< 2) Both Kings reached their respective promotion zones (or they cannot
<    be prevented to do so) and cannot be given check. In that case the
<    players may decide to count their pieces where the King does not count,
<    the Rook and Bishop count as 5 points, and all other pieces as one point.
<    Promotion is disregarded. If both players have at least 24 points the
<    game is a draw ("Jishogi"). If a player has less, he loses the game.
 
I must admit the formulation is not completely clear. Both PLAYERS have
their "respective" promotion zones, not both KINGS. Reaching the promotion
zone means for every piece of a player: reaching one of the three rows
furthest away from this player.
As said: the players MAY decide to count their pieces. There are no strict
rules about this; not even in Japan. If one does not have enough points one
may always try to get more (e.g. by capturing a major piece, rook or bishop,
which counts as 5 points).
To cite John Fairbairn (in 'Shogi for Beginners') about the Jishogi rule:
" So long as a king can be mated or pieces can still be captured to the
  extent of affecting each player's total point score, a player can validly
  refuse to stop and count up. But there is no rule about what to do if a
  player refuses to count up simply because he would expect to lose or
  because he is deluding himself that he can either mate the opposing king
  or capture more pieces. Even professional players do not always agree
  first time on when to stop a game in such a case. The guidance given for
  amateur players [...] is that in such a case of dispute it is sufficient
  for one player to move all his pieces into the enemy camp so that they
  are all protected. The game then ends and is counted up. This is a very
  messy rule [...] with only one good feature: it has to be applied only
  very rarely. "
Somewhat further Fairbairn writes about general Shogi rules:
" There are in fact no published Rules of Shogi in Japan except those for
  professional tournament play and they are issued only to professionals.
  All of which means there is great need for the next item [etiquette].
  As was already mentioned manners in shogi are somewhat different from,
  for instance, those of certain western chess players: they are civilized.
  This aspect of the game has a great attraction for many players, [...]. "
 
I can provide a jishogi position; what I would prefer is sending, by snail
mail, to someone the score of a game that ends in jishogi. This person then
can type it in and make it available to SHOGI-L. I am a bit tired of typing
in games and I do have a scanner, but no good optical character recognition
software. Volunteers, please give me your physical address !
 
Pieter Stouten
stouten <at> embl <dot> bitnet