From: atkinson VAXROM CERN CH Date: 31 jul 1991 Subject: Attacking when playing 4th-file Ranging Rook How do I manage this? I castle on the right with most of the things I have, my remaining silver defends the head of my bishop. My bishop and rook seem to end up defending the bishop diagonal pawn, and I have no attack left at all. I have lost several games against Japanese tourists playing like this at Castel Sant Angelo, but I lose far more quickly if I play Bogin. One of the tourists opened by pushing his bishop silver straight forwards as Black move 1. I was somewhat surprised. Was he making fun of me? Is this something one can really get away with? Of course, he won anyway. (I have only won 2 games against Japanese people so far. One against a tourist who said he was very bad and who was quite correct - left major pieces en prise in the opening for no reason at all and his position just fell apart completely. Interesting to see that at least SOME Japanese people are very bad at Shogi. The second was even worse.) Also, a question about castles: John Fairbairn mentioned this question in SHOGI once, but I would like to hear any comments the good people on the list have to make: I can see why castling away from my own rook is a good idea, but in double static or double ranging games, this can mean I put my king right in front of the enemy rook whilst I make my castle. This does not seem like entirely sensible behaviour. Is it really perfectly ok to start making boat castles on the way to other things when the other player has a static rook glaring down? Also, in a central rook opening, do I castle right or left? Do I have free choice? Finally, has anyone out there played the Ishi Press "Shogi Master" program yet? What is it like? Adam Atkinson Rome (Please come to Castel Sant Angelo any evening from now until Aug 31 if you find yourself in Rome.) Recent quotes from people at CSA who start to read the Shogi rules sheet and then stop before the end: "What a trivial game. Chess is much more complex, because you need to reach the last rank to promote." "This game is not as complex as Chess BECAUSE pieces come back into play." (I really don't understand this one.) Anyway. I went to the Japanese Cultural Centre today and left a notice inviting semi-competent players to come along to CSA to thrash a few beginners. There might be SOMEONE. Mr Waketa says he might be able to manage it himself. How good would someone need to be to beat FIDE Master or International Master standard chess players who were playing their first few games of Shogi? Even I manage to beat FIDE masters playing their first game since they haven't got the moves sorted out yet and its generally possible to do something really drastic that they can't possibly recover from. To beat these people without too much effort in later games, what grade is needed? To give them 2 pieces and still win? Someone asked me how common International Chess is in China and Japan. I really don't know, but my guess would be "not very". Does anyone know the truth on this one?