From: Pieter Stouten EMBL BITNET> Date: 8 oct 1991 Subject: Re: On Thu, 3 Oct 1991 10:54:20 +0100 Adam Atkinson VAXROM CERN CH> writes: >SHOGI RULES file says "check impossible" in "entering kings" rule. >Other material I have seen says "checkmate impossibile". Which is it? >The difference is important! I suspect it is "checkmate impossible" since >you can give check stupidly by dropping random pieces. > The rules indeed say "check" and not "checkmate" or I must be very much mistaken. In order to be sure one can always check "Shogi for Beginners". There is a good reason, however, for using "check" and not "checkmate" in the rules. For one thing the latter is disputable and it would require an arbiter to decide that mate is impossible from a given situation. Check is easier to assess. Sure, one could drop random pieces which would then be taken or the check would be neutralized by interposing a piece or move the king. This can go on only until the attacking player has dropped all his pieces with the possible consequence that this player does not end up with enough points in the end. Pieter Stouten.