From: Albyn Jones REED EDU> Date: 14 may 1993 Subject: Re: tsume help actually re: shape based on my extensive experience (exactly 1 game of shogi, which i won in spite of repeatedly having to ask for the legal moves for various pieces %^) i am sure that shape is important. i used to play a lot of western chess, and can recall playing lots of games where my thinking revolved around shape: doubled pawns, knight outposts, open files. i didn't call it shape then, but thought about strong points, weak points, mobility, etc. i am sure that good shogi players pay close attention to similar issues, perhaps especially the placement of the pieces around the king... albyn jones jones reed edu