From: Glen Miner <gminer <at> NEWBRIDGE <dot> COM>
Date: 9 dec 1996
Subject: Computer Shogi

I am currently involved in developing a computer shogi project (for more
info, see the URL below), and I would like some suggestions from anyone
willing to give them.

As a novice shogi player, my grasp on any advanced shogi tactics is
non-existant. Naturally, the computer opponent that I have developed thus
far is less then brilliant. While I do have several ideas in the works to
make it smarter, there is one area in particular that I could use some
advice on.

One step in the board evaluation process is modify a 'score' based on the
pieces on the board and in hand. I have a table of integer modifiers that
corrispond to individual pieces, like so:

Pawn = 10
Lance = 50
Horse = 45

And so on through to the promoted pieces, with another set of negative
values for the opponent's pieces. Naturally, kings are worth an
inordinately high amount).

Now, here is where I would like some advice. Can anyone suggest values
would be good? What about pieces in hand? How much should they be
'worth'? Is having 2 golds in hand worth twice what having one gold in
hand is? Should the computer value its pieces more highly than it values
the pieces of its opponent?

Comments and suggestions are welcomed. It might even fester into an
interesting debate on the list.

Peace
===[ Gabo / [ABC] : gaminer <at> undergrad <dot> math <dot> uwaterloo <dot> ca ]===================
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