From: SChazworth <at> AOL <dot> COM
Date: 12 dec 1996
Subject: Tokins and Generals

To add to the argument about the relative values of Gold Generals and Tokins,
remeber that these are not chess pieces with absolute value.  In chess,
winning the exchange increases your strength, and decreases your opponents.
 A shogi piece varies in power.  A captured value of a piece is not the same
as it's "on the board" value.

It seems obvious that a tokin is nicer to have on the board, as when it is
captured, it becomes less useful to the player capturing.  In war, this may
be like burning a city before it get taken over, so that the enemy does not
get the city's advantage.

On other notes, it also seems obvious to trade Bishops for promoted Bishops.
 Although the pieces are the same, your opponent's strength has been
decreased.

But, if you had a choice of capturing two pieces, which would you take?  A
tokin or a lance?  A tokin harms your opponent more, but gives you less in
hand as an exchange.  What about a tokin and a knight?