From: SChazworth <at> AOL <dot> COM
Date: 13 dec 1996
Subject: Re: Evaluation (was Re: Computer Shogi)

In a message dated 96-12-12 17:43:20 EST, you write:

<< A promoted Bishop is supposed to be worth 3 silvers? Is there anybody out
 >> there who wouldn't jump at the chance to take the three silvers?

This is the trick in getting a computer to play the game:  Three silvers
working together are more powerful than a single bishop.  Yet, a bishop is at
least twice as powerful a force as a silver.

For reference: A bishop in chess is worth 3.25 pawn, and a silver is probably
about 2.3 pawn.  This does not take into account the promotion abilities of
the bishop.

 >Let's put it another way: is getting a bishop promoted worth losing a
 >silver or a promoted lance? (True: all things are situation dependant, but
 >how about in general?).
  >>

I'm not an expert (maybe this comment proves this!?), but I would always take
the bishop here unless the sacrifice gave a crushing advantage to my
opponent.  My chess background suggests that the long-range bishop and rooks
are the dominant forces on the board.  Do the experts agree?