From: Michael Kramer <mkramer707 <at> WORLDNET <dot> ATT <dot> NET>
Date: 21 dec 1996
Subject: Re: The "bishop"

I would add that there is a lively world of play of Indian chess (without
the double pawn move and other differences) somewhat in contradiction to
Sams suggestion that chess is relatively dead in India. Sultan Khan rose out
of that atmosphere and gained his experience at Indian Chess and was already
of imposing strength when he was introduced to western chess.Many fine Elo
masters and stronger in western chess currently from India cut their teeth
in the very active chess life of Indian chess. Otherwise I must say that
Sams article was a revelation and a wonderful, I would say even critically
valuable, contribution to the current status of Chess knowlege in the west.
I am grateful to have read it.

Now If I werent such an execrable Shogi player. hehe.

sincerely
Michael G.Kramer

At 12:08 AM 12/21/96 +0000, you wrote:
>        I read Sam Sloan's page on the origin of chees and found it very
>interesting (I highly recomend reading it). I would just like to a somthing
>about the Bishop (Kaku). Sam said on his page the bishop may have been
>created (fairly) indepedantly from other forms of chess. This seems very
>likely because a bishop isn't really a bishop. Kaku and it's symbols
>translat to somthing like diagonal runner which would suggest it was simply
>created to balance with the rook (image a shogi game without bishops). Sam
>you probabely knew this but it might a good thing to add to your page.
>