From: "Randal J. Andrews" <tiger22 <at> IX <dot> NETCOM <dot> COM>
Date: 14 jan 1996
Subject: Re: International game notation

>..., but please let me know your educated opinions [on an
>international standard for shogi game notation] (or uneducated, for
>that matter).

Do you mean one notation for everyone including the players in Japan or
just for players outside of Japan?  I like the notation used in "Shogi"
magazine and the books "Shogi for Beginners" and "Better Moves for
Better Shogi". It is also the notation used for the shogi-L archives. I
still prefer to use English names for pieces and the letters a thru i
for the ranks.  I've learned the Japanese names for the pieces, but
since 4 pieces begin with "K" and 2 with "G" most pieces would require
a two letter abbreviation.  Therefore, I prefer the English
abbreviations: K,G,S,N,L,B,R,P.   Using arabic numerals for both the
ranks and files would be okay, but it sure looks strange: P-76, P-34
etc.  Second choice would be for a strict numeric notation similar to
International Correspondence Chess notation.  Every move could be
described with a  4 or 5 digit number of the format square from and
square to.  Also, when necessary, 0 for no promotion or 1 for
promotion, and if the promotion is forced can be omitted.  Examples,
P-7f becomes 7776  B2bx8h+ becomes 22881 and L9i-9a+ is 9991.  Drops
are trickier.  Each piece is given a number R=10, B=20, G=30, S=40,
N=50, L=60 and P=70.  A drop move has the format: piece number and
square dropped on.  Example, R'8a is 1081.   This last notation is
particularly suited as a genuine international notation usable by
everyone since it eliminates language abbrevations and strange
alphabets. Also, everyone is equally likely to resist it!  G4i-5h has a
colorful "look" about it whereas 4958 seems too "blunt".