From: Albyn Jones <jones <at> REED <dot> EDU>
Date: 31 jan 1996
Subject: Re: game analysis and annotation

>>why do shogi
>>pieces have five sides and look different when turned over?  it is the
>>natural solution to the problem posed by the rules of the game: pieces
>>can change sides, and pieces don't always promote to the equivalent of
>>an unpromoted piece.
>>
>Interesting observation, but probably incorrect in an evolutionary sense.

well, i just made it up, so i shouldn't be too surprised that it isn't
historically accurate.  still, if we state it as a design problem, given
the rules of the game, it seems standard shogi pieces are a much better
solution than staunton-style chess pieces.

albyn