From: Colin Paul Adams COLINA DEMON CO UK> Date: 7 oct 1996 Subject: Re: Grading in Shogi variants >>>>> "Pieter" == Pieter Stouten CARBON DMPC COM> writes: Pieter> At 8:44 +0100 96/10/06, Colin Paul Adams wrote: >> I agree with the method, but not with the grades themselves. >> W. Schmittberger only 8 kyu? >> Pieter> Why not? It seems possible that without a large body of Pieter> theory, with a very small number of players and with a Pieter> very short history, the top player in regular shogi would Pieter> have that strength. That aside, what is the problem with Pieter> Wayne Schmittberger being 8-kyu? Would he suddenly feel Pieter> all warm and fuzzy if he were promoted from 8-kyu to Pieter> shodan? And why not to 4-kyu, 4-dan or 8-dan? This question is related to spreading the games. I quote Phil Holland from earlier in this thread: I would be very interested in hearing about any other method that could be use to grade Tori-Shogi, and other Shogi variants, but first we need to expand the number of Shogi variant events and the number of Shogi variant players. And I agreed (strongly). Now I have a natural target audience for spreading Shogi variants, and that is Go players (I am a regular attendant at British Go tournaments). Since learning Tori and Chu (these last two months), I have already spread these games to a couple of players, and expect to so further. Now Go players understand Kyu and Dan grades. So, imagine a conversation with an imaginary 4-kyu Go player, named Jane: Colin: "Hello Jane, you shodan yet?" Jane: "No. I'm stuck at 4 kyu. I think I'll look for a new game" Colin: "How about Tori Shogi. It's a great game, and if you can beat the World Postal Champion, we'll give you a 7-kyu diploma!" Jane: "Er... if it's all the same to you, Colin, I think I'll take up Scrabble." Now I agree that this is not all that likely a conversation, but by telling people the strongest player is 8-kyu, we automatically devalue the game in other people's eyes, making it harder to get new players. Pieter> shodan? And why not to 4-kyu, 4-dan or 8-dan? Not 4-kyu for the same reasons. But why not indeed 4-dan or 8-dan? I was trying to be moderate. -- Colin Paul Adams Preston, Lancashire, England colin colina demon co uk