From: Phil Holland <ek44 <at> BCS <dot> ORG <dot> UK>
Date: 14 oct 1996
Subject: Re: WHAT IS TORI SHOGI?

I hope the following information will be of use.

> From: Takako Noda <mxc06231 <at> JA2 <dot> SO-NET <dot> OR <dot> JP>
>
> I found the discussion on shogi variants very interesting, but what is
> Tori Shogi like?  Would anyone kindly tell me how to play the game,
> who invented it, and how? I'm also very interested in hearing about
> other shogi variants, along with their origins.
> Thank you in advance.
>
> Takako Noda

For the rules of Tori-Shogi, see:
  http://www.ed.ac.uk/~rjhare/tori-shogi/intro.html

If I can remember correctly, it was invented by Ohashi Sohei around
1770.  There are 6 game scores from around 1800 still in existence,
including handicap games, but nothing is known of the game between then
and its reappearance in the 1970s.

> From: "'Douglas Silfen\"." <DUGLIS <at> DELPHI <dot> COM>
>
>    I don't know the origin of Tori (Bird) Shogi, but I have played it
> and it is VERY entertaining. I'll try to get the rules posted soon,
> unless someone else beats me to it.
>
> To everyone else,
>      Is there a good PC Shogi/Shogi variant game out there with a
> computer opponent that plays well? I would love to find one.
> The only one I am familiar with is for the mac- Gnu-Shogi.
>
> Doug Silfen

For software, see Pieter Stouten's page:
  http://www.halcyon.com/stouten/shogi-soft-eqp.html

You can download my own Shogi Variants program from there, but it is
not, at present, a program that 'plays well'.  It will, however, help
you to learn a new variant, and includes Shogi, Tori-Shogi, Wa-Shogi,
Mini-Shogi (5x5) and 'Mini-Shogi Plus' (6x6).  The rules are included
in the Windows Help file.  If there is enough enthusiasm, I intend to
develop it further to include handicaps, full help facilities, and maybe
even kanji characters.  Any comments and suggestions on the program will
be very welcome.

I also run a Postal Tori-Shogi League (for players of Tori-Shogi by post
or by email) with around 30 members worldwide.  Subscriptions are 1
Pound (GBP) per year for UK residents, and 2 Pounds (GBP) per year for
players outside the UK.  All standards of players are welcomed with open
arms, from beginners (which probably includes most of us) to experts
(like Wayne Scmittberger!).  Join us and we will teach you Tori-Shogi.

HTH.................Phil Holland

*****************************************
* Philip R Holland                      *
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