From: Benjamin Good ANDREW CMU EDU> Date: 18 feb 1997 Subject: tenjiku shogi Excerpts from mail: 14-Feb-97 Re: the shogi variants by Colin Paul Adams@COLINA. > >>>>> "Benjamin" == Benjamin Good ANDREW CMU EDU> writes: > > Benjamin> Excerpts from mail: 12-Feb-97 are the shogi variants > > Benjamin> unimaginative extension of chu shogi. tenjiku: also an > Benjamin> excellent game. i've been playing w/ colin adams via > Benjamin> telnet, our main concern is that black can always win. > > I would like to qualify that a bit. > > Black appears to be able to come out of the opening with something > less than a lead of a Free King. > > Now, since each player starts with thirteen pieces stronger than a > Free King, this such not such a big lead as it would be in Chu Shogi. > If you're strong enough (say, like Habu at Shogi, or Kasparov at > Italian Chess), then no doubt Black wins every time. But for lesser > mortals, the game is still to be played. yes, my statement was not well phrased. what i meant was that it seemed that could always come out with a significant material advantage, enough to always win the game. and that white can reduce the deficit to less than a free king is news to me (and good news too, since tenjiku is a great game). hopefully we can find something that gives white an even game going into the middle game.