From: SalvaAC <at> AOL <dot> COM
Date: 27 feb 1997
Subject: Re: Rating handicap games

Handicaps are a tough subject when it comes to serious play.  I still play
plenty of 6-piece games against my high school students here, but of course
that's for teaching sake.  Most of the tournaments I've run here have been
handicapped, simply because it's still quite a small group of players - the
group has only been in existance four years or so.  It can be very tough to
pair games between a 5 dan and an 8 kyu and have them be worth anything.  And
when you've got a small pool of players that situation will arise.

We've got an upcoming tournament next month and I'm going to try an
experiment - I'll just hold two on the same day.  I've got a lot of players
that would rather play even games, so I'll have an even play tournament.  But
I also anticipate having a large number of high school students (myself and
another member of the club are teachers and have school chess clubs (though
my kids prefer shogi!)), and so for them I'll bracket them in another
tournament and handicap as needed.  This could be a big headache (we'll see)
but I think will satisfy those wanting even play, and competitive games for
everyone.

My own feeling on handicap play has been changing as I've been approaching
shodan strength.  I find myself much more eager to play even games against
very strong opponents.  I think it's because as I've been improving, I'm able
to comprehend better the ideas used against me.  Joseki that mystified me a
year or two ago are making sense in my mind now.  Getting beaten without
understanding how you lost isn't helpful (5dan vs. 8-kyu), but now seeing dan
players beat me and understanding how they're doing it is very helpful.

All in all, I'm still in favour of using handicaps, even (or especially) in
tournament play, because fun, exciting competitive games are what will keep
the beginner coming back for more.

Tony Salvaggione
Mid-America Shogi Club