From: Harold Shore <shorem <at> FIU <dot> EDU>
Date: 21 mar 1997
Subject: Re: The Art of Shogi - reply from Tony Hosking

Dear Sam,
        I hope this message is going solely to you - I once did teach a
Grandmaster to play Shogi.  He was fascinated!  It was somewhat
difficult teaching him, as it was necessary to ask my wife to translate
into Russian.  He's one of the 10 top Grandmasters, I believe, and used
to coach world champions when he lived in Russia.
        Even his first Shogi game, played on a cardboard set we improvised, was
tremendous.  It was necessary for me to struggle, even though I gave him
several pieces.  Had he been fluent in English, I feel certain that he
would progress rapidly to a high Dan level.
        In addition we live in different countries, so there is not much
opportunity to continue.  When I see him next, however, I hope to be
able to continue our Shogi 'adventures.'
        My feeling, after having taught but one chess Grandmaster, is that if
one reaches such a high ability in one field (chess), that he will be
able to appreciate the beauty of Shogi.  There is, however, one
unfortunate fact - that there are relatively so few Shogi players in the
West, that chess far outshines Shogi - ONLY in that there are many more
opportunities for play in chess.
        In this sense, it is hardly a matter to be 'decided.'  We are not in an
environment in which there are equally as many Shogi and chess players.
That is something we may dream about!  But not today, unfortunately.
        Until then, I guess we have to be somewhat satisfied realizing that
there are some few who do appreciate Shogi.

                Harold Shore


Sam Sloan wrote:
>
> At 06:50 AM 3/20/97 -0500, Tony Haskins wrote:
>
> Perhaps Jonathan Tisdall will introduce some of his GM friends to shogi? ( I
> have already
> >been in contact with one or two English GMs.)
> >
>
> My experience is that you will never be able to convert chess grandmasters
> to shogi or, for that matter, to Chinese chess. They have spent too many
> years of their lives on regular chess to take up a new game.
>
> You will have a better chance trying to convert lower ranked players. Many
> lower rated players sincerely believe that they would be chess grandmasters
> or at least masters if only they knew the chess openings. In reality, this
> is not true, but you will never convince them of that.
>
> So, the approach is to explain that knowledge of the openings is of almost
> no significance in shogi and there are almost no long variations to memorize
> (unlike in chess) so by taking up shogi their true nartural genius will come
> out.
>
> At least this is the idea which several Westerners I know of had when they
> took up shogi.
>
> Larry Kaufman did a magnificant job many years ago of indroducing shogi to
> chess grandmasters. It was through Kaufman that I first learned of shogi.
> However, none of the grandmasters who were shown shogi by Kaufman ever took
> up the game seriously.
>
> Sam Sloan