From: Larry Kaufman <lkaufman <at> WIZARD <dot> NET>
Date: 2 oct 1997
Subject: Re: Handicap Ratings

At 01:52 PM 10/2/97 +0900, you wrote:
>Hi folks,
>
>Earlier this year, in response to my inquiry, Larry Kaufman
>kindly posted to this list some information on how handicap
>games are rated in the US.  I remember the gist of it, but
>unfortunately I have lost my copy of the posting.  I would
>like to refer to it again, especially the table of handicaps
>with ELO values.  Could someone who has this info please send
>it to me?
>
>Also, I would like to ask how the system is modified in the
>cases of non-rated and provisionally-rated players.
>
>Finally, if anyone has any general advice on implementing an
>ELO-style rating system, now would be a good time.  I am
>lobbying to have rated handicap shogi implemented on Richard's
>PBeM server and it would be great if it could be done right on
>the first try.
>
>Thanks.
>-Patrick
><patrick <at> lyra <dot> vega <dot> or <dot> jp>

     An agreement has been reached between me (for the U.S.) and Eric (for
Europe) on a Pan-Atlantic Elo rating system with handicaps.  Pieter Stouten
has been asked to draft a final document for the system.  Hopefully it will
be available in a week or two.
     The handicap table now in use has Sente at 25, lance at 50, bishop at
200, rook at 250, R&L at 350, Two Piece at 500, four piece at 650, Five
piece (remove right knight) at 800, Five piece (remove left knight) at 900,
six piece at 1000.  These values are deducted from the handicap-givers
rating before performing the normal calculations.


Larry Kaufman, 301-309-0904, 9213 Wooden Bridge Road, Potomac, Md. 20854