From: Richard Jones <richardj <at> NETSPACE <dot> NET <dot> AU>
Date: 12 oct 1997
Subject: Re: teaching youngsters

>
>I have three kids (tvo girls, Liv 10, Linnea 8, and one boy, Lennart 6),
>all of which I play board games with. They have different talents, but
>they all like it. All three play Go. Liv and Lennart play Shogi & Chess
>as well. So even 5 or 6 year old kids can learn the rules, if they
>are interested, no doubt.
>
>As for handicaps, I started by 8 piece, that is removing all my pieces
>except for King, both Golds and all Pawns, then I go first. It is hard
>for white to win with such a handicap, but he can defend against naive
>attacks, so black has to think a little, and learn some simple attack
>tactics.
>
>When black wins that, you add one or two Silvers, then the Knights,
>then the Lances, then Rook or Bishop. I currently give 6 or 7 pieces
>to my kids.
>
>It is amazing how few pieces a strong player needs to win against
>a significantly weaker player!
>
>You can read a lot more about handicap Shogi in Tony Hosking's book
>"The Art of Shogi".
>
>Hope this serves you:-)
>
>  Ralf
>
Thanks Ralph
Just what I was hoping for :-)