From: Ricardo Massamitsu Nonomura <nono <at> AOL <dot> COM <dot> BR>
Date: 6 dec 1998
Subject: Re: Shogi Openings...

Hi Tony, All,

    Thanks for the information on Shogi Books, I`ll look for it in
Amazon.com.
    Somebody knows about how to access the Shogi-L archives? And does it has
a search engine to look for openings?
    Here where I live we have shogi players, most of then Japaneses and I
don`t have much time to spend in the Shogi Club and, more important, the
Japanese have a different view of things...
    When I was studying in Japan I became member of the University`s Shogi
Club. I wanted to learn Shogi and they were interested in chess... well it
was easy to me to explain some chess basics and they quickly got some
profeciency on that, but when I wanted to learn shogi the answer I heard
was: "Come over here, watch the way we play, play a lots of game and you`ll
get better..." Looks like they have an intuitive feeling for the game, i.e.
if he do this you do that..., but they could not give me an
explanation/generalization on the basics of the game... and I prefer to
read/listen the opinion of westerner players than Japanese ones...
    What I`m interested in the ideas, not in the positions... must have an
easier way to learn it...
    Opinions/suggestions!?

    Ricardo

>Hi,
>
>The best way to learn anything about the game is to play with other people
who
>know.  It's been my experience that shogi players are very happy to share
>their knowledge, expertise and understanding.  But depending on just where
you
>are located, that can be a very difficult task.  If you can't find
over-the-
>board opponents (which I personally prefer greatly), there are shogi
servers
>that are very good, and have a wide range of opponents and rankings.
>
>If "Shogi for Beginners" is still readily available, it is an excellent
book.
>It is what I started with, and it gives some basic information of all
stages
>of the game, and the reasons behind them.  Another excellent book is "The
Art
>of Shogi" by Mr. Hoskings.  Although I haven't read too much of it yet, I
>believe it when I am told that the book has information helpful for anyone
>from beginners to dan level players.
>
>In the shogi-L archives, there is bound to be some discussion on various
>openings.  I don't know how to access them though, sorry.  Someone else on
the
>list will see me say this and tell us both how to do it.
>
>Hope this is somewhat helpful.
>Tony Salvaggione
>