From: Reijer Grimbergen <grimberg <at> ETL <dot> GO <dot> JP>
Date: 2 apr 1999
Subject: Re: variant preference

teruko <teruko <at> PO2 <dot> NSKNET <dot> OR <dot> JP> writes:

> Most of the postings about shogi variants that I have seen on this list
> have been concerned with the larger variants. I only recently became
> aware of microshogi and kyoto shogi, both of which seem to be very
> interesting. I wonder if my ignorance of the existence of these smaller
> variants stems from a greater publicity awarded to historical variants,
> has there been a tendency to concentrate on what may appear to be more
> serious, less childish games, or have I merely been exposed to
> inappropriate sources? From a reply of Larry K.'s to a mail I posted re.
> shuffle shogi it might be possible to infer that one of the appeals of
> shogi variants is that one is unlikely to find oneself confronted by an
> opponent with superior book. Perhaps this attitude becomes more secure
> as the size of the game increases. Mention has also been made of the
> amount of time it may require in order to complete a game in the larger
> variants, is one's preference for a particular variant founded on the
> amount of time one would like to devote to a game (this could be another
> manifestation of seriousness). Then again it may be that the smaller
> games by their very nature need less to be said about them. In short I'm
> interested in anybody's views on the psychology behind their "variant
> preference". I'm also interested in trying some games of kyoto shogi
> with anyone who claims a suitable preference.
> That it's the 1st of April is purely coincidental.
>> From Michael Sandeman.

Dear Michael,

I do not know Microshogi or Kyoto shogi, so I can not really judge whether
they are interesting or not. However, I am missing something in the
discussion above, namely the possibility of games ending in a draw.
I think it is safe to say that most games that have the same ideas of
popular games but are played on a smaller board and/or with less pieces,
have a higher chance to end in a draw or a forced win for either player.

In that sense, the development from the type of shogi that was played in the
Heian area to modern shogi is very interesting. Heian shogi was played without
drops and without rooks and bishops on either an 8x8 board or an 8x9 board
(which one came first or if they co-existed is unclear). Experts seem to
agree that there were several reasons why these Heian variants disappeared.
One is that the chances of a draw is too high. The other problem was estethics:
a square board is more pleasing to the eye, while on the 8x8 board it was
impossible to place the pieces symetrically around the king.

Again, I do not know if Microshogi or Kyoto shogi fit into this scenario.
However, I am almost certain they will have flaws similar to the ones
mentioned, or otherwise shogi might not have survived to the present day :-).

Reijer

--

Reijer Grimbergen
Complex Games Lab
Electrotechnical Laboratory
1-1-4 Umezono, Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki-ken, 305 JAPAN
E-mail: grimberg <at> etl <dot> go <dot> jp
URL: http://www.etl.go.jp/etl/suiron/~grimberg/
Tel: +81-(0)298-54-3316
Fax: +81-(0)298-54-5918