From: Lionel VIDAL BST BSF ALCATEL FR> Date: 8 feb 1999 Subject: Re: The larger Shogi variants Hello, I would like to add another criteria to Colin list: > 1) Tempo... > 2) Variety... > 3) Opening Tension... > 5) Duration... 6) The ability to have fun playing the game whatever is your strength and to some extends, whatever strength is your opponent (Sorry, I am not good enough in english to sum up that in one word :-) What I mean is that the possiblity of handicap play adds greatly to a game, improving both the teaching process (the `teacher' can also have fun in the play!), and the `long' matches between two players (as the strength of the players does not improve at the same rate, well chosen handicap will ensure that both players will have to fight their best to win. It is also IMO, a great source of motivation for the weaker player.) Of course, while removing some white pieces, the very `nature' or `feeling' of the game must stay the same! IMO, Chu Shogi and Shogi seem to score much better in that respect. (For Tenjiku, I admit it is not clear: but the opening is such a tactical mess that removing pieces may give a forced straight win to black... just a feeling... no analysis there :-) -- Lionel Vidal lionel.vidal bst bsf alcatel fr