From: Colin Paul Adams COLINA DEMON CO UK> Date: 8 feb 1999 Subject: Re: random shogi stuff >>>>> "Benjamin" == Benjamin Good ANDREW CMU EDU> writes: Benjamin> well, i don't have access to the japanese characters, Benjamin> for one thing (anybody know of a web page that has them? Benjamin> i can't even remember where i got the rules to begin Benjamin> with...). we didn't work our way up thru the games. Roger Hare's page has the Chu pieces. And is not Steve's program help screens near enough for the other games? Benjamin> that's one of the advantages of my set, is that if i do Benjamin> find somebody new to play with, they can play right Benjamin> away. You're right, of course (but so am I). The one game I half-played of Maka-dai-dai was against Francis Roads on his homemade set (exactly like yours). I did print off the help screens from Steve's program to learn on the train, on the way to the tournament, but we soon decided he had an older set of rules. Benjamin> reorganize and redeploy their forces. the fact that the Benjamin> board is that much larger and yet the new pieces are on Benjamin> the weak side raises a new difficulty in protecting your Benjamin> entire zone from your opponents promotions. Interesting. But I'm not convinced. Benjamin> i don't like dai as much as chu either, but i don't Benjamin> think you should write it off so quickly. my initial I've played two games! That was one too many. Benjamin> i'm not sure i see why tai would be a certain draw. on Benjamin> the other hand, i've never finished a game. GFH or RWS (I can't remember which) speculated that it was unlikely anyone would have enough material left to capture the emperor. Benjamin> just so it doesn't look like he's a lone voice, i will Benjamin> add that tenjiku is a cool game, and unlike all the Benjamin> other shogis. Too often it feels like it. When are you going to give me another game? >> Now then, who will be the first in Earth history to complete a >> game of taikyoku shogi? (Hint: not me). Benjamin> i still need the complete rules. So says history. Still, we managed with Tenjiku. Benjamin> i think tai is interesting from the start. you have Benjamin> this big army, what are you going to do with it? how Benjamin> are you going to deploy your forces to control the most Benjamin> space, to limit your opponent the most, what's the most Benjamin> effective way to do it? where is your opponent going, Benjamin> how are you going to respond? These are things you can (and must?) think about BEFORE the game. But when you actually start... This is no doubt why Michael suggested multiple moves. The more I think about it, the more I see it's merits. But it would need to be restricted until the armies close. Not sure just how to do that yet. Benjamin> i'm curious as to your source. my only source is the Benjamin> hodge manual, which doesn't say either way, i was Benjamin> tending to agree w/ colin's interpretation, altho the Benjamin> hodge manual also left me w/ the impression that the My thinking exactly. But surely if you were allowed to occupy the same square as one of your own pieces (even fleetingly), this would be mentioned? Benjamin> inventors never really considered the problem. a long Benjamin> time ago i asked if the lion could igui if he was Benjamin> pinned, i never got a definite answer, altho it is Benjamin> extremely likely to be important in a game. Of course it can. There is no such thing as check in Chu Shogi. You may freely expose the king to capture (of course, if you don't have a crown prince, you lose, but that's your choice). -- Colin Paul Adams Preston Lancashire