From: Steve Evans NETSPACE NET AU> Date: 10 jan 1999 Subject: More on chu shogi mating problems I have now tried my Zillion-of-Games based chu mating program out on some of the ancient problems without solutions in George Hodges' Middle Shogi Manual. The first problem I attempted was by Ito Sokan III from his 1746 collection of 50 problems. The problem is C11 in the Middle Shogi Manual and is as follows: 5, LN, 6 / 2, S, DE, 8 / 1, C, 1, BT, K, 7 / 1, FL, 3, G, 1, ln, +SM, 3 / 1, P, P, 2, fl, 6 / 3, p, 2, +B, 5 / 2, +dk, 1, ph, 7 / 12 / 7, +RC, 4 / 12 / 12 / 12 This is referred to in the Middle Shogi Manual as a flawed problem with no solution. My program appears to have found a 5 move result. It is: 1. FLx7d=, K-9d 2. Ln-7c, K-10c 3. FL-8e+, K-10d 4. Ln-9e, +RCx9e 5. Ph-8f mate. I can't find a flaw with this solution (but then I am a rather poor chu player). I was hoping someone on the list may care to provide independent comment on this solution before I send the details to George Hodges. I have tried several other problems but none that had solutions within the 6 to 8 move effective limit of the program, although 2 problems from the 'D' collection in 'the Manual' seem to be demonstrably flawed as mating problems within the effective limit of the program (ie: the King will always escape within a certain number of moves). I look forward to hearing from some of those Middle Shogi experts out there. Regards, Steve Evans