From: SalvaAC AOL COM Date: 9 apr 2000 Subject: Re: A funny thing happened in Cincinnati Hi, << A funny thing happened in Cincinnati.  In the first round of our recent qualifier, chess master Ramdake Lewis offered me a draw...in a shogi game!  This he did twice, which was not unexpected by myself, or any others among the Ohio Shogi Club, since Ram has offered draws before (and gotten some!!) and has declared he will continue to do so. >> -----------My quite strong feeling is that I prefer the idea that the game actaully has to be played out on the board and draws cannot be offered or accepted. I also tend to feel that especially for tournament settings, even a game that ends in sennichite or jishogi where neither side has its 24 points should be replayed with colours reversed and time remaining on the clocked used. I know in some discussions we all had over that weekend that a feeling was expressed by some that there will be or should be a "westernization" of shogi in some aspects. Not having been to Japan, the only thing I might wonder if has happened has been the use of komaochi is more prevalent here, simply because there aren't as many players and it's a way to keep games more even and to keep beginners motivated early on? There's just the feeling inside that part of the allure of shogi is that it WILL have closure at the end of the game. Win or lose. Many of my favourite games have been the ones that I've played my best and lost, but having given a strong opponent a good workout (unlike that game Saturday between you and me, Doug ). I prefer the sense of closure and finality that shogi offers, rather than having the possibility of being in a difficult or inferior position and just saying, "Oh, let's just split the point, rather than actually hurt our brains or our ratings." Besides, there's been plenty of times I've seen (oh I hope I remeber this word right, please correct me if I'm wrong) "gyakuten," where the game suddenly turns. I know my first round game on Saturday was like that - I felt I was very lost early in the middle game against an opponent I was rated higher than, would have been nice to offer a draw (I almost offered my resignation), but instead had to play out the position and managed enough confusion in the later stages of the middle game to come up with a mating attack and won. A very satisfying game would never have been played if a draw could have been offered and accepted. If it ever were to come to a vote, I'd vote "NO" on draws as strongly as possible. Thanks, Tony Salvaggione Founder, Mid America Shogi Club