From: "J. Andrew Lipscomb" <ewwa <at> CHATTANOOGA <dot> NET>
Date: 12 apr 2000
Subject: Shogi Rules (Re: 2 funny things happened)

>      Some of these rule issues are far from academic.  At the same time as
> the Ohio shogi qualifier was having its nifu problem, our own qualifier in
> Washington had one too!  In our case, my son Raymond, in a difficult
> position against a 4 Dan, answered a back-rank rook check by dropping a
> pawn, not noticing that he had another pawn much farther up the file.  His
> opponent, despite his high rank, somehow failed to notice the nifu and the
> game continued for many moves with both players unaware.  Then, one of the
> other players (also 4 Dan) happened to notice it and pointed it out, not
> knowing that it was improper for him to do so.  As TD, I didn't know what
> the proper ruling should be, though my feeling was that the game should
> continue since it seemed unlikely that the nifu would have been claimed
> without interference.  Fortunately, before I made a ruling, the 4 Dan
> player offered to continue, perhaps not feeling entitled to the point.  He
> won anyway, so there were no consequences, but like Doug I wonder what the
> proper ruling would have been?

In Western chess, the rule would be to back the game up to that point.
If it
did not appear that there was any effect on the game, I would probably rule
continue.  If there was, I think your only option is to replay the game.
 (I
might add that for a player to make 4dan without learning such a basic point
of etiquette suggests we have work to do in teaching those matters.)  In any
case, the player pointing it out should be severely warned not to do it again--
if he did then repeat his offense, expulsion would be warranted IMO.

A few questions (as I am more knowledgeable about writing than about the
shogi scene):

(1) Is it usual for players to record the moves during the game in U. S. shogi
tournaments?

(2) Are sets for the blind available?

(3) Is it the rule everywhere that the TD/arbiter/referee cannot interfere?
(In Western chess, that is the rule in lower-level events in the USA, but
in other countries--and even here in high-level events--the TD is not only
permitted but required to intervene if he notices an illegality.)