From: Nick Bardsley ICC CO UK> Date: 12 apr 2000 Subject: Re: Checkmate > There still obviously is a concept of checkmate in > shogi--were there not, you > could not have the rule prohibiting a pawn-drop mate. There is a concept in Shogi we can conveniently call 'checkmate' but it is not quite the same concept seen in Chess. In Chess, checkmate is regarded virtually as the capture of the King - it is without question the end of the game. In Shogi, all it amounts to is describing a situation where the King can be captured by the opponent next move and nothing can be done to stop it. The pawn-drop rule recognises that mate is normally the end of the game and simply prohibits the use of pawns to place the opponent in a position where his king will be captured without fail next move. It has nothing to tell us regarding the legality/illegality question. [Which really shouldn't be a question.] > > This question has a real effect. If moving into check is not > illegal, then if > you leave your king in check but then cover or escape the > check before your > opponent notices, play on. If it is illegal, it may still be > possible to claim > the game. It is legal to move into check. It is legal to remain in check. The real question might be about etiquette... Something Western players prefer to avoid by turning etiquette into rules speaking of illegality ot legality rather than the formalized application of good manners. This is generally because there are a lot of what are called 'bad sports' in the Chess world - which is, again, where all the nonsenses come from. Nick