From: Nick Bardsley <nbardsley <at> KEYNOTE <dot> CO <dot> UK>
Date: 11 aug 2000
Subject: Draws, impasses, etc.

It has occurred to me that quite a lot of people, often from a Chess
background (though not always and I have no particular person in mind), get
hung up on the issue of draws in Shogi and the various rules that govern
them.

I suspect this is because Chess has become utterly debased as a competitive
game due to it becoming entirely legitimate, in terms of playing Chess, to
aim for draws. Indeed, we've all heard the, to me bizarre, statement that
drawing is a way of winning (OK, OK, it isn't that bizarre because it refers
to a round of matches).

The thing with Shogi is that you simply need not worry - draws, of whatever
kind, simply do not happen much at all (and unlike Chess there is no margin
whatever in playing to draw unless you get into a position leading to
impasse where you need to gain material in order to draw on points - which
is playing not to lose, of course - perfectly respectable).

This is one reason, I suspect, why there is so much confusion and argument.
Draws happen so seldom that nobody keeps the rules governing them in mind
until they are needed.

I just wouldn't get hung up about them - all you do is make sure there is a
clear statement of them in the tourney rules and get on with it. To express
a preference, I just think the Japanese tried and tested NSR rules are the
best. They work (and, to repeat, are rarely needed).

Cheers,

Nick