From: SalvaAC AOL COM Date: 5 feb 2000 Subject: Re: to play shogi on the net In a message dated 2/5/00 2:48:52 AM Central Standard Time, ghira MISTRAL CO UK writes: << same here. Though if I were to learn Tai Shogi, which I never plan to do, I have an awful feeling I'd always have to have a list of pieces and moves next to me, whether I used Japanese symbols or not. >> Hi, Even for standard Shogi, when I teach, usually to school-age kids, I just give them such a crib sheet. Also I generally play a game or two with them with me just using a bare king again just their king, golds and silvers. This way they're not looking at all the pieces at once, and they start getting a feeling for coordinating pieces and patiently creating a mating net (or mating wall, usually). When they are comfortable with that, then I go ahead and give them the full complement of pieces. I haven't had anyone balk at using standard pieces when doing it this way. So does that make me an "elitist?" Or am I a "purist?" I don't care. It just has been easier to say, "This is what the pieces look like. I'll help you learn them." Tony