From: Larry Kaufman WIZARD NET> Date: 9 jan 2000 Subject: Re: Russian Japanese Handicap Match and Kyu-Dan Test At 12:05 PM 1/9/00 +0900, you wrote: >On Sat, 8 Jan 2000 23:43:17 +0300 >NOSOVSKY G23 RELCOM RU> wrote: >> 8 of January Handicap Japanese-Russian Match was held. >> Japan 10-2 Russian >> Nakao O. (6 Dan Pro) - ( R, L) - Nikonov K. (1 Dan) - 2-0 >> Moro T. (3 Dan) - (R,L) - Shpilev Y. (2 kyu) - 2-0 >> Muro T. (3 Dan) - (R,B) - Kisluk L. (4 kyu) - 2-0 >> Tatsutomi H. (3 Dan) - (R,B, 2L) - Makarov P. (8 kyu) -2-0 >> Tsukada T. (2 Dan) - (R,B, 2L,2N) - Nosovsky A. (9kyu) 2-0 >> Tatsutomi Hz. (10 kyu) - (no handicap) - Segal L. (9 kyu) 0-2 >> > >Hi, I believe these handicap assignments are reasonable, >so that, I recommend you should evaluate the real strength >of your club members again more carefully . > >++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ >Dick Iwakura, a member of Java Shogi Committee >Mail: dick shogi ne jp >http://www.shogi.ne.jp $B!! (B(JAVA Shogi) >++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ > I am curious as to whether you are merely expressing an offhand opinion, or whether you have data (either from Java Shogi or from some other shogi club or organization) that would actually indicate what handicaps make for equal chances for a given difference in rank. We are trying to finalize this matter in our western rating system, so this is not just idle curiousity. Our experience, based on hundreds of handicap games, is that the traditional equivalents used in Japan do not even come close to equalizing the chances; the handicaps traditionally used are too small. For example, although most clubs use rook handicap for a four rank difference, our experience has been that two piece handicap is the fair one for that difference. Your comments would be most welcome, especially if you can quote some actual statistics. Larry Kaufman