From: Larry Kaufman <lkaufman <at> WIZARD <dot> NET>
Date: 12 jun 2000
Subject: Re: lautier

At 08:19 AM 6/12/00 -0400, you wrote:
>I read this interview and was impressed to see Lautier plugging shogi
>better than most hardcore shogi players.  I remember when Kasparov
>played a shogi game and made a commentary about shogi.  Although
>Kasparov was said to have been stronger (3 dan vs. Lautier's 1 dan),
>I think Lautier did a better job in describing how shogi works.

     I don't know who said Kasparov is 3 Dan, but I believe it's nonsense.
It was my understanding that he played only one game in his life, against
an Amateur 1 or 2 Dan, and lost rather quickly, as one might expect.  I
doubt he would be stronger than 10 kyu.  I have taught several grandmasters
and I.M.s to play shogi, and it usually takes them a few games before they
can win even at eight piece handicap, though Tiger Hillarp-Persson and Max
Dlugy each won on their first try.

In
>defense of Kasparov, though, I don't think he's been to Japan yet.
>
>One thing I've heard but have had disputed over and over again is
>this: shogi is (much) more popular than Go in Japan.  I was glad to
>see Lautier backing up the shoglims.
>
     It's my impression that more Japanese know how to play shogi than go,
but more Japanese play Go well than play shogi well.
That's why there are many more Go clubs than shogi clubs.

     Larry Kaufman