From: "Dr.Eduard Werner" <edi.werner <at> GMX <dot> DE>
Date: 6 mar 2001
Subject: Re: Comments wanted: Shogi ladder changes

On Tuesday 06 March 2001 08:38, you wrote:
> with great interest I read your comments and proposals to the Shogi
> ladder. With most points I strongly agree.
>
> > You always get one opponent assigned;
>
> Will it be possible to decline? Or is it "You always get AT LEAST one
> opponent assigned". Sorry for being picky...

The idea is: unless you're away, ill etc. (and marked as unavailable), you
have at least one game.

> > b) after 6 months if you only have one game dragging on for that
> >    time (whatever is earlier).
>
> Here it should be possible to prove a reason for the delay, e.g.
> especially difficult game, forced breaks in the game due to
> computer problems, illness,...

Yes, of course (see above)

> > The evaluation of the game will then be different, according
> >    to the rating difference and the handicap.
>
> I have no experience with rating of games at all. We should be
> careful that the procedure does not get too complicated and
> scares people off to join the ladder... am I the only one with
> that? :)

It won't (many people have a rating on the ladder). I think it will
make the ladder more interesting.

> > 4. New players w.o. any national or international rating will have
> >    a  preliminary rating for 4 games.
>
> That's the case for many players on the ladder, no?

yes.

> > Preliminary rating means it will have less influence on the change
> > of their opponents' rating.
>
> Why that? For example in the IECG chess group, everybody gets a
> first rating and then at once plays "full power" with that rating
> that is changed according to the game results. For me there would
> be nothing wron with that...

I did not know that as I've never played correspondence chess. Yes, it
can be done that way then.

> > New players with a national rating can choose whether to take over
> > their ELO rating, their grade, or nothing at all
>
> National ratings are based on different ways to measure, no? So would
> it not be better to have a rating of the Shogi ladder that is used
> for everyone in the same way? Or is there an international standard
> for rating?

They are more or less equivalent AFAIK, so they provide a good starting
point. I've forgotten to include a possible Shogidojo rating you might have.