From: Rikard Nordgren <e7rikard <at> ETEK <dot> CHALMERS <dot> SE>
Date: 14 mar 2001
Subject: Re: Evaluation of handicap games (please comment)

I agree with Mr Werner. When playing with a complete beginner, a nine years
old child I gave an all piece handicap (of course I kept the king). It
was not very hard to win this game anyway. Just because there is a
documented so-called forced mate for six piece handicap doesn't mean
that everyone knows this, have read the articles and figured all the sidelines
out.

Rikard Nordgren

On Wed, 14 Mar 2001, Dr.Eduard Werner wrote:

> On Wednesday 14 March 2001 11:28, you wrote:
> > The handicaps at this rating differences seem to be appropriate.
>
> > But just one thing. I think we should not play with more than
> > an 4 piece handicap at email shogi. As there are forced variations
> > at 5p and 6p handicap (look at the articles from Larry at msoworld),
> > i think no one can give even the weakest player a 5p or 6p handicap.
>
> Thanks a lot for your feedback. But I don't agree with this one.
> It would imply that the "weakest player" doesn't foul it up and that
> he or she reads the appropriate articles :-) I recall a painful memory
> of losing at 6pieces during the last MSO which I would have thought
> impossible. I think these handicaps can calmly be part of the system as
>
> 1) There are sidelines of the lines in Larry's articles.
> 2) Nobody will ever be *forced* to give such a handicap.
>
> Best
>
> Edi
>