From: Schnider <p.schnider <at> UTANET <dot> AT>
Date: 8 nov 2002
Subject: Re: Level of Shogi in Europe

Dear Bill Gaudry,
There is no need to apologize for anything - this is a discussion list and I think everybody should say what he thinks. 
I am quite happy with getting my 5dan - and I agree that I definitely do not deserve it just for one tournament of 5 games. Anyway, I got it in Tokyo and I will try my best to prove I deserve it for my playing strenght.


Dear Eric,
sorry for misquoting you. And you are true to, that I get bad opening positions in Europe too (especially against you), so maybe I used the wrong words to make my point. I wanted to say that in Europe I am not in the position of being generally weaker in the opening than my opponents and playing against 3- and 4dans I get more good positions than bad ones which was completely different in Tokyo - I was behind after the opening in most of my games.