From: Nobumitsu Yoda <yoda-mitsuo <at> MSD <dot> BIGLOBE <dot> NE <dot> JP>
Date: 14 nov 2002
Subject: Re: Need advice for improvement

----- Original Message -----
"Dana B Moreland" <dbmoreland <at> RAYTHEON <dot> COM>
 <SHOGI-L <at> TECHUNIX <dot> TECHNION <dot> AC <dot> IL
Need advice for improvement


> I am just a beginner at Shogi. I have been playing for about one year. I
> live in the Denver CO USA area.
> I have played face to face vs some of the college students at the Teikyo
> University here in Denver. When playing vs a casual player (someone who
> knows how to play but doesn't play much) I win most of the time. When I
> play vs someone who plays fairly regularly I win 1 out of every 2 or 3
> games. So I beleave my level is something above the true beginner level of
> 15 kyu.
> However I have tryed to play on Shogi Dojo 24 and I get killed in every
> game I have played. I have tryed playing both in the free room and in the
> regular room vs those rated 14 or 15 Kyu, and have lost every game, badly.
> In some earlier posts to this list someone mentioned that the ratings of
> the players on Shogi Dojo 24 did not reflect "true" strength ratings
> especialy at the lowest levels. For example someone rated 15 kyu on Shogi
> Dojo 24 was not a true beginner but was more like a 10 kyu "club" player.
> So my question is, as a true beginner, how can I improve my Shogi play to
> where I can compete on Shogi Dojo 24 at the 15 Kyu level?

Are there some
> books you can recommend that I can study.

Dear Shogi firiends,

As for books written in English, "HABU' S WORDS" is really good for beginner
to dan-player(particularly for beginner). This book is written entirely by
Yoshiharu Habu. (Translated by Tony Hosking and Yamato Takahashi, (Ladies
Professional player)). You can learn a lot about basic skill of Shogi from
this book!

Nobumitsu Yoda