From: "Majewski, Thomas" WABCO-AUTO COM> Date: 14 nov 2002 Subject: Re: Is joseki really so importent? Sorry for the noise, I have produced with my last message. Something happened with my PC I did not want to happen. > So, given that lack of English language shogi books and materials out there > probably one of the best ways to increase one's opening knowledge is to > play over the pro games on Reijer Grimbergen's shogi page. The games are > annotated and the explanations are really helpful. I learned so much more > rom playing over those games that I ever did from any English language > book. By playing over various games from various periods you can actually > see how theory and evaluations have change over time. It won't make you > instantly strong but it will expose you to different positions and ideas. I agree to the benefit of playing through compleet games. I do this all the time. It helps a lot too, to play through games of strong amateurs, as their ideas are easier to understand, the those of the pros. But to learn joseki from the pros games can be difficult, as a lot happens behind the scenes, which we just do not understand. Next time you are playing that joseki, your opponent is going to play a move that is actually bad (but not obviously a mistake). Now you are on your own, as the pros did not play this mistake (and they did not comment it, as it is just too obvious). In one of the booklets about joseki, that the german shogi association has published there is even a comment from a pro, that a certain move in a joseki is bad for pros, but good for amateurs, as the pros know all about it even up to the tsume but amateurs can play on with a strong position. Therefore it is very helpful to study books about joseki. The japanese joseki bokks are actually not that difficult to read, as you can follow the moves. At certain points the position will be assessed. Some joseki books even use the signs for assessment known to western chess players (+- -+ etc). It is not difficult to learn and find the japanese equivalents for these signs (have a look at Hans Geuns shogi dictionary). Of course you have to work a little harder with a japanese joseki book, than with a translation, but this could turn out to be a favour, as you are forced to think more about the moves. Thomas *********************************************************************** This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. If you have received this email in error please notify the system manager at mail wabco-auto com. **********************************************************************