From: Eduard Werner <edi.werner <at> GMX <dot> DE>
Date: 14 nov 2002
Subject: Re: The value of pieces to Shogi

> >
> > So to Chess, if we take the pawn = 1 as reference, we have :
> >
> >        - pawn = 1
> >        - Bishop = 3,5
> >        - Knight = 3,5
> >        - Rook = 5
> >        - Queen = 10
> >
> > To shogi, can make the same assessment?
> >
> >
> >            Pierre Morteux
>
> This question is often asked.
>
> My answer is no. There is no meaningful formula to determine the relative
> value of the pieces in shogi. It all depends on the position.

Well, in Shogi the value of the pieces is definitely more dynamic than in chess,
but nonetheless there are differences, as in an otherwise equal position a Rook
is definitely more useful than a Pawn. To quote from "Habu's words":

"The value of the pieces is decreasingly as follows: King, Rook,
Bishop, Gold General, Silver General, Knight, Lance, Pawn. Also, 4
pieces promote to a Gold so the value of the 5 possible kinds of Golds
is decreasingly as follows: Promoted Pawn, Promoted Lance, Promoted
Knight, Promoted Silver and Gold. These promoted pieces do the same
work as a Gold on the board; but when captured by the opponent (and so
returning to unpromoted status) it is better for you if the piece is a
weak one, so the tokin (promoted pawn) is worth more than a Gold."

I'd divide the pieces into five groups, the members of each being
roughly equal:  1) King, 2) Rook and Bishop, 3) Gold and Silver,
4) Knight and Lance 5) Pawn. For the groups 2-4 I'd state that
two of a lower group are usually better than one of the higher,
so you'd usually prefer two Generals to a Bishop and so on.

But as stated, in Shogi these values are much more dynamic than
in chess.

Cheers

Edi