From: Ralf Lundberg CS CHALMERS SE> Date: 14 nov 2002 Subject: Re: The value of pieces to Shogi Sam Sloan wrote: > At 03:51 PM 11/14/2002 EST, Pierre Morteux wrote: > > 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. There are very good reasons behind Sams answer. However some of us (me) mentally need some numbers to hang on to despite this. I have found much help from some numbers given by Larry Kaufman: 1 Pawn 4 Lance 5 Knight 7 Silver 8 Gold 9 Promoted Lance/Knight (/Silver?) 10 Tokin 11 Bishop 13 Rook 15 Promoted Bishop 17 Promoted Rook These values assumes that the piece is in a usable position. The values in actual play of course varies trendemously. Pieces bound away from the action actually should have negative values, as they mainly serve as targets for the enemy. Weather you get stronger or weaker by considering estimates as these I cannot tell:-) Ralf -- ___________________________________________________________________ Ralf Lundberg http://www.cd.chalmers.se/~ralf/index.html ralf crt se (email home: cs chalmers se)