From: "T.Rogalski" <Mik <at> ACCESS-4-FREE <dot> COM>
Date: 4 aug 2003
Subject: Re: Beginner's Lessons No.1, Getting Orientated: Perspectives on Shogi and Chess

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The 24-page booklet, How to Play Shogi (1979) should not to be confused =
with the 166-page book, Shogi for Beginners (1984), both by John =
Fairbairn.  The booklet is not listed on Amazon while the book is =
listed.  I've read both, and the excellent booklet made a stronger =
impression on me than the book.

  ----- Original Message -----=20
  From: Gerald Laabs=20
  To: SHOGI-L <at> TECHUNIX <dot> TECHNION <dot> AC <dot> IL=20
  Sent: Saturday, August 02, 2003 10:21 AM
  Subject: Re: Beginner's Lessons No.1, Getting Orientated: Perspectives =
on Shogi and Chess


  For a good assessment of How to Play Shogi by John Fairbairn, this url =
takes you directly to the book on amazon.com; <a =
href=3D"http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/4906574971/howtojapanemart=
">How to Play Shogi</a> There are sample pages, reviews and ordering =
directions here.
  For a slightly broader view of what is available, including longtime =
favorite Shogi: Japan=92s Game of Strategy by Trevor Leggett, go to =
http://home.inter.net/glaabs/index.html and enter "shogi" in the amazon =
search box in the left column of the page.

  Question: Is it just me, or is worldwide interest in shogi on the =
rise?

  With all good wishes,

  Gerald Laabs
  How to Japanese http://home.inter.net/glaabs/index.html

  On Friday, August 1, 2003, at 04:02 PM, T.Rogalski wrote:



    In my opinion, the best shogi primer is John Fairbairn's "How to =
Play Shogi".  It is 24 pages packed full of concentrated shogi =
information.  Ex. page 24 is a raw listing of dozens of shogi proverbs =
-- very useful.=20
    =20
    Maybe another Shogi-L member would know if "How to Play Shogi" is =
still available somewhere?
    =20
    Tim

    ----- Original Message -----
    From: Christopher Vu
    To: SHOGI-L <at> TECHUNIX <dot> TECHNION <dot> AC <dot> IL
    Sent: Friday, August 01, 2003 5:05 PM
    Subject: Re: Shodan

    I'd like to learn the basic fundamentals of shogi, could you show me =
where i can get this pamphlet?

    "T.Rogalski" <Mik <at> ACCESS-4-FREE <dot> COM> wrote:


    Larry,
    =20
    Thanks for being such an excellent teacher and strong sparring =
partner.  Of the original players that I remember from the 80's (Troy, =
Mike, Don), Larry is still hoisting the shogi banner for everyone to =
see.  When I first learned shogi, it took me years to appreciate its' =
superiority over western chess.  My heart refused to accept that any =
game could be better than chess.
    =20
    I have a four-page article entitled, "Beginner's Lessons No.1, =
Getting Orientated: Perspectives on Shogi and Chess", which discusses =
game theory, checkers, shogi, differences of shogi from chess, handicap =
play, non-handicap play, and summarizes with the statement, "Shogi means =
the world's greatest game".  I do not recall what year I received this =
great article, or who wrote it, but I would give anyone a copy to read =
that showed any interest in shogi.  Another sentence from the article is =
"Shogi well deserves to be a popular game in North America".
    =20
    I know I am preaching to the choir, since subscribers to Shogi-L are =
all members of that choir; however, I bemoan the level of interest of =
Shogi outside Japan.  If there was a scene in the Matrix where Neo =
inserts a shogi disc, and seconds later exclaims, "Wow!  I know Shogi!", =
a few movie scenes like that would do more to popularize Shogi than all =
our efforts combined to-date.
    =20
    There is a sentence from a letter published in New In Chess 2003/5, =
pg. 9 that states, "Although playing Shogi in my opinion doesn't help to =
improve your western chess, it is certainly worth a try!".  My =
experience is different.  I firmly believe that shogi helps your chess =
because compared to shogi tactics, chess tactics are tame.  I remember =
an instance back in the 80's when I arrived home late one night from a =
DC shogi club meeting, where I had been played hours of rated shogi.  I =
opened my Chess Life to the nine problems in Chess to Enjoy, and solved =
all nine problems in less than 10 minutes with 100% accuracy.  It was =
like my brain was magnetized for tactics.  I cannot speculate if this =
phenomena is akin to the temporary Mozart Effect, but I can say that in =
the few months since reacquainting myself with rated shogi games, my =
chess rating has improved by 30 rating points.=20
    =20
    Tim Rogalski
    1-Dan Amateur

    ----- Original Message -----
    From: Larry Kaufman
    To: SHOGI-L <at> TECHUNIX <dot> TECHNION <dot> AC <dot> IL
    Sent: Friday, August 01, 2003 9:16 AM
    Subject: promotion

         Mr. Tim Rogalski of Virginia has just earned promotion to =
Shodan under the Pan-Atlantic rules by maintaining his rating above 1740 =
for the necessary number of games.  Congratulations, Tim!
         Tim learned shogi over twenty years ago, and has had the goal =
of becoming shodan ever since.  I believe that he is the first =
American-born player to enter the Dan ranks since the current =
Pan-Atlantic rating system was created a few years ago.  Let me know if =
I've forgotten someone.  I think the last American to become a Dan =
player was my son Raymond, but I believe that predated the system.
    =20
         Larry Kaufman, Chairman of U.S. Shogi Federation




  <image.tiff>


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  Fall down seven times. Get up eight times. - Japanese proverb

  Gerald Laabs


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<BODY bgColor=3D#ffffff>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>The 24-page booklet, How to Play Shogi =
(1979)=20
should not to be confused with the 166-page book, Shogi for Beginners =
(1984),=20
both by John Fairbairn.&nbsp; The booklet is not listed on Amazon while =
the book=20
is listed.&nbsp; I've read both, and&nbsp;the excellent booklet made=20
a&nbsp;stronger impression on me than the book.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE=20
style=3D"PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; =
BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
  <DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
  <DIV=20
  style=3D"BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: =
black"><B>From:</B>=20
  <A title=3Dglaabs <at> INTER <dot> NET href=3D"mailto:glaabs <at> INTER <dot> NET">Gerald =
Laabs</A>=20
  </DIV>
  <DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A=20
  title=3DSHOGI-L <at> TECHUNIX <dot> TECHNION <dot> AC <dot> IL=20
  =
href=3D"mailto:SHOGI-L <at> TECHUNIX <dot> TECHNION <dot> AC <dot> IL">SHOGI-L@TECHUNIX <dot> TECHNION=
.AC.IL</A>=20
  </DIV>
  <DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Saturday, August 02, 2003 =
10:21=20
  AM</DIV>
  <DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: Beginner's Lessons =
No.1,=20
  Getting Orientated: Perspectives on Shogi and Chess</DIV>
  <DIV><BR></DIV>For a good assessment of How to Play Shogi by John =
Fairbairn,=20
  this url takes you directly to the book on amazon.com; &lt;a =
href=3D"<A=20
  =
href=3D'http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/4906574971/howtojapanemart=
">How'>http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/<?fontfamily><?param =
Verdana>4906574971<?/fontfamily>/howtojapanemart"&gt;How</A>=20
  to Play Shogi&lt;/a&gt; There are sample pages, reviews and ordering=20
  directions here.<BR>For a slightly broader view of what is available,=20
  including longtime favorite S<?fontfamily><?param Verdana>hogi: =
Japan=92s Game=20
  of Strategy by Trevor Leggett,<?/fontfamily> go to=20
  http://home.inter.net/glaabs/index.html and enter "shogi" in the =
amazon search=20
  box in the left column of the page.<BR><BR>Question: Is it just me, or =
is=20
  worldwide interest in shogi on the rise?<BR><BR>With all good=20
  wishes,<BR><BR>Gerald Laabs<BR>How to Japanese=20
  http://home.inter.net/glaabs/index.html<BR><BR>On Friday, August 1, =
2003, at=20
  04:02 PM, T.Rogalski wrote:<BR><BR>
  <BLOCKQUOTE><BR><?fontfamily><?param Arial><?smaller>In my opinion, =
the best=20
    shogi primer is John Fairbairn's "How to Play Shogi".&nbsp; It is 24 =
pages=20
    packed full of concentrated shogi information.&nbsp; Ex. page 24 is =
a raw=20
    listing of dozens of shogi proverbs -- very =
useful.&nbsp;<?/smaller><?/fontfamily><BR>&nbsp;<BR><?fontfamily><?param =
Arial><?smaller>Maybe=20
    another Shogi-L member would know if&nbsp;"How to Play Shogi" is =
still=20
    available =
somewhere?<?/smaller><?/fontfamily><BR>&nbsp;<BR><?fontfamily><?param =
Arial><?smaller>Tim<?/smaller><?/fontfamily><BR><BR>-----=20
    Original Message -----<BR><B>From:</B>=20
    <U><?color><?param 1999,1999,FFFF>Christopher =
Vu<?/color></U><BR><B>To:</B>=20
    <U><?color><?param =
1999,1999,FFFF>SHOGI-L <at> TECHUNIX <dot> TECHNION <dot> AC <dot> IL<?/color></U><BR><B>Sent:</=
B>=20
    Friday, August 01, 2003 5:05 PM<BR><B>Subject:</B> Re: =
Shodan<BR><BR>I'd=20
    like to learn the basic fundamentals of shogi, could you show me =
where i can=20
    get this pamphlet?<BR><BR><B><I>"T.Rogalski" &lt;<U><?color><?param =
1999,1999,FFFF>Mik <at> ACCESS-4-FREE <dot> COM<?/color></U>&gt;</I></B>=20
    wrote:<BR><BR><BR><?fontfamily><?param =
Arial><?smaller>Larry,<?/smaller><?/fontfamily><BR>&nbsp;<BR><?fontfamily=
><?param Arial><?smaller>Thanks&nbsp;for=20
    being such an excellent teacher and strong sparring partner.&nbsp; =
Of the=20
    original players that I remember from the 80's (Troy, Mike, Don), =
Larry is=20
    still hoisting the shogi banner for everyone to see.&nbsp; When I =
first=20
    learned shogi, it took me years to appreciate its' superiority over =
western=20
    chess.&nbsp; My heart refused to accept that any game could be =
better than=20
    chess.<?/smaller><?/fontfamily><BR>&nbsp;<BR><?fontfamily><?param =
Arial><?smaller>I=20
    have a four-page article entitled, "Beginner's Lessons No.1, Getting =

    Orientated: Perspectives on Shogi and Chess", which discusses game =
theory,=20
    checkers, shogi, differences of shogi from chess, handicap play,=20
    non-handicap play, and summarizes with the statement, "Shogi means =
<I>the=20
    world's greatest game</I>".&nbsp; I do not recall what year I =
received this=20
    great article, or who wrote it, but I would give anyone a copy to =
read that=20
    showed any interest in shogi.&nbsp; Another sentence from the =
article is=20
    "Shogi well deserves to be a popular game in North =
America".<?/smaller><?/fontfamily><BR>&nbsp;<BR><?fontfamily><?param =
Arial><?smaller>I=20
    know I am preaching to the choir, since subscribers to Shogi-L are =
all=20
    members of that choir; however, I bemoan the level of interest of =
Shogi=20
    outside Japan.&nbsp; If there was a scene in the Matrix where Neo =
inserts a=20
    shogi disc, and seconds later exclaims, "Wow!&nbsp; I know Shogi!", =
a few=20
    movie scenes like that would do more to popularize Shogi than all =
our=20
    efforts combined =
to-date.<?/smaller><?/fontfamily><BR>&nbsp;<BR><?fontfamily><?param =
Arial><?smaller>There=20
    is a sentence from a letter published in New In Chess 2003/5, pg. 9 =
that=20
    states, "Although playing Shogi in my opinion doesn't help to =
improve your=20
    western chess, it is certainly worth a try!".&nbsp; My experience is =

    different.&nbsp; I firmly believe that shogi helps your chess =
because=20
    compared to shogi tactics, chess tactics are tame.&nbsp; I remember =
an=20
    instance back in the 80's when I arrived home late one night from a =
DC shogi=20
    club meeting, where I had been played hours of rated shogi.&nbsp; I =
opened=20
    my Chess Life to the nine problems in Chess to Enjoy, and solved all =
nine=20
    problems in less than 10 minutes with 100% accuracy.&nbsp; It was =
like my=20
    brain was magnetized for tactics.&nbsp; I cannot speculate if this =
phenomena=20
    is akin to the temporary Mozart Effect, but I can say that in the =
few months=20
    since&nbsp;reacquainting myself with rated shogi games, my chess =
rating has=20
    improved by 30 rating =
points.&nbsp;<?/smaller><?/fontfamily><BR>&nbsp;<BR><?fontfamily><?param =
Arial><?smaller>Tim=20
    Rogalski<?/smaller><?/fontfamily><BR><?fontfamily><?param =
Arial><?smaller>1-Dan=20
    Amateur<?/smaller><?/fontfamily><BR><BR>----- Original Message=20
    -----<BR><B>From:</B> <U><?color><?param 1999,1999,FFFF>Larry =
Kaufman<?/color></U><BR><B>To:</B>=20
    <U><?color><?param =
1999,1999,FFFF>SHOGI-L <at> TECHUNIX <dot> TECHNION <dot> AC <dot> IL<?/color></U><BR><B>Sent:</=
B>=20
    Friday, August 01, 2003 9:16 AM<BR><B>Subject:</B> =
promotion<BR><BR><?fontfamily><?param =
Arial><?smaller>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;=20
    Mr. Tim Rogalski of Virginia has just earned promotion to Shodan =
under the=20
    Pan-Atlantic rules by maintaining his rating above 1740 for the =
necessary=20
    number of games.&nbsp; Congratulations, =
Tim!<?/smaller><?/fontfamily><BR><?fontfamily><?param =
Arial><?smaller>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;=20
    Tim learned shogi over twenty years ago, and has had the goal of =
becoming=20
    shodan ever since.&nbsp; I believe that he is the first =
American-born player=20
    to enter the Dan ranks since the current Pan-Atlantic rating system =
was=20
    created a few years ago.&nbsp; Let me know if I've forgotten =
someone.&nbsp;=20
    I think the last American to become a Dan player was my son Raymond, =
but I=20
    believe that predated the =
system.<?/smaller><?/fontfamily><BR>&nbsp;<BR><?fontfamily><?param =
Arial><?smaller>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;=20
    Larry Kaufman, Chairman of U.S. Shogi=20
    =
Federation<?/smaller><?/fontfamily><BR><BR><BR><BR></BLOCKQUOTE>&lt;image=
.tiff&gt;<BR>
  <BLOCKQUOTE><BR>Do you Yahoo!?<BR><U><?color><?param =
1999,1999,FFFF>Yahoo!=20
    SiteBuilder<?/color></U> - Free, easy-to-use web site design=20
    software<BR><BR><BR></BLOCKQUOTE><?fontfamily><?param Geneva>Fall =
down seven=20
  times. Get up eight times. - Japanese proverb<BR><BR>Gerald =
Laabs<?/fontfamily><BR></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>

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