From: Larry Kaufman comcast net> Date: 26 aug 2004 Subject: Re: Professional shogi game time management Your free subscription is supported by today's sponsor: ------------------------------------------------------------------- Save up to 80% on Inkjet & Toner Supplies. 100% Satisfaction=20 Guarantee. Free Shipping on orders over $49. www.inksoutlet.com http://click.topica.com/= caacAsfa2i6YsbnuqMaa/Inksoutlet ------------------------------------------------------------------- Well, a computer need not be able to play well to be useful. Are shogi database manager programs widely used among shogi pros, the way ChessBase and similar programs are in the chess world? Even with much fewer games being played, this could be a very useful tool, especially if it recognizes when a position has been reached by transposition in a different game. I believe the shogi pros do have similar database tools to those used by the chess pros, but with far fewer games. But database software only permits one to find previously played games; it does not help you find better moves or to evaluate moves you might think are better. I believe all that ultimately matters is, does the quality of play tend to deteriorate when the players are at or near byo-yomi? Has there been any statistical study of this? It would be hard to do such a study, since without shogi playing software of Meijjin level how would one judge quality of play, except subjectively? But of course the answer must be that quality of play does deteriorate in byo-yomi. The reason that both chess and shogi pros allow themselves to get into severe time difficulties in the late stages of the game is that they hope or fear that the game may already be essentially decided in the earlier stages, so time spent on earlier moves is more likel= y to affect the final result than time saved for the endgame, when it might not be needed anymore. Still, many chess and shogi players carry this too far, perhaps for psychological reasons. Larry Kaufman Your free subscription is supported by today's sponsor: ------------------------------------------------------------------- Stories from the Civil Rights Movement. Extraordinary stories,=20 ordinary people. Share your memories today! http://click.topica.com/= caacvgla2i6YsbnuqMaf/AARP ------------------------------------------------------------------- --^---------------------------------------------------------------- This email was sent to: = shogi-l shogi net EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?a2i6Ys.= bnuqMa.= c2hvZ2kt Or send an email to: shogi-unsubscribe topica com For Topica's complete suite of email marketing solutions visit: http://www.topica.com/?p=3DTEXFOOTER --^----------------------------------------------------------------